Borneo Cultures Museum
Photo: Medelam · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching, Malaysia — the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching, opened in 2022, is described as Malaysia's largest museum: a five-storey building beside Padang Merdeka whose galleries trace the peoples, crafts and history of Sarawak and Borneo from Niah Cave prehistory to the present. Open Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM, last admission 4:00 PM. Admission: RM10 for Sarawakian adults; RM20 for other Malaysian adults; RM50 for foreign adults. Allow 2–3 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 25 September 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Borneo Cultures Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM, last admission 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Closed | on the first day of Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai, and on Labour Day, National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day |
| Admission | RM10 for Sarawakian adults; RM20 for other Malaysian adults; RM50 for foreign adults |
| Free or reduced entry | Malaysian children 12 and under free · Registered persons with disabilities free (all nationalities) · Seniors 61+ RM5 Sarawakian, RM10 other Malaysian, RM25 foreign · Ages 13–17 and students RM5 Malaysian, RM25 foreign |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings from 9:00 AM (9:30 AM at weekends). |
| Getting there | Walk: Beside Padang Merdeka on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg — about 10 minutes on foot from the Kuching Waterfront and Main Bazaar |
| Address | Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |
| Official website | museum.sarawak.gov.my |
Checked 2026-09-25 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Borneo Cultures Museum known for?
The Borneo Cultures Museum opened on 9 March 2022 on the site of the former Dewan Tun Abdul Razak hall, beside Padang Merdeka in the centre of Kuching. Run by the Sarawak Museum Department as part of the Sarawak Museum complex, it is described as the largest museum in Malaysia and the second largest in Southeast Asia. The project was approved in 2014 and was due to open in 2020 before Covid-19 delays; it cost RM308 million to build, with a further RM15 million for digital facilities. Wikipedia, citing the department, records 1,007,716 visitors by 14 May 2024.
The building was designed by a team led by Sarawakian architect Dato Sri John Lau Kah Sieng. Its golden arched roofline echoes the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building across the Sarawak River, while the stacked facade panels reinterpret the patterns of woven rattan mats and songket cloth. Glass at the centre of the elevation brings daylight into the galleries and circulation spaces. With roughly 31,000 square metres of floor space and certification under the Green Building Index, it is paired with an annex for conservation laboratories and offices.
Level 1 holds temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, café and shop, and Level 2 the 'Love Our Rivers' children's gallery and an Arts and Crafts gallery. Level 3, 'In Harmony with Nature', is the largest gallery at 2,188 square metres and follows communities along Borneo's rivers, with a Bidayuh baruk, a ruai hung with trophy skulls and an interactive retelling of the Puteri Santubong legend. Level 4, 'Time Changes', runs from Niah Cave archaeology through Borneo's empires and the Brooke era to modern Sarawak. Level 5, 'Objects of Desire', shows beadwork, textiles, carvings, masks and gongs.
The museum opens daily except on seven major public holidays, from 9:00 AM on weekdays and 9:30 AM at weekends, with last admission at 4:00 PM. Tickets are tiered: RM10 for Sarawakian adults, RM20 for other Malaysians and RM50 for foreign adults, with free entry for Malaysian children 12 and under and for registered disabled visitors. About 30 per cent of the displays are interactive. Modest dress is encouraged and flash photography is not allowed. Other Sarawak Museum Department museums charge no admission, and the Kuching Waterfront is a short walk away.
Best for: History Enthusiasts · Families · First-timers · Rainy-day visits
How long do you need at Borneo Cultures Museum?
Allow 2–3 hours. A focused route through 5 must-see highlights at Borneo Cultures Museum without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Temporary exhibition
📍 Level 1
Check what is showing in the ground-level temporary gallery opposite the ticket counter.
- 2
In Harmony with Nature
📍 Level 3
The largest gallery: the Bidayuh baruk, the ruai with trophy skulls and the Puteri Santubong interactive.
- 3
Time Changes
📍 Level 4
Find the Deep Skull and Painted Cave grave goods, then follow the Brooke era to modern Sarawak.
- 4
Objects of Desire
📍 Level 5
Beadwork, masks, textiles and gongs — the museum's finest craft pieces.
- 5
Love Our Rivers (optional)
📍 Level 2
With children, finish in the interactive children's gallery and Arts and Crafts gallery.
What are the must-see works at Borneo Cultures Museum?
5 highlights that define the collection: Deep Skull ('Niah Lady'), Grave goods from Niah's Painted Cave, Ruai with trophy skulls and more.
Deep Skull ('Niah Lady')
Niah Great Cave · excavated 1958
📍 Level 4, Time Changes
The calvaria of an anatomically modern human from the West Mouth of Niah's Great Cave, dated to around 37,000 years ago and now thought to be an older woman.
Grave goods from Niah's Painted Cave
Prehistoric burials, Gua Kain Hitam
📍 Level 4, Time Changes
Prehistoric ornaments made from animal teeth, shown in the display cases of grave goods from ancient burials at Niah's Painted Cave (Gua Kain Hitam).
Ruai with trophy skulls
Iban longhouse tradition
📍 Level 3, In Harmony with Nature
A longhouse gallery (ruai) hung with head-hunting trophy skulls collected since the Brooke era, with an explanation of the practice and its meaning in Borneo.
Bidayuh baruk
Bidayuh architecture
📍 Level 3, In Harmony with Nature
A reconstruction of the baruk, the round headhouse that served as a meeting place in traditional Bidayuh villages.
Objects of Desire gallery
Dayak and Orang Ulu craftsmanship
📍 Level 5
Beadwork, woven mats, ceremonial costumes, carved masks and heirloom gongs, chosen to show the spiritual and social power of Borneo's material culture.
Collections and highlights
- • Niah Cave archaeology, including the Deep Skull
- • Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu and other Dayak material culture
- • Beadwork, textiles and woven mats
- • Carved masks, gongs and ritual objects
- • Brooke-era and modern Sarawak history
- • Children's gallery on Borneo's rivers
- • Temporary exhibitions
Tips for visiting Borneo Cultures Museum
- 1.
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings from 9:00 AM (9:30 AM at weekends). Start by early afternoon because last admission is 4:00 PM, and check the list of seven holiday closures.
- 2.
Tickets & booking
Walk-in or book online via the Sarawak government portal. Bring MyKad or passport to prove your price category; pay by cash, card or S Pay Global. Groups of 10+ get reduced rates.
- 3.
Accessibility
Built with ramps, tactile maps and accessible toilets; wheelchairs can be requested at the inquiry counter, and nappy-changing rooms are on the lower floors.
- 4.
Photography rules
Photography is allowed without flash or tripods. Umbrellas, food and drinks are not permitted in the galleries.
How do you get to Borneo Cultures Museum?
- walk Beside Padang Merdeka on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg — about 10 minutes on foot from the Kuching Waterfront and Main Bazaar
- taxi Grab or taxi from Kuching International Airport (about 10 km) or anywhere in the city centre
- car Drive to Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg in the city centre; the museum is part of the Sarawak Museum complex next to Padang Merdeka
Address: Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Borneo Cultures Museum: frequently asked questions
How much does the Borneo Cultures Museum cost?
Prices depend on residency. Adults aged 18 to 60 pay RM10 if Sarawakian, RM20 if from elsewhere in Malaysia and RM50 as foreign visitors. Foreign children 12 and under pay RM20, while Malaysian children that age enter free; teenagers, students and seniors 61+ pay reduced rates. Registered persons with disabilities are free, and staff ask for a MyKad or passport at the counter.
What are the Borneo Cultures Museum's opening hours?
It opens Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM, and on weekends and public holidays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with last admission at 4:00 PM every day. It closes on seven holidays: Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Labour Day, Gawai (Harvest Day), National Day, the Sarawak Governor's birthday and Christmas Day.
How long should I spend at the Borneo Cultures Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours for the highlights of Borneo Cultures Museum. Our 5-stop route — Temporary exhibition, In Harmony with Nature, Time Changes and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
What is on each floor?
Level 1 has the ticket counter, temporary exhibitions, auditorium, café and gift shop. Level 2 holds the children's gallery, themed 'Love Our Rivers', and an Arts and Crafts gallery. Level 3's 'In Harmony with Nature' is the largest gallery, Level 4's 'Time Changes' runs from Niah Cave prehistory to modern Sarawak, and Level 5's 'Objects of Desire' shows beadwork, textiles and ritual objects.
Is there a dress code or rules to know?
The museum encourages modest clothing. Its etiquette rules ban smoking, pets, umbrellas, sharp objects, food, drinks and chewing gum, and touching exhibits; photography is allowed but without flash or tripods. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and running or pushing in the galleries is not allowed.
Can I see the Niah Cave 'Deep Skull'?
Guides and visitor accounts report that the calvaria of the Deep Skull, the top of a human skull excavated at Niah's Great Cave in 1958 and often called the 'Niah Lady', is displayed in the Level 4 'Time Changes' gallery. Dated to around 37,000 years ago, it is one of the oldest modern human remains found in island Southeast Asia.
How do I get to the Borneo Cultures Museum?
The museum is on Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg beside Padang Merdeka in central Kuching, about ten minutes on foot from the Kuching Waterfront and Main Bazaar. Kuching International Airport is about 10 km away, a short Grab or taxi ride. The museum says it is easily reached by car, taxi, bus or e-hailing from anywhere in the city centre.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
No. The Sarawak Museum Department offers online booking for the Borneo Cultures Museum, but walk-in visitors are welcome and pay at the counter by cash, debit or credit card, or the S Pay Global e-wallet. Groups of ten or more get a reduced per-person rate, and an RM100 annual pass gives unlimited visits for a year.
Is Borneo Cultures Museum free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: RM10 for Sarawakian adults; RM20 for other Malaysian adults; RM50 for foreign adults. Free or reduced entry: Malaysian children 12 and under free; Registered persons with disabilities free (all nationalities); Seniors 61+ RM5 Sarawakian, RM10 other Malaysian, RM25 foreign; Ages 13–17 and students RM5 Malaysian, RM25 foreign.