When I ventured to Sarawak for the first time, I travelled with an open mind and nullified any expectations until I truly explored and appreciated the East Malaysian Region.
The beating drums blared on arrival in Kuching, the largest City in Sarawak, at how incredible this City was to the visiting world.
From its bustling city-centre to the iconic Kuching Waterfront and the epic hikes in the National Parks, what do in Kuching for a fulfilling vacation is endless.
You can visit quirky museums, enjoy a sunset river cruise and discover the culture of a region that dates back centuries in time.
It’s all on display with stunning Kuching Tourist attractions and exploring the City and beyond after a few days. You’ll look to extend your stay into an already busy schedule in Malaysia.
Let’s dive into all the fun things to do in Kuching because you’ll want to get your Borneo Itinerary ready for this trip and begin with all the fun Kuching activities.
Are you looking for a hotel in Kuching City? Find accommodation of all budgets at Booking.com!
What to do in Kuching varies from a river cruise to a visit to a National Park.
Arrive in Kuching City in Style with Private transfers from the airport!
What to do in Kuching – Sarawak
Key activities are divided into different parts for this edition for what to do in Kuching.
From the action along the Waterfront, the best heritage buildings to visit, a snapshot of the national parks for a day tour and many other fabulous Kuching tourist places to explore.
The Action Heats up along the Kuching Waterfront
The Kuching Waterfront takes centre stage, especially during the evening hours, when people flock to the area for an evening stroll, a dinner view and a picturesque cruise along the Sarawak River.
With many of the popular Kuching hotels near the Waterfront, it becomes easily accessible to take in the daily events.
Check out the following activities for other incredible Kuching things to do along the Waterfront.
The action heats up along the Waterfront when the sun begins to come down.
The fountain Show
The nighttime fountain lights up the Kuching sky spectacularly, particularly the Sarawak River section in front of the iconic Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri.
The crowds gather in numbers every evening to catch a glimpse of the fifteen-minute event for the dazzling colours, the effects and sounds of the Kuching Waterfront Musical Fountain.
The session of the fountain show begins at 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm daily, and on the Friday to Sunday nights, there is an extra 10:30 pm edition.
Kuching Waterfront Musical Fountain.
A Gorgeous Riverside Kuching Walk
It can’t be helped when you visit Kuching, the walking paths along the Sarawak River are inviting, and every day you’ll go on a riverside walk to capture the best Kuching attractions.
The best time for a river walk is when the sun begins to fade away to end another memorable day.
When the weather starts to cool, the fitness fanatics take advantage of the refreshing change in temperature with a daily stroll or jog along the banks.
Kuching! the home of the Waterfront.
Riverside dining
During the day, the stalls are usually empty, and not a lot is happening. However, deep into the afternoon, food stalls are opening throughout the Kuching Waterfront, and an affordable feed is available at your mercy.
For fine dining in Kuching Waterfront, it’s mainly a mixture of Malaysian and other Asian Cuisines with alternate options of grilled steaks and other Western foods.
Don’t forget to order your cold beverages at the nearby drink stands and refresh your thirst with Riverside views.
When the sun comes down people flock for riverside dining.
Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri
The Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri stands with an almighty for everyone to see, and the towering presence can’t be ignored upon reaching tWaterfrontont.
The Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri is a State Legislative Building that has a significant reflection on Kuching city. Many souvenir items of fridge magnets and key rings showcasing the iconic Kuching sightseeing attraction.
Bangunan Dewan Undangan Negeri.
Enjoy a Sarawak River Cruise at Sunset
A river cruise is simply a must while exploring tWaterfrontont, and you’re looking for things to do in Kuching City.
There are many individual cruises available for various budgets, whether you need a short ride to the other side of the Sarawak River or a Kuching sightseeing cruise.
The most popular cruise is the Signature Sunset Cruise. It departs tWaterfrontont every evening at 5:30 pm and comes back into the dock at 7:00 pm. The ticket price includes finger food, soft drinks and a journey past the best historical places in Kuching.
Enjoy a Sarawak RIver cruise and discover the best sights with Klook!
All aboard the Sarawak River Cruise.
View the mesmerising Sunset on the Golden Anniversary Bridge (Darul Hana Bridge)
Suppose you wish to bypass the cruise and view a majestic sunset. The Golden Anniversary Bridge, established in 2017, locally known as the Darul Hana Bridge, is the ideal spot to saviour your Kuching travel experience with a fantastic sunset.
The expansive bridge allows you to capture many fabulous Kuching Tourist Places from the vantage points. In the evening, many tourists and locals ascend to the bridge to witness the best views in town.
At dusk, the Golden Anniversary Bridge is the place to be.
Visit Epic National Parks for an adventurous trek.
National Parks and Sarawak go hand in hand, with a few picturesque parks easily accessible from the City Centre.
Bako National Park
Bako National Park is a Tourist attraction that captures every traveller’s attention, and you’ll need a whole day to see the best bits of Bako Kuching.
You’ll need to reserve plenty of energy for a day of hiking and sightseeing in the picturesque National Park and bring plenty of water.
The best way to get to Bako is to catch the Red Number 1 bus for 4-ringgit or order a GRAB driver, and they’ll get you to the boat terminal in less than half an hour.
Once at the Terminal, you pay your fees for the shuttle boat and National Park entrance fees, and before you know, you’re in beautiful Bako.
There are several hours of sightseeing through different trekking paths, which usually leads to a gorgeous coastline or beach. To save time and energy, at the end of most trekking points, you can catch a boat to another beautiful location and hike back to the central point of Bako.
While the boat trips cost a small fee, it certainly is the best way to see as much of Bako National Park in the short time available. You don’t have to see the same thing twice during your day trip.
Enjoy a Bako day tour with Klook!
Bako National Park.
Kubah National Park
The Kubah National Park is another scenic Sarawak attraction that gathers tourists for hiking and sightseeing, with mesmerising waterfalls the highlight of the National Park.
Kubah is only a short drive from the Kuching city centre, accessible by GRAB or regular bus services. It’s trendy at night, with the Frog Nights Tour a popular choice for travellers to want to see the best of the wilderness in the night sky.
Orangutan sightings at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve
The Semenggoh Nature reserve is a primate rehabilitation centre for orangutans and various species of birds.
It’s the ideal place to visit for a half-day tour with Orangutan feeding times happening at 9 am and 3 pm. You have the best chance to see a few of the mighty Orangutans in that specific time frame.
Orangutan sightings at the Semenggoh Nature Reserve.
It’s a Cat City Kuching
It’s a cat thing in Kuching, and that’s obvious from your arrival in Sarawak City.
The word Kuching translates to ‘cats‘, which gives the City an appropriate nickname as the ‘City of Cats‘.
Where the affection for the cats came about is unsure, but I find it rather refreshing that a significant Asian destination can have such a fixation on cats.
In Kuching Sarawak, it’s a cat thing.
Visit the Iconic Cat Museum
If any city around the world was going to have a dedicated Cat Museum, it could only be Kuching.
The museum is a reasonable distance from the city centre; therefore, you’ll need to get the smartphone out and order a GRAB driver to get to the iconic museum.
The Cat Museum is what it is, a representation of cats in every way. Inside, there is information on the cat species from your stay at the domestic feline to yellow and black tigers and roaring lions.
There is information on various cat foods, famous cats who have played a part in the entertainment industry, and many more cat stories worth checking out.
It’s a quirky museum you must see for yourself when on vacation in Kuching.
Cat Museum Kuching.
Cat Cafes
Kuching wouldn’t be the same without a quick trip to Cat Café, where the domestic pets are roaming about while you’re enjoying a coffee.
The best Cat Café to visit is the Meow Meow Cat Café, not far from the city centre. The café has several cats playing on their toys, while cat lovers can escape the heat and watch the friendly feline wander.
Check out a Cat Statue in Kuching
Cat statues are well represented in Kuching, and when you’re walking the streets, a few figures of the famous feline will appear on street corners.
It’s an ideal opportunity to stop for a minute during your busy day and take a few photos of a cat statue in Kuching.
Cat Statue in Chinatown Kuching.
Head on over to Damai Central for a beach, resorts and a village
Damai is a little out of the Central Kuching, with a GRAB driver the best way to get there. You take the half-hour journey to the popular attraction known for beaches, luxury resorts and a beautiful Cultural Village.
Explore Tradition at the Sarawak Cultural Village
I loved my time at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a wonderful Kuching Attraction, to explore the traditions of Sarawak with their longhouses and traditional buildings.
Inside the Sarawak Village, there are plenty of workshops available to the guest, from learning about the arts, hunting skills, local cooking, and discovering the proud heritage within the people of Sarawak.
A must-see during your time at the Culture Village Kuching is to watch the magnificent Cultural Show. It takes place twice a day at 11:30 am and 4 pm and showcases a variety of dances and acts of the local traditions.
Sarawak Cultural Village.
Stay at a Damai Beach Resort
If lifestyle while on a Sarawak vacation means the world to you and you wish to escape the hustle and bustle of the City but still want to have the best of both worlds.
Why not enjoy luxury accommodation at a Damai Beach Resort?
There are various places to stay in Damai, including luxury to bungalow-style accommodations, and below is a list of places to consider for your Damai Resort Kuching Booking.
- Damai Beach Resort
- Damai Puri Resort
- Permai Rainforest Resort
- Nanga Damai Homestay
- BB Bunkers
- The Culvert Hotel Resort
Damai Beach
It’s only a stone’s throw from the Culture Village and the perfect place to visit after exploring the traditions of Sarawak. It’s the ideal opportunity to enjoy a swim in the calm waters, and if you stick around till dusk, watch a majestic sunset.
Other things to do around Damai Beach include eating out at the Mango tree Terrace or the D’Sea, enjoying a refreshing drink at the Escobar, relaxing on the grass overlooking the beach, and listening to the sounds of the ocean.
Damai Beach.
Receive a Sarawak Education at a Kuching Museum
Museums in any city are an ideal opportunity for further education about a city’s proud history.
It’s no different in Kuching which has three separate museums in the same vicinity. However, in my visit, most museums were receiving a makeover and weren’t open to the public.
However, when the museums reopen in late 2019 – early 2020, there is no excuse not to explore the detailed history of Sarawak.
Sarawak State Museum
Established in 1891, The Sarawak Museum is the oldest in Borneo and known to be one of the best museums in all of ASEAN.
Upon reopening, check out the stunning architectural building of the museum and explore the historical relics and artefacts of Sarawak.
Sarawak Art Museum
The Art Museum showcases the best contemporary artworks of Sarawak and displays beautiful sculptures and traditional crafts.
Sarawak Museums in Kuching.
Extravagant Malls for Shopping in Kuching City
Every tourist loves a dose of retail therapy, especially in a Southeast Asian Destination where the instant relief of the air conditioner is appreciated after walking the humid city streets.
A few dazzling Malls cater to your shopping desires, a need for a coffee hit, and to find a quick feed in a food court or fast food restaurant.
Below are a few of the best Malls for your convenient Kuching Shopping Guide.
Riverside Shopping Complex
The Riverside Shopping Complex is nearby to many popular Kuching hotels and the Waterfront location. It hosts various retail stores for browsing and a few family amusements with a Bowling centre within the mall.
Jugah Shopping Centre
The Jugah Shopping Centre is a laidback mall that lies within the heart of the city centre; the shopping precinct comes with a fantastic Coffee Garden Café, retail outlets and an ideal spot for currency exchange in Kuching.
Plaza Merdeka
Plaza Merdeka is the premier Mall in Kuching and is perfect for those who love to wander through various retail chains, a busy food court and a host of amusements for the whole family to enjoy.
Plaza Merdeka.
A Kuching Food Guide for the best food and drinks in town
The best food in Kuching is easy to find while walking the city streets. From the iconic food courts, water view dining and the everyday restaurants you pass on a whim, you’ll find good food in Kuching.
Unwind in a Kuching Café
Kuching cafes are the best places to hang out, and why not? Cafes in Kuching have everyone’s favourite things. The café has got your best coffee in the hot or cold variety, a quick bite to eat, and a free WIFI that you spend hours on the laptop.
You can check out this article of the best cafes in Kuching right here!
The Coffee Garden.
Enjoy a cold beer in a Kuching Bar.
You ditch the cafe when the evening pops around and head straight to a Kuching Bar for a refreshing Tiger lager or Carlsberg beer.
Check below for a list of the best bars to visit in Kuching and refresh your thirst. However, there are plenty more drinking bars to stumble upon when seeking a cold beer.
Best Bars in Kuching:
- Bear Garden
- Drunk Monkey Old Street Bar
- The Granary Kitchen
- Borneo Redneck’s Bar
- The Wayang
A refreshing beer with great views.
Food Frenzy at the Top Spot Kuching
If you love a food court, you will love the Top Spot Food Court, and for a good reason, it’s the best Kuching Food court to go to when desiring the best seafood in town.
The crowds gather to Top Spot Kuching every night for the fast action pace and to taste the most delicious Malaysian Cuisines of seafood, a variety of meats and the freshest vegetables.
Great seafood at Top Spot Kuching.
The Waterfront and other Kuching Restaurants
I have already mentioned tWaterfrontont and its array of Kuching food choices for an elegant sit-down meal with mesmerising views.
However, throughout the City, you’ll find many fantastic and affordable places to go for a great feed of Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western Cuisine because, in Kuching, they understand great food.
A Kuching Restaurant Guide
- Bla Bla Bla
- James Brooke Bistro and Café
- Life Café
- Lepau Restaurant
- Zinc Restaurant and Bar
Enjoy a food tour in Kuching while riding a bike!
Local food in Kuching is delicious.
Places of Interest in Kuching you must check out.
Heritage is alive with many beautiful things to do in Kuching for education about the history, traditions, and values within Sarawak Malaysia.
Fort Margherita
Fort Margherita is one of my favourite places to visit in Kuching. To get there, you need a boat trip for one-ringgit from tWaterfrontont, and you’ll get to the other side of the Sarawak River.
This iconic Kuching tourist attraction is an old fort constructed in 1879 by Charles Brooke, and it’s a landmark in Sarawak’s history, dating back to the Brooke family Dynasty.
It’s a great way to learn the timeline of when James Brooke discovered Sarawak until the exile of the Brooke family in 1946.
Fort Margherita.
Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple
Tua Pek Kong Temple lies in the heart of Kuching and is situated across from tWaterfrontont. It’s the oldest temple in the City and is an iconic part of the Kuching Heritage Trail.
The temple offers a fantastic photo opportunity to appreciate the excellent, articulate design of the buildings. Usually, you’ll spend half an hour within the walls to admire the structures or worship by lighting a candle.
Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple.
Kuching Floating Mosque
The Kuching Floating Mosque is best seen from the Golden Anniversary Bridge or on a fabulous river cruise. You’ll get the best opportunity to take the best pictures of the unique Kuching Mosque from those vantage points.
The Floating Mosque is the newest attraction to tWaterfrontont, along with the bridge. While it captures the heart of many tourists from outside the walls every day, worshippers of the Islamic belief come to the mosque for prayer time.
The Floating Mosque.
Square Tower
Another popular waterfront attraction seen by people passing by every day is the Square Tower; it was once a prison & a fortress and built back in 1879.
The Square Tower at the Waterfront.
Kuching Old Courthouse
The Old Courthouse is a beautiful landmark in the heart of the City; upon establishment in the 19th Century, it was used as a courthouse.
Nowadays, it’s an area for cafes, bars, a museum and the home of the Kuching Visitor Centre for all your tourist needs.
India Markets
It’s vibrant, hip, and sells a lot of clothes, textiles, hats, belts, wallets, and other local souvenirs.
India Streets is a vibrant place to visit for local and affordable shopping and is located near the Merdeka Plaza, which leads to tWaterfrontont, where further Kuching sightseeing continues.
India Street Kuching.
Enjoy the great outdoors in Parks and Gardens in and around Kuching
The outdoors of Kuching is not only refected to the National Parks and within the city limits, but you’ll also find a few boutique parks and gardens to appreciate the nature of Kuching.
Orchard Park
The colours of the rainbow come alive at the beautiful Orchard garden, situated on the opposite side of tWaterfrontont and nearby to the Golden Anniversary Bridge.
The Orchard Park is free entry to wander the boutique gardens and to browse many types of plants with delicate colours. Anyone with a green thumb will love to explore the bountiful orchards, water features and careful garden setup.
Orchard Park
Reservoir Park
The Reservoir Park on my visit was found by accident when departing the Heroes Monument through the back streets.
The Boutique park is quite hidden, and mainly local workers were lounging about during my brief trip to the park.
Inside the Reservoir Park, there is a walking track surrounding the main lake, a wooden bridge and a gazebo to add to the city park.
There is plenty of shade to escape the hot weather in Kuching and have rest from bustling city streets in the quiet.
Reservoir Park.
Heroes Monument
The Heroes Monument is a beautiful stroll in the outdoors with very few people around to spoil the mood, and it gives you extra quiet time to marvel at the featured monument.
The prominent Memorial, which takes centre stage in the parklands, is dedicated to the brave soldiers of Sarawak who died defending the country’s sovereignty.
Enjoy a tour through Klook and wander the Kuching Chinese Heritage Trail!
Heroes Monument Kuching.
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