cat museum kuching

35 BEST Things to do in Kuching Sarawak in 2024

After two trips to Kuching, including two weeks volunteering with Orangutan Project at the MonkeeBar, I got many opportunities to travel in Kuching, like a local. Since I was staying in a volunteer house in the city, it was easy to just get a Grab or Uber to all attractions in Kuching city. This gave me ample chances to explore this lovely cat city and create this amazing list of things to do in Kuching Sarawak, heart of Malaysia.

From cute cafes to national parks, stunning sunsets to museums, there are plenty of interesting places in Kuching for a first-time wanderer.

Guide to Booking a Last Minute Trip to Kuching

Are you on a short trip to Kuching or have just a few days left before you fly? Well, worry not, with this handpicked list of tours and hotels, you are covered.

Must Try Kuching Tours

Bako National Park Tour – Absolute must visit , read my post about Bako here.

Semenggoh Orangutan Centre 

Sarawak Cultural Village Tour 

Top Hotels in Kuching

Hornbill’s Nest – Best budget stay with cozy rooms

Citadines Uplands Kuching – Superb fully serviced apartments. Read my full review here.

Merdeka Palace – Good location and fancy stay in heart of Kuching

In this Kuching blog, I will cover the best places to visit in Kuching, alongside some great activities in Kuching – the pretty cat city of Sarawak.

[Please note: Even though I visited and wrote this article few years ago, all attractions covered here are still operational post covid-19. They have been checked and confirmed to be latest and valid as of date.]

So, join me and experience some popular Kuching attractions, through my eyes.

30 Things to do in Kuching Sarawak For All Sorts of Travelers

what to do in kuching

Kuching – the cat city, is a no brainer stop if you are in Borneo and wondering what to do in Sarawak.  With so much to do for foodies, nature lovers, adventurers and the likes, Kuching will surely not disappoint.

things to do in kuching

If you are a true blue nature lover and prefer jungles over big city madness, Kuching is the perfect getaway. Think – orangutans, national parks, sea turtles, beaches and much more.

Here’s a quick video run through of some of the best things to do in Kuching city

Hike in Bako national park

Bako national park happens to be one of my top spots for hiking in Kuching. It’s a lovely park for nature and wildlife enthusiasts and has the highest density of Proboscis monkeys, which are endemic to Borneo. You can also see the adorable Bornean bearded pigs here and enjoy a multitude of jungle hikes.

bako national park trail
Path to your jungle lodge at Bako

Since the weather is hot and humid, Bako requires a fair bit of planning and packing essentials. Be sure to check out the guided night hike for a chance of one on one encounters with nocturnal animals in Bako.

In short, this park offers an amazing array of adventures and activities and tops my list of Kuching things to do.

Read my full post about Bako National Park here 

Look for Sea Turtles in Satang Island

Satang island can be a once in a lifetime experience if you visit during the turtle hatching season from April – September. If lucky, you can actually see turtles coming to the beach and laying eggs or the hatch-lings fleeing away to the big blue seas.

sea turtle satang
Green sea turtle at Satang, preparing to lay her 118 eggs 🙂

This can be an incredible experience and I documented my entire experience of watching this natural phenomenon in another blogpost.

Click here for my pictures and travel stories from Satang Island

Hop on the Irrawady dolphin tour

One of the best attractions in Kuching is a lovely mangrove tour to find the Irrawady dolphins. This starts from Damai beach and usually lasts 2-3 hours.

We were fortunate enough to see a bunch of playful dolphins up close (Even though I didn’t consider Kuching as a dolphin watching destination) , Proboscis monkeys, few water birds, neon blue tiny crabs as well as a crocodile on this tour.

irrawaddy dolphin
Our very first sighting of the Irrawaddy dolphin

The tour also covers a visit to the local fishing village, which offers a peek inside traditional village culture.

Click here to check out pictures from my Irrawady dolphin tour in Kuching

Orangutan Feeding at Semenggoh Nature Reserve

Semenggoh is a primate rehabilitation center which offers best chances of seeing Orangutans in ‘Semi-wild’, as they call it. Orangutans here are left free to roam in the reserve and the rangers call them out at fixed feeding time everyday to ensure they never run short of food in the wild. Hence, they are ‘semi-wild’ as sometimes during fruiting season, they might not come looking for fruits at feeding hour.

semenggoh orangutans
Adorable orangutan at Semenggoh, enjoying feeding hour

Early morning is the best time to visit Semenggoh so you can walk around a bit on your own and do some birding and hiking before feeding time at 0900 hours. The noon feeding time is at 1500 hrs but it gets very hot and it’s not a great time for bird watching either.

Rangers in Semenggoh are friendly and helpful. They would happily tell you about all Organutans in the park, their names and awesome facts about the park and these primates.

Entry ticket semenggoh
And hey, entry is just RM 10 :))

A visit to Semenggoh is a must-d0 family activity in Kuching Sarawak Malaysia.

Click here to book a hassle free tour to Semenggoh from Kuching. 

Bird Watching in Kuching Malaysia

As an avid birder, my sole mission was to find the best birding spots in Kuching and so, I did. In no particular order, these are the top 3 birding spots in Kuching

Asian fairy bluebird
Asian fairy bluebird spotted at Bako

Kubah National Park – The trails inside Kubah have ample fruiting trees which draw hoards of bird species. A quick early morning 3-4 hour birding session in Kubah is said to be extremely fruitful. Be sure to take an experienced guide along with. While in Kubah, also pay a visit to animal rescue center at Matang to understand what Project Orangutan stands for an how you can help.

Borneo Highlands Resort – This is a eco-wellness resort, around 45 mins from Kuching city center. The resort lies 1000 mtrs over sea level is nestled amidst dense forestation, making it ideal for highland birds. I could not check it out personally but all avid naturalists I met would swear by this place. The only criteria is you will have to start extra early around 0430 hrs to make it there on time for early morning birding.

Bako National Park – Bako was undoubtedly my favorite. Since the park rangers and guides don’t have immense birding knowledge (well, they know their kingfishers and sunbirds), its best to spend a few nights and zero in on best spots each morning. I had great luck around the restaurant area, which is also an excellent spot for Proboscis monkeys. During one of my morning birding sprees, I was lucky enough to spot a Proboscis without the usual tourist rush, well, i was the only one there at that time. I spotted a White bellied woodpecker and the Asian fairy bluebird, which were both lifers for me.

White bellied woodpecker
White bellied woodpecker

TipThere is dearth of good birding guides in Kuching. Mr Yeo is the most popular (And expensive) guide but he s booked for months in advance and worth every cent he charges. However, if you are on a budget (like us), simply spend more time and look for fruiting trees, open areas near resorts and wake up early. It can be hard to find birds in the dense rainforests but keep your eyes open and binoculars handy, you can get lucky anytime!

Enter the world of Cats at the Cat Museum

Are you a cat lover? If so, I would highly recommend visiting the cat city of Kuching and definitely take a look inside this adorable cat museum. Surely one of the best indoor activities in Kuching to enjoy on a hot humid day.

Entry is free and it takes around an hour to go through all displays.

The cat museum in Kuching has some cute cat statues, many cat posters, cat adverts and cat figurines. However, the best part are the cat souvenirs which you can buy for just RM 10 for 3-10 pieces (Depending on what you buy). This amounts to $2.3 total, and you can choose from fridge magnets and keyrings.

Cat museum is surely among the top free things to do in Kuching.

TipCat museum is open till 1700 daily, so I would recommend starting from Kuching city around 1500 (max) as the museum is located on the outskirts and can take a while to reach. 

Smell the Flowers at Orchid garden

Our third free entry spot in Kuching is the lovely Orchid garden. It is close to the cat museum so I would recommend visiting both together.

This greenhouse nursery boasts of over 82 species of Orchids including the Normah Orchid which is the state flower of Sarawak.

Orchid garden in Kuching
Orchid garden in Kuching

However, avoid an afternoon visit as it can get very hot and you lose half the fun in a rush to get out of the scorching sun. Not many Uber/Grab drivers and locals know this garden yet so search and save it beforehand on your phone GPS.

Volunteer at the Monkee bar

Follow my footsteps and do your bit by traveling responsibly. Help out where you can and since I am not too great at teaching, I choose to opt for animal welfare. MonkeeBar is in affiliation with Project Orangutan, which means 50% proceeds from the bar profits go towards orangutan conservation in Matang wildlife center.

volunteer monkeebar
Volunteering as a bartender at MonkeeBar – Like a Boss ;p

There are two ways to volunteer with the Project Orangutan – paid and free. Paid volunteers stay in close proximity to the animals and help out by cleaning their enclosures, feeding (in rare cases), building enclosures or any odd jobs required around Matang. As a free volunteer, you cannot work directly with Orangutans but you can help out at the bar by doing usual bar work – cleaning, serving drinks, informing guests about the project and more.

You can read all about Project Orangutan and how you can help by clicking here.

Get a tan at Damai Beach

This is surely one of the best beach resort destination in Borneo. With stunning coastline, dotted with Damai resort properties, this beach is popular with guests staying in these resorts, as well as locals/travelers who visit just to enjoy some beach time. If you are looking for laid back outdoor activities in Kuching, Damai has a few options plus a free tan.

damai beach sarawak
Breathtaking Damai beach in Sarawak

Several water activities and the mangrove tour are also organized by the resorts at Damai. Plus, this is one of the best spots in town for some great beach side dining options.

High Five the Cat Statues

Well, you are in cat city! You most certainly cannot ignore the multitude of amazing cat statues at important intersections in Kuching city. Why not try what I did and high five the adorable cat statues around town? I soon discovered this was a LOT of fun 🙂

Cat Statues in Kuching city
Cat Statues in Kuching city

I booked a Grab car and simply asked the driver to take me to all the cat statues in Kuching. I was told that the main cat statue (the white cat in pic above) is adorned in traditional clothes from time to time, like during Chinese new year, the cat wears a red dress and so on so forth. How utterly cute is that?

Be Mesmerized by the best Sunsets in Malaysia

Honestly, I experienced some of the best sunsets of Malaysia right here in Kuching. Some of the best things in life are free and sunset chasing is surely the best. Especially if you are wondering what to do in Kuching alone, well, nothing beats solo gazing at a stunning sunset.

My top sunset spots in Kuching were –

Waterfront – Walk towards the very end of the Waterfront, opposite the open air market. You will come to a dead end and usually a lot of photographers will mark the spot after 1800 hrs daily. The USP here is the sun fading over the city and mountains with the river in forefront, offering perfect reflections of the changing colors of the sky. This is also definitely the best place to walk in Kuching with lots of food and entertainment to keep you occupied.

Bako National Park – You can find the most dramatic sunsets on the beaches of Bako. I love the crooked shaped mountain as the backdrop, sky always seems to be on fire and the Bornean bearded pigs make for excellent objects to shoot in this landscape.

bearded pig bako
Silhouette of the Bornean bearded pig against the dramatic backdrop

Satang Island – The sunsets at Satang had the most beautiful and bright orange hues I have ever seen. This private island offers excellent sunset photography options with various objects on the beach – trees, fallen branches, crabs, rocks and the empty beach which help to create a stunning effect.

sunset satang kuching
Bright orange hues as they melt and fade into the horizon
sunset satang island
Our perfect rock to sit, chat, gulp beer and watch the epic sunset

Gulp Beer in Cool Drinking Holes

Well, I am surely biased so I will highly recommend having a few pints at the MonkeeBar or Bear Garden. Both of these bars are affiliated with Project Orangutan so 50% proceeds go towards Orangutan conservation efforts. So, if you are in Kuching and want to drink for a cause – Check these bars out.

monkeebar kuching
In my totally biased opinion – head straight to MonkeeBar

Other options are Junk, The Library or just head over to one of the many kiosks by the Waterfront to enjoy ‘after-party’ drinks at happy hour rates.

Walk along the Waterfront

THE place to be in Kuching, hands down is the beautiful waterfront. The Waterfront is a great place to walk around, eat out and chill with friends. Evenings are vibrant and lively with the lovely state legislate building, all lit up, casting amazing reflections on the water.

kuchin waterfront
Lovely views at the Kuching Waterfront

You can choose to stroll the length of Kuching waterfront or even opt to take a guided river cruise.  There is a lot to do at the Waterfront like listen to live music, eat local food (at dirt cheap rates) or watch breathtaking sunsets. The sunset point is right at the end of the waterfront and makes for lovely views of sun peeking behind the mountains. So if you are wondering what to do in Kuching at night? A visit to the Waterfront is surely one of the top things to do in Kuching at night, apart from scoring the multitude of bars.

India Street

Okay so in all honesty, coming from India, the India street in Kuching didn’t impress me much. Narrow lanes, shops and a local mosque is basically all the street has to offer.

india street kuching
Vibrant colors at India street

It might not be the best place to visit in Kuching, but, the India street is right across the beautiful Waterfront and the open air market so its easy to cover it with your Waterfront evening stroll. If nothing else, the vibrant colors and clothing might interest you.

Check out the Kuching Mosque

Kuching has some incredible architecture with jaw dropping backdrop of rainforests and mountains. So much so that everything looks ultra pretty in the cat city.

Kuching Mosque
Kuching Mosque

Kuching city mosque and other lovely mosques in town stand tall and look stunning from every angle – throw in some cloud porn for good measure and you have a picture perfect setting. The city mosque however is the main one and one of the top Kuching attraction.

Visit the Quirky Upside Down Museum aka Rumah Terbalik

Okay so full disclosure – this was my first visit to an Upside down museum, so needless to say – I loved it to bits. I believe I saw a few upside down exhibits in London several years ago but nothing like this quirky museum in Kuching.

upside down kuching
Hanging from the ceiling? Of course its possible at the upside down house

So as everyone knows, things in the museum are upside down and you simply pose and click pictures to give a notion of hanging from the roof and fun stuff like that.

After this, I even visited the bigger better version in Penang but quite honestly, I would say the museum in Kuching was far better. The staff was super helpful and smiling vs. the staff in Penang’s Upside down who always seemed to be a rush, can’t blame them as they are super busy, but hey.. you can’t rush a good picture now can you?.

Even though’s Kuching’s Upside down museum is small but its very new so with enthusiastic and helpful staff and lovely displays, this is surely a must visit. If you are wondering where to go in Kuching, this museum should be top of your list. If you are seeking for date ideas in Kuching, this museum will guarantee a fun time with your partner.

You can buy a combo ticket with the 3d Wonders museum (though, I didn’t try it personally). Ticket price for non Malaysians is RM 20. For any info, feel free to contact their responsive staff on their Facebook page.

Sarawak museum

Another one of those free things to do in Kuching is visiting the Sarawak State Museum. As the oldest museum in Borneo, it draws fair bit of crowds from all over Malaysia.

You can see stuffed animals and peek into the rural Bornean life and culture in the olden ‘headhunter’ days. My favorite part was a re-creation of a traditional long house. You can literally walk inside and see exactly how Sarawakians used to live, sleep, eat in their authentic village house.

Sarawak Museum
Sarawak Museum

Photography is prohibited inside the museum but the lovely building makes perfect backdrops for your travel photos.

See the Famous Fort Margherita

Built by Rajah of Sarawak in 1879 along the Sarawak river, this is a important milestone in Sarawak’s history.

Fort Margherita was built with the sole purpose of safe guarding Kuching from pirates who would come via the river. Back in the day, a canon shot from the fort, used to mark the end of each work day.

Loiter around Padungan Street

Jalan Padungan is a bustling street full of lovely themed restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bars and bakeries. This is the place to be for chilling or a day out with friends.

jalan padungan
Lively intersection of Padungan street

Bar (or even restaurant/cafe) hopping can be easily done here and that’s what I did for over 2 weeks while volunteering at the bar. MonkeeBar is a short 5 mins walk from the street intersection which made this the perfect day hangout / work space for me.

Cat statues at Padungan st intersection
Cat statues at Padungan st intersection

Kuching Old Courthouse

If you like to see heritage style architecture, pay a visit to the old courthouse which is now a tourism complex. It used to be the administrative center for Kuching and now hosts all sorts of events like weddings, corporate events and a multitude of indoor and outdoor private events.

Stay at Fancy Hotels

You can stay at lovely hotels without breaking the bank just because Kuching is an overall cost effective city to live in. I have personally stayed in Citadines apartment hotel, where they provide fully equipped apartments with all hotel comforts. Click to read my review of Citadines.

cooking jo
Living like a local in my apartment hotel at Citadines

The other hotel I tried was Merdeka Palace hotel, which was also pretty amazing with close proximity to Plaza Merdeka shopping mall and a short walk from the bustling Waterfront.

Apart from these two hotels, I practically lived like a local in the volunteer house whilst walking/cycling to work everyday, hitching rides or taking a Grab car. I also lived in basic jungle lodges at Bako national park and Satang island.

Must Read – top 10 amazing hotels in Kuching on TripAdvisor.

Bask in the Cafe Culture

Cafe culture in Kuching is simply amazing. As someone who is location independent, I love working from cafes while traveling. I get to try local food, drinks, meet people and just enjoy living like a local .. in a new country. Plus, it is so much better working from a cafe than your hotel, right?

From themed cafes like Feast & Furious (You are right, that’s Fast & Furious themed) to lovely coffee shops like – Bing, 21 Bistro, The Coffee Garden, Earthlings & more, its easy to immerse in the cafe culture here.

Attend the Rainforest World Music Festival

Kuching has a variety of events and festivals which attracts hoards of travelers from around the globe. I was fortunate enough to be invited as a guest of Sarawak tourism to attend the amazing Rainforest World Music Festival 2017 and I LOVED it!

RWMF hashtag
Loved their hashtags all around Kuching and at the venue!

This absolutely makes it to my top 30 list. It was attended by over 20,000 Malaysians and foreigners this year and has a great vibe to it. Even though its trying to resurrect traditional instruments, the beats created are simply amazing. I never expected to have so much fun in a cultural music fest but this was way beyond my expectations and turned out to be a fun-filled event.

Lots of beer, great music and good company are the key elements to enjoy this festival – and of course, when it rains, things get a lot crazier.

Check out my video & pictures of RWMf 2017

Shopping in Kuching

Honestly, I am not big on shopping but I got some great deals for gifts, souvenirs and clothes at Plaza Merdeka. I also paid a visit to the biggest mall in Kuching – Spring Shopping Mall. However, the malls houses similar international brands like we have in India, so there was no novelty for me, at least.

India street and the open air market around the waterfront is great for street shopping. For example, I purchased a pair of slippers for 50 cents and no they are not branded but last for years.

Watch a Muay Thai match

Muay Thai is quite popular in Kuching, as in other parts of Asia. For the first time, I saw a Muay Thai match inside a mall (at Plaza Merdeka) and there was no place to step foot inside – that’s how much Sarawakians enjoy watching this sport. Bystanders were gawking at the champions from even upto 4th floor of the mall.

muay thai kuching
Jam packed mall when they were hosting a Muay Thai match

It was quite a frenzied affair, which also meant all shops were empty and I could roam around and shop with ease.

Buy Cat Souvenirs

You cannot visit the cat city and leave without cat souvenirs now, can you? Absolutely and most certainly not!

cat souvenirs
Cat stoll and cat/ hornbill/turtle keyrings make for lovely souvenirs

Purchase cute and cheap cat souvenirs and trinkets for just RM 10 ( USD 2.4) for 10 pieces at the cat museum, which is the cheapest I saw in the city. I also found a lovely cat print pashmina at Plaza Merdeka for RM 20 in their souvenir store on 1st floor. Apart from that, you can find souvenirs around the open air market at Waterfront or India street.

Try Local Food

You will NEVER be worried about ‘What to eat in Kuching‘. This city , like any other Malaysian city actually, is FULL of delightful delicacies around every corner. However, unlike peninsular Malaysia, Kuching is extremely cost effective.

Malaysian cuisine in kuching
Local food galore

My personal favorite restaurant is the Life cafe and for outdoor seating and local street food – head to the open air market at waterfront. Food kiosks offer dishes starting at just $1 and you can gulp ice cold beer as you enjoy the river breeze and lovely sunsets.

Stay Fit at Kuching Integrated Recreational center

Want to stay active while traveling? Visit the Kuching Integrated recreational center to enjoy a variety of sports and activities to stay active, healthy and motivated. Take a jog around the huge park or dip in the pool, play a game of basketball or enjoy an open air Tai Chi class.

Meow Meow Cat Cafe

I love how Kuching city has all this cool cat stuff and I cannot stop recommending this destination to my cat loving friends. Another feature in the hat for this cat city is the enchanting Meow Meow cat cafe.

meow meow cafe
Playing with the feline stars of Meow Meow cat cafe

This is a lovely cat themed cafe with decor, drinks and food – everything themed around cats. Plus you can make new feline friends by playing with one of the 6 friendly in-house cats.

Entry is just RM 10 ($2.3) which includes a drink from their menu. What’s not to like about this cute cafe? I say, head straight to Meow Meow when you visit Kuching! Surely one of my favorite hidden places in Kuching. 

cat cafe kuching
Cute catty interiors of Meow Meow

Cooking class with a local

Many locals offer cooking classes where you can learn the local cuisine. These classes can be quite fun too and start at around RM 50 ($11.6).

Benefits of taking a class with a local is you experience the local lifestyle first hand by cooking with them and understanding all ingredients and process. What you want to learn will depend on you but the popular dishes are Roti canai and Laksa.

My friend gave this class a shot and even though it was her worst attempt at making Roti canai, she had a blast.

For booking a cooking class, feel free to contact this number (Whatsapp/Call) – +601136316579

[BONUS Things to Do in Sarawak Kuching – Updated]

During my latest research on Kuching, I realized there are several attractions and fun things to do which I had missed visiting during my trip to the cat city. 

However, these can make for great additions to your Kuching sightseeing list so here are my 5 bonus things to do in the cat city of Kuching – 

Try Water Sports in Kuching

I love exploring water activities during my trips – be it surfing in Bali or wakeboarding in Hradec Kralove, tubing in Vang Vieng or paddleboarding in Big berry. 

With around 1050 kilometres of coastline, the Sarawak coastline is the second-longest in Malaysia. This ensures that Kuching has ample coastline for those interested in water sports activities.

If you are looking for adventure activities around the coast you can head for various kayaking spots where you can admire the spectacular and natural scenery of Kuching.

Also, those looking for underwater activities can try scuba diving and snorkelling here. You can find many scuba diving instructors and schools to help you learn how to scuba dive and snorkel if you are doing this for the first time. You can also try river cruising and enjoy the views of Kuching from a river.

Hike Mount Santubong

When you are exploring Kuching you can see Mount Santubong from a distance as it is one of the highest mountains in Sarawak. Nestled within a gazette national park this is one of the best places for hiking. Being one of the highest mountains in the area, hikers are rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the city and the Sarawak River.

With more than 4 hours of hiking activity, you will need enough stamina and strength to hike up the mountain. If you are looking for a day-long hiking activity hiking Mount Santubong or Gunung Santubong is one of the things you must do when you are in Kuching. 

This is a popular Kuching tourist attraction which I am actually sad about missing, as a hiking enthusiast myself. 

Spend Time at Sarawak Cultural Village

Kuching has a long history of indigenous people living here for many centuries. Visiting Sarawak Cultural Village is one of the things you must do to find out more about the local culture and traditions and even the local arts and crafts.

Spending time at the Sarawak Cultural Village is a great way to go back in time and learn about the local architecture and other ancient techniques such as bead making, bamboo carving and weaving.

This cultural centre is Sarawak’s only living museum offering you a virtual tour of ethnic houses, try authentic Kampung food through the menu they offer multi-cultural dance performances as well. This is surely one of the top things to do in Sarawak. 

Click here to book a guided Sarawak village cultural tour. 

Pray at the Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple

Over many centuries many Chinese immigrants have settled in the city making Kuching their permanent home. Hence, you will also find one of the oldest Chinese temples here in Kuching.

It is estimated that the Tua Pek Kong Chinese temple was built in 1770 for the Chinese community settled here. The temple structure has intricate carvings that convey the stories of Chinese deities.

While the temple did suffer heavy damage during the Japanese invasion during the WWII era, the structure has been restored and today it has become a part of the Kuching Heritage Trail. The temple overlooks the Sarawak River and has become a focal point for the Chinese community living in Kuching. 

Explore Kuching Wetlands National Park

best things to do in kuching

Visiting the Kuching Wetlands National Park can offer you a unique experience as you cover the saline mangrove plantations which are now the only existing part of Sarawak Mangrove Forest Reserve.

Going on a river cruise in this national park offers you a unique perspective and allows you to see the untouched natural beauty hard to find elsewhere. On this river cruise you pass through quaint Malay fishing villages, endangered species of birds and wild crocodiles basking in the mud.

Being on a river cruise during the evening hours provides a magical experience as you watch the sunset over the horizon and see those golden rays light up the water as well. You can say its one of the best place in Kuching city for nature lovers. 

Where to Stay in Kuching, Sarawak?

Kuching has all sorts of accommodation from private room rentals for long term or short stay options for tourists (which we will cover here).

Budget stays and Hostels in Kuching

Sunset homestay – Highly rated accommodation offering mixed dorms for travelers.

QuiikCat – Private rooms close to the waterfront, without breaking the bank.

Hero hostel – One of the best rated centrally located hostels in Kuching.

Hornbill’s Nest Kuching – At 5 bucks a night, dorms here are cozy clean and comfortable.

Mid-Range Hotels in Kuching

The Lime tree hotel – One of the top-rated properties in Kuching, with a rooftop lounge and a short walk from the waterfront.

Dorset Boutique hotel – Cozy rooms in the heart of Kuching city.

Luxury accommodation in Kuching

Hilton Kuching – Located in the bustling Kuching waterfront, Hilton is a class apart with its stunning pool and 6 in-house dining options. As ideal pitstop while you explore places to go in Kuching. 

Citadines Uplands Kuching – This was my choice of stay in Kuching so I can highly recommend these fully serviced apartments. Read my full review here.

Imperial suites Kuching – Fully serviced cozy apartment hotel in Kuching.

How to Stay Insured During your Trip to Kuching

Traveling to Kuching? Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance!

SafetyWing is a cost-efficient travel medical insurance that is designed by digital nomads for digital nomads and long-term or frequent travelers. For $37/4 weeks, or just $1.32 per day, it’s the perfect travel insurance to ensure you are covered should anything go array.
 
What else you should know about SafetyWing:
  • The price is 1/3rd of the price of the biggest competitor for similar coverage
  • Offers worldwide coverage as well as limited home country coverage (up to 30 days every 3 months, or 15 days if your home country is the US)
  • Available for purchase in 180 countries and can be purchased while already traveling
  • It works like a subscription, you can choose your start date and cancel any time
  • You can also select specific dates, with a minimum of 5 days
  • 24/7 support is available
  • 1 young child per adult (up to 2 per family) aged between 14 days and 10 years old can be included with no additional cost

Click here to read more or to buy SafetyWing Insurance and stay safe on your travels. 

Kuching Attractions Map

Here are some of the best places to visit in Kuching, all jotted down on a map to give you an idea of distances in the city –

FAQs

What to do in Kuching for 3 Days?

Okay so I spent over 3 weeks in Kuching so obviously there was a lot to see in do. If you only gave 3 days in the cat city be sure to check out the cat museum, statues, good food and laid back bars. Keep it short and don't pack it with the multitude of Kuching activities.

What is Kuching Famous For?

Kuching's top attractions are surely - Bako national park (Definietly my favorite too), Cat museum, Kuching waterfront, Sarawak museum, City mosque and Damai Beach.

What to Buy in Kuching?

Since I was in Kuching for almost a month ofcourse I was expected to bring back souvenirs. So I decided to check the best souvernirs from Kuching to bring back as gifts. Personally, I loved the cat themed clothes (a little hard to find but one shawl is still my favorite), Black pepper, coffee and many cool local Malay food items. Textiles and Bornean artifacts from the headhunter tribes can also make for interesting gifts.

What to do in Kuching Waterfront?

Take photos of sunsets, listen to live music, take a traditional boat cruise on the river and eat amazing food. The waterfront was my favorite place for easy evening strolls.

Kuching is the gem of East Malaysia and a Sarawak must visit city. If you happen to be headed to Borneo, enjoy one of the many interesting and fun things to do in Kuching as listed here or try something different on your own. Do share your must-do’s and anecdotes from your time in Kuching city with me in comments or feel free to drop me an email.

Jo

22 thoughts on “35 BEST Things to do in Kuching Sarawak in 2024”

  1. Wow, what an amazingly comprehensive post! I knew about the Orangutan Feeding, and was also aware of the chances to see sea turtles and the appeal of exploring nature and wildlife via the national parks and beaches. But thanks for the recommendations for all the other things to do! I want to visit the Cat Museum and the Upside Down Museum, that last one is an instagrammer’s dream! I also love gardens, so the Orchid Garden is now on my list. Food is a big passion of mine so eating locally and taking a class would be high priorities for me.

    1. Hi Kavey, Totally agree on IG’er’s dream – reminds me I need to add more frm Kuching to my IG 🙂
      There’s tons to see in Kuching itself and I soooo wanna explore more parts of Borneo. Have you visited already?

  2. Wow, there is certainly a lot to do in Kuching! I love that all the activities are so varied too. How many days do you think is good for a visit, based on all these things to do?

  3. There’s a great balance of cultural and outdoor activities here. I love cats and would definitely spend some time at the cat museum. And I never say no to a good hike!

  4. Honestly bookmarking this page and sending it to my husband as a possible travel option for next summer! I love the cats being everywhere (crazy cat lady here), and that there are opportunities to meaningfully volunteer and help with wildlife. Great and informative post. Also that upside down museum is AWESOME!!

  5. Kuching is the best isn’t it!! Bako was one of the highlights of all our time in Asia to be honest, such an amazing place! But hey, my favourite thing to do in Kuching was to come and sink a few beers with you at the monkee bar!! ha ha!

  6. I’ve never heard of Kuching but you have highlighted so many fun things to do. I’ll have to look more into it. I especially loved the museum. It looks quite fun for posing for pictures.

  7. Looks like an amazing place Jo. My favourite – the upside down museum. Loved all the photos of you in unusual places. The Citadines reminded me of the hotel I always stayed at when I was in Melbourne for work many years ago. Always a comfy place to stay.

  8. Excellent article – I will be in Kuching early January 2018!! Being a massive cat lover ( juts returned from St Petersburg Russia ) which is also cat crazy city….
    Will definitely use your trip report as a guide!!
    Any tips on Airport transfers to Hotel?
    Do you have any trip reports on Kota Kinabalu

    1. Hey Johan, Glad you enjoyed the article and well you will surely love Kuching esp as a cat lover 🙂 Well use grab or uber from airport they are super cheap. Depending on where in the city you stay, fares start at JUST 4RM.
      Sorry I haven’t been to Kota Kinabalu yet (its on my list) but def visit Bako national park, near Kuching. Here’s my guide – https://www.wanderwithjo.com/bako-national-park-haven-wildlife-enthusiasts-nature-lovers/
      Have fun and do share your experience with me once you are back!

  9. I’ve stayed in Citadine twice! Love that hotel… and I loved how convenient it was to just walk over to the Springs and find dinner. Sakai is my fave sushi spot!

    Oliver x

  10. edward partridge

    went there with my phillipines friend some years ago and while I was fascinated with the head hunter display across the river and textile museum ,there seemed to be much that was either being renovated or simply closed the orangotang refuge appeared to be on hold and no help from any staff we came across also a trap //the bus there had a very loose idea of any itinerary,,we got stranded there and managed to flag down a car to enjoyed the boat across to the fort and admin building being constructed and those head hunter skulls nearby //nice hotel and would go back to see changed things..of course/things have changed dramatically anyway now /would still like to receive info so will add my e mail address//vey good presentation from you chrs ted partridge new Zealand 02102651883 ps/it was actually yr 2008 was there

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top
1K Shares
Share704
Tweet
Pin600
Share