What to Do in Kuching: A Local Guide to Six Must-See Attractions

Kuching means cat, so a Cat Museum here makes perfect sense. It is a kitschy collection of everything cat.

• Free entry
• RM4 camera fee
• Fun for adults and kids
• Great city views from the building

The Cat Museum is less a serious museum and more a giant collection of cat-related oddities. You will find sculptures, poems, images, and a small display on the history of Kuching. The adults in our group actually liked it more than the kids. It takes about half an hour to an hour to get around. Entry was free, except for our camera, which was RM4. A taxi from our hotel in central Kuching to the museum was RM60 return including waiting time. The museum is located on the outskirts of the city, so start from town by 3pm at the latest. Cat souvenirs here cost around RM10 for three to ten pieces.

The Kuching Waterfront is the heart of the city and my pick for the best place in Kuching.

• Sunset views over the Sarawak River
• Food stalls and cheap eats in the evening
• River boats cost RM1 per crossing
• Light shows on weekend nights

Kuching sits on the banks of the Sarawak River, and the riverside walks on both sides are the best way to experience the city. Early evening and night time are the best times to explore. The heat drops, the stalls open, and locals come out to give the area a buzz. Small boats cross the river between wharves for just RM1 per person per trip. Some boats also travel up or down the river. On the other side you find another walkway and a cheap hawker centre. At the end of the month, the Bazaar Street area hosts a light and sound show. It runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8.30pm, 9.30pm and 10.30pm. Kek lapis cake is sold from stalls along the waterfront.

This living museum lets you see the traditional houses of Sarawak's many ethnic groups in one place.

• Explore longhouses, farm houses and Malay houses
• Cultural shows twice daily
• Set inside the Borneo jungle
• Kids can join the dancing on stage

About a 40-minute drive from the Kuching riverfront, the Sarawak Cultural Village sells itself as a way to explore Sarawak in half a day. You can walk through longhouses, a Chinese farm house and a Malay house. Each building displays something from that culture, such as making food or playing a traditional instrument. There are two 45-minute cultural shows each day. The kids enjoyed getting up on stage to dance with the performers. My favourite part was the setting in the Borneo jungle. It stays cool thanks to the trees, and there is a lake in the middle. Entry is RM60 per adult and free for children under six. We hired a taxi to take us there and wait for RM150.

Many people come to Borneo to see orangutans, and Semenggoh is the best place near Kuching to do it.

• Orangutans in a semi-wild environment
• Feeding times at 9am and 3pm
• Entry is only RM10
• Friendly rangers explain the park

The Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is a primate rehabilitation centre that gives you the chance to see orangutans in their natural environment. The orangutans roam free, and rangers call them out at fixed feeding times every day. The best time to visit is the early morning feeding session at 9am. You can walk around and do some birding before the feeding starts. The noon feeding is at 3pm but the heat makes it less comfortable for walking. Entry is RM10. Be aware that during fruiting season the orangutans might not come looking for food, so your chances drop. We visited in a low season and decided to skip it because the chances of seeing orangutans were low. Check the season before you go.

Bako is a favourite spot for hiking and wildlife, with the highest density of Proboscis monkeys in Borneo.

• Proboscis monkeys and Bornean bearded pigs
• Guided night hikes for nocturnal animals
• Jungle trails of varying difficulty
• Dramatic sunset beaches

Bako National Park is one of the top things to do near Kuching for nature lovers. The park has a high density of Proboscis monkeys, which are endemic to Borneo. You can also spot Bornean bearded pigs, which often walk right past the restaurant area. The weather is hot and humid, so planning and packing essentials matters. There is a guided night hike for a chance to see nocturnal animals. The sunsets on the beaches of Bako are some of the most dramatic I have seen, with the mountain backdrop turning the sky red. Bird watching is good around the restaurant area early in the morning. I spotted an Asian fairy bluebird and a White bellied woodpecker there.

This corner of Kuching is where the city's history sits - an old Chinese temple, Carpenter Street, and the Harmony Arch.

• Tua Pek Kong Temple, built in 1770
• Carpenter Street for Kolo Mee and Sarawak Laksa
• The Harmony Arch at the entrance to Chinatown
• Hawker centres for cheap lunch and dinner

Kuching has a large Chinese influence, and the old Chinatown along Jalan Carpenter is the place to experience it. The Harmony Arch marks the entrance at the western end. The Tua Pek Kong Temple sits on a busy intersection in the centre of town. It is one of the oldest temples in Kuching, built for the Chinese community that settled here. The temple survived damage during the Japanese invasion and has been restored. It overlooks the Sarawak River and has intricate carvings. Across the road from the Hiang Thian Siang Temple, another busy temple nearby, is a small hawker centre open for lunch and dinner. The area is also where you buy Sarawak white peppercorns and eat cheap local food like Kolo Mee and Sarawak Laksa.