Kuching Major Attractions

The Islamic Museum

The building that houses the Islamic Museum, opened in 1992, today was initially a James Brooke Malay College. This Museum consists of seven galleries. Each of the galleries displays items that are related to a particular discipline such as History of Islam in Sarawak; Islamic Architecture; Science, Technology, Economics, Education and Literature; Music, Costumes and Personal Ornaments; Weaponry; Decorative Arts and Domestic Utensils; and the Holy Quran Collection.

The Chinese History Museum

Officially opened in 1993, the museum building itself is historic and was built in 1912. Situated at the Kuching Waterfront, it was initially used as a court by the Chinese community from 1912 to 1921. The museum portrays the rich and fascinating history of Sarawak's diverse Chinese groups. Visitors will acquire in-depth historical knowledge relating to the origin of each Chinese dialect group, their respective traditional skills and cultural heritage, and progress achieved throughout the years.

The Cat Museum

The Cat Museum's cat artefacts displayed were previously on show for the first time at the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur, in 1987 as one of its gallery. Later it was brought to Kuching (The Cat City) under the care of Sarawak Museum and was put on display for the first time on 1 August 1988, when Kuching was proclaimed as a Cat City.
Today, the collection of the exhibited materials from all over the world is one way of making the Cat Museum as a "Cat Information Centre".

Main Bazaar

No visitor should miss the old Main Bazaar, Kuching's oldest and most famous shopping street where souvenir-hunters can seek out an assortment of traditional brassware, pottery, ceramics, tribal arts and crafts, bamboo mats, rattan basket and much more.
The handicraft shops here are stacked floor to ceiling with cultural curios and antiques, and are a treasure trove of Iban icons, Bidayuh bric-a-brac and Orang Ulu ornaments. Located near the Kuching Waterfront, shoppers are advised to always bargain for the best deal.

Santubong Fishing Village

This quaint fishing village is 32 km from Kuching and can be reached by express boat or taxi from downtown Kuching. It has good beaches and is the site of several archaeological findings. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist rock carvings have been found around the Santubong River delta. During the Tang and Sung dynasties from the 9th till the 13th centuries, Santubong was an important trading centre. Santubong today can be reached by road across the Santubong Bridge