Getting Around Kuching

Getting Around Kuching

Kuching is the capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo and the main gateway for travellers visiting Sarawak and Borneo. It sits on the Sarawak River and is split into two administrative regions run by separate local authorities. For a visitor, the practical picture is simple: there is no train, metro or tram network, so you will get around by bus, taxi, ride-hailing car, boat or on foot.

Rail, Metro and Trams

Kuching has no rail, metro or tram system. There is nothing to plan around and no tickets or passes to buy for rail travel. Any movement around the city and its surroundings is by road, river or on foot.

Buses and Other Public Transport

Public buses in Kuching are run by a handful of private companies, and the network is oriented around a few key hubs rather than a single integrated system.

• City centre departures: Many local buses leave from various locations in the city centre near the main mosque, depending on which company operates the route.
• City Public Link (CPL): These yellow-and-green buses serve several useful routes, including the K1 to the Pending Express Boat Jetty (RM1) and the K3 towards Serian via Kuching Sentral.
• Sarawak Transport Company (STC): Operates routes including bus 3A, which also runs towards Serian and Kuching Sentral.
• BusAsia: Runs the red bus No. 1 from the open air market near Electra House to Bako Bazaar, where you transfer to a boat for Bako National Park (RM1 one way, about 45 minutes).
• Kuching Metro: Bus No. 103 departs from the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) for Semenggoh, and the green K6 leaves from near the mosque.
• Mini buses: Public mini buses also operate, including to Semenggoh (roughly RM5–10 per passenger) and to Bako; they tend to be a little faster and more regular but more expensive than the big buses.

Fares are generally low and paid in cash. Schedules are not always clearly published, so it helps to ask at your accommodation or at the terminal about departure points and times for the specific destination you want.

Long-Distance and Regional Buses

Kuching Sentral, the regional express bus terminal south of the city (also known as "3½ miles"), is where long-distance express buses arrive from and depart for major Sarawak cities such as Sibu, Bintulu and Miri, as well as Pontianak in Indonesia. Regional buses for nearby towns including Lundu and Sri Aman also use this terminal.

• To reach Kuching Sentral from the city centre, go to the city bus terminal near the main mosque and take STC bus 3A or CPL bus K3 with destination Serian; departures run roughly every 30 minutes during daylight hours.
• City buses do not enter the Kuching Sentral station itself — the stop is on the main north–south road nearby, and getting back to the city centre means crossing that busy road to the opposite stop.
• Buses to closer destinations such as Bako National Park, Bau and the Semenggoh Orang Utan Centre leave from various spots in the city centre near the main mosque, depending on the company.

Boats

Boats are part of the transport mix in and around Kuching.

• Express boats: The Express Bahagia runs a once-daily service from Kuching to Sibu, departing from the Pending Express Boat Jetty east of the city. Departure time varies with the tides, so arrive about an hour early to buy tickets. From the city centre, CPL bus K1 goes to the express boat jetty for RM1. Bring snacks, as none are sold on board, and board early for a good seat — sitting upstairs helps if you are prone to seasickness and gives you views.
• Bako: From Bako Bazaar, boats transfer visitors to Bako National Park (RM47 one way, up to five people per boat).
• Tanjung Datu: Reaching Tanjung Datu National Park involves a connecting STC bus to Sematan, where you charter a boat to the park.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Taxis and ride-hailing cars are the most straightforward option for point-to-point trips, especially when buses do not run where you need to go.

• Airport taxi: The trip between the airport and the city runs about 20 minutes outside peak times at a fixed rate (RM30 in 2024). In rush hour, or when school starts in the morning and ends in the afternoon, the same short trip can take up to an hour.
• Ride-hailing: Uber and GrabCar are cheaper options from the airport, costing roughly RM20.
• Private transfers: From the city you can arrange a private vehicle for around RM20, or catch a mini bus (RM7.99 for Tune guests, RM10 for others); these must be booked at least a day in advance and leave hourly from 8:30AM into the evening.
• Mini bus taxis: For destinations such as Semenggoh, more expensive mini bus taxis are available, with bargaining starting around RM100 for the whole bus for a return journey.

Walkability

Walking works well for exploring the historic core along the Sarawak River, where the bazaar, temples and waterfront sights sit close together. Beyond the centre, the city spreads out and the heat and humidity make long walks less appealing. Note that some practical connections are not pedestrian-friendly: reaching the bus stop on the far side of the main road near Kuching Sentral means crossing eight lanes of traffic. For anything outside the central area, plan on a bus, taxi or ride-hailing car.

Getting from the Airport into the City

Kuching International Airport is Sarawak's main gateway, with near-hourly connections from Kuala Lumpur and frequent flights from Singapore, Johor Bahru, Labuan, Kota Kinabalu and other Sarawak cities such as Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. International connections are limited to Singapore and Jakarta. Most visitors can get visas on arrival at the airport, since Sarawak controls its own immigration procedures.

Your options for reaching the city:

• Taxi: About 20 minutes outside peak times, at a fixed rate (RM30 in 2024). Allow up to an hour during rush hour or school-run times.
• Ride-hailing: Uber or GrabCar, roughly RM20.
• Private vehicle or mini bus: Around RM20 for a private vehicle from the city, or a mini bus at RM7.99 for Tune guests and RM10 for others; book at least one day ahead, with hourly departures from 8:30AM into the evening.
• Public bus: The STC bus 12A no longer serves the airport–city centre route. Other buses (3A, 6, 8G and 9) stop roughly 1 km west of the airport — turn left as you exit the airport, walk to the main T intersection, turn left again and continue to the big roundabout (also the express bus terminal) to catch a bus heading north to town. The easiest place to catch these buses back towards the airport is the main bus terminal in the city.