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Kota Kinabalu

2025 Kota Kinabalu Travel Guide: Weather, Transportation, Popular Attractions, and Everything You Need (Updated 2025 3)

About Kota Kinabalu

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Trip.Best: Kota Kinabalu

Top2·Hotels

Popular Luxury Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

Top19·attraction

Top 19 Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu

Top10·Restaurants

Top 10 Local Restaurants in Kota Kinabalu

Top1·Hotels

Popular Family Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

Top1·attraction

Popular Night Attractions in Kota Kinabalu

Top12·Restaurants

Top 12 Light Bites in Kota Kinabalu

Top8·Hotels

Top 8 Scenic Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

Top5·attraction

Top 5 Water Fun Attractions in Kota Kinabalu

Top7·Restaurants

Top 7 Restaurants for Views & Experiences in Kota Kinabalu

Top1·Hotels

Popular Cultural Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

Top14·Restaurants

Top 14 Bars in Kota Kinabalu

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Popular Instagrammable Hotels in Kota Kinabalu

Things to do in Kota Kinabalu

What to Do

Looking for things to do in Kota Kinabalu? We provide up-to-date info on everything from must-see scenic spots to local hangouts.

Where to Stay

Discover the most popular places to stay in Kota Kinabalu, complete with recommendations from fellow travelers and special hotel offers

What to Eat

Want to eat like a local? Don't miss out on these top Kota Kinabalu dishes and foodie spots.

Kota Kinabalu Moments: Through Travelers' Eyes

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Shangri-La Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu: A Perfect Blend of Luxury and Nature

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Malaysia-Kota Kinabalu-3 Must-Visit Places

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Family trip to Kota Kinabalu

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5D4N Free & Easy in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

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Cost-effective hotel in Kota Kinabalu, experience a warm feeling

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Majestic Panorama View: Kokol Haven Resort

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Kota Kinabalu Travel Guide: A Harmonious Journey of the Soul and Nature

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Kota Kinabalu’s Must-Eat: Otherwise you have not been here

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What People Are Saying About Kota Kinabalu

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Tanjung Aru Beach

dede13

Public beach with a long coastline, fairly white sand, if you want to sit you have to pay at a table that has been prepared, only the table area is cleaned, while on the beach, there is a lot of rubbish strewn about, but overall it is very good.

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Mengalum Island

randyjun

1. It is worth going. If you are in Kota Kinabalu, you can choose to travel around the beach for a day. It takes about 500 to pick up and drop off. 2. The boat takes 2h, so you must eat seasickness medicine in advance. Basically, it is very bumpy. Half of people vomit. 3. Sun protection must be very sunburning. Going to the sea 4. There is food for a day trip, but it is actually OK. If you don't feel good, bring some food yourself. 5. There are clothes changers on the island, toilets and wifi.

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Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu

WeWe223

Buy tickets in the small room on the right side of the gate. There are two types of tickets: outdoor tickets and indoor tickets (you need to change into local clothes for the indoor tickets). I bought an outdoor ticket for 5 Malaysian ringgits. I walked along the wall for a quarter of the rectangle and it was gone. There were some seats and swings along the way. It took five minutes to walk. If you don't mind the sun, you can watch for half an hour and enjoy it. ps: Life is short, the filter is bold

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Gaya Street

虱子多了不怕咬

Gaya Street is great, with many delicious foods. You don't need to look at the guide. Any store you go to is delicious. The food in the night market is just average, similar to our night market. Gaya Street exchange money, the exchange rate is very cost-effective, much more cost-effective than Semporna! But in Kota Kinabalu, you almost don't need to exchange money, Alipay is universal. It is very convenient to eat durian in Gaya Street. You can sit in the store and eat slowly. They will prepare paper towels and gloves for you. Gaya Street has many souvenirs and gifts, and you can pay with Alipay. Gaya Street is also close to the pier. It is recommended to stay in Gaya Street. You can go back to the hotel to rest at any time when you are tired of shopping. It is very convenient.

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Manukan Island

ㅤ ㅤ朝花夕拾

Pulau Manukan is the second largest island in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and is also the headquarters and office of the park. The island has complete tourist facilities, including hotels, tennis courts, water skiing centers and wooden houses for accommodation. Pulau Manukan is famous for its wide range of water entertainment projects and is well located between Sapi Island and Mamudi Island, so it is often chosen as one of the destinations for a day trip.

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Mari Mari Cultural Village

gary leung123

This cultural village definitely should be visited by all tourists that go to Sabah.First of all, the village is really nice located in a forest. This makes the stay very comfortable because there is always a place where you find shadow.At the beginning, they build little groups that each get one tour guide that speaks your language. Due to the little group, we could ask all the questions that we had.

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Sapi Island

常乐孤雁

Very good itinerary, Trip.com set, great value for money. Lunch is very nice. The little black tour guide is very careful, although there is no problem with Chinese communication. Lunch is particularly good, green crabs are free, and there are many dishes.

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Mamutik Island

ariel423

Mamudi Island was the first island we chose for our island hopping trip. The weather was pretty good at the time. We were on the island for a short time, mainly to play activities on the island. We played parasailing, which was fun and a bit exciting. After the project, we went directly to Sapi Island. I heard that you can see clownfish when snorkeling in Mamudi Island, but we didn't see it, which was a pity. The scenery is OK, but the disadvantage is that the organization of the island hopping trip is really chaotic. You have to wait a long time to go to other islands and return.

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Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

ㅤ ㅤ朝花夕拾

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is the first marine national park in Malaysia. It is located in the South China Sea off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, about a 20-minute boat ride from Kota Kinabalu. The park consists of five main islands: Manukan Island, Sapi Island, Mamutik Island, Gaya Island and Sulu Island. These islands are famous for their beautiful beaches, clear waters, rich corals and marine life, and are a paradise for snorkeling, diving and water activities. Visitors can choose two or three islands to visit. Among them, Gaya Island and Manukan Island have accommodation facilities, but the price is relatively expensive. Tunku Abdul Rahman Park has beautiful natural scenery and clear waters, which are suitable for various water activities. Sapi Island and Manukan Island are the most popular islands. Sapi Island is loved by tourists for its fine white sand beaches and rich marine life. It is a good place for snorkeling and beach leisure. Manukan Island is favored for its complete tourist facilities and beautiful beaches. There are resorts, restaurants and diving centers on the island, which are suitable for family and couples to vacation. In addition, tourists also need to pay attention to some matters when playing, such as water safety and beach safety. When snorkeling or doing other water activities, you should wear a life jacket and follow the instructor's instructions. There may be ants and mosquitoes on the beach, so mosquito repellent is a must. In addition, due to the strong sunlight on the island, it is recommended that tourists wear long sleeves and long pants and apply sunscreen regularly.

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