---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Kuching, Malaysia | Wimup"
description: "Kuching in one page: orangutans at Semenggoh, the sea stacks of Bako, the Borneo Cultures Museum, the Waterfront at dusk and Sarawak laksa for breakfast, plus transport, festivals and food."
url: https://wimup.com/city/kuching
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-08
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Kuching

Kuching, Malaysia · Asia · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read

Kuching is a state capital that still behaves like a river town. The old trading quarter faces the Astana, Fort Margherita and the golden roof of the State Assembly across the Sarawak River, and wooden boats still ferry people over. The rainforest starts half an hour out.

## Quick answer

The best things to do in Kuching are the orangutan feedings at Semenggoh, a full day on the trails of Bako National Park, the Borneo Cultures Museum, the Waterfront and Darul Hana Bridge at dusk, and Sarawak laksa for breakfast. Give it four days: two in town for the bazaars and museums, two out in the parks.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** May · Jun · Jul · Aug
- **Ideal length:** 4 days
- **Budget per day:** RM150–350
- **Language:** Malay, English, Iban, Chinese dialects
- **Getting around:** On foot in the old town, by Grab beyond
- **Tourism board:** [Official site](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Kuching

### 1. Watch the orangutans at Semenggoh

Wildlife · Semenggoh Nature Reserve, about 24 km south of Kuching

Semenggoh has rehabilitated orangutans since 1975, and the semi-wild apes living in its 653 hectares of forest still swing in for fruit at the twice-daily feedings. Arrive before the morning session; a sighting is likely, never promised.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Morning feeding
- **Tip:** Allow 20 minutes to walk from the gate to the platform. When the forest is fruiting the apes often stay away.

Links: [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/semenggoh-nature-reserve?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. Hike the headlands of Bako National Park

National park · Bako National Park, by boat from Kampung Bako

Sarawak's oldest national park, gazetted in 1957, packs mangrove, heath forest and sandstone sea stacks into about 27 square kilometres. Proboscis monkeys feed near park headquarters and on the Telok Paku trail. Give it the whole day.

- **Time:** Full day
- **Cost:** Park fee plus boat
- **Best at:** First boat out
- **Tip:** Boats run on the tide. Agree your return time with the boatman before you leave the jetty.

Links: [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/nature/national-parks-wildlife-reserves/bako-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 3. Walk the Waterfront and cross the Darul Hana Bridge

Landmark · Kuching Waterfront, Main Bazaar

The S-shaped footbridge, opened in 2017, links the old shophouse bank with the Astana, Fort Margherita and the State Assembly's golden roof. Cross at dusk, when the river lights come on, then ride a penambang boat back.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** Carry small notes for the penambang crossing; you pay the boatman as you step off.

Links: [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/darul-hana-bridge?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 4. Borneo Cultures Museum

Museum · Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching

Sarawak's flagship museum stands beside Padang Merdeka and tells the story of the state's peoples, from longhouse craft to the Brooke era and after. Allow two hours, and dress modestly, as the museum asks.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Weekday morning
- **Tip:** Last admission is at 4pm, every day.

Links: [Website](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/169?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Sarawak Cultural Village

Living museum · Pantai Damai, Santubong

A living museum at the foot of Mount Santubong, with traditional houses of Sarawak's main communities set around a lake. Plan the visit around the cultural show at 11.30am or 4pm; the hosts in each house fill in the rest.

- **Time:** Half a day
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Late morning
- **Tip:** Pair it with Damai Beach next door; both sit about 35 km north of the city.

Links: [Website](https://scv.com.my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 6. Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street

Heritage walk · Main Bazaar, Kuching

Main Bazaar, laid out in 1864, is the oldest street in Sarawak, and its five-foot ways hold the city's densest run of craft and antique shops. Carpenter Street behind it is old Chinatown: coffee shops, clan houses and Hong San Si.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Weekday morning
- **Tip:** Most craft shops close on Sundays and by about 5pm.

Links: [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/carpenter-street?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Fort Margherita and the Brooke Gallery

Fort · Kampung Boyan, north bank of the Sarawak River

Charles Brooke built the fort in 1879 to guard the river and named it after his wife, Margaret. It now houses the Brooke Gallery, the clearest account in town of a century of rule by the White Rajahs.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Cross from the Waterfront by penambang and walk up through Kampung Boyan.

Links: [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Sarawak laksa at Choon Hui Cafe

Food · 34 Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching

Kuching breakfasts on Sarawak laksa: vermicelli in a spiced coconut broth with prawns, chicken and omelette strips, lime and sambal on the side. Choon Hui is the bowl Anthony Bourdain championed, so expect a queue.

- **Time:** 45 min
- **Cost:** Budget
- **Best at:** Early morning
- **Tip:** The laksa sells out by early afternoon. Go before 9am.

### 9. Satok Weekend Market

Market · Medan Niaga Satok, Kuching

Since 2013 the weekend market has run at Medan Niaga Satok. Growers from upriver bring jungle ferns, wild honey, Borneo fruit and orchids, the clearest look at what Kuching eats before it reaches a plate.

- **Time:** 2 hrs
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Sunday, early
- **Tip:** Bring cash and a bag. The best produce goes first.

Links: [Website](https://dbku.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-424-408-tid.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. Night frogs at Kubah National Park

National park · Kubah National Park, Matang, Kuching

Kubah's forest on the Matang range holds over 60 frog species, and the pond near park headquarters is one of the best places in Sarawak to hear them. Walk the waterfall trail by day, about 90 minutes each way, and the pond after dark.

- **Time:** Half a day
- **Cost:** Park fee
- **Best at:** After dark
- **Tip:** Bring a headlamp and leech socks; the trails stay wet year round.

Links: [Website](https://sarawakforestry.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best parks and wildlife in Kuching

Protected forest, mangrove and coast within a day of the city, orangutans included.

1. **Bako National Park** (National park · By boat · Bako): Sea stacks, proboscis monkeys and Sarawak's oldest park. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/nature/national-parks-wildlife-reserves/bako-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Semenggoh Wildlife Centre** (Wildlife centre · Ticketed · Semenggoh): Twice-daily feedings for semi-wild orangutans. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/semenggoh-nature-reserve?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Kubah National Park** (National park · Night walks · Matang): Over 60 frog species and a waterfall trail. [Website](https://sarawakforestry.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Kuching Wetlands National Park** (Wetland · Boat tour · Santubong): A Ramsar mangrove park seen only by boat; dolphins at the estuary. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Mount Santubong** (Hike · About 8 hrs return · Santubong): An 810 m summit reached by ropes and ladders. A hard, full day. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/adventure/mountain-climbing-and-trekking/mount-santubong?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best museums in Kuching

From the state's flagship museum to one devoted entirely to cats.

1. **Borneo Cultures Museum** (Museum · Ticketed · City centre): The state's flagship museum, beside Padang Merdeka. [Website](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/169?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Chinese History Museum** (Museum · Waterfront): Waves of Chinese migration, told in the 1912 Chinese court. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Textile Museum Sarawak** (Museum · Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg): Iban pua kumbu and Malay songket in a colonial pavilion. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Ranee Museum** (Museum · Ticketed · Old Courthouse): Ranee Margaret Brooke's Sarawak, inside the Old Courthouse. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Brooke Gallery** (Museum · Ticketed · North bank): The White Rajahs' century, inside Fort Margherita. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Islamic Heritage Museum** (Museum · City centre): Seven galleries around a courtyard, in a former Malay college. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/museums/islamic-heritage-museum?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
7. **Cat Museum** (Museum · Cash only · Petra Jaya): Feline art and oddities inside City Hall on Bukit Siol. [Website](https://dbku.sarawak.gov.my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best temples and landmarks in Kuching

Temples, a guard tower and the courthouse the Brookes governed from.

1. **Tua Pek Kong Temple** (Temple · Free · Waterfront): The city's oldest temple, recorded on the river since the 1840s. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/local-handicrafts-and-heritage-centres/tua-pek-kong-temple-kuching-?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Hong San Si Temple** (Temple · Free · Carpenter Street): A Hokkien temple on Carpenter Street, recorded from the 1840s. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Old Courthouse** (Heritage · Free · Waterfront): The Brookes' seat of government, finished 1874, clock tower 1883. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/historical-sites/old-court-house?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Square Tower** (Heritage · Outside · Waterfront): An 1879 river guardhouse, later a prison and a dance hall. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Floating Mosque** (Mosque · Dress modestly · Waterfront): Masjid India Kuching, opened on the river in 2019, holds 1,600. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/indian-mosque?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **State Legislative Assembly** (Landmark · Outside only · North bank): The 2009 assembly hall's golden roof, best seen from across the river. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best restaurants in Kuching

Laksa at dawn, kolo mee at lunch, seafood on a car-park roof.

1. **Choon Hui Cafe** (Laksa · Breakfast · Jalan Ban Hock): The Sarawak laksa Bourdain championed; queues at breakfast.
2. **Kim Joo** (Kolo mee · Lunch · Jalan Ewe Hai): A coffee shop known across town for its kolo mee.
3. **Top Spot Food Court** (Seafood · Dinner · Jalan Padungan): Pick live seafood and a sauce on a car-park rooftop.
4. **Lepau** (Dayak · Book ahead · Jalan Ban Hock): Orang Ulu and Dayak cooking: pansuh, midin, Bario rice.
5. **Kantin at The Granary** (Restaurant · Dinner · Jalan Wayang): Dining in an 1885 warehouse; a World Culinary Awards nominee in 2024.
6. **Commons** (Café · All day · Old Courthouse): An all-day café inside the Old Courthouse, facing the river.
7. **Indah House** (Café · Daytime · Upper China Street): A daytime café in a shophouse on Upper China Street.

## Best markets and shopping in Kuching

Jungle produce at Satok, crafts and antiques on the old streets.

1. **Satok Weekend Market** (Market · Sat–Sun · Medan Niaga Satok): Jungle ferns, wild honey and Borneo fruit from upriver farms. [Website](https://dbku.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-424-408-tid.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Main Bazaar** (Crafts · Most close Sundays · Waterfront): Sarawak's oldest street and its best run of craft shops. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **India Street** (Shopping · Pedestrian · City centre): A covered pedestrian mall of textiles and souvenirs. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Carpenter Street** (Street · Free · Behind Main Bazaar): Old Chinatown's coffee shops, temple and shophouses. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/carpenter-street?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best neighborhoods in Kuching

Sleep on the south bank, cross the river for the kampungs.

1. **Waterfront and Old Kuching** (Heritage · Walkable · South bank): The bazaars, the courthouse and the river walk. The best base.
2. **Padungan** (Shophouses · Nightlife · East of centre): Rubber-boom shophouses of the 1920s and 30s, bars and the cat statue.
3. **Kampung Boyan** (Kampung · By boat · North bank): Malay kampung houses and Fort Margherita, a short boat ride over.
4. **Petra Jaya** (Civic · By car · North of the river): The civic north: City Hall on Bukit Siol and the Cat Museum.
5. **Damai and Santubong** (Resorts · By car · Santubong peninsula): Beach resorts under Mount Santubong, about 35 km north.

## Best day trips in Kuching

A longhouse, two caves, a beach and the world's largest flowers.

1. **Annah Rais Longhouse** (Longhouse · About 1 hr · Padawan): A Bidayuh longhouse about 60 km south, with hot springs nearby. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Fairy and Wind Caves** (Caves · About 1 hr · Bau): Two limestone caves near Bau, an easy half day. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Damai Beach** (Beach · About 45 min · Santubong): The nearest proper beach, next to the Cultural Village. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Gunung Gading National Park** (National park · 1.5–2 hrs · Lundu): Rafflesia blooms last days; call the park before you drive. [Website](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/nature/national-parks-wildlife-reserves/gunung-gading-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Festivals & annual events in Kuching (2026)

- **Chinese New Year** (Jan–Feb): Lion dances on Carpenter Street and lanterns over the temples.
- **Hari Raya Aidilfitri** (Mar): Open houses in the Malay kampungs; the date follows the lunar calendar.
- **Gawai Dayak** (Jun): The Dayak harvest festival, a Sarawak holiday from 1 June.
- **Rainforest World Music Festival** (Jun): Three days of world music at the Sarawak Cultural Village in late June.
- **Sarawak Day** (Jul): 22 July marks self-government in 1963, a state holiday.
- **Kuching Festival Food Fair** (Jul–Aug): More than 300 food stalls at the MBKS grounds on Jalan Padungan.
- **What About Kuching** (Oct): A month of arts, music and food events across the city centre.
- **Sarawak Regatta** (Oct–Nov): Longboat racing on the Sarawak River, a tradition from the 1870s.

## Must-try dishes in Kuching, Malaysia

- **Sarawak laksa**: Spiced coconut broth over vermicelli, with prawns and omelette strips.
- **Kolo mee**: Springy egg noodles tossed dry with char siu; halal stalls use chicken.
- **Kek lapis Sarawak**: Layer cake baked one thin sheet at a time, in bright patterns.
- **Manok pansuh**: Dayak chicken sealed in bamboo with lemongrass and ginger, cooked over fire.
- **Umai**: Melanau raw fish cured in calamansi with chilli, ginger and onion.
- **Midin belacan**: Crunchy jungle fern stir-fried with shrimp paste and garlic.
- **Tomato kway teow**: Flat rice noodles in a sweet-sour tomato gravy, a Kuching classic.
- **Bario rice**: Fine-grained rice from the Bario highlands, a staple of Dayak tables.

## Kuching transport & airports

- **Kuching International Airport** (KCH): About 10 km south of the centre by road. Grab or the airport taxi counter covers the ride in 20 to 30 minutes. [Website](https://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **E-hailing** (Grab): The default for Semenggoh, Damai and the Bako jetty. Book the return before you leave town; rural pickups are thin. [Website](https://www.grab.com/my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Penambang boats** (River): Wooden boats cross the Sarawak River from the Waterfront to Kampung Boyan and Fort Margherita in minutes. Pay in cash as you get off.
- **Buses** (Bus): Kuching Sentral is the long-distance terminal for the rest of Sarawak. Local buses reach Semenggoh and the Bako jetty, but timetables are loose.

## Kuching at a glance

- **Country:** Malaysia
- **Region:** Kuching Division, Sarawak, on Borneo
- **Population:** 402,738 in the city, about 724,000 metro (DOSM estimates)
- **Founded:** Brooke capital from 1841; city status 1 August 1988
- **Nickname:** The City of Cats
- **Language:** Malay, English, Iban, Bidayuh, Chinese dialects
- **Currency:** Malaysian ringgit (RM)
- **Time zone:** MYT (UTC+8), no daylight saving
- **Calling code:** +60 82
- **Airports:** Kuching International (KCH)
- **Power:** 240V, type G
- **Emergency:** 999

## Interesting facts

- Kuching was the first Malaysian city admitted to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, for gastronomy, in 2021.
- The city has two councils: Kuching North across the river and Kuching South on the old-town bank.
- Fort Margherita is named after Margaret Brooke, wife of Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah.
- India Street became a pedestrian mall in 1992, among the first in Malaysia.
- The Darul Hana Bridge borrows its S-curve from Bidayuh bamboo bridges and its towers from the hornbill.

## Kuching travel FAQ

### How many days do you need in Kuching?

Four days covers it. Spend two in town on the Waterfront, the bazaars and the museums, give Bako a full day, and split the last between the morning feeding at Semenggoh and an afternoon at Damai or Kubah.

### When is the best time to visit Kuching?

May to August is the drier stretch and brings Gawai in June, the Rainforest World Music Festival in late June and the food fair from late July. December to February is the wet season, and January usually the rainiest month.

### Are orangutans guaranteed at Semenggoh?

No. The apes are semi-wild and come to the platforms only when they want the fruit, and when the forest is fruiting they often stay away. The morning feeding gives the best odds; check with Sarawak Forestry before you go.

### How do you get to Bako National Park?

Take a Grab or local bus to the jetty at Kampung Bako, then a boat of about 20 minutes to park headquarters. Boats run on the tide, so agree your return time with the boatman, and pay the park fee before you board.

### What should you eat in Kuching?

Sarawak laksa for breakfast and kolo mee for lunch, then Dayak dishes such as manok pansuh and midin at Lepau, seafood at Top Spot and a slab of kek lapis to take home. UNESCO named Kuching a City of Gastronomy in 2021.

## Nearby guides

- [Bandar Seri Begawan](https://wimup.com/city/bandar-seri-begawan.md): Brunei · 10 picks
- [Singapore](https://wimup.com/city/singapore.md): Singapore · 10 picks
- [Kuala Lumpur](https://wimup.com/city/kuala-lumpur.md): Malaysia · 10 picks
- [All of Asia →](https://wimup.com/asia): 73 cities

Part of the [Malaysia guide](https://wimup.com/country/malaysia.md) · [Asia](https://wimup.com/asia.md)

## Sources

- [Kuching tourism board](https://sarawaktourism.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Watch the orangutans at Semenggoh (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/semenggoh-nature-reserve?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Hike the headlands of Bako National Park (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/nature/national-parks-wildlife-reserves/bako-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Walk the Waterfront and cross the Darul Hana Bridge (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/darul-hana-bridge?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Borneo Cultures Museum (official site)](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/169?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Sarawak Cultural Village (official site)](https://scv.com.my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Main Bazaar and Carpenter Street (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/carpenter-street?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Satok Weekend Market (official site)](https://dbku.sarawak.gov.my/page-0-424-408-tid.html?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Night frogs at Kubah National Park (official site)](https://sarawakforestry.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Mount Santubong (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/adventure/mountain-climbing-and-trekking/mount-santubong?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Islamic Heritage Museum (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/museums/islamic-heritage-museum?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Cat Museum (official site)](https://dbku.sarawak.gov.my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Tua Pek Kong Temple (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/local-handicrafts-and-heritage-centres/tua-pek-kong-temple-kuching-?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Old Courthouse (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/culture/historical-sites/old-court-house?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Floating Mosque (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/places-to-visit/town-view/kuching/major-attractions/indian-mosque?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Gunung Gading National Park (official site)](https://sarawaktourism.com/web/things-to-do/thing-view/nature/national-parks-wildlife-reserves/gunung-gading-national-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Kuching International Airport (official site)](https://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [E-hailing (official site)](https://www.grab.com/my/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.