Kota Kinabalu travel guide

Best time to visit

Sabah’s equatorial climate means that temperatures rarely exceed 32°C or fall below 21°C, making it fairly pleasant all year. October to March is the rainy season, which spoils plans for the beach and makes trekking unpleasant and slippery. For spotting turtles, your best chance is between May and September. Sabah Fest, a big carnival of dancing, music and cow races, takes place in May, when the Kadazun/Dusun celebrate their harvest festival.

Getting around

City buses and minibuses provide a service around town and to nearby destinations. Red taxis are unmetered, dark blue taxis metered. There are lots of car hire firms.

Ins and outs

Getting there

KK’s airport is 6 km south of town, T088-238555. It is one of Malaysia’s busiest airports with excellent international connections including Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Jakarta and domestic connections with all major Malaysian cities on MAS and Air Asia. MASwings joins KK and more rural destinations in Sabah and Sarawak. There is a bus stop five minutes’ walk from the airport, RM1.50 to the city centre. Taxis cost around RM13.50; buy coupons from the booths outside the arrivals hall. There is a limited railway service with trains to Beaufort and Tenom and an extensive network of bus, minibus and taxi links to destinations in Sabah. Ferries arrive throughout the day from Labuan. Getting from Brunei overland takes around five hours plus two ferry crossings at Temburong and Terusan (in Brunei), or a 45-minute flight.

Kota Kinabalu

Air

Air is the most widely used form of transport between the major towns (eg Sandakan and Tawau), and it’s cheap. There are regular Air Asia and MASwings connec- tions with most major centres in Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsular. There are frequent international departures including Hong Kong (Dragon Air), Jakarta, Surabaya (Air Asia), Singapore (Tiger Airways, Jetstar Asia) and Manila (Cebu Pacific). Royal Brunei Airlines connect Bandar Seri Begawan with KK.

Boat

There is a ferry service between KK and Labuan daily at 0800, additional sailings Mon-Thu at 1330 and Fri-Sun 1500, 3 hrs (RM31, 1 way). Ferries to Serasa Muara (Brunei) from the Labuan jetty, 6 departures daily from 0900-1630, 1hr (RM30). It is possible to purchase a combined KK–Lubuan–Muara ticket in KK for RM53 plus RM3 terminal fees.

Bus

There is no central bus station in KK. A temporary local bus station is now in front of the post office and next to the city park. Buses further afield but still in the KK region leave from next to Plaza Wawasan, while long-distance buses wait in the car park at the base of Signal Hill. Buses are cheaper than minibuses but not as regular or efficient.

There are lots of bus companies and touts. All prices should be the same. It’s advisable to buy your ticket the day before. The time on the ticket is a rough guide only. Get there 10 mins before to guarantee your seat, but you may have to wait until the bus is full. Buses to Tenom (0800, 1200, 1600; RM16), Keningau (7 daily, RM12.15), Beaufort (more than 10 every day, RM7), Tawau (0730, 0800; RM45), Sandakan (0730, 0930, 1300, 2000, RM29.25), Semporna (0730; RM45).

Minibuses have their destinations on the windscreen, most rides in town are less than RM1 and leave when full. You can get off wherever you like.

Taxis and minibuses bound north for Kota Belud and Kudat and those going south to Beaufort and Tenom leave from Bandar Berjaya opposite the Padang and clocktower. Taxis and minibuses going west to Kinabalu National Park, Ranau and Sandakan leave from Jl Tunku Abdul Rahman, next to the Padang and opposite the State Library. Tampuruli, 2 km east of Tuaran, serves as a terminus for minibuses heading to Kinabalu National Park. Minibuses leave when full and those for long-distance destinations leave in the early morning. Long-distance taxis also leave when full from in front of the clocktower on Jl Tunku Abdul Rahman. Minibus services from KK to Tuaran, 45 mins; Kota Belud 2 hrs; Kudat 4-5 hrs; Beaufort 2-3 hrs; Tenom, 4 hrs; Kinabalu National Park 1½ hrs; Ranau 2 hrs; Sandakan 8-10 hrs.

Car hire

Not all roads in the interior are paved and 4WD is advisable for some journeys. Car hire is expensive (RM30-80 per hr) and rates increase outside a 50-km radius of KK. All vehicles have to be returned to KK, although local car hire is usually available. Drivers must be aged 22-60 and have an international driving licence. Adaras Rent- a-Car, Lot G03, ground floor, Wisma Sabah, T088-2166671; Hertz, Level 1, Lot 39, Kota Kinabalu airport, T088-317740.

Taxi

There are taxi stands outside most of the bigger hotels and outside the General Post Office, the Segama complex, the Sinsuran complex, next to the DPKK building, the Milemewah supermarket, the Capitol cinema and in front of the clocktower (for taxis to Ranau, Keningau and Kudat). Approximate fares from town: RM10 to Tanjung Aru Resort, RM10 to Sabah Foundation, RM8 to the museum, RM14 to the airport.

Train

The station is 5 km out of town in Tanjung Aru. Currently being upgraded. Check with Sabah Tourism for updates.

Banks

There are money changers in main shopping complexes: HSBC, 56 Jl Gaya; Maybank, Jl Kemajuan/Jl Pantai; Sabah Bank, Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, Jl Tuaran; Standard Chartered, 20 Jl Haji Saman.

Embassies and consulates

British Consul, Hong Kong Bank Building, 56 Jl Gaya, T088-251775; Indonesian Consulate, Lorong Kemajuan, Karamunsing, T088-218 600. It is possible to get an Indonesian 60-day visa here. Arrive at 0900 and make sure you have the correct documents.

Immigration

4th floor, Government Building, Jl Haji Yaakub, visas can be renewed at this office.

Internet

Widely available in town. Many hotels and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi in the lobby and rooms.

Post

office

General Post Office, Jl Tun Razak, Segama Quarter (poste restante facilities).

Telephone

Telekom, Block C, Kompleks Kuwaus, Jl Tunku Abdul Rahma. International and local calls, fax service.