Sightseeing in Kota Kinabalu - what to see. Complete travel guide

Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the state of Sabah, is one of the ten largest cities in Malaysia. The city located on Borneo Island is named after nearby Mount Kinabalu. It is incredibly attractive in the eyes of active tourists and gathers thousands of foreign visitors every year. The city partly owes its popularity to its favorable position: it lies on the coast of the South China Sea and borders on The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, a treasure trove of unique natural attractions and a concentration of incredible attractions.

The history of the city began many hundreds of years ago. In the late 19th century, the authentic Malaysian city was a British colony, the British left these places only by 1963. During the Second World War, then large city was completely destroyed, it had to be rebuilt anew in a literal sense. Kota Kinabalu got its new look by 1967. Now one of its main distinctive features is a planned street layout All of them are located strictly parallel or perpendicular to the coastline, which makes the city very convenient for walking. It is almost impossible to get lost here.

Considering the fact that Kota Kinabalu literally lay in ruins in the mid-20th century, there are very few pre-war sights in the present-day city. However, the newborn old city is not devoid of authentic national charm. Its modern culture is an amazing fusion of traditional Malaysian, British and Chinese culture, which finds expression in many different forms. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The city has beautiful oriental bazaars and original souvenir shops where you can buy traditional crafts of local people. Gourmets will have the opportunity to appreciate the variety of restaurants operating in the city. Shopping fans should definitely visit Jalan Gaya Street, which has become a regular venue for weekly Sunday fairs.

Among the main attractions of the present Kinabalu Cote are interesting museums and handicraft shops, as well as beautiful mosques and futuristic modern buildings. The outskirts of the city are rich in interesting natural sites, the exploration of which gives a lot of impressions to hiking enthusiasts. Other attractive features worth noting include a friendly and hospitable attitude of the locals. They treat guests from foreign countries with great respect and, of course, easily find a common language - English. Here, almost everyone has a basic level of English, while well-educated local residents are fluent and use it in colloquial speech. The multinational city with a unique multifaceted culture that doesn't leave indifferent any of its guests is ideal for lovers of all kinds of recreation.

Tanjung Aru is an optimal destination for beach recreation for all guests of Kota Kinabalu. It is comfortable, sandy, and flat. These qualities make the beach suitable for family vacationers. The territory of the beach also includes a yacht club, so all tourists are welcome to rent a yacht and go fishing or simply make an interesting excursion along the coast. Not far from the beach, vacationers will find a park named after Prince Philip. There are also several comfortable hotels nearby. This is a great destination for fans of diving as it takes only 20 minutes by motorboat to reach incredibly interesting diving sites. Not far from the coastline, there are five picturesque small islands that are ideal for everyone keen on exploring exotic places or seeking private beach relaxation.

Diversify your stay at the resort by attending the Museum of the Sabah State that is located in a very interesting place – on top of Bukit Istana Lama Hill. The museum itself is open in an eye-catching building constructed in strict accordance with the national traditions. Among the items exhibited at the museum, visitors will find numerous historical and archaeological artifacts, crafts by local artisans, and various artworks. Ancient ceramics is one of the most precious categories of items exhibited at the museum. Finally, visitors can also attend the natural science center that is open in the territory of the museum.

In recent years, the museum has become a large entertainment center that now includes a botanical garden and several souvenir shops. There is even an excellent restaurant that offers a range of delicacies and the most popular dishes of the national cuisine. Kota Kinabalu offers nearly unlimited opportunities for active recreation that are easy to combine with cultural activities.