Kuching Hotels

Kuching Rundown

Sarawak is a singular enclave of Malaysia on a tropical island the size of Chile. Only Greenland and New Guinea eclipse Borneo; a wondrous place with rainforests that pre-date the Amazon and extraordinary endemic animal and plant life, examples of which we have yet to discover. Only on Borneo do we find a sovereign despot as brazenly cash-rich as the Sultan of Brunei and, conversely, bands of nomadic hunter-gatherers content to forage the equatorial spoils of the jungle. Somewhere in the middle is the state capital of Sarawak. ... Read more »

Home to close to 1 million people, Kuching is the most important hub in the state. The urban development offensive so pervasive ithroughout the rest of Malaysia and, indeed, the progressively viable region of Southeast Asia, has bled into what has become the nerve centre of Borneo. With it has come a mad rush to cater to a new breed of tourist.

The result, monsoon rains aside, is a city with a desirable quality of life. Kuching is home to a mosaic of cultures and scores well on international healthy and clean city indices. A compact cityscape gives way to first-rate points of interest like the Sarawak Museum, Astana, Sultan Iskandar Planetarium, Fort Margherita, temples and weekend markets.

Kuching’s Top 10

10. Bako National Park was the first national park on the island of Borneo.	5. Weekend Market at Satok is a seductive flurry of commercial activity on Saturdays and Sundays.
9. Sang Ti Miao is a venerable and ornate temple.	4. Sultan Iskandar Planetarium was the first planetarium to open in Malaysia.
8. Tua Pek Kong is a vital temple that caters to the Chinese community of Kuching.	3. Fort Margherita was built at the behest of Charles Brooke, the White Rajah of Sarawak.
7. Islamic Museum traces the history of Islam in Malaysia and Borneo.	2. The Astana is the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak.
6. Hong San Temple is a Hokkien Chinese work of art.	1. Sarawak Museum offers a complete and tactile cultural retrospect on the state.

Kuching History

Tuak Pek Kong Temple - Located at the heart of Kuching, this is the oldest temple in the city.
Old Courthouse - Built by Sir Charles Brooke. Sarawak state council meetings were held here until 1973.
Astana - Sir Charles built this splendid home for his wife in 1870.
Sarawak Museum - The oldest museum in Borneo, displaying a huge inventory of historical items.
Fort Margherita - The fort has a collection of old cannons and various weapons.

Kuching Art & Culture

Borneo Headhunter Tattoos - It’s very clean and antiseptic, and the designs are uniquely Sarawak.
Sarawak Cultural Village - Learn and appreciate the Sarawak traditional dances and musical instruments.
Sarawak Craft Council - An assortment of local handicrafts.
Tringgus Tribal Experience - Visit the ancient Tringgus tribal village in the Borneo jungles.
Kampung Lintang - The place in Kuching to learn the art of making delectable and mouthwatering Sarawak layer cakes.

Kuching Shopping

Sunday Market - A Sarawak institution, a feast for the senses. You can also see various jungle products here.
Main Bazaar Kuching - Lined with old shops and antique stores, you can find unique souvenirs here.
Boulevard Mall - You can literally find everything that you need in this mall.
The Spring - It’s called a “lifestyle” shopping mall, full of international boutiques and restaurants.
Wisma Saberkas - The perfect place for a techno-geek, it has a variety of the latest phones and computers.

Gay & Lesbian Kuching

Grappa - The ultimate clubbing experience. Gays usually flock here on Saturday nights.
Batik Boutique Hotel - There’s something for everyone here, and it's a gay- and lesbian-friendly accommodation in Kuching.
Discovery - This bar is located at Tarman Sri Sarawak.
Ruai Apai - The ambience is superb. It’s the only bar that serves brewed tuak.
Travillion - Packed with bars and clubs that play techno music. If you’re into having a wild night, this is definitely the place.

Kuching Events

Weekend Market and other marketplaces throughout the city sell traditional handicrafts, superb street food and pulsate with local life.

The action on Kuching Waterfront beguiles and captivates new visitors to the city.

River tours provide a first-rate way to see Sarawak.

Bako National Park and Teluk Assam Beach form a memorable one-two punch for nature lovers.

Kuching Wetlands National Park is worth the short drive from the city. A foremost habitat for primates with a superb network of trails.

The Kuching Food Fair takes place at the end of July.

The Padawan Festival is a month-long carnival from late June to late July in Batu Kawah New Township.

Kuching Festival is the premier bash in the city and takes place from July to August.

When To Go

Kuching has typical tropical rainforest weather with profuse, abundant rainfall throughout the year. The climate, in fact, produces a prolific 170 in (4,308 mm) of the wet stuff per annum. It rains 250 days out of the year in Kuching, with barely 5 hours of sunshine a day, on average.

The “low” precipitation months of April, July and September offer scant relief but a remarkable contrast from the deluge period of November to March nonetheless.

Humidity is high and temperatures relatively constant from 73°F (18°C) to 91°F (33°C) throughout the year.

Getting Around

In the wake of a vast facelift, Kuching International Airport’s annual passenger numbers have shot up to the 4 million mark. The hub services the likes of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Hong Kong. Several cruise liners also navigate the waters between Kuching and Singapore.

The Kuching regional express bus terminal services a long list of destinations on the island of Borneo.

Within the city, a bicycle and pair of comfortable trainers serve active visitors well, outside of torrential downpours of course. For general transport, Kuching has a reliable mix of taxis, shuttle vans and public bus fleets.

Kuching General Information

Attractions & Activities

Restaurant & Nightlife

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