Malaysia's eastern Borneo island location is famous worldwide for its stunning beaches, first class diving, lush jungle scenery and luxury resort accommodation.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Malaysia's first national parks and has worldwide ecological importance due to its unique flora, fauna and native mammal species.
There are many unspoiled beaches where you can indulge in water sports and get a bite to eat at one of the many beach restaurants.
This natural hot spring is a popular place among tourists, just 40km outside of the city in Sabah.
This mosque is situated around a lagoon and is one of the most photographed sites in the region.
This aquarium with hands-on exhibits focuses on environmental protection and education.
Suang Tain Seafood Restaurant serves fresh-caught fish and traditional Malaysian food. Meal prices average about MYR25.
The best time to visit is May-September after the rainfall season, when the weather becomes more stable and you can view all kinds of turtles and orangutans playing in the wild jungles.
Kota Kinabalu International Airport is located 7km outside of the city. One way tickets from London cost roughly MYR2,200.
Sabah State Railway connects to other destinations on the island. A ticket to Beaufort with connections to Tenom costs MYR3.8 and takes 2 hours.
There are 3 highways operating through Kota Kinabalu. Highway 1 runs north and south with connections to Brunei, with 22 and 500 heading east to Ranau, Tambunan and Tenom.
Currently all long-distance buses operate out of the North Bus Terminal (Inanam) just 10km outside of the city.
Jesselton Hotel offers boutique accommodation in the heart of downtown for MYR220 a night.
Lok Kawi - This small nearby town offers an impressive wildlife park where you can have up-close encounters with tigers, monkeys and pygmy elephants.
Jalan Kampung Air - Visit this neighborhood to experience the traditional Southeast-Asian night markets and sample traditional Malaysian cuisine.
Karambunai - This neighborhood features many popular beaches which are good for snorkeling and diving.
The Wawasan Bus Terminal is currently under construction, being temporarily replaced by a stretch in front of Waterfront Mall. Single ride tickets cost around MYR2 and can be paid when boarding the bus.
Taxi tariffs start at MYR8, with a typical ride in the center costing around MYR15.
Rental vehicles can be picked up from Kota Kinabalu airport with average daily rates starting at MYR130.
Kota Kinabalu Handicraft (Filipino) Market offers souvenirs, including textiles, jewelry and local handcrafts for negotiable prices. 1Borneo Hypermall is the largest modern shopping mall in Borneo.
The two main shopping markets are City Grocer Supermarket and Giant Supermarket. A dozen eggs costs 4.5 MYR.