Kota Kinabalu holidays

Kota Kinabalu, often called “KK,” is Borneo’s laid-back coastal capital and a brilliant base for exploring Sabah’s wild beauty without straying too far from good food, markets, and modern comforts. It’s the kind of place where one moment you’re haggling for pineapples at the market, and the next you’re boarding a boat to a tropical island or heading inland to mountain trails and rainforest.

What we love about Kota Kinabalu is the variety it offers within easy reach. Spend a morning snorkelling or diving in the coral-rich waters of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, just a short hop from the city. Or venture inland to Kinabalu Park and the slopes of Mount Kinabalu for forest walks and cooler air. For a cultural insight, the Mari Mari Cultural Village is a great way to learn about Sabah’s indigenous traditions in a hands-on, engaging way.

Back in town, there’s plenty to enjoy from the buzzing Gaya Street market on Sundays to relaxed seafood dinners by the waterfront as the sun sets over the South China Sea. It’s a city that feels friendly and unhurried, with just enough going on to keep you curious.

Kota Kinabalu is ideal for families, first-timers, or anyone looking to blend city comforts with easy adventures in nature. It’s an easy-going, welcoming place that offers a little bit of everything.