Capital of Sarawak in western Borneo, the 'Cat City': a riverside promenade along the Sarawak River, a fort from the era of the White Rajahs and old Chinese streets. Twenty kilometres out you can watch semi-wild orangutans being fed at Semenggoh, take a boat to Bako National Park with its proboscis monkeys, and visit indigenous longhouses, caves and rainforest mountains. Sarawak laksa and kolo mee are among Malaysia's best breakfasts. Calm, safe and good for families. No direct flights from Ulaanbaatar — connect via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Mongolian citizens get 30 days visa-free.
🛂 Visa: Visa-free · 30 days✈ Flight: 12h☀ Best months: June, July, August
A promenade of over 1 km along the Sarawak River with food stalls, the old courthouse and a Chinese temple. Cross the S-shaped Darul Hana footbridge for views of the Sarawak State Assembly building with its golden umbrella-like roof and Fort Margherita on the far bank. In the evening the lights come on and the musical fountain show starts — a great family evening walk.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goNo visa needed, but fill in the MDAC and plan your connection around Sarawak's separate immigration check.+
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30 days visa-free, a Sarawak stamp
Mongolian citizens with any type of passport may stay in Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days. Sarawak keeps its own immigration control, so connecting via Kuala Lumpur you have your passport checked again after the domestic flight in Kuching and get a stamp. Have a passport valid for 6+ months, a return ticket and a hotel booking ready.
Fill in the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card free of charge on the Immigration Department's official site within 3 days before you first land in Malaysia. Flying direct from Singapore it is checked in Kuching; via Kuala Lumpur, at KLIA — no second MDAC is needed for Kuching. Beware of 'agent' sites that charge a fee.
December–February is the wettest time because of the northeast monsoon, and boats to Bako may be cancelled; June–August is relatively dry. The Rainforest World Music Festival is held every June or July at Sarawak Cultural Village (26–28 June in 2026) — book hotels early then.
🛬Landing and getting to your hotelKuching International Airport (KCH) is 11 km south of the city centre.+
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Sarawak immigration
Even arriving from Kuala Lumpur, you show your passport at Sarawak's immigration counter in arrivals and get it stamped. Keep your return ticket and hotel booking at hand.
Grab to the centre and waterfront costs roughly RM20–30 and takes 20–25 minutes. A fixed-price coupon from the taxi counter in arrivals is ≈RM30 for a regular taxi and ≈RM45 for an executive one.
If your phone supports eSIM, install a Malaysia eSIM before you go. Otherwise buy a Hotlink (Maxis), CelcomDigi or U Mobile tourist SIM in arrivals — registered with your passport.
Tip: A Malaysian phone number helps with Grab, Touch 'n Go and Semenggoh's online registration.
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Outside the city
Coverage is weak on Bako's forest trails and around Annah Rais and Bau. You may not be able to call a Grab back, so agree a return time with your driver in advance and download maps for offline use.
🚇In town and beyondThe centre is small and walkable; beyond it, Grab, buses and boats.+
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On foot, by sampan, by Grab
The waterfront, Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street and the Borneo Cultures Museum are all close together. Cross the river on the Darul Hana Bridge or by small sampan boat. Grab is easiest for the Cat Museum, Semenggoh and Sarawak Cultural Village.
Bus No. 1 runs from the city to Bako village for RM3.50 in ~45 minutes, or take a Grab. From the village jetty the boat takes 20–30 minutes; the RM20 park fee is paid in cash at the jetty. The last boat back is around 15:00, depending on the tide.
Public transport is thin, so for Annah Rais, the Bau caves and Damai Beach hiring a car with driver, a tour package or a rental car is easiest. Traffic drives on the left and you need an International Driving Permit.
💳Money and taxes+
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Ringgit, cards, QR
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (RM, MYR). Cards work at hotels and malls; bring cash for coffee shops, Main Bazaar, park fees and some museum tickets. ATMs are plentiful in the centre, scarce in the countryside.
🍜FoodKuching is a food city: Chinese coffee shops, Malay and indigenous Dayak cooking.+
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Sarawak laksa and kolo mee
Have Sarawak laksa with coconut milk and sambal belacan, or dry kolo mee noodles tossed in shallot oil, for breakfast. Coffee shops open early and laksa often sells out before noon. Choon Hui café is famous.
Tip: Try kopi-C (coffee with evaporated milk) and the three-layer 'teh C peng special'.
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Seafood and Dayak food
In the evening pick fish, prawns and 'midin' jungle fern to be cooked at the Top Spot food centre. Indigenous dishes include chicken and rice cooked in bamboo. Chinese coffee shops serve pork, so look for halal signs if needed.
Tip: Say 'tidak pedas' to order a dish without chilli.
🛡️Safety and health+
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Emergency number
Police, ambulance and fire share one number — 999; dialling 112 from a mobile connects even without a SIM. Free, 24 hours.
At Bako and Semenggoh macaques snatch food, plastic bags and backpacks — keep food hidden and don't stare them in the eye. Rivers and mangroves have crocodiles, so follow the warning signs and don't swim there. Use mosquito repellent against dengue.
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Rain and floods
The city is very calm and safe, but the monsoon brings heavy rain and short floods. Jungle trails get slippery in downpours and rivers rise fast — follow guides' and park staff's instructions.
🙏Manners+
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Visiting a longhouse
Take your shoes off when entering a longhouse and ask the host before taking photos. Taste at least a little of any drink or food offered as a sign of respect. Bring a small gift if you stay overnight.
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Many faiths, and nature
Muslims, Christians and Buddhists live side by side in Sarawak, which is relatively relaxed. Cover shoulders and knees at a mosque. Don't feed orangutans or monkeys, and keep your distance. Use your right hand to give money or things.
📱Useful apps+
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Getting around
Grab — rides and food delivery. Google Maps — coffee shops, museums, bus stops, offline maps. Buy Sarawak Cultural Village tickets on the official site.
Touch 'n Go eWallet — QR payments (check whether it accepts your foreign card for top-ups). MDAC — the digital arrival card. Download Malay in Google Translate for offline use.
Flying direct to Singapore, you clear Malaysian emigration in Kuching. Returning via Kuala Lumpur, you pass Sarawak's exit check in Kuching, then exit Malaysia at KLIA — leave plenty of connection time. Keep your passport at hand even on the domestic flight.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
9:00–16:45
A white riverside fort built in 1879 by the 'White Rajah' Charles Brooke, now housing a gallery on the Brooke family's century of rule. The tower gives fine views of the waterfront and river. Reach it on foot over the Darul Hana Bridge or by sampan.
Main Bazaar, Carpenter Street and Sarawak laksa★ 4.3 (4,000)
FoodFree (laksa, kolo mee RM6–12)Shops ≈9:00–17:00; coffee shops open early in the morning
The city's oldest street: 19th-century Chinese shophouses selling handicrafts, Iban textiles, pepper and souvenirs. Behind it, Carpenter Street has Chinese temples and old coffee shops. Kuching's breakfast is Sarawak laksa with coconut milk and prawns and dry kolo mee noodles; Choon Hui café, praised by Anthony Bourdain, is famous.
KidsForeigners RM10 (children 7–12 RM5, under 7 free); phone camera RM3; cash only9:00–16:30
Legend says 'Kuching' means 'cat' in Malay, so the city is full of cat statues. The world's only cat museum, on the hill of the Kuching North City Hall, has over 4,000 exhibits — posters, ancient Egyptian cats, toys. Don't miss a photo with the Great Cat statue in the centre.
Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (orangutans)★ 4.4 (6,000)
NatureForeigners RM10 (children 6–17 RM5, under 6 free); online registration8:00–10:00, 14:00–16:00; feeding at 9:00 and 15:00
A forest reserve ~20 km from town where orangutans are rehabilitated: about 20 semi-wild orangutans come out of the forest at feeding time. Sightings aren't guaranteed — fewer come in fruiting season. Unforgettable for kids; stay quiet and keep 5 m away.
NaturePark fee RM20 (children 7–18 RM7); boat from Bako village ≈RM40 per person return (5 to a boat) or charter the whole boatLast boat back ≈15:00 (depends on the tide)
Sarawak's oldest national park, reached only by a 20–30 minute boat ride from Kampung Bako. Proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, macaques and flying lizards; sea stacks along the coast and colour-coded jungle trails. Go for the day or stay in park lodging for a night walk. Don't let the macaques grab your food or bag.
CultureForeigners RM135 (children 2–12 RM85); with lunch RM168/RM1189:00–17:00; dance shows at 11:30 and 16:00
Full-size longhouses and houses of the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and other peoples around a lake at the foot of Mount Santubong: blowpipes, basket weaving and traditional food. Known as a 'living museum'; the Rainforest World Music Festival is held here every year (26–28 June in 2026).
CultureForeigners RM50 (12 and under RM20)Mon–Fri 9:00–16:45, Sat–Sun 9:30–16:30; closed on public holidays
One of Malaysia's largest museums (2022): five floors on Borneo's peoples, longhouses, beadwork, ancient artefacts and interactive exhibits, with a dedicated children's gallery. The best choice on a rainy day or a hot afternoon.
Kubah National Park and Matang Wildlife Centre★ 4.1 (1,000)
NatureForeigners RM20 (children RM7) — valid for both≈8:00–17:00
Rainforest on Mount Matang ~25 km from town: waterfalls, night walks to hear frogs and many kinds of palms. The Matang centre cares for rescued orangutans, sun bears and hornbills. A slightly adventurous day trip.
BeachBeach free; Santubong park ≈RM20Beach 24 hours; start the mountain trail early in the morning
Beaches and resorts on the Santubong peninsula ~35 km from town: swimming and sunsets. The trail up 810 m Mount Santubong is steep with rope ladders and takes 6–8 hours — only for fit hikers. Nearby Santubong village has seafood and evening boat trips to spot river dolphins.
Culture≈RM8 longhouse; hot springs ≈RM5Daily; best to arrive in the morning
A Bidayuh bamboo longhouse over 200 years old in the hills about 1.5 hours from town — still lived in. Many families under one roof, bamboo verandas and a special 'head house'. Nearby river hot springs (check they are open) and homestays with home cooking.
Limestone caves around the old gold-mining town of Bau, ~40 km from town: in Wind Cave you walk boardwalks along an underground river spotting bats and swiftlets; at Fairy Cave you climb 100+ steps into a huge chamber lit by daylight. Bring a torch; see both in half a day.
