Kuantan Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia)

Basically, all Kuantan city's sites of interest and attractions can be easily seen in a day, and the city isn't exactly a hotbed for culture of any kind. However, Kuantan is all about the beauty of its surroundings, the friendliness of its people, its glorious coastline and traditional everyday life on this multi-cultural peninsula.

With the help of a hire car, there's plenty to see across the peninsula and along the seacoast. Although the beaches of Kuantan are without question the biggest draw, there are a handful of tourist attractions that also deserve a look. These include the Cherating Turtle Sanctuary on Chendor Beach, the Darulmakmur Stadium and the Sunday Market, as well as the suburb of Beserah and the famous nearby Sungai Pendan Waterfall.

Guided Walking Tours

Tel: +60 012 267 0098
A great way to familiarise yourself with the city and its assortment of tourist attractions is by joining one of the regular guided walking tours. Lasting just under two hours, these heritage walks provide the chance to learn more about the history of the city's clusters of colonial architecture and most important local sights. Tours are charged on a per person basis and take place most days during the main tourist season.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Cherating Turtle Sanctuary

Address: Chendor Beach, Cherating, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 09 581 9087
Set up in 1997 to protect and conserve the area's breeding turtles, this nature sanctuary is a local government organisation. Both leatherback and the smaller green turtles arrive on local beaches at nearby Rantau Abang, from April to November, to lay their eggs. The sanctuary has hatchery and conservation programmes, and successfully releases large numbers of these turtles into the wild each year.
Open hours: Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday - 09:00 to 17:30, Friday - 09:00 to 12:00, 15:00 to 17:30
Admission: charge

Sunday Market

For people-watching, there's nothing as good as Asian markets, and the city's Sunday morning fresh farmers' market (Pasar Tani) is no exception, as well as being a great place to grab breakfast beneath the brightly coloured umbrellas. The Sunday Market takes place close to the football stadium (easily spotted by its tall floodlights) and provides a useful place to pick up some tasty Malaysian specialities, as well as inexpensive daily local staples, such as seasonal tropical fruit - jackfruits, papayas and water melons.
Open hours: Sunday mornings
Admission: free

Beserah

Address: Beserah, Malaysia, MY
The charming fishing village of Beserah lies just off the edge of the city. Local fishermen have a unique way of dealing with the beaching of their boats and catches - they use their water buffaloes for the heavy hauling! Seafood served in local eateries here is deliciously fresh. Apart from the beach accommodation, a number of other attractions are based in this area, such as the Natural Batik Factory at nearby Balok.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Sungai Pendan Waterfall

Address: Near Kuantan, Malaysia, MY
Kuantan is famous for its waterfalls and the Sungai Pendan Waterfall is certainly one of the most spectacular. Located just over 20 km / 12 miles from the city and simple to reach by road, Sungei Pendan comprises a series of cascading falls, which combine to create a large pool at the foot of the flow, perfect for swimming. The suspension bridge gives a great view of the entire cascade.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Taman Gelora

This charming natural park lies by the shore and boasts many mature pine trees, a number of small lakes and a network of trails suitable for both jogging and walking. The Taman Gelora is one of the local people's favourite haunts for a quiet stroll or a picnic, providing an important recreational space for families. Overlooking the South China Sea, the park comes with various outdoor attractions, such as tennis courts and volleyball courts, as well as a football pitch, while close by is the Royal Pahang Golf Club.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

River Cruises

Address: Behind the Municipal Building, Kuantan, Malaysia, MY
Cruising the Sungai Kuantan goes on daytime and night-time every day of the week and is a great way to understand the ecology of the river and its dependence on the mangrove forests at its mouth. River cruises last around an hour and a half and depart from the jetty, heading to the river mouth and then passing through the mangroves, where native wildlife can often be observed
Open hours: daily - departing at 09:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 16:00
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Stadiums

Located on the Jalan Bukit Sekilau, the Kuantan Football Stadium (Darulmakmur Stadium) is a multi-purpose venue with an overall seating capacity of some 40,000 spectators. The stadium hosts innumerable soccer games each year, as well as a number of athletics events, and serves as the home ground of both the Pahang Football Association and the Shahzan Muda Football Club. If you are visiting the city on a Saturday afternoon, you may well like to pay a visit to the Indrah Makota Indo Stadium, where horse racing draws large crowds of gambling locals.
Open hours: hours vary, according to event
Admission: charge