Every hotel in Kota Kinabalu, checked by people who live here
55 hotels in Kota Kinabalu with the facts that decide a booking: how far to the airport, whether there's a pool, whether you can walk to the island ferry. Checked by a Sabah team, not copied from a booking site. When you've found one, message us and a local agent confirms the rate with the hotel.
Image obtained from sabahcarrentaltour.com
Showing all 55 hotels
| Hotel | Area | Stars | Airport | Pool | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Bunga Raya Island Resort & Spa48 villas on the far side of Pulau Gaya; boat from Jesselton Point, pre-booked | Islands | ★★★★★ | 20 min | YesOutdoor pool; some villas have a private plunge pool | Ask us |
 |
Gaya Island ResortYTL resort on Pulau Gaya; check-in is at Jesselton Point, not on the island | Islands | ★★★★★ | 20 min | YesMain pool by the beach; private beach at Tavajun Bay by boat | Ask us |
 |
Hilton Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★★★ | 18 min8 km | YesOutdoor rooftop pool plus a separate children's pool | Ask us |
 |
Hyatt Centric Kota KinabaluNot the Hyatt Regency; this is the newer 2022 Hyatt by Signal Hill | City centre | ★★★★★ | 15 min9 km | YesRooftop infinity pool on level 23 | Ask us |
 |
Hyatt Regency Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★★★ | 20 min7.7 km | YesTwo pools | Ask us |
 |
Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel | City centre | ★★★★★ | 16 min8.7 km | YesOutdoor infinity pool with a separate children's pool (open 7am to 8pm) | Ask us |
 |
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★★★ | 13 min9 km | YesPool and spa | Ask us |
 |
Shangri-La Rasa Ria Kota KinabaluActually in Tuaran, about 45 minutes north of the city | Tuaran | ★★★★★ | 45 min40 km | YesTwo outdoor pools; the Ocean Wing pool is reserved for Ocean Wing guests | Ask us |
 |
Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Kota KinabaluNot the old Hotel Shangri-La in the city — that is now Howard Johnson | Tanjung Aru | ★★★★★ | 10 min7 km | YesTwo outdoor pools plus a children's pool with water slides | Ask us |
 |
Sheraton Kota KinabaluOpened December 2025; one of the tallest towers in Borneo | City centre | ★★★★★ | 15 min8.2 km | YesRooftop infinity pool facing the marine park | Ask us |
 |
The Magellan Sutera ResortSister hotel of The Pacific Sutera in the same resort | Sutera Harbour | ★★★★★ | 14 min6.6 km | YesLandscaped resort pools including an Olympic-length pool; shared with The Pacific Sutera | Ask us |
 |
The Pacific Sutera Hotel | Sutera Harbour | ★★★★★ | 12 min6.6 km | YesThree pools and a beach | Ask us |
 |
Borneo Beach & Mangrove ResortTuaran coast, next to the new Hilton Garden Inn | Tuaran | ★★★★ | 45 min | YesOutdoor pool; private beach area | Ask us |
 |
Citadines Waterfront Kota KinabaluServiced apartments by Ascott, above the Waterfront mall | City centre | ★★★★ | 15 min9 km | YesRooftop pool with a children's play pool | Ask us |
 |
Grandis Hotel | City centre | ★★★★ | 15 min10 km | YesRooftop pool | Ask us |
 |
Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu TuaranOpened March 2026 on the Tuaran coast, about 45 minutes north of the city | Tuaran | ★★★★ | 45 min | YesOutdoor pool; beach cabanas about 300 m away | Ask us |
 |
Horizon Hotel | City centre | ★★★★ | 15 min8.4 km | YesRooftop pool | Ask us |
 |
Mercure Kota Kinabalu City Centre | City centre | ★★★★ | 17 min9.6 km | Yes | Ask us |
 |
Ming Garden Hotel & Residences | City centre | ★★★★ | 10 min5 km | YesOutdoor pool with pool bar | Ask us |
 |
Nexus Resort & Spa Karambunai | Karambunai | ★★★★ | 38 min25 km | YesThree pools and a private beach | Ask us |
 |
Pan Borneo Hotel Kota KinabaluAbove One Place (Putatan) Mall; formerly branded Soluxe | Lintas and Putatan | ★★★★ | 5 min4 km | YesLarge outdoor pool with a children's pool on level 3M | Ask us |
 |
Promenade Hotel Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★★ | 10 min7.5 km | Yes | Ask us |
 |
Sabah Oriental HotelAlso branded Crystal Crown Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★★ | 12 min7 km | YesOutdoor pool on the 3rd floor with a sunset patio | Ask us |
 |
Sutera Sanctuary Lodges at Manukan IslandThe only place to sleep on Manukan; boat leaves from Sutera Harbour marina, not Jesselton Point | Islands | ★★★★ | 15 min | YesOutdoor pool with poolside bar | Ask us |
 |
The Klagan HotelNot the same building as The Klagan Regency | City centre | ★★★★ | 17 min9 km | No | Ask us |
 |
The LUMA HotelSutera Avenue, Sembulan — a Design Hotels / Marriott Bonvoy member | City centre | ★★★★ | 12 min7 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Beringgis Beach Resort & SpaKm 26 Jalan Papar; a large older resort | Kinarut and Papar | ★★★ | 25 min | Yes | Ask us |
 |
C'haya Hotel | Tanjung Aru | ★★★ | 8 min5 km | YesRooftop infinity pool | Ask us |
 |
Celyn City Hotel | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min | No | Ask us |
 |
Cititel Express Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min8 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Dreamtel Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★ | 16 min8.9 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Gaya Centre Hotel | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min10 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Holiday Inn Express Kota Kinabalu City Centre | City centre | ★★★ | 13 min6 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Hotel Capital | City centre | ★★★ | 17 min9 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Hotel Eden54 | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min10 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Hotel Sixty3 | City centre | ★★★ | 17 min9.6 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kinabalu City CentreFormerly Hotel Shangri-La Kota Kinabalu — not related to the Shangri-La resorts | City centre | ★★★ | 12 min7.6 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Imperial Boutec HotelInside Warisan Square; not the Imperial International Hotel | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min8 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Kinabalu Daya HotelFormerly a Best Western; old listings still use that name | City centre | ★★★ | 18 min9.8 km | No | Ask us |
 |
King Park Hotel Kota Kinabalu | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min8 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Kingston Hotel | City centre | ★★★ | 12 min9 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Langkah Syabas Beach ResortKinarut, 25 minutes south of the city | Kinarut and Papar | ★★★ | 20 min13 km | YesOutdoor pool; some sea-view rooms share a private pool | Ask us |
 |
Platinum HotelTwo branches — Lintas Jaya and Putatan — under one brand | Lintas and Putatan | ★★★ | 10 min | not confirmed | Ask us |
 |
Sky Hotel Kota Kinabalu | Karamunsing | ★★★ | 13 min6.7 km | Yes | Ask us |
 |
Stanton HotelNot the same building as Stanton City Hotel | Karamunsing | ★★★ | 13 min7 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Tang Dynasty Hotel | City centre | ★★★ | 15 min6.8 km | YesPool with poolside bar | Ask us |
 |
The Jesselton HotelKota Kinabalu's oldest hotel, open since 1954 | City centre | ★★★ | 18 min8.5 km | No | Ask us |
 |
The Palace Hotel Kota Kinabalu | Karamunsing | ★★★ | 16 min8 km | YesOutdoor pool with forest-view seating | Ask us |
 |
ibis Styles Kota Kinabalu Inanam | Inanam | ★★★ | 22 min18 km | not confirmed | Ask us |
 |
Eminent Hotel | Kepayan and Penampang | ★★ | 10 min5 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Hotel Deleeton | City centre | ★★ | 14 min8.2 km | No | Ask us |
 |
TOOJOU Kota KinabaluCapsule hostel with private studio rooms | City centre | ★★ | 12 min | No | Ask us |
 |
Tune Hotel 1Borneo | 1Borneo | ★★ | 25 min20 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Borneo BackpackersAbove a heritage coffee shop in Australia Place | City centre | ★ | 17 min9 km | No | Ask us |
 |
Goldenhill HotelNot the Golden Hill hotels elsewhere in Malaysia | Tanjung Aru | ★ | 9 min4.8 km | No | Ask us |
Choose by what matters
- Luxury Hotels in Kota Kinabalu
- Budget Hotels in Kota Kinabalu
- Hotels Near Kota Kinabalu Airport
- Kota Kinabalu Hotels with a Pool
- Family-Friendly Hotels in Kota Kinabalu
- Kota Kinabalu City Centre Hotels
- Hotels Walkable to Jesselton Point for the Islands
- Hotels Near the Gaya Street Sunday Market
- Kota Kinabalu Hotels with an Airport Shuttle
- Island Resorts off Kota Kinabalu
- Hostels and the Cheapest Beds in Kota Kinabalu
Choose by area
Image obtained from amazingborneo.com
City centre33 hotels
Image obtained from mapcarta.com
Karamunsing3 hotels
Image obtained from tripadvisor.com
Lintas and Putatan2 hotels
Image obtained from en.wikipedia.org
1Borneo1 hotel
Image obtained from amazingborneo.com
Sutera Harbour2 hotels
Image obtained from thegolfasia.com
Karambunai1 hotel
Image obtained from sabahtourism.com
Tanjung Aru3 hotels
Image obtained from scpproperty.com.my
Inanam1 hotel
Image obtained from en.wikipedia.org
Tuaran3 hotels
Image obtained from smartertravel.com
Islands3 hotels
Image obtained from en.wikipedia.org
Kepayan and Penampang1 hotel
Image obtained from en.wikipedia.org
Kinarut and Papar2 hotels
Planning guides
- Where to stay the night before climbing Mount Kinabalu
- Island resort or city hotel? How to split a Kota Kinabalu trip
- Best area to stay in Kota Kinabalu, in plain terms
- Kota Kinabalu with kids: which hotels actually work
- Getting from your hotel to the islands: jetties, boats and timings
- When to book a Kota Kinabalu hotel, and how far ahead
- Kota Kinabalu airport to your hotel: Grab, taxi, shuttle or pickup
- Kota Kinabalu hotels with confusingly similar names
Three things worth knowing before you pick
The city faces west
Kota Kinabalu looks almost due west over the South China Sea, so sunsets are reliable and sea-facing rooms carry a real premium here, not a marketing one.
Centre or islands
Most hotels cluster around the CBD and waterfront, walkable to Gaya Street and Jesselton Point, the jetty for Tunku Abdul Rahman Park. Staying further out trades convenience for lower rates.
December to April
Peak season for beach weather and Mount Kinabalu climbs. City-centre hotels with pools sell out first in this window, so ask early.
Why ask us instead of a booking site
Because we're in Kota Kinabalu. Bookings go through our licensed Sabah tours agency; when you send dates, our team checks the hotel's actual availability and rate, tells you honestly if a different hotel fits better, and can add island trips, a Kinabalu climb or airport pickup to the same booking. There's no booking fee. How booking works.