11 Amazing Reasons To Visit Kuching Malaysia

Kuching combines history and culture as well as colonial architecture with contemporary designs in a relatively small, chilled out city. Be captivated and inspired by these 11 reasons to visit Kuching as part of a Malaysia and Borneo adventure.

The exotic allure of the White Rajahs

In the 18th century, Sarawak belonged to the Sultan of Brunei. But after James Brook helped curb regional rebellions and piracy, the Sultan gave him the land that is today’s Sarawak. James Brook became the First White Rajah. After expanding the territory to include the modern day borders, the Brook Dynasty helped develop Sarawak. Kuching exudes an alluring air of Asia’s first and only White Rajah, lasting from 1841 to 1946.

The Astana is an iconic landmark across the Sarawak River

Spend an afternoon at Borneo’s oldest museum

Embrace the cat culture

One of the top reasons to visit Kuching for curious travellers is the cosy relationship between the city and cats. Kuching itself means ‘cat’ in Bahasa Malaysia, and the city lives up to its name and reputation. With a Cat Museum and several feline statues littering the streets, Kuching makes an attractive city for cat lovers.

Kuching: One of the more affordable capitals in Malaysia

According to backpackers, one of the top reasons to visit Kuching is the affordability of travel. Compared to neighbouring Sabah and West Malaysia, Sarawak’s capital suits the more budget-conscious visitors. Think RM4 ($1) for a plate of delicious Sarawakian food, free admission into many attractions, and nightly rates costing less than RM70 ($17.60). Malaysia rates as one of the more budget-friendly worldwide travel spots, and Kuching is one of Malaysia’s cheapest cities.

Indulge in Sarawakian food

Forget Penang and Ipoh, Kuching can be considered a food capital of Malaysia. With a selection of local delicacies including bamboo chicken, Kolo mee and the famous Sarawak Layer Cake, the chance to taste some of the flavours is among tourists’ top reasons to visit Kuching. Even celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain put Sarawak Laksa, a type of vermicelli rice noodle dish with a prawn-based broth, chicken, egg and bean sprouts, on his Top 10 Wish List.

Sarawak’s famous and delicous Laksa should be on your must-try food list!

Kuching’s colonial charm

Because the White Rajahs ruled over Sarawak for more than a century, the colonial legacy remains in the city’s architecture. Kuching’s Astana (Palace), the former residence of the reigning Rajahs, is a particular highlight. Others include Fort Margherita, the Old Court House, the Round Tower and Sarawak State Museum. The colonial styles juxtapose and blend with traditional Chinese shophouses and modern streets to create an eclectic blend of layered history, culture and modernity.

Fort Margherita also houses the Brooke Gallery

Kuching’s rich ethnic diversity

The city’s 325,000 residents consist of an almost equal number of Malay and Chinese Malaysians as well as sizeable Dayak communities. Tourists can visit mosques, churches, temples and mix with people whose ancestors hunted heads. Visit the Sarawak Cultural Village, an open-air museum near Damai Beach, to see traditional houses from Iban, Malay, Chinese, Orang Ulu and Bidayuh ethnic groups.

One of the many ethnic tribes in Sarawak playing a traditional flute

The romance

From cosy cat-themed cafés to sunset cruises along the Santubong River, Kuching oozes romance. Stroll along the Kuching Waterfront in the early evening and admire the Astana and Sarawak State Legislative Assembly after dark. Head to the Orchid Garden and see the Normah Orchid state flower, or spend a quiet hour inside one of Borneo‘s most beautiful parks, the Friendship Gardens. Finish off with a ride in a traditional wooden boat along the Sarawak River. Couples can easily find more romantic spots in Kuching compared to the rest of Borneo and Malaysia.

Cruise the Sarawak River

Another one of the top reasons to visit Kuching: the chance to join a sunset cruise on the Sarawak River. The 90-minute trip takes passengers along the river to watch the sunset over the 19th-century Astana and Fort Margherita. Either sit on the sky deck with a drink and enjoy the views or speak to the guides as they point out the mansions and landmarks lining both sides.

River cruises with dining options are available at affordable prices

Visit an orangutan rehabilitation centre

Deforestation destroys orangutan habitats and leaves the young vulnerable and homeless without the skills to survive in the wild. Semmengoh Nature Reserve adopts the orphaned primates and helps them prepare to return to their natural habitat. Several orangutans live inside the rehabilitation centre’s reserve. Visit during feeding time at 9:00am and 3:00pm for a higher chance of seeing them.

Visit Semenggoh Nature Reserve to see the adorable rescued Orangutans

See endemic proboscis monkeys at Bako National Park

Another one of our more captivating reasons to visit Kuching is to take advantage of a day trip to Bako National Park to see wild proboscis monkeys. The rare and endangered primates have a red pot belly and a long characteristic nose. Estimates suggest between 150 and 250 live inside Sarawak’s oldest national park located just an hour from Kuching.

Sarawak is one of the places in Borneo where you can see the endangered long-nosed monkeys

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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