Kuching

Travel Guide

Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia
Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia
Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia
Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia
Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia

Kuching Travel Guide Video

Sarawak’s capital city is filled with palaces, forts and temples, and is the gateway to the national parks and thriving orangutan habitats.

A city which has retained and treasured its historic buildings and cultures, Kuching is the place to discover Malaysian Borneo’s past. The nearby national parks will lead you on a journey through Borneo’s ecology, from wetlands and rain forest, to a primate rehabilitation center.

To find your bearings in the “Cat City” (kuching is Malay for cat), follow the city’s waterfront trail that winds along the Sarawak River. This trail takes you past a 19th-century fortress, a Chinese Pavilion, a Buddhist temple, and street food vendors and restaurants where you can try everything from oyster omelettes to a local dry noodle dish, kolok mee.

Discover the oldest existing street in the city, Main Bazaar, where the two-story shops are a great place to hunt for bargain antiques, wooden folk crafts, ceramics and jewelry.

Spend a day or two exploring Kuching’s many museums. The Sarawak Museum was opened in 1891 and has exhibitions of tribal artifacts and extensive natural history collections. Investigate the influence of Islam on Malaysia at the nearby Sarawak Islamic Museum, where you’ll find exhibits dedicated to weaponry, architecture, literature and costumery. The Chinese influence on the city is proudly displayed at the flamboyant riverside temple Tua Pek Kong, built in 1843.

Nature tours are also a prime reason to base yourself in Kuching. Just 30-minute bus ride from the city is the entry to the Bako National Park. Hike the short or long trails through the jungle while keeping an eye out for the endangered proboscis monkeys and flying lizards. Join a boat tour of the Kuching Wetlands National Park to see otters and Irrawaddy dolphins.

Come face-to-face with Borneo’s most famous primates at the Semenggoh Orangutan Sanctuary, which is also rehabilitating a number of other endangered species.

Kuching offers year-round sunshine and is compact and safe enough to comfortably explore on foot or by bicycle.

Where to stay in Kuching

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Tabuan Jaya

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Tabuan Jaya and surrounding area, you can visit Vivacity Megamall and Friendship Park.

Tabuan Jaya
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Kampong Segoleng

When in Kampong Segoleng, you can plan a visit to Sarawak Museum and Plaza Merdeka, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Kampong Segoleng
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Kampong No.4

While Kampong No.4 might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Plaza Merdeka and Sarawak Museum.

Kampong No.4
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Kampong No.2/Bandarshah

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Kampong No.2/Bandarshah and surrounding area, you can visit Sarawak Museum and Plaza Merdeka.

Kampong No.2/Bandarshah
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Kampong No.6

While Kampong No.6 might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Kuching City Mosque and Medan Niaga Satok Market.

Kampong No.6
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Kampung No. 1

While Kampung No. 1 might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Sarawak Museum and Plaza Merdeka.

Kampung No. 1
Sheraton Kuching Hotel
Sheraton Kuching Hotel
3.5 out of 5
2, Jalan Padungan, Kuching
The price is ¥16,638 per night from May 18 to May 19
¥16,638
¥18,309 total
May 18 - May 19
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, 5 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Kuching Waterfront and Tun Jugah Foundation ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (51 reviews)
A good location and pleasant environment
"A pleasant environment but needing a bit of extra oversight from management to improve attention to general housekeeping and service in certain areas. A new manager has just arrived who we believe will look to address these issues. Took feedback on board and keen to remedy. In a good location though. ..."

Reviewed on Mar 6, 2025

Sheraton Kuching Hotel
Grand Margherita Hotel
Grand Margherita Hotel
4 out of 5
Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, P.O. Box 2362, Kuching, Sarawak
The price is ¥6,740 per night from Jun 4 to Jun 5
¥6,740
¥7,619 total
Jun 4 - Jun 5
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this family-friendly hotel in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Popular attractions Kuching Waterfront and Riverside ...
"Located near eating places and waterfront. Inside the room looks old but clean."

Reviewed on Apr 23, 2025

Grand Margherita Hotel
Hilton Kuching
Hilton Kuching
5 out of 5
1 Jln Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuching, Sarawak
The price is ¥16,299 per night from May 25 to May 26
¥16,299
¥17,943 total
May 25 - May 26
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Kuching. Enjoy 5 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Popular attractions Kuching Waterfront and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (659 reviews)
Comfort in a great location
"Excellent lotel in perfect location for tourism great river viewd from room Very comprehensive buffet breakfast catering to multi national tastes but please supply a 2nd coffee machine"

Reviewed on Mar 5, 2025

Hilton Kuching
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Citadines Uplands Kuching
Citadines Uplands Kuching
4 out of 5
No. 55 Jalan Simpang Tiga, Kuching, Sarawak
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in ...
8/10 Very Good! (447 reviews)
"The property is clean and in good condition. Bed and pillows were super hard and the tv had 5 working channels. Lots of noise all night from the constant stream of loud motorcycles and cars driving past the property."

Reviewed on May 11, 2025

Citadines Uplands Kuching
Vivacity Megamall Serviced Apartments
Vivacity Megamall Serviced Apartments
3.5 out of 5
Q112B, Kuching, Sarawak
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Kuching Waterfront and Vivacity Megamall ...
"Towel and Bed sheet to be more organised and better standard. Gate door, common toilet door lock and common toilet seat are very poor and inconvenient. The rest are acceptable. Not considering for next stay."

Reviewed on Mar 22, 2025

Vivacity Megamall Serviced Apartments
Impiana by Roxy Hotel
Impiana by Roxy Hotel
3 out of 5
82 Lebuh Central 21, Kuching, Sarawak
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Kuching. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Kuching Waterfront and Sri Srinivasagar Kaliamman ...
Impiana by Roxy Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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