Day trips in Kuching
- 01
Bako National Park
Sarawak's oldest national park, about 40 km from Kuching, reached by boat and known for proboscis monkeys, sandstone cliffs and a network of forest trails.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Walking
- Demanding
- Best time
- Early morning, outside heavy rain
- Tickets
- Wikivoyage lists a park fee and boat fare (both change). Boats run from Bako Bazaar; confirm prices and sea conditions locally.
- 02
Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
A forest reserve south of Kuching where semi-wild orangutans come to feeding platforms, the most reliable place near the city to see them.
- Time needed
- Half day including travel
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning feeding session
- Tickets
- Wikivoyage lists feeding at 9 am and 3 pm; other sources vary slightly, and fees and hours change. Confirm with the centre before you travel.
Museums in Kuching
- 03
Borneo Cultures Museum
Sarawak's large new museum in Kuching, opened in 2022, built around themed galleries on the rivers, rainforest and peoples of Borneo and the older Sarawak Museum collection.
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, or a rainy afternoon
- Tickets
- Entry fees and opening hours were not stated on the sources we opened. Check the current schedule and any charge before you go.
- 04
Kuching Cat Museum
A museum of more than 4,000 cat-related artefacts inside Kuching North City Hall at Petra Jaya, tied to the city's name and Borneo's wild cats.
- Time needed
- 45 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, paired with Fort Margherita
- Tickets
- Wikivoyage lists a small adult fee (RM3 at the time of writing). Check current price and opening hours before you go.
Forts in Kuching
- 05
Fort Margherita
An 1879 white fort in the style of an English castle on the Sarawak River, built by Charles Brooke, now holding the Brooke Gallery on the White Rajahs.
- Time needed
- 1 to 1.5 hours
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning, before the heat
- Tickets
- We found no confirmed fee or hours for the fort or its gallery. Check current details with local sources before you go.
Places of worship in Kuching
- 06
Kuching City Mosque
Kuching's central mosque, built in 1968, with a mix of architectural styles, beside the old town; an easy look for travellers interested in the city's Malay Muslim heritage.
- Time needed
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning, outside prayer times
- Tickets
- Free. Modest dress, shoes off, and avoid prayer times, especially Friday afternoons. Non-Muslim access inside may be restricted; ask staff.
Landmarks in Kuching
- 07
Kuching Waterfront
A long riverside promenade on the south bank of the Sarawak River, with views of the Astana and Fort Margherita and the easiest place to start any walk in town.
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 hours
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Early morning or sunset
- Tickets
- Free and open to the public. Renovation works were announced in 2025, so some sections may be closed; check on arrival.
Culture in Kuching
- 08
Sarawak Cultural Village
A living museum at Damai near Mount Santubong that shows the houses and crafts of Sarawak's ethnic groups, and hosts the annual Rainforest World Music Festival.
- Time needed
- Half day
- Walking
- Moderate
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- Wikivoyage lists an adult ticket around RM95 (RM85 online) at the time of writing. Prices change; check the official site.
Palaces in Kuching
- 09
The Astana
The 19th-century palace built by Charles Brooke on the north bank of the Sarawak River, now the governor's residence, best seen across the water from the Kuching Waterfront.
- Time needed
- 30 to 60 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Late afternoon from the waterfront
- Tickets
- The palace is the official residence of the Governor and is not normally open to the public. The gardens are open to visitors; confirm access before crossing.
Temples in Kuching
- 10
Tua Pek Kong Temple
A small Taoist temple near the waterfront, regarded as Kuching's oldest, with documented history from 1843 and survivor of the 1884 fire.
- Time needed
- 20 to 30 minutes
- Walking
- Easy
- Best time
- Morning
- Tickets
- Free entry. Modest dress is appropriate; ask before photographing worshippers. Offering donations is voluntary.
