Kuching

Kuching, Sarawak's capital, is an easy introduction to Malaysian Borneo. Home to a population of around 600,000 people, this riverside town blends colonial buildings with Chinese shophouses and Malay influences to create somewhere quite distinct from the rest of Malaysia.

Kuching means "cat" in Malay, and there are many cat statues dotted about town. Most visitors spend time along the waterfront promenade, where food stalls are set up each evening opposite the State Assembly building with its golden dome. Behind lies the old quarter with its shophouses and restaurants,  and reminders of the eccentric White Rajahs who once ruled Sarawak.

For those interested in local culture, the Borneo Cultures Museum is well worth a visit. This modern museum is the largest of its kind in Malaysia, and it offers insight into the diverse ethnic groups of Borneo. Spread across five floors, its exhibits include traditional crafts, ceremonial costumes, and displays that bring Sarawak’s rich indigenous heritage to life. It’s a great place to gain context before visiting nearby longhouses or exploring the region's national parks, and the museum’s striking architecture alone makes it a landmark in its own right.

Nature is right on the doorstep at Bako National Park, home to proboscis monkeys with their distinctive, quirky noses, and at the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, a sanctuary where rehabilitated orangutans live semi-wild, free to roam the forest but returning for regular feeding sessions. Watching these orangutans, especially mothers with their playful young, is an experience you won’t forget.

The food reflects the city's mix of Chinese, Malay and indigenous populations.