Kota Kinabalu
City in Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu is a city in Malaysia with a population of 452,058, located 1,624 km from Kuala Lumpur. Visitors are drawn to the area to see local points of interest such as the Atkinson Clock Tower and Gaya Street.
What to see
Travelers can explore cultural and historical landmarks around the city. Key sights include the historic Atkinson Clock Tower and the prominent Gaya Street.
When to go
Daily high temperatures range from 28 °C to 30 °C throughout the year, with lows between 24 °C and 26 °C. Rainfall varies significantly by month. February is the driest month with 82 mm of rain across about 14 days, followed by March with 98 mm over about 15 days. Conversely, October is the wettest month with 308 mm of rain on about 29 days, and November experiences 257 mm of rain on about 28 days.
Getting there
The city is served by Kota Kinabalu International Airport, located just 5 km away.
Top sights in Kota Kinabalu
Weather by month
Temperatures stay much the same all year, around 27 °C on average. The wettest is October, with about 308 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
| Average low, °C | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Rainfall, mm | 141 | 82 | 98 | 138 | 244 | 236 | 246 | 223 | 254 | 308 | 257 | 197 |
| Rainy days | 24 | 14 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Kota Kinabalu (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.