Sabah Museum
Kota Kinabalu · Malaysia · Founded 1965
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas · CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Sabah Museum in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia — the Sabah Museum is Sabah's state museum, set on a hilltop about 4 km from central Kota Kinabalu, with a main building modelled on a Rungus longhouse, a Heritage Village of traditional houses and an Islamic Civilisation Museum. Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Admission: RM2 for Malaysian visitors; RM15 for non-Malaysian visitors. Allow 1–1.5 hours.
Visitor information last reviewed 25 September 2026. Check the official museum site for current details.
Sabah Museum at a glance: hours, tickets and time needed
| Opening hours | Daily: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Admission | RM2 for Malaysian visitors; RM15 for non-Malaysian visitors |
| Free or reduced entry | Malaysian children under 12 free · Malaysian students in uniform free · Malaysian senior citizens free · Malaysian visitors with disabilities free |
| Booking | Tickets usually available on the day |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time to visit | Mornings, before the midday heat, since the open areas are mostly outdoors. |
| Getting there | Taxi: Grab or taxi from central Kota Kinabalu (about 4 km) takes 10–15 minutes; the entrance is on Jalan Muzium off Jalan Penampang, opposite the State Secretariat building |
| Address | Sabah Museum Complex, Jalan Muzium, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia |
| Closures | The Main Building galleries (ethnography, natural history, ceramics, archaeology and history, including the whale skeleton) have been closed since 2 September 2024 with no reopening date. The Heritage Village, Locomotive Gallery and Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum remain open. |
| Official website | museum.sabah.gov.my |
Checked 2026-09-25 against the official website. Prices and hours change — confirm before you travel.
What is Sabah Museum known for?
Sabah's museum story began under the North Borneo Chartered Company with a museum in Sandakan that was closed and revived several times. The Sabah Museum itself opened on 15 July 1965 in shophouses on Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, largely through the efforts of the Sabah Society; its founding collection was the Woolley Collection of G.C. Woolley, and its first curator was E.J. Berwick. As the museum grew, the state government granted a larger site on Bukit Istana Lama, where the old Government House and later the State Legislative Assembly had stood. The purpose-built complex was officially opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on 11 April 1984.
The Main Building is designed after a traditional Rungus longhouse and housed galleries of ethnography, natural history, ceramics, archaeology and history, plus the Marble Hall for temporary exhibitions. Around it, set in about 17 hectares of grounds, are a Science and Technology Centre with displays on oil and gas, broadcasting and the North Borneo Railway, the Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum, ethnobotanical and montane gardens, and the Heritage Village. The village gathers traditional houses from across Sabah, including a Bajau house with a wedding dais, a Murut longhouse with a lansaran, a Chinese farmhouse, a bamboo house and a House of Skulls.
On 2 September 2024 the museum closed the Main Building galleries until further notice, while keeping the Islamic Civilisation Museum, the Locomotive Gallery and the first phase of the Heritage Village open. Local reports in May 2026 said the closure was over the building's structural safety and criticised the lack of a timeline. On 25 September 2026 the state's assistant tourism minister said Cabinet had approved a new museum for Kota Kinabalu, with sites under study, and that no decision had been made on upgrading or demolishing the existing building. The Islamic Civilisation Museum gallery reopened on 17 September 2026.
The complex opens daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the official website lists admission at RM2 for Malaysians and RM15 for other visitors, with free entry for Malaysian children under 12, students in uniform, seniors and disabled visitors. The Main Building's signature exhibit, an 18.6-metre Bryde's whale skeleton, is not viewable during the closure. The Locomotive Gallery displays the Hunslet-built steam locomotive Sir Ralph Hone of the North Borneo Railway. The museum stands off Jalan Penampang, about 4 km from the city centre, and guided tours can be requested online.
Best for: History Enthusiasts · Families · Architecture Enthusiasts
How long do you need at Sabah Museum?
Allow 1–1.5 hours. A focused route through 4 must-see highlights at Sabah Museum without museum fatigue. Follow the stops in order:
- 1
Main Building exterior
📍 Museum forecourt
Start with the Rungus longhouse-inspired facade, even though the galleries inside are closed.
- 2
Heritage Village
📍 Ethnobotanical gardens
Walk through the Bajau, Murut and Chinese houses and the House of Skulls.
- 3
Locomotive Gallery
📍 Museum complex
See the Hunslet steam locomotive Sir Ralph Hone of the North Borneo Railway.
- 4
Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum
📍 Museum complex
Finish in the gallery that reopened in September 2026.
What are the must-see works at Sabah Museum?
5 highlights that define the collection: Heritage Village traditional houses, Steam locomotive 'Sir Ralph Hone', Bryde's whale skeleton and more.
Heritage Village traditional houses
Traditional architecture of Sabah's communities
📍 Heritage Village (open)
A walk-through village of full-size houses, including a Bajau house with a wedding dais, a Murut longhouse with a lansaran sprung floor, a Chinese farmhouse and a House of Skulls.
Steam locomotive 'Sir Ralph Hone'
Hunslet Engine Co., Leeds · North Borneo Railway
📍 Locomotive Gallery (open)
A British-built steam locomotive of the North Borneo Railway that hauled passenger trains from 1912 to 1957 and goods trains until 1968.
Bryde's whale skeleton
Stranded off Gaya Island, 2006
📍 Main Building entrance (closed since September 2024)
An 18.6-metre skeleton recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest whale skeleton exhibited in Malaysia, currently inaccessible.
Rungus longhouse-inspired Main Building
Museum architecture · opened 1984
📍 Main Building exterior
The museum's landmark building, whose design draws on the traditional longhouse of the Rungus people of northern Sabah; it can still be seen from the grounds.
Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum
Islamic heritage of Sabah
📍 Museum complex
A separate museum building in the complex devoted to the history of Islam in Sabah, whose gallery reopened to the public on 17 September 2026.
Collections and highlights
- • Heritage Village of traditional Sabah houses
- • North Borneo Railway locomotive and rolling stock
- • Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum
- • Ethnobotanical and montane gardens
- • Ethnography, natural history, ceramics, archaeology and history galleries (Main Building, closed)
- • Bryde's whale skeleton (Main Building, closed)
Tips for visiting Sabah Museum
- 1.
Best time to visit
Mornings, before the midday heat, since the open areas are mostly outdoors. Check the website or Facebook page for the Main Building's status before you go.
- 2.
Tickets & booking
Pay at the entrance — RM2 Malaysians, RM15 non-Malaysians; free for Malaysian children under 12, students in uniform, seniors and disabled visitors. Guided tours can be applied for through the museum's online services.
- 3.
Accessibility
Hilly grounds with outdoor paths; the Heritage Village's traditional houses are raised and reached by steps, so step-free access is limited.
- 4.
Photography rules
The official site lists no photography restrictions; the Heritage Village houses and the Main Building facade are the main photo subjects. Follow any signs inside indoor galleries.
How do you get to Sabah Museum?
- taxi Grab or taxi from central Kota Kinabalu (about 4 km) takes 10–15 minutes; the entrance is on Jalan Muzium off Jalan Penampang, opposite the State Secretariat building
- car Parking is available on site; the grounds are on a hill and the Heritage Village involves uphill walking
Address: Sabah Museum Complex, Jalan Muzium, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Sabah Museum: frequently asked questions
Is the Sabah Museum open?
Partly. The museum complex opens daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but the galleries in the Main Building have been closed to visitors since 2 September 2024 and no reopening date has been announced. The Heritage Village, the Locomotive Gallery and the Sabah Islamic Civilisation Museum, whose gallery reopened on 17 September 2026, are open. Check the museum's website or Facebook page before you go.
How much are tickets to the Sabah Museum?
The official website lists admission at RM2 for Malaysian visitors and RM15 for non-Malaysian visitors. Malaysian children under 12, students in uniform, senior citizens and visitors with disabilities enter free. The site still shows these rates while the Main Building is closed, so ask at the ticket counter which areas your ticket covers on the day of your visit.
Why is the Main Building closed and when will it reopen?
The museum announced the closure of the Main Building galleries from 2 September 2024 'until a date is announced later', and local reports say it was closed over the building's structural safety. In September 2026 the state tourism ministry said Cabinet had approved a new museum for Kota Kinabalu, with sites still being studied, and that it had not yet decided whether to upgrade or demolish the existing building.
What can I see while the Main Building is closed?
The Heritage Village, set in the ethnobotanical gardens, lets you walk through traditional houses of Sabah, including a Bajau house with a wedding dais, a Murut longhouse with a lansaran sprung dance floor, a Chinese farmhouse with an earthen floor and a House of Skulls. The Locomotive Gallery shows North Borneo Railway heritage, and the Islamic Civilisation Museum reopened in September 2026.
How long should I spend at the Sabah Museum?
Plan 1–1.5 hours for the highlights of Sabah Museum. Our 4-stop route — Main Building exterior, Heritage Village, Locomotive Gallery and more — is designed to fit that time. Add extra time for temporary exhibitions, the shop and the café.
How do I get to the Sabah Museum?
The complex is on Jalan Muzium off Jalan Penampang, opposite the State Secretariat building and about 4 km from central Kota Kinabalu. A Grab or taxi from the city centre takes around 10 to 15 minutes. Drivers can park on site. Walking from town is not practical because of the distance, traffic and the hill on which the museum stands.
Can I still see the whale skeleton?
Not at present. The museum's best-known exhibit, the 18.6-metre skeleton of a Bryde's whale recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest whale skeleton displayed in Malaysia, stands at the entrance to the Main Building. It has been inaccessible since the Main Building galleries closed in September 2024.
Is Sabah Museum open on Mondays?
Yes — Sabah Museum is open every day of the week, including Mondays and Sundays: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Check the official website for holiday hours.
What are Sabah Museum's opening hours?
Sabah Museum is open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Hours can change for holidays and events, so check the official website before you go.
Is Sabah Museum free to visit?
Not for everyone. Standard admission: RM2 for Malaysian visitors; RM15 for non-Malaysian visitors. Free or reduced entry: Malaysian children under 12 free; Malaysian students in uniform free; Malaysian senior citizens free; Malaysian visitors with disabilities free.