Getting around Kota Kinabalu is easy, thanks to the bus system, and that it is also easy to get a taxi. Another fact is the city centre which is mostly a south-north and west-east system with crosstown streets. There are also ferries to the islands and will you visit the boroughs, the buses will take you there.
Central Kota Kinabalu has many great assets, one is its walkability. To walk is in many ways the best way to see and feel a city. Most of the city centre is flat, it is only Signal Hill that is a little higher up. It is only a 15 minutes walk to Signal Hill from the old quarters of Kota Kinabalu and we can guarantee you a breathtaking view not only over the whole city but also some ovet of the islands.
Or why not take a walk along the harbour, there is the fish market there, and the ferries to the islands leave from here. You can also take a little longer walk south to the Mengkabong Water Village.
There is also bicycle rentals in hotels and in the city. If you are planning to travel outside Kota Kinabalu by car it is easy to find the right direction as the three main roads are going north, north east and south.
Bus & Taxi
Bus Service There are three main bus terminals in Kota Kinabalu that operate regular bus services. Two of them are central: the terminal along Jalan Tun Razak provides internal bus services to different parts of the city and its outskirts. If you are heading south of Kota Kinabalu (to Papar, Beaufort, Tenom, Keningau, Tambunan, and others), go to the terminal near Bandaran Berjaya, which provides intercity services.
For destinations north, northeast, or east of Kota Kinabalu, there is the Kota Kinabalu North Bus Terminal. Buses there will take you to Tuaran, Kota Belud, Kudat, Ranau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and all the way to Tawau, Semporna, and other places. There is also an alternative public transportation system with vans or minibuses.
Taxi From Kota Kinabalu Airport, a taxi costs around RM 30-40 and takes about ten minutes to the city center, which is situated 8 kilometers (5 miles) away. There is no bus service at the airport, but you can catch a bus on the main road to the city center for around RM 2.
Highways & Railways
Highways from Kota Kinabalu connect to distant towns throughout Sabah. The main federal roads from Kota Kinabalu are:
- Northwest Sabah: Kota Kinabalu – Tamparuli – Kudat
- East Coast: Kota Kinabalu – Tamparuli – Ranau – Sandakan – Tawau – Serudong (part of the Pan Borneo Highway)
- South Sabah: Kota Kinabalu – Lawas – Brunei – Miri – Kuching – Sematan (part of the Pan Borneo Highway)
- Southeast Sabah: Kota Kinabalu – Keningau – Kalabakan – Tawau
The railway, known as the Sabah State Railway or North Borneo Railway, was established in 1896 and connects Kota Kinabalu with Tenom and other towns. It provides daily commuter and cargo services. Additionally, the North Borneo Railway offers leisure tours primarily for tourists. The train station and terminus are located in Tanjung Aru