Kuching Itinerary: What to Do in Kuching for Three Days
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We spent several weeks exploring Borneo across both Sabah and Sarawak — and while most visitors head straight for Sabah’s iconic wildlife spots, we were genuinely surprised by just how much Sarawak had to offer.
Kuching, in particular, completely won us over. And yes, part of this was to do with my youngest’s obsession with cats (Kuching literally translates as ‘cat’, and you’ll find cat references – and actual cats – everywhere).
If you’re wondering to yourself – is Kuching worth visiting? — the short answer is yes. It’s a gorgeous, walkable riverside city that feels calm, manageable and incredibly family-friendly. It also makes the perfect base for exploring Sarawak, with national parks, orangutan sanctuaries and traditional villages all within an hour or so of the city.
This Kuching itinerary shows you exactly what to do in Kuching for three days, balancing culture, wildlife and downtime — which, let’s be honest, is crucial when travelling with kids.
With easy flight connections from both Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur, Kuching fits seamlessly into any wider Borneo family adventure.
Here’s how we’d plan three days in Kuching with kids.
Table of Contents
- Day 1: Bornean Culture and Waterfront Exploring
- Day 2: Bako National Park
- Day 3: Orangutans and traditional longhouses
- Where to stay
- Where to eat
- How to get around in Kuching
- FAQs about visiting Kuching
- So, is Kuching worth visiting?
- Planning a family trip to Borneo?
- Looking for even more Borneo travel inspiration?
Day 1: Bornean Culture and Waterfront Exploring
Start your Kuching itinerary with a couple of hours at the fabulous Borneo Cultures Museum, the largest museum in Malaysia. This is a great starting point for understanding Bornean culture and history AND it’s packed full with interactive exhibits that the kids will enjoy. It only opened in 2022, so it’s still relatively new and it definitely feels very modern, and designed to keep the whole family engaged.
There’s a whole floor dedicated to kids and based around river ecosystems and water conservation. Our boys were also fascinated by all the weapons on display around the other galleries too.
Kids under 12 are free, which is a real bonus. Adult admission is RM50/£9.50/US$13, which feels a smidge pricey by Malaysian standards but it really is worth the money.
Spend the afternoon relaxing back at your hotel (especially in the pool if you need to escape the Borneo heat!).
When the temperature starts to cool in the late-afternoon, head back out to wander the waterfront and see Kuching from the river. It’s a beautiful scene in the evening as the sun goes down, especially if you time your walk with the call to prayer echoing across the water.
Day 2: Bako National Park
One of the best things about visiting Sarawak is how many day trips you can pack in to your Kuching itinerary. It’s the perfect base for exploring this region of Borneo as so many awe-inspiring day trips are just an hour or so away.
And Bako National Park is definitely one of these day trips that should be on any Kuching itinerary. The oldest national park in Sarawak, Bako has wildlife galore, beautiful coastlines, waterfalls and jungle hikes to explore.
And it’s all incredibly accessible with kids. The journey there is pretty straightforward (and scenic) and there are a range of hikes to suit all ages and abilities.
To get there you’ll need to either take a Grab taxi from Kuching (which takes around 30minutes and costs RM30-35/£5.70-6.70/US$7.70-9) or hop on the hourly local bus service from the Open Air Market on Jalan Power (takes around 1 hour and costs just RM1/£0.20/US$0.25 per person).
Both of these options will drop you at the boat jetty for Bako National Park. Here you’ll need to buy tickets from the office for the boat journey to Bako. The boat trip takes around 20-minutes and will cost RM200/£38/US$50 for a private boat.
The boats take 4-5 people, so if you’re travelling as a family this is fairly cost-effective. This is for the round-trip; the same boat will collect you when you want to return (you just ping them a message on WhatsApp).
You hop off the boat onto the pristine white beach of Bako National Park; from there it’s a short walk to the visitor centre where they can provide maps and advice on the hiking trails.
Pick a trail that works for you and get exploring! If you’re lucky you might see a Proboscis Monkey or two, plus the odd wild Bearded Pig along the way.
If you’ve got more time you can opt to stay overnight in one of the cabins here too and take a Night Walk with the rangers.
For a day trip you should aim to set off as early as you reasonably can in the morning; this will give you plenty of time to spend in the park AND give you some much-needed chilled time later in the afternoon back at your hotel.
This is one of the best places to see wildlife in Sarawak. If you’ve got more time (and wildlife is your thing), then many travellers also head to the wildlife experiences along the Kinabatangan River and to the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok for even more opportunities
Day 3: Orangutans and traditional longhouses
Seeing orangutans is one of those absolute bucket list things that almost every visitor to Borneo has somewhere on their itinerary. And if you’re in Sarawak, this is the place to visit.
And you can combine this with a trip to the Annah Rais Longhouses in one swoop on the final day of your Kuching itinerary.
Hire a Grab taxi for the trip – they can take you all the way to Annah Rais Longhouse (around 1hour), wait for you during your visit and then drive you back to Kuching via Semenggoh Wildlife Centre to see the famous orangutans. It’s an easy day out with a driver, even with kids.
If you head to Annah Rais Longhouse first thing you can spend an hour or two exploring. This is a traditional Bidayah village that you can wander around – it’s not huge but it’s fascinating to see the unique construction on stilts and the way the whole community is set up. The longhouse also houses a small display of photos and info, plus the village collection of skulls from the head-hunting days.
Then have lunch in one of the tiny places set up outside people’s homes. The food is cheap, incredibly tasty and you’ll get to chat to the locals at the same time. We ordered several dishes – our fave was the rice cooked inside bamboo (and served in a long piece of bamboo – the kids loved it).
From here it will take around 30-40mins to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre – you’ll want to get there in plenty of time for the afternoon orangutan feeding at 3-4pm. Seeing these amazing primates swinging through the forest to the feeding platforms is wonderful, one of those real awe-inspiring travel moments.
Whilst we preferred our visit to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sepilok, we also loved another opportunity to see the orangutans again here.
The drive back from Semenggoh takes around 30mins. As an added bonus, the whole drive cuts through some beautiful Borneo scenery too.
Where to stay
Kuching has a whole heap of accommodation choices, whatever your budget. We stayed in one tiny hostel for just £17/US$23 per night for the four of us and then splurged for some pool time elsewhere too.
Our absolute top tip – if you can afford it – is to book somewhere with a pool. So much better for a family stay in a hot country! If you’re travelling more widely, it’s worth planning where to stay across Borneo before finalising your itinerary.
Waterfront Hotel Kuching
If you want to make your Kuching itinerary feel effortless (and you’ve got the budget), then this is the place to stay.
Right on the waterfront and walkable to almost everything in this post, the location alone makes it worth considering. Add in spacious family rooms and a rooftop pool overlooking the river, and it’s an easy win for travelling with kids in Borneo heat.
Family rooms start from around £100/US$135 per night.
🏨 Check latest prices and availability for Waterfront Hotel Kuching here
Harbour View Hotel
If you’re looking for comfort and location without stretching the budget too far, Harbour View Hotel is a great middle-ground option.
You’re still right by the waterfront, the rooms are a good size for families, and the breakfast buffet makes early starts for Bako National Park much easier.
Expect to pay around £55/US$75 per night for a family room.
🏨 See current room rates at Harbour View Hotel here
Treehouse Hostel
Travelling on a tighter budget? Treehouse Hostel is clean, quiet and surprisingly practical for families.
The family rooms include bunks, there’s strong aircon (essential in Kuching), and having access to a shared kitchen makes it easy to self-cater between adventures.
Family rooms start from around £28/US$38 per night.
🏨 Check availability at Treehouse Hostel here
Where to eat
Kuching has plenty of food options, whatever your budget. There are tiny stalls in the markets and along areas of the waterfront at night, plus huge food courts and lots of sit-down restaurants. These are a few of our tried-and-tested favourites.
TopSpot Food Court
A big tourist favourite, but don’t let that put you off – it’s for good reason. This lively open air food court up at the top of a parking ramp has dozens of stalls heaped with fresh seafood. Just wandering the stalls and seeing what’s on offer is an experience in itself.
They do also have other dishes like fried rice and chicken on the menu if you (or the kids) aren’t a seafood fan. You can order from any stall you choose – waiters that serve the whole space will take your order at the table.
We loved the food courts across Malaysia and Topspot was no exception. You can each order from a different stall and it’s a great way to try different dishes between you all.
Tandoori Palace Green Hill
We stumbled upon this place via several hearty recommendations from fellow travellers who RAVED about the amazing cheese naans. And we weren’t disappointed!
The enormous double and triple cheese stretch naan breads come with a selection of dips and make for a pretty delicious lunch. And you’re only going to need a couple of them to feed a family of four – they really are that huge! The cheese naans cost between RM10-20/£2-3.80/US$2.70-5.
They also do some tasty curries here if you fancied a full meal in the evening.
Tuk Tuk Thai Boat Noodle at Plaza Merdeka
This lovely little spot serves up Thai food packed with flavour. The staff are wonderful and there’s plenty of options on the menu to suit slightly pickier kids too. The Tom Yam soup is delicious (one of the best we had in SE Asia) and the steamed fish makes for a good non-spicy option.
Dishes cost around RM20-30/£3.80-£5.50/US$5-7.50 each.
Maria Kek Lapis Sarawak
While you’re in Kuching you should definitely try the traditional Sarawak dessert of Kek Lapis – basically colourful layers of sponge cake in a whole range of different flavours. There are several little cake shops and stands in Kuching selling Kek Lapis to takeaway – Maria Kek Lapis was our favourite.
They’ve got a huge selection of flavours to choose from, and you can try the tasters before you buy. We would buy slices on our way back from days out as a treat back at the hotel.
How to get around in Kuching
Kuching is wonderfully walkable in the centre, and wandering along the riverfront – particularly in the evenings – is one of the biggest draws of a stay here.
But if you need to get a bit further then by far the easiest way to get around in Kuching is via Grab taxi. They are cheap, plentiful and incredibly convenient. Especially if you’re travelling with kids.
And this goes for not just getting around in Kuching itself but also for when you’re out and about on day trips nearby. You might save a teeny, tiny amount by taking the public bus (to Bako National Park jetty for example). But it’s far easier, and still very affordable, to go via Grab instead.
Most Grab drivers will also negotiate a day rate for longer trips to places like Annah Rais Longhouse and Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.
FAQs about visiting Kuching
Yes — especially if you’re travelling through Borneo with kids. Kuching offers an excellent mix of culture, wildlife and relaxed city vibes. It’s far calmer and more walkable than many Southeast Asian cities, making it ideal for families. With Bako National Park, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and traditional longhouses all within easy reach, it’s one of the best bases in Sarawak.
Three days is ideal for most families. It allows time to explore the city itself and take at least two day trips. If you have four days, add in a slower pool day or another nearby excursion.
Yes. Kuching is one of the most family-friendly cities in Malaysian Borneo. It’s compact, safe, easy to navigate and has plenty of green space along the waterfront. Accommodation is affordable, food options are varied, and Grab taxis are cheap and reliable.
Kuching has an international airport with regular flights from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. Flight time from KL is around 1 hour 45 minutes, making it easy to slot into a wider Borneo itinerary.
Yes. Many of the hiking trails at Bako are manageable for school-aged children. You can choose shorter routes, and wildlife sightings (proboscis monkeys and bearded pigs) keep kids motivated. Starting early in the day helps avoid the worst of the heat.
Yes. Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, around 30–40 minutes from Kuching, is one of the best places in Sarawak to see semi-wild orangutans during feeding times.
Kuching is excellent value compared to many other Southeast Asian destinations. Accommodation, food and transport are affordable, making it a great stop on a longer family gap year itinerary.
So, is Kuching worth visiting?
Yes, absolutely – Kuching is a great stop on a Borneo with kids itinerary. It has so much to offer in terms of family-travel; if you have longer than three days then it’s definitely worth adding at least one more to your itinerary here as there are plenty of things to do.
Apart from anything else, building extra downtime in to any family travel itinerary is always a very good idea. If you’ve got just one extra day then you should aim to build in a slow, relaxed day of hanging out in Kuching and by the hotel pool in-between the adventures to Bako National Park and Seminggoh Wildlife Centre/Annah Rais Longhouse.
Even if your Borneo itinerary focuses primarily on Sabah (like our curated version here), then it’s still very easy to add a quick internal flight on to Kuching and spend a handful of days here exploring another side of Borneo.
And if you are planning a longer trip, there are also plenty of other incredible places to visit across Borneo beyond Kuching. If you fancy finishing off your Kuching adventures with some chilled out beach time, then you could hop over to Langkawi for a few days or book yourself a stay at one of the best family beach resorts in the world in Sabah.
Planning a family trip to Borneo?
If you’re putting together a Borneo family itinerary, Kuching deserves a spot on it.
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