Atkinson Clock Tower

One of the most enduring landmarks in Kota Kinabalu, it stands prominently on a bluff along Signal Hill Road adjacent to the old Police Station. Built in 1903, this all-wood, no-nails structure was built in memory of Francis George Atkinson - the popular first District Officer of Jesselton during the British North Borneo Chartered Company Administration, who had succumbed to a tropical disease at the young age of 28.

This Clock Tower has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah that survived the destruction of Jesselton town during World War II. Till today, it still serves to keep the city's time. The Atkinson Clock Tower is managed by the Sabah Museum under its Antiquity and History section.

Menara Tun Mustapha

Located 5 kilometres or about 15 minutes away from the KK City Centre. Formerly known as the Sabah Foundation Building, this circular tower of steel and glass stands 30 storeys high in the Likas Bay area and is instantly recognizable as a Sabah icon. It has a central core with steel brackets supporting each floor. When completed in 1977, it was one of the three such buildings in the world based on this design concept.

Inside are housed an auditorium, two mini-theatres, exhibition foyer, a gymnasium, kindergarten and Research library. On the 18th. floor is the revolving restaurant, Atmosphere where you can enjoy a different dining experience.

Kundasang War Memorial

A must-visit in Kundasang is the Kundasang War Memorial. Established in 1962, this was one of the first memorials to commemorate the brave Australian and British Prisoners of War who died in Sandakan and during the infamous death marches to Ranau during World War II. The memorial also remembers the people of North Borneo who risked their lives to help the POWs.

The Memorial is made up of four beautiful gardens - the Australian Garden, the English Garden, the Borneo Garden and the Contemplation Garden and Pool - to represent the different nationalities. With its towering pine trees and blooming roses, a walk in the gardens is reminiscent to that of a stroll in a quaint English garden. The scent of roses lingers in the air and the serene atmosphere makes the Kundasang War Memorial an ideal place to contemplate and remember the heroes of the war.

Gaya Street

Originally named Bond Street, Gaya Street located in the Kota Kinabalu Central Business District has been the centre of business for over a hundred years. The wooden shops with nipah roofs are long gone but here is where generations-old family businesses are still thriving passed down from father to son.

Every Sunday morning, the length of Gaya Street is closed off to traffic to make way for the Fair. Shop for anything under shady trees and over-sized umbrellas, like batik sarongs, fruits and flowers, arts and craft, footwear, antiques and souvenirs, cakes, even pets and herbs!. This is the best place to experience the cross-section of the local population when entire families enjoy a Sunday outing.

Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre

Situated just 2kilometers north-east of Kota Kinabalu City at Likas or ten minutes from the KK City Centre, the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) formerly known as Kota Kinabalu City Bird Sanctuary (KKCBS) covers 24 hectares (60 acres) of mangrove forest . It is at once an educational and recreational centre.

Commonly sighted birds here include the migratory species from as far as Northern Asia, Siberia and Northern China like the Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Egrets and Herons as well as canopy birds such as Collared Kingfisher and Stork-billed Kingfisher. To date almost 80 species of birds have been identified at the sanctuary.

Tamu Penampang

Penampang, a Kadazandusun hub made up of a tight-knit community. This bustling district is a mere 15-minute drive from Kota Kinabalu (KK) city and is a unique blend of the old and the new with its modern shoplots and bungalows, fringed by sprawling paddy fields and kampong-style homes.

Dongonggon, considered the heart of Penampang, is the place to be every Thursday and Friday for this is when the Tamu (market) takes place. Traders come out in full force to sell their best produce, ranging from fresh vegetables to handicrafts.

The Tamu Penampang is particularly famous for its tapai or lihing (rice wine) and jars of bambangan (a wild mango usually pickled) and tuhau (a ginger-like plant which has been pounded and mixed with lime juice, onion and chillies). Want the truly exotic? Give the sago worms, or butod, a try!

The Waterfront

Kota Kinabalu's one-stop dining and entertainment centre is found right here along the famous Waterfront. Located along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, the Waterfront is a popular hangout for both locals and visitors alike. As you stroll along the esplanade, be spoilt for choice when it comes to dining.

In the evening, the Waterfront comes to life with dazzling lights, pulsating rhythms and a fantastic blend of energy thast makes The Waterfront a must-visit during your time in Kota Kinabalu.

Kinabalu Park

• Malaysia's first World Heritage
• Area: 754sq. Kilometers
• Botanical paradise of flora and fauna
• Biggest attraction is Mt.Kinabalu Botanical Garden
• Mt.Kinabalu is 4101m (13,455ft) high

Layang-Layang Island

Layang-Layang, known as "Swallows Reef" is an atoll situated in the South China Sea 300 km. north-west of Kota Kinabalu. The island is man-made and was constructed for the Malaysian Navy and later developed for the only dive resort, Layang-Layang Island Resort.

The island location offers absolute isolation, luckily there is an airstrip with regular flights from Kota Kinabalu, which is the only mode of transport for guests visiting Layang-Layang. The extreme location of Layang-Layang, the pristine reefs, excellent visibility, steep walls down to 2,000 km. and regular sightings of pelagics has given Layang-Layang a much deserved reputation of being one of the top ten dive locations in the world.

With resident schools of barracuda and big-eye trevally and frequently seen green and hawksbill are plentifull and healthy with sea fans strecthing to more than three meters across that filter plankton from the passing currents.

The 20 m. deep lagoon has some great macro creatures to be found including seahorses, cuttlefish and pipefish but it is the pelagics visiting the outer walls that truly excite divers. Schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks, grey reef sharks, leopard sharks and the occasional threshers and silvertip sharks can all be seen.

Stingrays are also regular visitors including manta rays, pygmy devil rays, marbled rays and eagle rays. Rare sightings such as whale sharks, orcas and melon headed whales have all been seen ove the last few years. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins frequently follow the dive boats to each location and divers are sometimes rewareded with snorkeling and diverse fish life and visiting pelagic marine life.

Layang-Layang has rightly gained worldwide recognition.

Tanjung Aru Beach

Located at the end of Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and about 6 kilometres from KK City, this place is closest to the hearts of the locals, and just one visit to the beach will tell you why. Taking its name from the casuarinas or aru trees that fringe the fine sands, this is where one might get a ringside seat to the greatest sunset on earth every evening when the crimson sun dips slowly into the horizon, leaving the vast skies a brilliant red.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

The marine park is a cluster of islands comprising Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug, all only 10 - 20 minute speedboat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu. The five islands of the Marine Park are characterized by shallow waters, sumptous coral gardens and all boast splendid white sandy beaches.

The reefs lie in shallow waters with little current making it an ideal location for novice divers, however, the diverse and sometimes rare marine creatures also make it an interesting dive location for experienced divers and underwater photographers.

Amongst the sandy seabed, a good variety of marine life can be found such as scorpion fish, blue-spotted rays, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps and the occasional green or hawksbill turtle. At some locations, rare creatures such as harlequin ghost pipefish and mandarin fish can be found especially with the help from local dive guides.

During the cooler months from November to February, plankton blooms attract krill which in turn attract whale sharks, the world's largest fish. At times, the density of krill can be so thick that in these murky conditions underwater to encounter with these gigantic animals can be exciting as they suddenly appear out of the gloom .

Handicraft Market

Located along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, the Handicraft Market is a favoured shopping haunt for locals and tourists alike. Souvenirs galore await you and rest assured there is something for everyone.

Start with the cheap trinkets, which make excellent gifts for friends and family. These include keychains, beaded bracelets and necklaces and bookmarks. You will be spoilt for choice with miles and miles of beautiful sarongs and pareos, an ideal reminder of your tropical holiday in Sabah! Be sure to check out the glistening and gorgeous pearl jewellery and handicrafts. You can purchase loose pearls or stunning brooches, necklaces and earrings, available at almost every stall you visit in this vast market.

For those with an eye for ornate wooden carvings, you have come to the right place. The market has an endless variety of carved crafts, including exotic wooden masks, picture frames and even stunning wall panels. Not be missed are the assortment of rattan baskets in all shapes and sizes.

The best thing about the Handicraft Market is that you never know what piece of treasure you might unravel during your visit. Some have returned home with an authentic sompoton (a traditional wind instrument), a Murut headhunter's blowpipe, a coconut-shaped handbag and a wooden-frog that ‘sings' when you stroke its back with a wooden stick.

The most important tip when visiting the market is to bargain, bargain, bargain! Pick up some local lingo to improve your bargaining skills and you might even walk away a steal.

Monsopiad Cultural Village

Nestled besides the Penampang River are the many traditional buildings that make up the Monsopiad Cultural village, a living museum located 16 km. or about half an hour away from the KK City Centre. Monsopiad was a fearsome warrior who lived in the village of Kuai nearly 200 years ago.

At the Village, visit the Tangkob or Grainery where the padi is housed. Kotos Di Monsopiad or Monsopiad's Main House is dedicated to the life and times of Monsopiad and his descendants. On display are ceramic jars, padi grinders, bamboo items as well as the costume of Bobohizan Inai Bianti, direct descendant of Monsopiad and very senior high priestess.

Other interesting exhibits include the massive monolith which invokes a dozen legends, the traditional restaurant and of course Siou Do Mohoing, or the House of Skulls, where all 42 ‘trophies' of Monsopiad hang from the rafters.

North Borneo Railway

In the 1880s, with the emergence of rubber and coffee plantations in Borneo's hinterland, a need of some kind of transportation between towns was triggered, thus the North Borneo Railway was born.

Today, it runs from Tanjung Aru till Tenom town, passing coastal and rural areas, picturesque villages and small towns, a mountain tunnel and a spectacular Gorge.

Revisit the early days of North Borneo when adventurous young British officers ventured deep into the heart of Borneo, opening up new towns and establishing Sabah's only railway line with a ride on a British Vulcan Steam Locomotive now operated by Sutera Harbour Resort. It can also be made available for charter for groups, incentives and private parties.

Sabah State Museum & Heritage Village

Built in 1985, the Museum complex is sited where then British North Borneo Governor's Istana was once located. The Museum consists of the Main Building, Science and Education Centre, Heritage Village, Sabah Art Gallery and Museum of Islamic Civilization. Inside are various Galleries housing Natural History, Ceramics, Ethnography and Archaeology exhibits, among others..

Ceramics, traditional weapons and costumes reflect the diversity of the State's culture and traces Sabah's early trade links with the neighbouring countries of Southeast Asia and China. The museum also houses musical instruments, tools and ritual paraphernalia.

There is a Heritage Village on the Museum grounds where you can enter and experience different types of traditional houses of the various indigenous groups of Sabah. Cultural activities are held here from time to time.

The Sabah State Museum is located on Jalan Bukit Istana Lama, Kota Kinabalu, 4 km. or about 15 minutes from the KK City Centre.