Kuching with kids travel guide (2025): Sarawak family adventures

With a winning combination of nature excursions, riverfront walks, great food and fascinating museums, visiting Kuching with kids offers a family-friendly insight into what makes Borneo so special.

For many adventurous travelling families, Borneo is a standout destination, a place where guidebooks come to life and the days are filled with wildlife, rainforests, culture, and tropical beaches. The eastern state of Sabah might be home to more well-known destinations, but more and more families are finding their way to the western state of Sarawak and in particular its capital Kuching, which holds an enviable riverside setting, with mountains and rainforests close by. The largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak has enough natural diversity and beauty to keep you all occupied and entertained.

Once you’ve explored the small, but perfectly formed, Kuching city centre, there are numerous places to visit within easy reach, offering the chance to visit orangutans, take a jungle hikes, or just swim and relax at quiet beachside resorts.

There’s no doubt about it, Kuching is one of the best places we’ve visited in Malaysia with kids. In the neighbouring state of Sabah, many travellers include stops in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu but, if you only have time to visit two places in Borneo, we’d suggest skipping Kota Kinabalu and focus your time in Kuching and Sandakan.

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Best time to visit Kuching

As it sits in the tropics (but is protected by the worse of the weather that affects other parts of Southeast Asia), the best time to visit Kuching is between May and September, when there is less rainfall but the temperatures are still below 30C. Although you’re likely to experience rainfall throughout the year, the months of November, December and January tend to see the most rain.

If you want to see the orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, try to avoid the fruiting season (November to March) as this is when barely any orangutans come out the feeding platforms as there is enough food in the rainforest. The best time to visit for almost-guaranteed orangutan sightings is May and June.

How to get around Kuching with kids

We always talk about hiring a car when we visit places like Kuching, but quickly shelve the idea once we remember just how safe, easy and convenient Grab taxis are. We’d heard on the travel grapevine that Sarawak was one place where you simply had to hire a car, but this really didn’t turn out to be the case. Perhaps a couple of years ago, when Grab was still growing, but not now.

Of course, some people just prefer having their own wheels and, to be fair, Sarawak isn’t a difficult place to drive yourself around, the traffic in Kuching isn’t too busy (aside from some major junctions coming in and out of the city during rush hour; Kuching is a surprisingly sprawling place and it can take some time to break free of the suburbs and get out into the countryside), and the roads are well-maintained and sign-posted. It’s one of the easier places to drive in Southeast Asia, certainly more so than somewhere like Vietnam or Bangkok.

But our advice is to let someone else do the driving and choose Grabs over car hire. Not only are Grabs much less stress, they’ll probably work out cheaper (unless you plan to really travel long distance around Sarawak) and all of the major tourist sites are within a one hour journey (costing no more than RM40 each way). Inside the city centre of Kuching, everything is either walkable or accessible by a short Grab ride.

If you’re based on the south side of the river, remember that you can jump on a riverboat to take you across the water, there’s no need to walk across the bridge or take a convoluted Grab ride via the road bridge. Just head down to one of the many jetties and wait for a boat to appear.

If you go directly across the river, it should cost RM1 or RM2 per person, longer diagonal journeys are RM3. The boats have low roofs on them, so the views aren’t amazing; it’s more of a practical experience than sightseeing, but it’s usually the fasted way to crisscross the river.

Tips for visiting Kuching with kids

Pack trainers or hiking shoes for jungle treks and longer walks around the city.
Long trousers (ideally with zip-off lowers so they can be turned into shorts) are a good idea for the rainforest when you’re walking through the undergrowth.
Local pharmacies are good places to stock up on mosquito repellent, which is usually high-quality and less expensive than back home.
Book accommodation close to the riverfront if possible, it’s where most of the action is and saves travel time.
7-Elevens are omnipresent around town, almost on every street corner. They’re good places to stock up on cheap drinks, snacks and ice-creams.
Choose a hotel with swimming pool and breakfast if your budget allows. The pool is a welcome retreat in the afternoon sun and the breakfast will give you the best start to the day, potentially letting you move onto two meals a day, with a quick snack at lunch.
Most popular activities can be done independently so there’s usually no need to book onto a tour.
Borneo Cultural Museum is one of the best museums in Southeast Asia and has several accessible rooms and exhibitions aimed solely at children and a good activity to save for a rainy day.
Bring a poncho as you’re almost guaranteed some rain during your visit. The crowds disperse during periods of rain but it’s still warm enough to walk around, as long as you’re protected from the rain. You’ll have the city to yourselves until the sun comes back out again.

10 BEST things to do in Kuching with kids

1. Walk along the waterfront

Kuching waterfront is relatively compact, stretching just less than a kilometre along the south bank of the Sarawak River, from the Waterfront Sunset Point in the west, to just past the Hilton Hotel in the east.

This section takes in views of many of the best sights and activities in the city, including the floating mosque, the S-shaped Darul Hana Bridge, Astana mansion, Fort Margherita and the State Assembly Building. It’s a beautiful place for a sunset wander, particularly if you stop off at one of the food stands offering local dishes.

Alternatively, you can charter a boat, sit back, and see the city from the river itself. If you’re travelling with younger kids, there’s also a decent children’s playground near the James Brooke Bistro and Café.

However, the waterfront is most impressive at night when the bridge and surrounding buildings are lit in bright colours. There’s also a light show with lasers and waterjets in front of the State Assembly building every night at 8:30pm for 15 minutes.

2. India Street and China Town

A walk along India Street feels a like a smaller version of Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur. This is the place to come to shop for baggy trousers, fake football shirts, plus street food snacks.

There’s an interesting stretch of street art called Borneo Murals Alley (located here), which is worth a little detour, although the smell of urine might make it a brief visit.

Walking west to east along India Street brings you to The Old Courthouse and into a small Chinatown area. Along here is Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple, opposite Lau Ya Keng Foodcourt, which is an excellent place to eat.

Walking further along brings you to a handful of backpacker bars (family-friendly until later in the evenings) if you’re in need of a beer.

3. Take a local boat to Fort Margherita

Strategically located on the north bank of the Sarawak River, Fort Margherita was built in in the late 19th century and served as a defensive fort to protect against attacks on the rapidly growing city. The bright white walls of the fort stand out against the green grass surrounds and it’s an unique landmark directly opposite the Kuching Hilton.

After its life as a fort was over, the building has since been used as a prison and police museum but it now holds the Brooke Gallery, an interesting museum that brings to life the rule of the so-called White Rajas, right up until the Japanese invasion during the Second World War.

Our boys really enjoyed the museum; it has a good balance between a historical building (with wooden spiral staircases and iron window frames) and informative museum, full of photographs, displays and weapons from the past 150 years.

Save some time at the end for a trip to the rooftop, which has views across the river and city towards the mountains and gives a good perspective on its strategic location back in its heyday.

Tickets cost RM50 and it’s open from 9:00am to 4:45pm (last entry at 4:15pm, don’t be caught out by the relatively early closing times).

4. Borneo Cultures Museum

Kuching is now home to one of the most impressive museums in the whole of Southeast Asia after the truly world-class Borneo Cultures Museum opened in 2022. The building itself is hugely impressive and dominates this part of town near the Padang Merdeka (Independence Field).

Everything inside has a brand-new, fresh feeling to it and, aside from school parties, never seems to be get too busy. Unlike many other museums, there’s plenty of air circulating and the high ceilings avoid any feeling of claustrophobia.

The museum is set on five floors, each focusing on a different area of Bornean culture, from early history, ceramics, headhunters, native animals and finally the Malaysian Independence movement and how Sarawak’s role fitted into the new country.

For kids, there’s a brilliant children’s section of the second floor, with plenty of interactive displays and games for them to enjoy. On the other floors, alongside the traditional displays and exhibits, there are VR headsets and audio/visual stations to enjoy.

Open from 9am to 4:45pm seven days a week (9:30am to 4:30pm on the weekend), the entry fees are fairly complex due to the differing price levels for Malaysians, Sarwakians and international visitors. Check the official website for the latest prices.

5. Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

READ OUR GUIDE: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Borneo is famous for many things, but arguably its most popular residents are the beautiful, but critically endangered orangutans. As a result of their rare status, any encounter with them is magical, and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, only thirty minutes from Kuching, is an ideal place to visit them.

You can reach the centre via a Grab taxi (RM25 – RM35) that will drop you right outside the main gates. A buggy (RM15) takes you to the feeding area where you wait for the orangutans to (hopefully) arrive and feed for half an hour or so. Of course, they’re wild animals so there’s no guarantee, although your best chance of seeing them is outside of the fruiting season (November to March). The best time to visit is May and June.

Ticket prices are very reasonably priced (cash only though) considering what you are experiencing: RM10 for adults and RM5 for children (plus RM15 each for the buggy, but this is optional, you can walk the 1.6km distance to the feeding area if you prefer). Feeding times are 9.00am to 10.00am, and 3.00pm to 4.00pm.

6. Bako National Park

READ OUR GUIDE: Bako National Park

For a taste of what makes Borneo unique, head out to Bako National Park for rainforest trekking, boat rides and beach time.

Only thirty minutes from Kuching in a Grab taxi, there’s no need to book an organised tour, it’s simple to arrange yourself. Once you arrive at Bako Terminal, you book onto a boat (RM200 for the whole boat, can carry 5-7 people) and pay National Park fees: RM20 for adults and RM7 for kids, cash only. If you’re travelling as a family, it’s best to book a private boat rather than sharing with other people. You must return to the terminal afterwards with the same people at the same time so, if your kids are tired and want to leave early, you’ll be stuck. A private boat gives you a great deal more flexibility, and the price difference is minimal in any case.

Unless you’re here at peak season, the boat will be ready to whisk you across the bay for twenty minutes to arrive at the sandy beach, which also houses the National Park HQ. Here you’ll show your ticket and be given a simple map of the hiking trails. The staff are friendly and happy to advise on the best trek to do based on your group and fitness levels.

We chose a couple of easy(ish) hikes that took about 2.5 hours in total, winding through the rainforest on a well-maintained track. Make sure you bring good walking shoes or trainers and wear long trousers ideally. Also load up on mosquito spray and sunscreen, although you’re quite well protected from the sun’s rays by the canopy.

One you’re finished, you can grab a drink or food at the cafeteria and then contact your boat driver on WhatsApp for the trip back.

It can be very hard to get a Grab back to Kuching as there’s not much around here other than the National Park. If you are unsuccessful on Grab, there are usually drivers waiting in the car park who will offer you a ride back to Kuching for around RM50 (a Grab would be about RM30). Alternatively, there’s an hourly bus (for RM2) that takes an hour to reach Kuching city – this is twice as long as the car journey, but it’s a good fall-back option.

7. Damai Beach

If your family is anything like ours, sometimes you just need a day at the beach. And, with this being Borneo, the beaches on offer are pretty special.

The most accessible from Kuching is Damai Beach, which can be reached in about 45 minutes via a Grab taxi. Access to the beaches is generally restricted to the resorts that hug the coastline, so most visitors pay for a day pass at one of the hotels.

Permai Rainforest Lodge offers a good-value pass to access their private beach (RM15 per adult, RM12 for ages 13-17, RM10 for ages 5-13, FREE for under 5 and senior citizens) from where you can also hire kayaks and standup paddle boards. There are also toilets, (cold) showers and changing rooms available for use. The sea is safe to swim in and is the perfect temperature, although it is a little murky due to mangroves further along the coastline. The shallow gradient and gentle waves are ideal for swimming and splashing.

The tide comes in an out quite quickly on this stretch of the coastline, so be prepared to move your towels back and forth throughout the day. When it’s out, it leaves a perfectly flat expanse of beach that is ideal for football, frisbee and sandcastle building. When the tide comes in, you’re left with a small patch of beach but it still offers opportunities to climb over rocks and watching small crabs scurry around the shallows.

If you need some refreshments, there’s a small café selling water and ice-creams, otherwise you can head up the hill to The Feeding Tree restaurant that serves local and western light bites. No alcohol is served here and service is rather slow. Be mindful of the monkeys here who help themselves to any leftovers.

After your visit, Sarawak Cultural Village is nearby and, if you book in advance, the resort also offer an Irawaddy Dolphin Tour. Grabs are easy to arrange after your visit as so many of them are waiting near the cultural village.

8. Explore underground at Wind Cave and Fairy Caves at Bau

About forty five minutes away from Kuching (easily accessible from the city in a Grab), Windy Cave and Fairy Caves can both be visited in a half day excursion. Fairy Caves is the perhaps more impressive of the two, with fantastic access to the cave system and its flora and fauna.

Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes and bring some flashlights or head torches for the kids so they can navigate and pick out the stalactites and stalagmites around them. You should also see bats and swiftlets up on the roof and hanging from nooks and crannies.

The caves are a relatively strenuous activity, with several sets of steps to climb and the walkway can be slippery in places.

9. Gunung Gading National Park to see the hide Rafflesia

Gunung Gading National Park is one of the best places in the Southeast Asia to view the Rafflesia plant, which produces the largest flower in the world. If you time your visit correctly, and end up viewing the flower at its peak, it makes for an incredible experience.

The park has more to offer than just this amazing flower though, it’s also a great place for rainforest treks and swimming in waterfalls. There are several trails to choose from with varying degrees of difficulty (including some reaching the summit of Gunung Gading at almost 1000m), so it’s easy to find one that suits your family. Make sure you stock up on sunscreen and mosquito repellant.

The park is a two hour drive from Kuching, so it does make for a long day, although there are options to stay overnight in chalets or camping. Entrance is RM20 for adults and RM7 for children.

10. Eat at Top Spot Food Court (and other tips on eating out in Kuching)

Situated on the roof top of a carpark, Top Spot Food Court is the place to eat in Kuching. There is a fantastic array of food stalls lined around a huge seating area.

Almost every single food stall boasts seafood in lettering above, but don’t worry if you’re not into seafood as there are plentiful meat, vegetable and noodle options available, it’s just not obvious until you sit down and read through the menu.

Pick a plastic table and chair and be seated, a waiter will then come over to you with a menu to take your order. You don’t need to go to the individual stalls to order, although it’s worthwhile doing a loop around them as the produce on offer is fascinating.

Beers and other drinks can also be ordered, but this is done through a different waiter/stall. Your main waiter will summon them over for you.

Our suggestion is to get each family member to choose a dish, then have it all served to the middle of the table and try everyone’s. You can keep ordering dishes until everyone is full.

While we’re chatting about food, give Lepau a miss. This was recommended to us by a Grab driver and we later found out that it’s in the Lonely Planet. It’s become a victim of its own success. You have to prebook a table via WhatsApp for one of two set seating times, the service is slow, and the quality of the food was very disappointing (meat dishes were all bone).

We enjoyed a lovely Malay-Indian meal at Restoran Mahashafi opposite India Mosque Kuching. Excellent value and quality of food. Time your visit with an after-dinner stroll along the waterfront.

If you are looking for a bar to grab a beer, Drunk Monkey Old Street Bar in China Town gets our vote. The outdoor seating area is particularly atmospheric. Another bar often recommended is Monkee Bar Bistro. This used to give profits to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, but discontinued when new management took over. We visited early evening and were the only people there. The staff were prepping glasses and makeup as if it was a place that kicks off with backpackers later at night.

Our 5 day Kuching with kids itinerary

This five day Kuching itinerary requires a day before and a day after to get to and from Kuching respectively. Therefore, this itinerary is perfect for a one week trip.

There are a handful of other activities to enjoy in Kuching, such as kayak tours, caves, and Sarawak Cultural Village, as mentioned above. But this itinerary felt perfect for us with our preference of independent travel and afternoons at the gym and pool back at our accommodation.

DAY 1: Spend the day exploring Kuching City on foot. Walk along the waterfront, India Street, China Town, street art.
DAY 2: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to see the orangutans in the morning. Afternoon take a boat across the river to The Brooke Gallery at Fort Margherita and walk back past Sarawak Legislative Assembly and over the bridge.
DAY 3: Borneo Cultures Museum.
DAY 4: Bako National Park. Take a private boat to the National Park and then follow the jungle paths in search of proboscis monkeys.
DAY 5: Damai Beach on a day pass at Permai Rainforest Kuching.

Where to stay in Kuching with kids

READ: Hilton Kuching REVIEW

We had six nights in Kuching and stayed at Hilton Kuching Hotel, located in the city centre, overlooking the river. This iconic building has become a landmark on the south bank of the Sarawak River and is ideally positioned to access the best sights and activities in the city.

The hotel itself offers all the comforts and style you’d expect from a Hilton hotel, and the adjoining river view rooms are ideal for a travelling family. We spent a large amount of time in the onsite gym and pool, and the impressive buffet breakfast was the ideal start to our days exploring the city and beyond.

Final thoughts on visiting Kuching with kids

Kuching is a compact and manageable city oozing with history and culture. It’s surprisingly modern in places, and makes the most of its river setting. Plus, the people we encountered are so relaxed and friendly (which we find across all of Malaysia).

But the main reason we love this city so much are the fantastic daytrips to the jungle, beaches and national parks that are just a short drive away in a Grab. Kuching combines a city break and adventurous holiday all in one family-friendly package, and the whole family are sure to leave with fantastic memories of Borneo.