Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu is the main city of Sabah, on the island of Borneo, and it is built for two things: island hopping and sunsets. It suits couples and families who want beaches quieter than Bali plus a bit of rainforest. February to April is the driest window.

• Island-hop in Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park — boats leave the city jetty and reach the islands in about 20 minutes; budget around RM60-RM100 ($15-$25) for the boat and park fees
• Snorkel off Sapi or Manukan island (gear rents at the jetty)
• Day trip to Kinabalu Park for views of 4,095 m Mount Kinabalu — foreigner entry is around RM50 ($12)
• Watch sunset from the Waterfront Esplanade or Tanjung Aru beach — among Asia's best

Most visitors fly via Kuala Lumpur — the KL to Kota Kinabalu leg takes about 2.5 hours — or direct from Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian hubs. One quirk: Sabah runs its own immigration, so your passport is checked again on arrival even on a domestic flight from KL.

Give Kota Kinabalu 3 to 4 days: two for islands, one for Kinabalu Park, and one spare for the city and its sunsets. Wildlife-first travellers often pair it with Kuching on the Sarawak side for orangutans. See the full Malaysia guide for route ideas.