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Best Things to Do
Top 18 Best Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu [2025]
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Tanjung Aru Beach
4.8
/5
2222 reviews
7.0
Based on 497 reviews
Tanjung Aru | 5.3 km from downtown
Phone +60 16-833 0678
Address: Tanjung Aru Beach Resort, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
No.1 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Highlights:
World-class sunset & 1.2-mile beach
Stunning sunset view | Burning clouds
Saved by 719 users1353 positive reviews
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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.
Located right at the end of Tanjung Aru Beach is one the best ever spot to immerse yourself into the beautiful dawn of sunset, Shangrila's Tanjung Aru Sabah Sunset Bar, om a day clear non rainy day you will get to sight that jaw drapping sky changing colours durimg the sunset hour ard 5pm onwards, the other part of Tanjung Aru is a public beach so do expect super crowded on weekends, public holidays and even on school holidays
Mengalum Island
4.6
/5
573 reviews
6.7
Based on 27 reviews
58.2 km from downtown
Phone +60-10-9447777
Address: Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
No.1 of Water Fun Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Highlights:
Love & eternity symbolized island
Enjoy white sands & island views
Saved by 553 users153 positive reviews
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1. It is worth going. If you are in Kota Kinabalu, you can choose a one-day tour to Pulau Mantan, which is about 500 including pick-up and drop-off.
2. The boat takes 2 hours, so you must take seasickness medicine in advance. It is basically very bumpy and half of the people may vomit.
3. Sunscreen is a must, it is very sunny, going out to sea.
4. There is food on the one-day tour, which is actually OK. If you think it is not OK, bring some food with you.
5. There are places to change clothes, toilets and wifi on the island.
Huantan Island is very beautiful!
Especially when the weather is clear
The white sand beach + jelly sea are really too beautiful!
The ride to Mermaid Island is long (the pier is far from the city), and the boat ride takes 30 minutes
The ride to Huantan Island is short (the pier is close to the city), and the boat ride takes 1 hour
Ps: The boat is really shaking, if you are prone to seasickness, you should choose Mermaid Island
Also, the sea water here is too salty, and snorkeling babes should be prepared to drink a lot of sea water~
But you must experience it when you come, it's really great
The island and mountain facilities are basically complete, so don't worry too much, but there is no signal~
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Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu
4.5
/5
1696 reviews
6.5
Based on 1,183 reviews
3.7 km from downtown
Phone +60 88-205 418
Address: Jalan Pasir, Jalan Teluk Likas, Kampung Likas, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
No.3 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Highlights:
Golden mosque reflection at sunset
White water mosque with azure skies
Saved by 530 users312 positive reviews
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Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is a stunning architectural gem that appears to float on its surrounding lagoon, creating a mesmerizing sight at sunrise and sunset. Inspired by the Nabawi Mosque in Medina, its elegant blue and gold dome, along with its towering minarets, makes it one of the most picturesque mosques in Malaysia. The peaceful atmosphere, combined with the opportunity to explore the mosque by paddle boat, adds to its unique charm. Whether visiting for prayer, photography, or quiet reflection, this mosque is a must-see landmark in Sabah. Five stars – A blend of spiritual beauty and breathtaking scenery. #KotaKinabaluMosque #FloatingMosque #SabahTravel #MalaysiaBeauty
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
No.
4
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Manukan Island
4.6
/5
262 reviews
6.2
8.4 km from downtown
Phone +60-19-8831165
Address: Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
One of five islands
Parasailing & underwater walks experience
Saved by 254 users102 positive reviews
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Manugan Island (Pulau Manukan) is the second largest island in Donggu Abdul Raman National Park and is the park's headquarters and office. The island has complete tourist facilities including restaurants, tennis courts, water skiing centers and wooden houses for accommodation. Manukan is famous for its many and comprehensive water entertainment projects and is in a better location, located in the middle of Shabi and Mamoody Island, so it is often selected as one of the day trip destinations.
pulau manukan ini antara pulau yang cantik di sabah. just about 15 minutes from jesselton point ferry terminal is manukan island. popular for its white sandy beaches and snorkelling spots, manukan is also famous for its complete facilities that enable visitors to fully enjoy in the island.
No.
5
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Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park
4.6
/5
393 reviews
6.2
8.5 km from downtown
Phone +60 88-486 430
Address: Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days
No.2 of Water Fun Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Highlights:
Amusement facilities | Snorkeling
Night tour: marine nightlife exploration
Saved by 174 users25% positive reviews
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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.
Exclusive review of Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park
Traveling in Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is like walking through a primeval forest. The air there is fresh and the scenery is picturesque, which makes people feel relaxed and happy. I especially like those unique natural landscapes, such as spectacular waterfalls and mysterious caves, which make people linger.
In general, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park is a tourist destination that is very worth visiting. The natural beauty and rich wildlife resources here have given me a deeper understanding and awe of the magic of nature. Hehe, if I have the opportunity, I will definitely go there again and continue to explore this beautiful land!
No.
6
Gaya Street
4.5
/5
556 reviews
6.0
Kota Kinabalu City Center | 297m from downtown
Phone +60-88-232121
Address: Jalan Pantai, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Sunday market: local life experience
Numerous restaurants & snack bars
Saved by 355 users183 positive reviews
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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.
There are many vendors on weekends, and the atmosphere is very lively. Locals also come to shop. If you like snacks, you can come to taste them on weekends. There are shops on both sides of the street: durian shops, souvenir shops, pearl jewelry shops, coffee shops, restaurants... It is still quite good to visit. After all, there are too few places like pedestrian streets in Kota Kinabalu.
No.
7
Mari Mari Cultural Village
4.6
/5
86 reviews
5.7
Based on 1,282 reviews
14.2 km from downtown
Phone +60 13-881 4921
Address: Jalan Kionsom, Inanam, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-4 hours
No.4 of Family-Friendly Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Highlights:
Try bamboo cooking & local specialties
Visit longhouses & taste delicacies
Saved by 230 users41% positive reviews
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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.
In the village, you will be introduced to various traditional homes from Sabah’s 5 major ethnic communities—the Bajau, Lundayeh, Murut, Rungus and Dusun. —which are built by descendants of the tribes which they represent.For a more hands-on experience, check out the little huts in the village where daily routines of traditional Sabahan life come alive. Grab the chance to see blowpipe-making demonstration, fire-starting demonstration using bamboo, tattoo-making demonstration, and so on.
No.
8
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Mamutik Island
4.6
/5
153 reviews
5.6
Based on 920 reviews
7.2 km from downtown
Phone +60-19-8831165
Address: Malaysia, Pulau Mamutik、
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 day
Highlights:
Parasailing & island entertainment
Underwater walking & scooter adventure
Saved by 134 users29% positive reviews
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A good place to take kids snorkeling. There are a lot of fish in the sea, and it's not deep and safe. You can feed the fish with bread on the beach, or go swimming with the instructor to a farther place. There are all kinds of fish, and the kids are very happy! But it's a pity that there is a lot of garbage on the island, and people don't seem to cherish the beautiful environment.
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.
No.
9
University Malaysia Sabah Mosque
4.4
/5
5 reviews
5.4
8 km from downtown
Phone +60 88-320 000
Address: Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-2 hours
Highlights:
Guided cultural tour inside the mosque
Pink Mosque Photo Hotspot
Verified User Reviews
The University of Sabah is really big and it is not recommended to walk. We went by car and chartered. The pink mosque has the reputation of the most beautiful university in Southeast Asia. There are many young ladies taking pictures, which is really very popular. But this is a mosque after all, and if you go in, you should pay attention to respecting religious beliefs.
Enter the left hand kiosk to buy tickets, you can buy transportation at the same time (driver pick-up, single electric yo-yo, double electric car), the ticket seller will speak Chinese. It is recommended to rent a car, it is more convenient to stroll everywhere, and it is really comfortable to shuttle the hair dryer on campus. Pink Mosque 🕌 can't enter, it doesn't mean much to look at the door; the beach in the university is good, and it's quite pleasant to sit on the beach and buy an ice drink. Other attractions are okay. The best physical examination is that the car shuttles (one car can't drive halfway to let them change the car, and the other car is out of power halfway.) So, you have to be optimistic about the power of the car, and add the ticket lady WeChat to prepare for the need.
No.
10
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Filipino Market
4.5
/5
46 reviews
5.2
Based on 467 reviews
Kota Kinabalu City Center | 752m from downtown
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, Pusat Bandar Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours
No.1 of Night Attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Highlights:
Daytime crafts & evening food stalls
Open-air market in downtown Kota Kinabalu
Saved by 241 users79% positive reviews
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Great place for those who are seafood lovers, easy to find fresh fishes , crabs, lobsters in this place with a good price. Fresh vegetable and fruits stall located just beside this building .
You can still buy pretty good seafood here, so eating seafood here is a pretty good choice. You can also add more side dishes. After all, buying vegetables here is also very cost-effective.
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