City Culture & Heritage Tour with Lunch, Kota Kinabalu

Likas Bay: Sabah Foundation Tower and Kinabalu Tower

The tour starts on the shore of Likas Bay, north of the city centre, where two of Kota Kinabalu's most striking buildings stand. The Sabah Foundation tower is a tall cylindrical glass building whose floors hang from steel rods attached to a central core rather than resting on columns, an unusual design that made it a symbol of Sabah's development. Nearby, the newer Kinabalu Tower houses the state's administrative centre and dominates the modern skyline of the bay.

These are photo stops of about 20 minutes each, with the guide explaining how Kota Kinabalu grew from a small trading post, rebuilt after the Second World War, into the capital of Sabah. On clear mornings you can see the islands of the marine park across the water and, far inland, the outline of Mount Kinabalu.

Puh Toh Tze Buddhist Temple

Next you visit Puh Toh Tze, a Chinese Buddhist temple set on a hillside on the edge of the city. Its grounds are quiet and green, with colourful roofs, carved figures and statues of Buddhist deities, including the Goddess of Mercy who is widely venerated in Chinese communities across Malaysia. The temple is a living place of worship, and you may see families lighting incense or making offerings.

Your guide explains the symbolism of the architecture, the colours and the rituals, and how the Chinese community became part of Sabah's story. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, speak quietly in the prayer halls and ask before photographing worshippers. The visit is a good contrast to the mosque that follows and shows the variety of faiths living side by side in Kota Kinabalu.

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Floating Mosque)

The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque at Likas Bay is often called the Floating Mosque because it stands on a man-made lagoon and seems to rest on the water. Completed in 2000, it has a blue and gold main dome and slender minarets that reflect beautifully in the lagoon, making it one of the most photographed buildings in Sabah and a symbol of the state's Islamic heritage.

Is the Floating Mosque worth visiting? Yes, especially in the soft morning light. Visitors entering the grounds must cover arms and legs and women cover their hair; robes are provided at the entrance. On Fridays tourist visits are not possible because of the congregational prayer, so the stop is an outside photo stop only. Muslim travellers can pray here during the tour.

The Seaside Market on the Waterfront

The tour then moves to the waterfront, where the seaside market brings together fishermen, traders and shoppers from across Sabah. Stalls display the morning catch, tropical fruits, dried seafood, pearls and handicrafts, and the guide helps you recognise local specialities that you rarely see elsewhere. This is the longest stop, around an hour and a half, so there is time to browse and take photos of daily life.

Markets in Kota Kinabalu are busiest in the morning, which is why this tour starts early. Bring small change if you want to buy snacks or souvenirs, and keep valuables close in the crowds. Halal food stalls are easy to find around the market and along the waterfront.

Padang Merdeka, Gaya Street and Australia Lane

In the old centre you walk past Padang Merdeka, the open field where Sabah's self-government was proclaimed in 1963 before it joined the new federation of Malaysia. A few steps away, Gaya Street is the city's oldest commercial street, lined with shophouses, bakeries and coffee shops, and on Sunday mornings it becomes a long street market.

Australia Lane, also called Australia Place, takes its name from the Australian troops who camped here at the end of the Second World War. Today its narrow lanes are known for colourful murals and small cafés. These are short stops of around 20 minutes each, ideal for photos, before the tour ends with a local Sabahan lunch where your guide introduces dishes typical of the region.