Hilton Kota Kinabalu wants you to luxuriate in year-long summer in Borneo's most vibrant city. Just a short two-and-a-half hours flight away from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Sabah is a summer destination filled with excitement and adventures for every type of traveler out there. The following is a list of the best places to visit in Kota Kinabalu as recommended by Hilton.

Read also: Bajau Laut: Sea Gypsies of Pulau Mabul, Sabah

Best Places to Visit in Kota Kinabalu

Best Places to Visit in Kota Kinabalu

Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park

If time is a factor, then the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park marine and national park makes the ideal choice for a one-day excursion. Spanning across 4,900 hectares, it consists of five of Kota Kinabalu's most popular and beautiful islands including Pulau Sulug, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi and Pulau Mamutik - all which are easily accessible by a short boat ride. You can dive, trek, snorkel, explore the wildlife such as the bearded pigs, giant flying squirrels or the elephant foot yam, or simply sit back and relax on their sandy shores.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Sabah

Proboscis monkey at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Sabah

Weston River Sunset & Fireflies Cruise

Can't get enough of the water? Hop on a sunset cruise and meander down the scenic Weston River. Enjoy unhampered views of paddy fields, villages and traditional houses, Proboscis monkeys, mangroves and a variety of animals along the way as the sun sets in the west. Wildlife enthusiasts must take full advantage of this opportunity to get up close and personal with nature!

Sunset cruise at the Weston River, Kota Kinabalu

Mari Mari Cultural Village

Sabah is made up of at least 30 different ethnic groups, each having distinctive tradition, culture and dialect. At the Mari Mari Cultural Village, you can learn about all these indigenous Borneo tribes as it acts as a museum which preserves and educates visitors on ethnicity. It also showcases the different traditional homes of the tribal communities on the island, including those of the Lundayeh, Bajau, Dusun, Rungus and Murut.

Learn about the ethnic groups of Sabah at the Mari Mari Cultural Village, Kota Kinabalu

Gaya Street Sunday Market

Take a peek into the local culture by swinging by Gaya Street on a Sunday. As the city's main road, you can find an assortment of interesting knick-knacks that are unique only to this region, such as clothes with traditional motifs, antiques, handcrafted wares, and handmade snacks. A favorite snack loved by both locals and foreigners is the Kuih Cincin or "ring cakes" - a sweet, crispy biscuit shaped like honeycombs. Most importantly, do not forget to bargain!

Read also: The Best Gifts and Souvenirs from Sarawak

Shop at Gaya Street Sunday Market, Kota Kinabalu

Hilton Kota Kinabalu

Hilton Kota Kinabalu is a 5-star hotel located 15 minutes away from the airport, making it the ideal starting point for all the experiences that await you. It offers a motley of dining options, an alfresco poolside bar for wading or sunset watching, a stylish speakeasy bar, live jazz performances and many more. Room rates start at RM530.

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Address: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Asia City, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

There are so many fun activities for everyone at Kota Kinabalu. Which one is your favourite? Comment below and let us know! Don't forget to share your travel & dining moments with us on Instagram by tagging @rollinggrace or #RollingGrace. Happy travelling!