Kuching

Travel Guide
Kuching
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 centre.

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 jewellery.

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

When in Tabuan Jaya, you can plan a visit to Vivacity Megamall and Friendship Park, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Tabuan Jaya
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Tabuan Dayak

While Tabuan Dayak may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like City One Shopping Mall and The Spring.

Tabuan Dayak
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Kampong Segoleng

While there might not be top attractions in Kampong Segoleng, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Kuching City Mosque and Plaza Merdeka.

Kampong Segoleng
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Kampong No.4

Kampong No.4 might not have many top sights, but Kuching City Mosque and Plaza Merdeka are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Kampong No.4
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Kampong No.2/Bandarshah

Kampong No.2/Bandarshah might not have many top sights, but Kuching City Mosque and Plaza Merdeka are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Kampong No.2/Bandarshah
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Kampong No.6

When in Kampong No.6, you can plan a visit to Kuching City Mosque and Medan Niaga Satok Market, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Kampong No.6
Pullman Kuching
Pullman Kuching
4.5 out of 5
1a Jalan Mathies, Kuching, Sarawak
The price is RM279 per night from 2 Apr to 3 Apr
RM279
per night
2 Apr - 3 Apr
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the spacious rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (998 reviews)
"It is easy to walk down to the waterfront and back. Good if you can provide more information on eateries, places of interest, shops, etc on the map you provided. Its too few, brief and not accurate enough."

Reviewed on 6 Mar 2024

Pullman Kuching
Sheraton Kuching Hotel
Sheraton Kuching Hotel
3.5 out of 5
2, Jalan Padungan, Kuching
The price is RM530 per night from 20 Mar to 21 Mar
RM530
per night
20 Mar - 21 Mar
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, 5 restaurants, and breakfast. Popular attractions Tun Jugah Foundation and Tun Jugah Shopping Center ...
8/10 Very Good! (7 reviews)
"new hotel..."

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2024

Sheraton Kuching Hotel
The Waterfront Hotel
The Waterfront Hotel
4 out of 5
68, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching, Sarawak
The price is RM332 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
RM332
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (491 reviews)
"Very well positioned. Helpful staff. Good facilities. We were in Suite on floor 11."

Reviewed on 22 Feb 2024

The Waterfront 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.
MetroCity Staycation
MetroCity Staycation
3.5 out of 5
Metrocity Commercial Presint, Q309, Kuching, Sarawak
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Kuching. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a Smart TV. Popular attractions Medan Niaga Satok Market and Cat Museum are ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (3 reviews)
Poor condition
"The apartment is located in the Malay community, hard to locate Chinese food. The apartment’s amenities are not really well maintained. Loose taps, lack of places for hanging clothes, broken hanging rack below morris in center room, master bedroom has some moist smell)"

Reviewed on 12 Sep 2023

MetroCity Staycation
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, and a free shopping center shuttle. Popular attractions The Spring and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (430 reviews)
"the staff is very helpful"

Reviewed on 6 Nov 2023

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 Vivacity Megamall and Friendship Park ...
4/10 (2 reviews)
"The waiting time for the room was long, supposed to check-in by 3pm, we waited until 3:30pm, the room was still not ready. After check-in, we found out the bedsheets and pillows are not clean, the floor is also very dusty, and one of the air conditioning water is dripping. The location is very convenient. ..."

Reviewed on 22 Feb 2024

Vivacity Megamall Serviced Apartments
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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