Kota Kinabalu travel guide
Kota Kinabalu Tourism | Kota Kinabalu Guide
You're Going to Love Kota Kinabalu
With a population of 457.326, Kota Kinabalu is the largest city in Sabah, Malaysia by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Kota Kinabalu deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Activities & attractions in Kota Kinabalu
Nature & Outdoor Activities
Tours
When to visit Kota Kinabalu
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Kota Kinabalu in April, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 71.6 °F, with an average temperature of 78.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in October, when precipitation is around 13.8″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Kota Kinabalu, with an average rainfall of 2.4″.
How to Get to Kota Kinabalu
Plane
When flying to Kota Kinabalu, you’ll arrive at Kota Kinabalu (BKI), which is located 6 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Kota Kinabalu from the United States departs from Seattle and takes around 24h 55m.
Car
Another option to get to Kota Kinabalu is to pick up a car rental from Sandakan, which is about 227 km from Kota Kinabalu. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Avis, among others, in Sandakan.
Airlines serving Kota Kinabalu
Where to stay in Kota Kinabalu
From 5-star hotels such as the The Pacific Sutera Hotel to great affordable options like the Sky Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $36 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $77 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include KK Times Square Hotel and Kk Waterfront Hotel.
Where to stay in popular areas of Kota Kinabalu
Most booked hotels in Kota Kinabalu
Renting a car in Kota Kinabalu
Renting a car in Kota Kinabalu costs $50 per day, on average, or $99 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 18% cheaper than airport locations in Kota Kinabalu.
Expect to pay $1.67 per gallon in Kota Kinabalu (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $19.99 and $26.65. The most frequently booked car type in Kota Kinabalu is Full-size (Class Full-size SUV or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Perodua Axia or similar) are, on average, 28% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.