9 Best Things to Do in Kuching Malaysia with Kids

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If you’re headed to the island of Borneo, we’ve got the perfect thing for you. Herein are the best things to do in Kuching, which is one of the major cities in the Malaysian part of Borneo.

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Where in the world is Kuching?

The country of Malaysia has two distinct regions:

• mainland, or peninsular, or western, Malaysia (where the capital Kuala Lumpur is located)
• island, or eastern, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo

Kuching is located on the island of Borneo, surrounded by the Philippines, Indonesia, and mainland southeast Asia. Interestingly, Borneo is the third largest island in the world (not counting Australia).

The country of Malaysia also has states, as in the United States. Kuching is the capital and most populous city in the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

The blue dot marks the spot of where Kuching is located. Just think…you could be there some day!

What does Kuching mean?

Kuching is the word for “cat” in the Malay language.

Is Kuching worth visiting?

On the morning we were flying from Singapore to Kuching, Older Daughter said, “Watch out, Borneo. Here I come!”

It does sound kind of exotic, right? “Oh, I’m flying off to Borneo.” Well, it is kind of exotic. Borneo is home to tropical rainforests, teeming with flora and fauna not seen anywhere else on earth.

Kuching is also a place to interact with indigenous people groups, such as the Bidayuh, which offers us an opportunity to look beyond ourselves.

So, is Kuching worth visiting? YES!!!!!

Best Time to Visit Kuching

As with Singapore, Kuching is very close to the equator. Because of that, Kuching’s climate is tropical rainforest. It’s fairly warm and humid at all times.

As such, with the weather being similar year-round, any time of the year is great for visiting Kuching.

Semi-Budget Travel Pro Tip!

Because of the tropical climate, be sure to wear insect repellent every single day!

How to Get to Kuching

The easiest way to get to Kuching is by air. Kuching International Airport (KCH) has grown over the years and is now a major hub for both Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia.

Singapore to Kuching

While there are a bunch of flights from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Kuching each day, there are very few daily direct flights on Malaysia Airlines between Singapore and Kuching (like often just one). We, of course, booked that flight!

If that is the case for you as well, your main morning focus is to make that flight from Singapore to Kuching!

Malaysia Airlines (including Lunch)

Here’s what you can expect when flying Malaysia Airlines from Singapore to Kuching with kids.

Flight time from Singapore to Kuching is approximately 1 hour, 25 minutes. In that amount of time, we were served a full meal (lunch). For reals!

But, check out the difference between the adult meal and the child meal.

Adult meal:

• hot dish of fried rice with vegetables
• small bag of salted peanuts

Child meal:

• hot dish of noodles & meat sauce
• bag of potato chips
• roll with butter
• fruit
• muffin
• Jell-o
• candy bar
• juice box

Plus, it arrives in a fun box!

With full meal service and a 1 hour, 25 minute flight, before you know it, you’ve arrived in Kuching!

Arrival in Kuching

Kuching doesn’t have a train system, as in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. My recommendation for family transportation in Kuching is a rental car. This means that car seats and the like will need to be considered, but Kuching and its surrounds are quite large, and you will appreciate having your own transportation.

NOTE: In Malaysia, traffic drives on the left side of the road. So, those of you from the U.S. (and other places in the world) will be in for a bit of an adjustment. Also, make sure to get an international driving permit before your trip. Visit your local AAA office. It’s quite simple.

After baggage claim, immigration, and the rental car desk, be ready for when you step out of the airport and into the great outdoors. The heat and humidity is pervasive.

On this particular May 27, the Kuching weather looked like this:

• Max Temp = 90°F
• Average Humidity = 86%

But, you’ve made it to Kuching! Head to your hotel to get settled, and then let the exploring begin!

9 Best Things to Do in Kuching with Kids

Now that you’ve made it to Kuching (or are at least planning a trip to Kuching!), you may be thinking, “Where can I take my kids in Kuching?”

I’ve put together this Kuching itinerary for you, showing you what to do in Kuching with family. It mostly focuses on things right in Kuching proper and not too far out of the city.

Check out my list of the best things to do in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

1) Best Kolo Mee in Kuching

Kolo You? No, Kolo Mee!

When you’re looking for what to eat in Kuching, start by seeking out the best kolo mee in Kuching.

I’m sure you’ve experienced eating in a mall food court, right? Think Sbarro pizza, Hot Dog on a Stick, or Chick-fil-A.

But, have you ever been to a “food court” that looked like this?

Is was at this very food court that we found the best kolo mee in Kuching!

By now, you might be wondering…what in the world even is kolo mee? Well, I’m glad you asked!

What is Kolo Mee?

Besides delicious (!), kolo mee is basically the state of Sarawak’s special noodle dish.

As you can see in the pic below, there are a lot of noodles involved, with a light sauce (not a heavy dark soy sauce). In addition to the egg noodles and sauce, minced meat, fried onion, and spring onion top off the dish, along with a few slices of char siew (sliced BBQ pork).

Where is the Best Kolo Mee in Kuching?

Using Google Maps, type in “Siong Tsing Food Court” in Kuching. There you will find the best kolo mee in Kuching. And at approximately $0.72 USD, you might be able to eat a lot of it too!

Semi-Budget Travel Savings!

Authentic kolo mee lunch for $0.72 USD!

2) Local Shopping in Kuching

In downtown Kuching, there are tons of fantastic shops where you can search for your favorite local goods and souvenirs.

3) Escape the Heat

Lunch in Air Conditioned Mall

We had local food for lunch…laksa & kolo mee & teh tarik.

Indoor Playground

Find an indoor playground for the kids to let out some energy (& for you to re-charge).

Afternoon Swim at Hotel

With the weather in Kuching on this particular May 31 looking like this: Max Temp = 95°F / Average Humidity = 86%, an afternoon swim sounds like a good idea.

The Citadines Uplands Kuching (the hotel we stayed at) has a lovely pool deck, which also includes a hot tub and wading pool.

4) Attend a Church Service

We are lucky to have some friends that live in Kuching. We attended a church service with them, in the Malay language! This is a cultural and spiritual experience combined.

I can’t explain it, but when I sing songs to the Lord, about the Lord, etc. in a language other than English, it moves me. Like…to tears. I think it’s that realization that God is moving in people’s hearts all over the world & in all different languages. We have a common bond in Him…one that transcends geography, culture, skin color, etc. So, this church service in Malay (with bits of English sprinkled here and there) was fantastic.

5) Search for the Elusive Rafflesia Flower

Well, truth be told, the Rafflesia can’t be found in Kuching proper. Most people visit Gunung Gading National Park, which is 2-3 hours outside of Kuching. And, even then, Rafflesia flowers are very rare, unpredictable, grow overnight, and begin decomposing with a day. Talk about elusive!

The Spring mall, across from our hotel, had a special display celebrating Gawai, and it included this Rafflesia flower. Unfortunately, this was as close as we got to seeing a Rafflesia while we were in Kuching.

6) Grocery Shopping

Also at The Spring mall, across the street from the Citadines Uplands Kuching hotel, is a full-size grocery store. This is very convenient for stocking up on bottled water and yogurt (read: gut health) for your time in Kuching.

7) Cat Statues in Kuching

When you’re making your list of what to do in Kuching, searching out the cat statues definitely needs to be on it.

Given that Kuching means “cat” in Malay, you’re essentially in Cat City! Drive around the city on a Kuching cat statue hunt.

8) Sarawak Cultural Village

Where is the Sarawak Cultural Village?

The Sarawak Cultural Village is located on the Damai peninsula, north of Kuching.

Start your day at the Sarawak Cultural Village, learning about Sarawak history. You can walk through 7 different styles of traditional houses: Bidayuh, Iban, Penan, Orang Ulu, Melanau, Malay, and Chinese. There are also different foods, music, clothing, handiwork, etc. displayed at each house. It is a very informative place to go to see the melting pot that is Sarawak, the Malaysian state that Kuching is in.

A live show, in an air conditioned theater, is also part of the experience. More music and native costume is displayed in an engaging performance on stage. The kids are even invited up on stage to dance with the performers.

Lunch at Sarawak Cultural Village

The food at Sarawak Cultural Village was phenomenal and, as is the case throughout Kuching, super affordable.

9) Sarawak River Cruise

Running through Kuching is the Sarawak River, and Kuching is proud of her waterfront. One of the best ways to see it is from the water!

The Sarawak River Cruise highlights almost 30 different points of interest along the Sarawak River.

Orange drink and Sarawak layer cake (kek lapis Sarawak) are provided to snack on, as part of the ticket price for the Kuching river tour.

The open-air, upper deck of the boat is where the snacks are, as well as ample seating for viewing the sights and the cultural performance on board. Live commentary of the iconic landmarks is provided throughout the 1.5-hour cruise.

If you need a bit of A/C, the smaller, enclosed lower deck is air conditioned. There are a few tables and chairs where you can relax. The views, however, are much better upstairs.

As evening arrives, the lights of the Kuching Waterfront come on. It’s quite pretty, with the lights reflecting off the river.

Where to Stay in Kuching

Phew! After trying all nine of the best things to do in Kuching with kids, you and those kiddos will need a comfortable place to rest your heads at night.

Enter the Citadines Uplands Kuching. It is the best place to stay in Kuching with family. For our one week in Kuching, we had a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom room, with a living area, dining area, and kitchenette…all for an average of $61.00 USD per night, including daily breakfast! Check out our review!

What to Eat in Kuching

Besides kolo mee and Sarawak layer cake, there is much more that Kuching has to offer when it’s time for a meal or a snack.

Teh tarik, meaning “pulled tea,” is another item not to miss. Whether hot or iced, this mixture of black tea and condensed milk hits the spot. And, since it’s the national drink of Malaysia, what better place to try some?

Have you ever had yellow watermelon? I have! Some of the kids didn’t know what to make of it, but it is what it is…tastes just like “normal” red watermelon!

Given that Malaysia’s population is quite varied, with major influences from ethnic Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous people groups, Malaysian cuisine also reflects this diversity.

The Spring mall (yep, that place yet again!) has a food court area called Food Bazaar where you can choose all. the. flavors.

Why not try several things to share around your table? The number of choices and the reasonable prices make it easy to go a little outside the box.

And, let’s give a cheer for cleanliness at The Spring Kuching Food Bazaar. There’s a handwash station right in the middle of the food court!

These are our favorite things to do in and around Kuching. If you’re looking for more, check out some fabulous options a little further afoot, outside of Kuching proper.

And, when you’re ready to start packing, here’s a list of many of the useful items we took with us: Items to Pack for SE Asia

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