Kota Kinabalu was once known as Jesselton. It is the capital of Sabah, Malaysia. It is also the state capital of Sabah West Coast. Kota Kinabalu is located on Borneo's North West Coast overlooking the South China Sea. Kota Kinabalu has a total of 452,058 residents in 2010. When the Penampang and Putatan districts are merged to Kota Kinabalu, the metro area has a combined population of 628,725. Kota Kinabalu is often known as KK in Malaysia and internationally. It is a major tourist destination and a popular gateway for tourists who wish to visit Sabah and Borneo. Kinabalu Park is about 90 km from the city, and there are many other tourist attractions in and around the city of Kota Kinabalu. Kota Kinabalu is also one of the major industrial and commercial centers in East Malaysia.

Airports in Kota Kinabalu

1. Kota Kinabalu International Airport

Kota Kinabalu International Airport is an international airport located in Kota Kinabalu. It is located in the capital of Sabah. It is about 8 km Southwest of Kota Kinabalu city centre. Eight million passengers have been using the airport in 2017 and making Kota Kinabalu International Airport the second busiest airport in Malaysia after the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It is a medium-sized airport that has good connections to most major aviation hubs in the Asia Pacific region. Kota Kinabalu International Airport has two terminals, terminal 1 and terminal 2. Terminal 1 is the latest terminal and is the main terminal at Kota Kinabalu International Airport while terminal 2 is the old main terminal. Today, terminal 2 operates as a low-cost terminal. Kota Kinabalu International Airport is a hub for AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, MASWings and Malindo Air.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Kota Kinabalu

Traveloka is a travel search engine that makes it easy for travellers to find the cheapest flights to Kota Kinabalu. All you need to do is key in the information in the search box, and the application will recommend the best trip according to your budget. It compares flight prices across some trusted airlines to help you to get the best possible deal. Use Traveloka’s price alert feature to be notified of flights in your desired price range to get the best flight price to Kota Kinabalu.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Kota Kinabalu?

The peak season in Kota Kinabalu is from March to October. This is because, in those months, the rain will not happen frequently. Kota Kinabalu will have dry weather and make it a great time for a walk. At this time, hotel prices are likely to increase slightly compared to the other months. So, make an early booking to get a low price. The off-peak season in Kota Kinabalu is from December to January because at this time it is a rainy season. The rain will come down more often, and seawater current is very strong.

Kota Kinabalu has a tropical monsoon climate with high temperatures, high rainfall and humidity throughout the year. The Northeast Monsoon and Southwest Monsoon characterise the climate in Kota Kinabalu. Northeast Monsoon occurs between November and March while Southwest Monsoon takes place between May and September. The average temperature of Kota Kinabalu is from 26 ° C to 31 ° C. The warmest months are in April and May. The coldest month is in January. The average annual rainfall is about 2,400 millimetres.

You can also visit Kota Kinabalu during the festive season. Kota Kinabalu has various celebrations such as the Festival of Keaamatan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year. The Keaamatan Festival is a form of celebration celebrated annually in Sabah. It is usually celebrated by ethnic of Kadazan Dusun and by other ethnic groups in the state. It lasts for one month in May. It will end with a public holiday later. It is also known as a harvest festival. Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a celebration celebrated by all Malaysians especially those who are Muslims in the month of Syawal according to Hijrah calendar. Chinese New Year is usually celebrated in February according to the lunar calendar.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Kota Kinabalu?

1. Mount Kinabalu - You can visit Mount Kinabalu to do mountain climbing activities. It is one of the World Heritage Sites. Mount Kinabalu is the highest peak in the Crocker range and is the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago.

2. Filipino Market - You can visit the Filipino Market while in Kota Kinabalu. This Filipino market is a handicraft market. This market is very popular among tourists as well as locals. You can get handicrafts and other items in the market.

5. Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park – It comprises of 5 groups of islands located between 3 and 8 km outside of Kota Kinabalu. You can visit the islands to enjoy their beauty.