Waterfront
First-timersThe river, old Chinatown and the museums.
Kuching city guide
Things To Do In Kuching
Sarawak's relaxed capital on Borneo, on a riverfront of colonial buildings, with semi-wild orangutans half an hour away and proboscis monkeys in the national park by the sea.
7
Hostels in the city
8.7
Average, from 1,371 reviews
1841
The White Rajahs begin
30 min
To the orangutans
Borneo
The island
The gateway to Borneo
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, was ruled for a century by the White Rajahs, a British family who governed the state from 1841 to 1946, and their buildings still line the river.
It is one of the most pleasant cities in Malaysia, easy-going and multicultural, and the gateway to Borneo's rainforest and wildlife.
Semenggoh's orangutans and Bako National Park's proboscis monkeys are both day trips. Three days is right.
Where to stay
Stay near the Waterfront, along the Sarawak River, where the old Chinatown, the museums and the restaurants are all walkable. Padungan, east of the centre, has more cafés, bars and the famous food streets.
Padungan
FoodCafés, bars and food streets east of the centre.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Kuching
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, was the seat of the White Rajahs, the Brooke family who ruled Sarawak from 1841 to 1946. Walk the Waterfront, see the Astana palace and Fort Margherita across the river, reached by sampan boats or the Darul Hana pedestrian bridge.
The Borneo Cultures Museum, opened in 2022, is one of the largest museums in Southeast Asia and covers Sarawak's peoples and rainforest. Old Chinatown, along Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar, has temples, shophouses and craft shops.
Semenggoh Nature Reserve, thirty minutes away, is home to semi-wild orangutans that come to feeding platforms at around 9am and 3pm; sightings are likely but not guaranteed, especially in fruiting season, when they find food in the forest.
Bako National Park, an hour away by bus and boat, has proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, mangroves and beaches; stay overnight to see more wildlife at dawn and dusk. The Sarawak Cultural Village shows the longhouses of Sarawak's peoples.
Free things
Free things to do in Kuching
The Waterfront and the Darul Hana Bridge are free, and so is old Chinatown, with its temples.
Kuching's cat statues, the city's symbol, are scattered around the centre for free.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Kuching
Sarawak laksa, a spicy, sour noodle soup with prawns and chicken, is the city's famous breakfast. Kolo mee, springy noodles tossed in lard and soy, often with char siu pork, is everywhere.
Try kek lapis Sarawak, colourful layered cakes, ayam pansuh, chicken cooked in bamboo, and midin, a crunchy jungle fern stir-fried with garlic or belacan.
The Top Spot food court is famous for seafood. A meal is €2 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Kuching
Kuching is relaxed at night. The Waterfront fills with families in the evening, and bars and pubs in Padungan and along the river serve drinks.
In summer, the Rainforest World Music Festival brings musicians from around the world to the Sarawak Cultural Village.
A beer is €3 to €6.
Getting around
Getting around Kuching
Kuching International Airport is about 20 to 30 minutes from the centre by Grab or taxi.
The centre is walkable. Grab is cheap and the easiest way to reach Semenggoh and the Sarawak Cultural Village. Buses run to Bako village, where boats cross to the park.
Sarawak has its own immigration control: you get a separate entry stamp even if you come from mainland Malaysia, and your stay is counted separately.
Costs
What Kuching costs
Kuching is cheap. Dorms start around €7 and a careful day is €18 to €30.
Bako's entry and boat fees, and Semenggoh's entry, are a few euros each. A bowl of laksa is around €2.
Foreign visitors pay a tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, added to accommodation bills.
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR or RM); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 5 ringgit to the euro. Cards and e-wallets work widely in cities; carry cash for hawker stalls and smaller towns.
Safety
Staying safe in Kuching
Kuching is safe and relaxed.
In Bako, keep food and bags away from the macaques, which steal. At Semenggoh, follow the rangers' instructions and keep your distance from the orangutans.
Bako's boats depend on the tide; check times and do not miss the last boat back.
Emergency number is 999.
Day trips from Kuching
Orangutans, proboscis monkeys and longhouses.
Semenggoh
Semi-wild orangutans at the feeding platforms.
Bako National Park
Proboscis monkeys, mangroves and beaches.
Sarawak Cultural Village
Traditional longhouses of Sarawak's peoples.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Rainforest World Music Festival is one of Asia's best.
Summer
Rainforest World Music Festival
Sarawak Cultural Village
World music in the jungle.
1 June
Gawai Dayak
Sarawak
The harvest festival.
Hostels
Where to stay in Kuching
The top-rated places to stay in Kuching right now, live from Hostelworld.
The Village House
Dorms from €27 a night
See dates and book
Marco Polo
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
The Wheelhouse
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Check In Lodge
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Woodpecker Lodge Kuching
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
The Culvert Resort
See dates and book
Theatre Hotel
See dates and bookWhen to go
March to October is drier. November to February is the rainy season.
Jan
Wettest
Feb
Wet
Mar
Drier
Apr
Good
May
Good
Jun
Gawai
Jul
Music festival
Aug
Good
Sep
Good
Oct
Good
Nov
Wet
Dec
Wet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in ringgit locally; these are euro equivalents.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Kuching travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
When can I see the orangutans?
At Semenggoh's feeding times, around 9am and 3pm. Sightings are likely but not guaranteed, especially in fruiting season.
Is Bako worth an overnight stay?
Yes, to see more wildlife at dawn and dusk. Book the park accommodation ahead.
Do I need my passport?
Yes, Sarawak has its own immigration control, even from mainland Malaysia.
What should I eat?
Sarawak laksa, kolo mee and kek lapis.
How many days do you need?
Three.
When is the best time to visit?
March to October is drier.
What is Gawai?
The Dayak harvest festival on 1 June, celebrated in longhouses across Sarawak.
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Kuching hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.