Historic Buildings and Sites in Sabah — The Complete Visitor Guide
How many historic sites can I visit in Sabah?
This guide covers 15 historic buildings and heritage sites that visitors can see in Sabah. They range from outdoor colonial landmarks to museums. Most are in three areas: Kota Kinabalu (6 sites), Sandakan (4 sites) and the Interior (4 sites), plus Gomantong Caves in the east. Kudat, the first capital, is covered on its own page.
Paid sites include the Sabah State Museum (RM15 for non-Malaysians, RM2 for Malaysians, open daily 9am-5pm (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026)), Agnes Keith House (same fees (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026)) and Gomantong Caves (RM30 for international adults, RM5 for Malaysian adults (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026)). The Sabah Museum lists free entry, 9am-5pm daily, at Muzium Warisan Keningau and the Batu Sumpah (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026) and at the Mat Salleh memorial in Tambunan (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026). Fees and hours change, so check before you go.
The sites span several eras: the British North Borneo Chartered Company era (1881-1942), Japanese occupation (1942-1945), the Crown Colony years and the period since Malaysia was formed in 1963. Together they tell the full arc of Sabah's history from colonial port to Malaysian state.
| Site | Location | Type | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atkinson Clock Tower | Kota Kinabalu | Colonial Monument | Outdoor landmark |
| Sabah State Museum | Kota Kinabalu | State Museum | RM15 / RM2 |
| Sabah Tourism Board Bldg | Kota Kinabalu | Heritage Building | No ticket |
| Padang Merdeka | Kota Kinabalu | Public Square | Public open space |
| Jesselton Hotel | Kota Kinabalu | Heritage Hotel | Hotel rates |
| North Borneo Railway | KK to Tenom | Heritage Railway | Fares vary |
| Agnes Keith House | Sandakan | Heritage Museum | RM15 / RM2 |
| Sandakan Memorial Park | Sandakan | WWII Memorial | Check on arrival |
| St. Michael's Church | Sandakan | Heritage Church | No ticket |
| Sam Sing Kung Temple | Sandakan | Heritage Temple | Donations |
| Kundasang War Memorial | Kundasang | WWII Memorial | Check on arrival |
| Keningau Oath Stone | Keningau | Historical Monument | Free |
| Muzium Warisan Keningau | Keningau | Heritage Museum | Free |
| Mat Salleh Monument | Tambunan | Historical Monument | Free |
| Gomantong Caves | Kinabatangan | Natural Heritage | RM30 / RM5 |
Kota Kinabalu historic sites
KK's heritage sites are compact and walkable. The Atkinson Clock Tower, completed on 20 April 1905 and built of merbau timber (Daily Express, checked 7 October 2026), the Sabah Tourism Board building at 51 Gaya Street, one of three structures not bombed in WWII (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026), and Padang Merdeka, gazetted as a state heritage site in 1999 (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026), form a cluster in the city centre. The Sabah State Museum on Jalan Muzium is a short drive away. The railway has run since 1896, but JKNS says its steam locomotive is not operating at present (JKNS, checked 7 October 2026); its Saturday tourist train to Muara Sungai Benoni costs RM100 (JKNS, checked 7 October 2026).
KK's oldest pre-war building still standing, completed in 1905. A 14.6 m timber memorial clock tower on Signal Hill, managed by the Sabah Museum.
Main building designed after a Rungus longhouse, with ethnography, natural history, ceramics, archaeology and history galleries. The Heritage Village (Kampung Warisan) is in the same complex.
One of three KK structures not bombed in WWII. Opened in 1918 as the government printing office, later the post office, and home of the Sabah Tourism Board since 1991.
KK's historic town padang and event ground, gazetted as a state heritage site in 1999.
Boutique hotel named after Jesselton, the colonial name of Kota Kinabalu, on the Gaya Street shophouse row.
About 134 km of railway from Tanjung Aru to Tenom, begun in 1896, through the Padas Gorge. The steam locomotive is not operating at present, per the Sabah State Railway Department.
Sandakan historic sites
Sandakan's heritage sites are concentrated in and around the town centre. Agnes Keith House, St. Michael's Church (begun 1893, consecrated 1906 (Anglican Diocese of Sabah, checked 7 October 2026)) and Sam Sing Kung Temple (completed 1887 (The Vibes, checked 7 October 2026)) are close to each other. Sandakan Memorial Park, on the site of the former POW camp and open 9am-5pm daily (Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs, checked 7 October 2026), is out of town on Jalan Labuk, so take a taxi or Grab. Budget a full day for the complete Sandakan heritage trail.
Timber house rebuilt in 1946/47 for Harry and Agnes Keith, author of 'Land Below the Wind'. Opened as a museum in 2004, with a gallery on Keith and war artefacts.
On the site of the former Sandakan POW camp. Commemorates about 2,400 Australian and British POWs who died in 1945; Anzac Day services are held at the obelisk.
Anglican church begun in 1893 and consecrated in 1906, the first stone building in North Borneo, built of local granite. Still an active parish church.
Chinese temple completed and dedicated in 1887, the oldest temple in Sandakan. Still an active place of worship.
Interior Sabah historic sites
The Interior Division requires a hire car or tour, as public transport options are limited. Kundasang is on the way to Mount Kinabalu, so it combines well with a mountain visit; the memorial is open 8.30am-5.30pm daily (Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs, checked 7 October 2026). The Keningau Oath Stone was moved to Muzium Warisan Keningau in 2018 (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026), a former rest house about 600 m from Keningau town (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026).
Four gardens (Australian, English, Borneo, and Contemplation Garden and Pool) honouring the 2,428 Australian and British POWs who died at Sandakan and on the marches to Ranau.
The Batu Sumpah, erected in 1964 to record the interior people's oath of loyalty to Malaysia in return for five main conditions. Moved to Muzium Warisan Keningau in 2018.
A former Government Rest House built in 1946-47, opened as a museum in 2008. Displays cover Keningau's culture, Islamic civilisation, history, zoology, ethnobotany and sport.
The site of Mat Salleh's fort, where he was killed with his followers after a siege. A memorial was built on the site, now cared for by the Sabah Museum.
East Coast and Kudat historic sites
Gomantong Caves, about 2 hours by road from Sandakan city, is most often visited as an optional stop on Kinabatangan tour packages (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). In the north, Kudat, Sabah's first capital, pairs with the Tip of Borneo (Tanjung Simpang Mengayau), about three and a half hours by road from KK (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
How to plan a Sabah heritage trail
A complete Sabah heritage trail covering all 15 sites realistically takes 4-5 days. Here is a suggested route that minimises backtracking and pairs sites efficiently by geography.
| Day | Base | Sites | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kota Kinabalu | Atkinson Clock Tower, Padang Merdeka, STB Building, Jesselton Hotel, Sabah State Museum | Walkable + short Grab |
| Day 2 | KK / Kundasang | North Borneo Railway (check the JKNS timetable), or Kundasang War Memorial en route to Ranau | Varies by route |
| Day 3 | Interior (Keningau/Tambunan) | Keningau Oath Stone, Muzium Warisan Keningau, Mat Salleh Memorial Monument (Tambunan) | Several hours by road from KK |
| Day 4 | Sandakan | Agnes Keith House, Sandakan Memorial Park, St. Michael's Church, Sam Sing Kung Temple | Fly from KK, or a long drive |
| Day 5 | Kinabatangan / Kudat | Gomantong Caves (East) or Kudat + Tip of Borneo (North) | Varies by route |