Getting Around, Kota Kinabalu Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia)



Flying is the best way in and Kota Kinabalu has a busy international airport. Flights come in from all over Malaysia and the South-East Asian region. Kota Kinabalu International Airport is conveniently only a short distance from the city centre and is connected by bus transport and taxis.

Trains and buses also serve the city, although rail transportation is a little thin on the ground, with bus travel the norm. The city is fairly compact and so you can travel about on foot or by bicycle for much of the time. Minivans are also on hand and provide particularly good value for short distances, stopping at the southerly Padang Merdeka Bus Station and the centrally located Milimewa Superstore.


Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) / Arriving by Air

Address: Jalan Kepayan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 88740, Malaysia, MY
Tel: +60 088 325 555
Commonly known as KKIA, Kota Kinabalu International Airport is the main gateway to Sabah and is Borneo's largest airport. This busy facility receives flights from Kuala Lumpur and many other Malaysian hubs with Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia, although it is worth noting that the two terminals are a fair distance apart. The airport is just 7 km / 4 miles to the south of the city and is connected by taxis and buses. Public transport runs to and from the airport between the hours of 06:00 and 19:00, on a daily basis.

Car Rental

Car rental is widely available at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and you can book ahead online for the best prices. You can also rent cars from certain hotels and agencies in the city, but it is best to stick with the main companies through the airport, with rental counters being based on the first floor. Motorbikes can be rented in the city and provide an especially cheap way to travel around, although a valid motorcycle licence will likely be required for your travel insurance to remain valid.

The road leading to the Sarawak border heads out of the city in a southerly direction and connects various outlying suburbs, towns and villages. These include Kepayan and Tanjung Aru, and further afield, Papar, Kimanis and Beaufort, as well as Sipitang.

Buses and Coaches

Buses arrive in Kota Kinabalu at two terminals, the north and the south. The South Terminal (Padang Merdeka) receives services from the likes of Beaufort, Keningau, Kota Belud, Kudat, Ranau, Sarawak, Tenom and Brunei. The North Bus Terminal (Inanam) is several kilometres out of town and has services from Lahad Datu, Sandakan (Lawas), Semporna, Tawau and Mount Kinabalu. The New City bus company serves the airport and offers a journey time of approximately ten minutes.

Trains

Train travel is not extensive anywhere in Borneo, owing to the harsh terrain. There are limited services up to Kota Kinabalu from destinations such as Beaufort and Tenom, and it is certainly worth taking the train if you are travelling from here.

Taxis

Taxis are generally fine for getting about at large. Short and long fares are decent prices, but it is essential that you always agree on the price before you depart, as local taxi drivers, as with anywhere in Asia, are good at extracting money from tourists.

Boats and Ferries

Ferries come in from Labuan and from Brunei daily, landing at the Ferry Terminal at Jesselton Point, a 20-minute walk or five-minute taxi ride from the city centre. Trip times from Labuan and Brunei are around three hours, while frequent trips to the neighbouring islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park also depart from here.