My Top 10 Recommended Things to Do in Kuching in 48 Hours

Many tourists like to visit the city of Kuching, fondly known as the city of cats in Sarawak, Malaysia. Some tourists come on their own based on the Lonely Planet guide’s recommendations on where to go, see and experience. What better way to experience the city than through the recommendations of a local person.

1. Upon check-in at the hotel in the morning, take a tour of Kuching City. If you follow one of those guided tours, the tour will take you to the top of the Civic Center Tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the Kuching City skyline, the Sarawak Museum to learn about the past stories and then pass the gigantic Cat Monument. Many tourists passed by to take pictures. If you come during Chinese New Year, you can see the cat in a traditional Chinese costume. If you come during the month of Ramadan, where Muslims celebrate Hari Raya, the cat would be wearing a green Malay costume. You can also take a look at the Kuching South City Hall, drive through Chinatown, visit Sarawak’s oldest Taoist temple, the Catholic Church, pass the Malay village, and then visit the Old State Mosque with 5 golden domes.

2. Next, you will go to one of those famous Sarawak pottery factories. If you visit in the morning, you can have a chance to see the skilled workers carving the lamp, the vase, etc. Then the tour will end at the Kuching Waterfront where most of the pre-colonial buildings are located.

3. Next, you will go souvenir shopping at the Waterfront or along Gambier Road. You can even find some antiques that you would like to buy at home.

4. In the afternoon, visit the Semenggoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center. You may want to check with your guide or the travel agent who tracks the feeding time of these orangutans so you can see them in action.

5. You will then return to town and dine at Topspot Seafood Restaurant. There are several seafood centers for you to choose from. MUST-order dishes are midin stir fry, a local jungle fern stir fry with belacan, a type of shrimp paste, bamboo clams fried in curry powder, and oyster pancakes.

6. The next day, you will have the famous Sarawak Laksa for breakfast. You can easily find stalls selling them in any of the coffee shops in town. The food is spicy. If you cannot eat spicy food, Sarawak kolok mee is recommended for breakfast.

7. Then you will head to Sarawak Cultural Village and spend the whole morning there. As it is almost an hour’s drive from the city, it is recommended to take the shuttle there. You can buy the shuttle service ticket at the entrance of the Grand Margherita Hotel. Otherwise, you can easily check with the hotel receptionist. When you have arrived at the Sarawak Cultural Village, visit the various ethnic houses and don’t miss out on the cultural shows. He should be back in town by noon.

8. Next, you will have sautéed tomato noodles for lunch. It is a special dish available only in Sarawak.

9. Next, you may want to get a foot massage from this blind masseuse located next to the McDonald store across from the Grand Margherita hotel. The service is not expensive.

10. Then, head out for dinner at any of the city’s fine restaurants in Kuching. Some of my recommended restaurants are Jambu Air, Magenta, and several others.

After a good night’s dinner, you will return to the hotel for a flight home the next day.