1. Gaya Street Market – Kota Kinabalu, Sabah:

Only on Sundays, this market is a must for travelers who are passionate about local culture and food. Originally known as Bond Street, this market is no stranger to the locals since most of the stalls here are family-run businesses passed down from one generation to the next. Go for a lazy Sunday morning stroll and dive into the vast selection of merchandises on sale. If you get a little too overwhelmed, take a break at any of the coffee shops or restaurants and simply enjoy the surrounding. Words can’t truly describe the vibe of the market, so head to Gaya Street Market and experience it yourself.

2. Fresh Seafood:

For foodies, this Malaysian city is a paradise with a range of mouth-watering local delicacies and international cuisines. Seafood lovers, in particular, will have a delightful experience in Kota Kinabalu, thanks to its proximity to the sea. A popular dish to try is the fresh grilled fish at Filipino Market. The market is a must-visit place for tourists to try some of the best seafood dishes, such as prawn, crab, and lobster. One of the most popular local dishes is the Hinava, a traditional Sabah raw fish salad that combines diced fish with lime, onion, ginger, and chili.   Fishes, prawns, squids, and crabs that must not be missed are a delicacy.  Sabah is one of the states that provides various options for seafood lovers, locals and foreigners. In a typical seafood restaurant, it is common for steamed fish with oyster sauce and gingers to be served although there are many options for having the fresh seafood served in any restaurant in Sabah.  Steamed or stir-fried, deep-fried or soup-based, a lot of people love seafood regardless of how it is cooked. If seafood is your favorite dish, choose from the 10 best seafood restaurants in Kota Kinabalu 2023 via www.myweekendplan.asia – Top 10 Best Seafood Restaurants in Kota Kinabalu.  Apart from seafood, the city is also known for its tantalizing street food, such as satay, nasi lemak, roti canai, local coffees and many more.

Sabah's attractions range from nature-based to cultural attractions with the intention of conservation and preservation in mind. The places to visit are:

1. Kinabalu Park - Kinabalu Park is Malaysia’s First World Heritage site measuring approximately 75,370 ha of land which includes parts of 3 districts of Sabah; Ranau, Kota Belud, and Kota Marudu. Just imagine the park is bigger than Singapore. The highest mountain in Malaysia, Mt Kinabalu, and the third highest, Mt Tambayukon are located in this park.
2. Maliau Basin -Permission must be obtained in advance from Yayasan Sabah to enter the Maliau Basin This remote and isolated area with limited access, communications, and safety precaution is of utmost importance.
3. Sipadan Island – One of the best top dive sites in the world. Sipadan has 12 dive points and Barracuda Point is the best diving place to experience the swirling vortex of barracuda. Large numbers of green and hawksbill turtles gather at Sipadan to mate and nest. More than 3000 species of fish and hundreds of coral species have been classified in this richest of ecosystems and thus made Sipadan an important marine habitat.
4. Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Sanctuary – Established in 1964, this sanctuary was founded to rehabilitate orphaned orangutans. Located within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, it has an Outdoor Nursery viewing area and is suitable for jungle trekking and bird watching.
5. Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary - The home of Kingfishers and hornbills. The Lower-Kinabatangan River has one of the world’s richest ecosystems and is Sabah’s first and Malaysia’s largest RAMSAR site. Borneo’s indigenous Orang Utan and proboscis monkey, the surrounding forest is one of only two known places in the world where 10 species of primates can be found.

1. Mari Mari Cultural Village is the center of many Sabahan ethnic communities, it will give you the opportunity to see blowpipe making, fire starting & tattooing.
2. Kaamatan or Pesta Kaamatan is a harvest festival celebrated by the ethnic Kadazan-Dusuns, as well as by other related ethnic groups in the state. The Kadazan-Dusun are the largest indigenous group in Sabah. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate the month-long ‘Kaamatan’ cultural festival by enjoying traditional games and dances, and endless glasses of rice wine.
3. Another popular activity when visiting Kota Kinabalu is experiencing the cultural dances of Sabah.Sabah is a diverse region in terms of its ethnicities, each with their own unique dances and costumes.  The most well-known dance is the Sumazau, which is performed by the Kadazan-Dusun people during their harvest festivals.  It's a slow and graceful dance that mimics the movement of the birds in the jungle, and it's usually accompanied by the sompoton (a traditional bamboo instrument) and gongs.  Another popular dance is the Magunatip, which is performed by the Murut people during their weddings and special ceremonies.  It's a fast-paced dance that requires a lot of skill and agility, as the dancers balance long bamboo poles while jumping and swaying to the rhythm.  The Bajau people also have their own dance, called the Daling-Daling.  It's a colorful and energetic dance that's often performed during weddings and other celebrations. The women wear brightly-colored costumes and perform a series of graceful steps and arm movements. If you want to experience these cultural dances for yourself, there are several places you can go in Kota Kinabalu. The Monsopiad Cultural Village and The Sabah Cultural Centre offers regular dance performances, as well as demonstrations of traditional crafts and activities.