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Melbourne to Kota Kinabalu

Tips for First-Time Travellers on Cheap Flights to Kota Kinabalu

Try the local cuisine

After arriving in Malaysia on your cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu, make it your mission to try all of the delicious local foods. Being a coastal city, Kota Kinabalu is especially known for its fresh seafood and curry crab. Other popular dishes to try when you have plane tickets to Kota Kinabalu include goue tie dumplings, pan mee, laksa, and bak kut teh. Visit local hawker centres to try authentic food on a budget.

Get the recommended vaccinations before your flights to Kota Kinabalu

When you book return flights to Kota Kinabalu, it is recommended to get vaccinated against tetanus, hepatitis A, and typhoid before you arrive to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI).

Visit an indigenous village to learn about Kota Kinabalu’s tribal life

While Kota Kinabalu and the Sabah region have modernised in recent years, there are still plenty of traditional villages to visit. While visiting a local village after your cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu, you can try traditional food, learn about tribal culture, and see examples of architecture. Mari Mari Cultural Village is a popular destination for visitors with flights to Kota Kinabalu.

Cafes and Restaurants

Kedai Kopi Yee Fung

Kedai Kopi Yee Fung serves some delicious local food to try after arriving on return flights to Kota Kinabalu. The restaurant is loved among locals and is well-known for its curry laksa. Other popular dishes to try when you have flights to Kota Kinabalu include their claypot chicken rice and ngiu chap beef noodle soup. Kedai Kopi Yee Fung is open for breakfast and lunch every day.

Restoran Sri Melaka

Restoran Sri Melaka serves authentic Malaysian cuisine in the heart of the city centre. The restaurant specialises in seafood and curry but also serves some incredible vegetarian dishes. Meals are small and inexpensive, offering an experience similar to a tapas restaurant, allowing visitors with flights to Kota Kinabalu to sample many dishes off the menu.

Suang Tain Seafood Restaurant

With an authentic hawker centre feel to it, Suang Tain Seafood Restaurant is a great spot to experience when you book an airfare to Kota Kinabalu. It is the oldest seafood restaurant in the city and combines traditional Malaysian and Chinese flavours. Suang Tain has a great atmosphere and is well-known for its crab and prawn dishes.

Nook Cafe

Nook Cafe serves the best coffee in the city, according to many locals and visitors with flights to Kota Kinabalu. The cafe is beautifully designed and has lots of natural light. There is also an outdoor patio overlooking a garden, providing a nice atmosphere. In addition to coffee, Nook Cafe serves some delicious breakfast and lunch options, including pancakes, waffles, acai bowls, and various egg dishes.

Top Things to Do and See in Malaysia with Flights to Kota Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu

Mount Kinabalu is a sacred mountain located a short distance from the city. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Malaysia’s Sabah region and is one of the top attractions to see after booking return flights to Kota Kinabalu. Visitors with an airfare to Kinabalu can hike the mountain for some gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside.

Borneo Railway

While the current Borneo Railway train began service in 2011; it follows tracks that were first built in 1896. Back then, the railway was used to transport tobacco through the Sabah region. Take a ride on the Borneo Railway after your flights to Kota Kinabalu to learn more about the area’s history and see some incredible tropical jungle and coastline.

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park is an animal reserve located just outside the city. It protects a variety of native wildlife, including Malayan tigers, Borneo Pygmy elephants, and Proboscis monkeys. Travellers with tickets to Kota Kinabalu can visit the park to see and learn about these animals as well as enjoy treks through the Bornean jungle.

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park

Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is located just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu and consists of five different islands. While the city has been modernised, Tunku Abdul Rahman features largely untouched nature. Visit the islands after your cheap flights to Kota Kinabalu to enjoy snorkelling, diving, and hiking.
 

The state of Sabah is nicknamed, ‘the land below the wind’ referring to its sheltered position just south of the monsoon and typhoon belt. The temperature does not change much throughout the year, however, the city is affected by two monsoons seasons each year from April to May and September to October. The best time to visit Kota Kinabalu is during the dry season from January to March.

Travellers should be aware the city has a high heat and humidity rate throughout the year which can take some getting used to, with temperatures staying between lows of 23 and highs of 33 degrees. 

Kota Kinabalu International Airport

The main airport for international travellers is Kota Kinabalu International Airport. Located around 8 km from the city centre it is the second busiest airport in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Flights make their way to Kota Kinabalu from a number of destinations, including Hong Kong, Manila and Singapore. Flights to Kota Kinabalu depart from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and travel via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.