Top places to visit in Kuching

• Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

  orangutan rehabilitation · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Home to semi-wild orangutans in a forest reserve. Feeding sessions: morning 09:00–10:00 and afternoon 14:00–16:00 (subject to fruit availability in the wild). Sightings not guaranteed during fruiting season when orangutans forage…

• Bako National Park

  rainforest national park · 4.7 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Established in 1957 as Sarawak's first national park, Bako covers 27 km² of ancient Bornean rainforest on a dramatic peninsula of sandstone sea stacks, mangrove swamps, and white-sand beaches. It is the best place in Malaysian Borneo to…

• Sarawak Museum

  natural history and ethnography · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry

  Founded in 1891 under Rajah Charles Brooke, the Sarawak Museum is one of Southeast Asia's oldest and finest natural history and ethnographic museums. The original Victorian Normandy-style building houses exceptional collections of Dayak…

• Cat Museum, Kuching

  quirky themed museum · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry

  Kuching literally means "cat" in Malay, and this whimsical museum inside the Kuching North City Hall celebrates the feline connection with over 2,000 cat-related artefacts, artworks, and curios from around the world. Collections range from…

• Borneo Cultures Museum

  flagship state museum · about 2 h · entry RM 50 (≈ ₹1,170)

  Opened in 2022, the Borneo Cultures Museum is the largest museum in Borneo and the second-largest in Malaysia — a five-storey complex telling the story of Sarawak's peoples, cultures, biodiversity and history through immersive, interactive…

• Kuching Waterfront

  riverside esplanade · about 1 h · free entry

  A landscaped riverside esplanade along the Sarawak River, the Kuching Waterfront is the city's social heart. It links colonial-era landmarks — the Square Tower, Old Court House and Chinese History Museum — with food stalls, the Darul Hana…

• Tua Pek Kong Temple

  Taoist temple (c.1843) · about 0.5 h · free entry

  Kuching's oldest Chinese temple, Tua Pek Kong dates to at least 1843 and sits on a rise overlooking the river near the Hilton. Dedicated to the deity Tua Pek Kong, it remains an active Taoist place of worship and the focus of the annual…

• Fort Margherita

  Brooke-era fort & Brooke Gallery (1879) · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Built in 1879 by Rajah Charles Brooke and named after his wife Ranee Margaret, Fort Margherita guarded Kuching against river-borne pirates. The whitewashed, crenellated fort on the north bank now houses the Brooke Gallery, which tells the…

• The Astana

  Governor's residence (1870) · about 0.5 h · free entry

  Built in 1870 by Rajah Charles Brooke as a bridal gift for Ranee Margaret, the Astana ("palace") is a graceful colonial mansion set in landscaped gardens on the north bank of the Sarawak River. It is the official residence of the Governor…

• Sarawak State Legislative Assembly

  state assembly building (2009) · about 0.3 h · free entry

  The striking nine-pointed, umbrella-roofed building (completed 2009) on the north bank is the seat of Sarawak's State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri). Its distinctive payung (umbrella) roof and golden spire dominate the…

• Darul Hana Bridge

  pedestrian river bridge (2017) · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A graceful S-shaped pedestrian bridge opened in 2017, the Darul Hana Bridge spans the Sarawak River, linking the Waterfront with the Astana and Malay kampungs on the north bank. Its twin towers echo the shape of traditional Sarawak boats;…

• Square Tower

  colonial tower (1879) · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Built in 1879 on the Waterfront, the Square Tower once served as a fortress and prison and later a dance hall. The whitewashed colonial structure is one of Kuching's emblematic riverfront landmarks and today hosts exhibitions beside the…

Things to do

• Semenggoh Nature Reserve Orangutan Feeding Nature · 3 h · from MYR 10 per person
• Sarawak Cultural Village Living Museum Cultural · 4 h · from MYR 135 per person
• Bako National Park Day Trip Wildlife · 8 h · from MYR 20 per person
• Kuching Sarawak River Sunset Cruise Cruise · 1.5 h · from MYR 70 per person
• Kuching Waterfront Heritage Walk & Astana Sunset Cultural · 2 h
• Santubong Mangrove & Wildlife River Cruise Wildlife · 3 h · from MYR 260 per person
• Annah Rais Longhouse & Hot Springs Day Tour Cultural · 6 h · from MYR 8 per person
• Fairy Cave & Wind Cave Day Trip (Bau) Adventure · 6 h · from MYR 7 per person

Day trips and tours

• Kuching Wildlife & Culture Day Tour 10 h · from MYR 134
• Kuching City Heritage Walk & Waterfront Sunset 5 h · from MYR 67

Where to stay in Kuching

• Waterfront about MYR 2,500 per night

  Riverfront area with colonial heritage

Hotels

• Pullman Kuching 5-star · MYR 380 to MYR 1,200 per night
• Lime Tree Hotel Kuching 3-star · MYR 150 to MYR 280 per night
• Kuching Waterfront Lodge
• Woodpecker Lodge
• RainForest Budget Stay
• John's Place

Where to eat

• Top Spot Food Court Seafood, Malaysian, Sarawakian · about MYR 60 per person
• Chong Choon Café — Kolo Mee Sarawakian, Chinese, Noodles · about MYR 18 per person
• James Brooke Bistro & Café Sarawakian, Western, Café · about MYR 55 per person
• The Junk Western, Asian, Fusion · about MYR 45 per person
• Lepau Restaurant Sarawakian, Dayak, Malaysian · about MYR 45 per person
• Tribal Stove Sarawakian, Dayak, Malaysian · about MYR 45 per person
• Black Bean Coffee & Tea Company Cafe, Coffee · about MYR 18 per person
• Lau Ya Keng Food Court Chinese, Malaysian, Hawker · about MYR 18 per person

Getting to Kuching

Airport: Kuching (KCH)

How visitors arrive in Kuching

• Flight into Kuching International Airport By air from Kuala Lumpur and other cities · common

  The airport is Sarawak's main gateway, with links from Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and other Borneo cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus to Kuching Sentral By road from Sarawak towns and Pontianak · common

  Express buses come in from Sibu, Miri and other Sarawak towns and from Pontianak in Indonesia. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Express boat from Sibu By ferry from Sibu · possible

  A river express boat links Sibu and Kuching. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport taxi into Kuching

  Taxis are metered, but drivers often do not switch the meter on. Ask them to use it, or agree the fare before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Grab or other ride-hail app unconfirmed

  Uber and GrabCar are listed as options from the airport, and Grab and Maxim are common in the city. Some drivers ask you to cancel in the app and pay cash. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• City bus from the main road junction unconfirmed

  Stage buses no longer enter the airport. Walk to the main T-junction nearby and catch a northbound city bus (routes 3A, 6, 8G or 9). Confirm routes locally. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Some hotels run their own shuttle vans from the airport, so check with your hotel before booking a taxi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus limited to a few areas
• Car Rental Self

  Self-drive rental cars are available at Kuching airport and in town; a navigation app is useful because directional signs are limited.

• Ride Hail

  E-hailing apps including Grab and Maxim are common in Kuching; getting a ride back from rural spots such as Santubong can be harder.

  Get Grab

• Taxi
• Walking

Paying

• City buses may use a coin box beside the driver, so ask the fare and keep small change ready. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Safety and scams to avoid

• Short-Weight Produce Selling at Markets

  Main Bazaar wet market, Satok Weekend Market, Padungan night market

  Some vendors display attractive prices per kg but use improperly calibrated scales or quote prices per jin (catty = 604 g, not 1 kg). Tourists unfamiliar with the unit pay significantly more per gram than advertised.

  How to avoid it: Watch the scale display during weighing and ask the vendor to zero (tare) the scale visibly. Packaged goods from Giant or Mydin supermarkets are accurately priced. At Satok Weekend Market, compare prices at two or three stalls before committing to a purchase.

• Tambang River Ferry Overcharging for Tourists

  Kuching Waterfront tambang jetty, Kampung Boyan river crossing

  The official tambang rate across the Sarawak River is MYR 1 per person per crossing. Some operators charge tourists MYR 5-10 for the same trip or insist on a 'return booking' adding MYR 20-30 for a non-existent reservation service.

  How to avoid it: Standard rate is MYR 1 per crossing. Pay after landing, not before. If charged more, say 'satu ringgit' (one ringgit) clearly. Multiple operators run from the main Waterfront jetty — if one overcharges, use another.

Best time to visit Kuching

• Jan 28°C
• Feb 28°C
• Mar 29°C
• Apr 29°C
• May 30°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 29°C
• Aug 29°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 29°C
• Nov 29°C
• Dec 28°C

More in Malaysia

• Kuala Lumpur
• George Town
• Malacca
• Johor Bahru
• Kota Kinabalu
• Ipoh

Frequently asked questions about Kuching

How many days do you need in Kuching?

A typical trip to Kuching is 3-5 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Kuching?

The highest-rated places in our Kuching guide are Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Bako National Park, Sarawak Museum, Cat Museum, Kuching.

Where should I stay in Kuching?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Kuching: Waterfront.

How do I get around Kuching?

Ways to get around Kuching covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in Kuching?

Scams reported to us for Kuching include Short-Weight Produce Selling at Markets; Tambang River Ferry Overcharging for Tourists. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Kuching?

Average daytime highs in Kuching run from 28°C in Jan to 30°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Kuching?

The nearest airport to Kuching has the code KCH.