Overview
Take a trip to Kota Kinabalu on your Malaysia Vacation
Kota Kinabalu is the capital city of Sabah State, in East Malaysia. Situated on the island of Borneo, on the northwest coast, Kota Kinabalu is Borneo’s largest urban centre when on Malaysia vacations.
Establishing small colonies throughout North Borneo in the late 1800s, the British North Borneo Company helped find Kota Kinabalu in 1899. Developed into a major trading post, the city was known as Jesselton, named after Sir Charles Jessel, the Vice Chairman of the Company at the time. After being destroyed during World War II, Kota Kinabalu was rebuilt by the British Crown and has since been one of the fastest-growing cities in Malaysia, even after its independence.
Kota Kinabalu is named after Mount Kinabalu, situated about 50 km east-northeast of the city. It is the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago and features a rich collection of wildlife to be enjoyed on a Malaysia tour.
One of the major industrial and commercial centres of East Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu is a major tourist destination and gateway to Borneo and Sabah. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a park off the coast of Borneo in Malaysia and is made up of five islands featuring rocky coastlines, coral reefs, and white, sandy beaches.
Kota Kinabalu faces the South China Sea and tourists on Malaysia vacations can find first-class holiday resorts, a world-class sailing marina, beautiful golf courses, snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing, wonderful seafood restaurants, and plenty of hospitality.
One of the major industrial and commercial centres of East Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu is a major tourist destination and gateway to Borneo and Sabah. Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is a park off the coast of Borneo in Malaysia and is made up of five islands featuring rocky coastlines, coral reefs, and white, sandy beaches.
Kota Kinabalu faces the South China Sea and tourists on Malaysia vacations can find first-class holiday resorts, a world-class sailing marina, beautiful golf courses, snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing, wonderful seafood restaurants, and plenty of hospitality.
At a Glance
Languages
Malay[e]Currency
Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)What do the experts say?
I love Malaysia's delicious food. The country is also incredibly affordable, and visitors' easy access to public transit is a great way for them to experience local life.
If you want to get out of the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, then you should visit Malacca. The history of this ancient port city is well worth the trip.
I absolutely love travelling through Malaysia by train. It is incredibly scenic. I also love Kuala Lumpur's amazing skyline and Malacca's old Portuguese and Dutch buildings.
Kota Kinabalu's city mosque - a very popular sp...
Watching the sunset
Stilted houses
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah state in ...
Atkinson Clock Tower
Most Popular Time to Travel
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Place
Conditions
Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall
Kota KinabaluPartly Cloudy
34°C / 93°F
24mm / 0.9"
Weather data is based on monthly averages.Popularity rating
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