Kuching
Around Kuching city centre
Kuching is one of those places that’s just easy to spend time in. It’s not about rushing around ticking off sights — it’s more about wandering, stopping, eating, and taking it all in.
The waterfront is the heart of the city and one of my favourite places to start or end the day. There’s usually a lovely breeze coming off the river, and it’s particularly nice in the early morning or evening when things cool down a bit.
Running along the Sarawak River, it’s clean, well maintained, and lined with cafés, food stalls, and places to sit and watch the world go by. You’ll often see families out walking, people fishing, and the occasional performance or event taking place. It’s also a great place to get your bearings when you first arrive in the city.
Darul Hana Bridge and across the river
The Darul Hana Bridge is worth crossing — it loops across the river and gives great views back over the city, especially at sunset when everything is lit up.
On the other side you’ll find:
Fort Margherita, a small but interesting fort with a bit of history and some simple exhibitions
The Orchid Garden, which is free to enter and particularly nice when in bloom
The striking DUN building (Sarawak State Legislative Assembly), which dominates the skyline
It’s noticeably quieter on this side, and the walk along the river here feels more relaxed and less busy than the main waterfront.
Kuching Waterfront – Light and Water ShowIf you’re in Kuching in the evening, it’s well worth timing your visit to catch the light and water show at the Darul Hana Musical Fountain. I really like it, my husband endures it but has seen it countless times. The shows usually run daily at 8.30pm and 9.30pm, with an additional 10.30pm show on weekends, and each one lasts around 15 minutes.
It’s a really relaxed way to spend the evening — the waterfront itself is lively but not hectic, with people strolling, stopping for food, or just sitting along the river. The fountain sits just across the water near the state assembly building, and the combination of music, lights, and water jets makes it the ideal spot for families to have an evening stroll. It’s free, easy to access, and a nice way to end the day without needing to plan anything too structured - just turn up a little early, find a spot along the river or on the bridge, and enjoy the atmosphere.
Boat trips
For a different perspective, you can take a river cruise or small boat trip.
The traditional sampan boats still run short crossings for around 1 MYR, which is worth doing just for the experience. Numbers have declined since the bridge was built but you can still find a few boats operating.
There are also longer cruises, including sunset options (usually around 60–150 MYR), which give you a slightly different view of the city and are a nice way to spend an hour or so in the evening.
Old streets and shop houses
Some of the best parts of Kuching are just wandering the older streets:
Carpenter Street – a mix of small temples, cafés, souvenir shops and traditional businesses
Padungan – a bit more local and less polished, but great for food and everyday life
India Street – pedestrianised, busy, colourful, and always something going on
There’s a real blend of:
tourist shops
long-established family businesses
newer cafés and restaurants
The shop houses are one of the highlights — some beautifully restored, others more worn but full of character. It’s the kind of place where it’s worth just turning down a side street and seeing what you find.
The cats
Kuching literally means “cat”, so don’t be surprised to find cat statues all over the city.
Some are small and tucked away, others are huge and slightly eccentric — it becomes a bit of a running theme as you explore.
Sarawak Museum
The Sarawak Museum Complex is well worth a visit if you want to understand more about the region.
Entry: usually around 20 MYR for foreigners
Modern, well-designed and easy to navigate
Covers Borneo’s natural history, indigenous cultures, and colonial past
More information: https://museum.sarawak.gov.my
It’s not overly large, so you can spend an hour or two here without it feeling like a full-day commitment. It’s also close enough to combine easily with a walk along the waterfront.
The Old Courthouse
One of my favourite spots in Kuching is the Old Courthouse complex.
It’s a beautifully restored colonial building that now houses cafés, a bar, small exhibitions, and event spaces. It’s a calm, open space with lots of shade — a good place to escape the heat for a while. It often feels a bit quieter than the main waterfront, and it’s somewhere we tend to return to more than once during a stay.
