Kota Kinabalu 5 Days 4 Nights Itinerary: Best Places to Eat, Stay & Explore!

📍Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre
Holiday Inn Express, part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, costs around 300-400 RMB per night during the off-season. The low-rise floor-to-ceiling windows on the north side offer a view of the tropical rainforest that feels like a fairyland.

1⃣ Rough Travel Itinerary
【DAY1.3.5 Laid-back Leisure】
【DAY2.4 Slightly More Adventurous】
👉DAY1: Morning at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Park + Afternoon at Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
👉DAY2: Morning at Mantanani Island + Afternoon and Evening at Kawa Mangrove
👉DAY3: Morning for Eating and Sleeping + Afternoon Stroll at Likas Bay
👉DAY4: Morning at Kinabalu Park + Afternoon at Poring Hot Springs and Rafflesia
👉DAY5: Morning for Eating and Sleeping + Afternoon at Sabah University

2️⃣ Detailed Travel Itinerary
👉DAY1 (Landing and Strolling)
➡️6:00 Land in Kota Kinabalu
➡️7:30 Store luggage at the hotel and have breakfast
➡️9:00 Stroll and bird watching at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Park
➡️12:00 Have lunch
➡️13:00 Visit Lok Kawi Wildlife Park
➡️15:30 Return to the hotel for check-in and rest
➡️Have dinner, watch the sunset 🌄, enjoy the blue hour sky, and stroll around the city

👉DAY2 (Mantanani Island + Kawa Mangrove)
➡️6:50 Depart from the hotel
➡️9:30 Arrive at the pier by car
➡️10:30 Reach Mantanani Island by speedboat
➡️11:00~12:30 Snorkeling at two spots
➡️12:30~14:00 Lunch, play in the water, and take photos
➡️15:30 Arrive at Kawa for afternoon tea
➡️16:00 Depart to see proboscis monkeys and macaques
➡️18:00 Dinner
➡️19:30 Expected departure to see fireflies (canceled if heavy rain)
➡️20:00 Start the journey back to the hotel, arriving around 22:00

👉DAY3 (Bay Stroll)
➡️13:00 Take a Grab to Likas Bay
Stroll until sunset and return to the city

👉DAY4 (Mount Kinabalu Hike + Poring Hot Springs)
➡️8:00 Depart from the hotel
➡️9:30~12:00 Hike at Kinabalu Park
➡️12:00~14:00 Lunch at Hakka Cuisine Center + travel time
➡️14:00~15:00 Walk the suspension bridge at Poring Hot Springs
➡️15:00~16:00 Soak in private hot springs at Poring
➡️16:30 See the Rafflesia
➡️Return to the city

👉DAY5
➡️12:00 Take a Grab to Sabah University for a campus walk
➡️16:30 Leave the campus

3️⃣ Food
👉KK Garden Seafood
Everything except the drinks is incredibly delicious 😋 Highly recommended with five stars
👉Welcome Seafood
The crabs are delicious 😋 Large crabs and soft-shell crabs are my favorites
The three-color milk tea and coconut ice (pudding) are not bad but not outstanding
👉Yuan Tea House
The baked pastries are quite different from those in Kuala Lumpur
But the noodles and rice dishes are very tasty, and the drinks are good too
👉Gaya Street Night Market
The large squid tastes average
The Chinese shops have generous portions of fresh juice, and the people are very friendly, and it’s freshly squeezed, super delicious!

4️⃣ Supermarkets
For a fantastic shopping experience, head over to Suria Sabah, Imago, and Sutera Harbour. These places are not only great for picking up essentials but also offer a variety of unique items. Don’t forget to grab some mosquito repellent—it’s an absolute must-have! And while you’re there, treat yourself to a refreshing glass of guava juice; it’s simply delicious!

If you’re health-conscious, you’ll be pleased to find a range of sugar-free yogurts that are both tasty and good for you.

❗Detailed guides for all attractions and activities can be found on my homepage. Feel free to search and view them whenever you need more information.
❗When planning your itinerary, start with snorkeling at the far islands, and then make your way to Magellan Dock for the nearby islands when the weather is clear. This way, you can make the most of your trip and enjoy the best conditions for each activity.