Travel Guide > Asia > Malaysia > Malaysian Borneo > Sabah > Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of the Malaysian province of Sabah, on the island of Borneo.
Kota Kinabalu is unlike any other Malaysian city. The architecture and ethnic mix of people is quite distinct from other places in Western Malaysia.
A quick ride on a speed Boat from Jesselton Piont, north of town, will take you to the TAR Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park A bunch of Islands off KK's shore. 23 ringitt return to Manukan Island plus Park admission fee 12 ringitt.
Other 4 island are grouped around. Pulau Gaya, Sapi, Mamutik, Sulug and one can buy a tour of the islands or choose to camp either on Gaja and Manukan.
It is a good escape from the heat of KK; on Pulau Manukan and can lay on the nice beaches, walk on a trail around the island or hire finns and snorkel to see some coral fish or indulge under shady trees with the Beach Restaurant's delicacies.
Most of the activities in Kota Kinabalu are centred along the corniche, where most of the restaurants and shopping malls are located.
Kota Kinabalu, like the rest of Malaysia, has a tropical climate with hot and humid conditions year round. Temperatures usually are around 32 °C during the day and around 24 °C at night. Although there is no distinctive dry season, the months of June to December, in general, are wetter than January to April. Torrential rain is possible at anytime and sometimes up to 500 mm of rain a month is not unheard of.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (IATA: BKI) is Sabah's international gateway and is located 8 km from the city of Kota Kinabalu. It is the second busiest airport in Malaysia. Airlines with flights servicing Kota Kinabalu include Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Korean Air and Silk Air.
There are many daily flights to Kota Kinabalu from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru in the peninsula; Kuching and Miri in Sarawak; Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah. The flight duration is approximately 2 1/2 hours from the peninsula. Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia service these routes but book at least a month ahead to get good rates.
AirAsia and other budget airlines operate from the Terminal 2 of the airport.
There is no train service going into or out of Sabah.
There is a regular bus service to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu.
The public buses do not serve a large part of the city, so taxis are better - but also more expensive.
Still, if on a tight budget and fancy a walk,from the Airport the cheapest ride to town is by bus.
Walk about 600 mt. to the right out of the airport and at the junction take right again.
About 60 mt and across the street there is a bus stop. It will cost you2 ringit to the bus terminus
on jl Hail Salman in the core of KK
Take the famous local toy-train, originally built by the British to haul sugar cane, from Kota Kinabalu to Tenom.
One can probably walk around the corniche as most of the shopping plazas and the coffee shops are located there.
One dish that you should definitely check out while in Malaysia is satay, which is pretty much the national food.
Start the day with a breakfast of "roti canai" and kopi (coffee).
On Sunday mornings try cheap local taka away food and fruit at the Bazar or local market along Jalan Gaya or
in the late afternoon on jalan Sembilanbelas (between the waterfront and Jl Tun Razak) where, with 5 ringgit, one
can walk away with bags of food such as bananas fried in front of you and rice with various sides.
You will constantly smell a sweetish scent in the air where food is been cooked,
is the odour of the Palm oil used in every Malesyan preparation for deep frying and cooking.
Try the local small "lady finger" bananas. One can buy a bunch of 6/7 of them for ringitt at the Bazar.
The flavour is sweet and tasty as no other bananas you have ever tasted and the colour of the pulp is yellow almost like it's peel.
For more information about budget accommodations in Kota Kinabalu including travellers ratings:
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akinabalu Youth Hostel | 1st Floor, No. 133 Jalan Gaya, | Hostel | 78 |
| Ambaga Homestay | PO Box 13075 | Guesthouse | - |
| Blue Ocean Lodge | No.103, 1st Floor, Gaya Street, | Guesthouse | - |
| Borneo Adventure Center | P.O.Box 10453, 88805 Kota Kinabalu. Sabah. Malaysi No 1, Tingkat Satu,Kampung Air Satu,Jalan Haji Yaa | Hostel | 64 |
| Borneo Backpackers | No. 24 Lorong Dewan | Hostel | 81 |
| Borneo BeacHouse (Backpackers) | Jalan Mat Salleh House No.122. Tanjung Aru | Hostel | 83 |
| Borneo Gaya Lodge | 1st Floor, No 78, Jalan Gaya P.O.BOX 10131, Sabah, | Hostel | 80 |
| Borneo Global Backpackers | Ground & 1st Floor, Lot No.29 Karamunsing Godown | Hostel | 52 |
| Borneo Homestay | No 4, Lorong mawas 3 Taman Foh Sang | Hostel | - |
| Borneo Paradise Beach Hotel Sdn Bhd | km22.5 Kota Kinabalu Highway, Sabah | Hotel | - |
| Borneo Proboscis River Lodge | 1 Km After Kota Klias, Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu, Sa | Hostel | - |
| Borneo Survivor Resort | P.O.Box 21101 Luyang | Hostel | 67 |
| Borneo Tempurung Seaside Lodge | Kuala Penyu | Guesthouse | 87 |
| Buddys backpackers | Jalan Tugu, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia | Hostel | - |
| D'Villa Rina Ria Lodge | Kinabalu Park Sabah | Hostel | 69 |
| Globetrotters Lodge | Lot 103, 1st Floor Jalan Gaya | Hostel | 20 |
| Green View Lodging House | TL: 1336 Jln Mat Salleh KARAMUNSING | Hostel | 63 |
| Hotel Holiday | Lot 1 & 2, Block F, Segama Shopping Complex | Hostel | 27 |
| Kinabalu Backpackers Lodge | Lot 4 Lorong Dewan Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | Hostel | 86 |
| Kinabalu Rose Cabin | P O Box 13654 Sabah | Guesthouse | - |
| Kivatu Height Country Stay and Homestay | W.D.T 35 Penampang | Guesthouse | - |
| Lavender Lodge Kota Kinabalu | no.6 Jalan Laiman Diki, Kg. Air | Hostel | 85 |
| North Borneo Cabin | 1st & 2nd Floor, No. 74 Jalan Gaya | Hostel | 85 |
| Red Palm Hostel | 1st Floor Lot 130 Jalan Gaya | Hostel | 85 |
| Stay-In Lodge | 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Floor Lot 121, Jalan Gaya | Hostel | 80 |
| Step-In Lodge | 1st-3rd Floors, Lot 1 Block L, Sinsuran Complex, | Hostel | 81 |
| Summer Lodge | Lot 120 Jalan Gaya | Hostel | 75 |
| Summer Holiday Condominium | Unit C-02-04 Marina Court Resort Condominiums | Apartment | - |
| Summer's Mountain Lodge | Kampung Tinompok, Kundasang (1KM before Kinabalu National Park) | Hostel | 66 |
| The Beach Lodge | 3rd Floor 46 Jalan Pantai | Hostel | 47 |
| Travellers Light Backpackers Lodge | No.19, Lorong Dewan (Australia Place) Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (Borneo) | Guesthouse | 78 |
| Tropicana Lodge | Lot9, 1stFloor, Lorong Dewan | Guesthouse | - |
| Tune Hotels 1 Borneo Kota Kinabalu | G-803, One Borneo Hypermall Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | Hotel | 63 |
| Xplorer Backpackers | 1st Floor 106 Jalan Gaya | Hostel | 90 |
A lot of upscale accommodation can easily be booked into with most of the top hotel chains open.
This is version 27. Last edited at 12:11 on May 20, 09 by Utrecht (+3205). 16 articles link to this page.

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