Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (City Mosque): Hours & Fee
What is the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque?
The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque, popularly called the Likas Floating Mosque or Blue Mosque, stands on Likas Bay. Surrounded by a man-made lagoon, it appears to float on water and holds 9,000 to 12,000 worshippers.
What is the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque?
The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque (Masjid Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu) is one of the most photographed landmarks in Sabah's capital. Standing on Pasir Road along the shore of Likas Bay, it faces the South China Sea and is better known to visitors as the Likas Floating Mosque or the Blue Mosque.
It is by far the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu, and its prayer hall holds 9,000 to 12,000 people at a time (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). It complements the older Sabah State Mosque in Sembulan.
A man-made lagoon surrounds much of the building. This setting is what gives the mosque its signature floating appearance and makes it a fixture on Kota Kinabalu sightseeing routes.
Why is it called the Floating Mosque?
The nickname comes from the man-made lagoon that wraps around most of the building. When the water is still, the mosque and its dome are mirrored on the surface, creating the impression that the entire structure is floating.
The effect is strongest in calm conditions, particularly in the late afternoon when the low sun lights the domes and the lagoon settles. The reflection at sunset is the image most associated with the mosque.
Because much of the site is ringed by water, visitors can walk along the lagoon edge and view the mosque from several angles, all of which keep the water in the frame.
Architecture and design
The mosque shares features with the Nabawi Mosque (the Prophet's Mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). That influence shows in the proportions of the prayer hall and the treatment of the domes and surrounding courtyards.
The most recognisable feature is the central blue and gold dome, which reads clearly against both the daytime sky and the night lighting. Combined with the lagoon, the colour scheme is the reason the building is widely called the Blue Mosque.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Jalan Pasir, Teluk Likas, Kota Kinabalu |
| Capacity | 9,000–12,000 worshippers |
| Setting | Surrounded by a man-made lagoon |
| Design inspiration | Nabawi Mosque, Medina |
Visiting as a non-Muslim
The City Mosque is open to visitors Saturday to Thursday and closed to visitors on Fridays. Visiting hours are 8am to noon, 2pm to 3.30pm and 4pm to 5pm, subject to change, and the entrance fee is RM5 for Malaysian and international visitors (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
The mosque is a popular stop. All visitors must register with the mosque's tourism management. Outside of prayer times, visitors are generally free to view the exterior, walk the lagoon walkway and, where permitted, enter the designated areas.
Dress code and etiquette
As an active place of worship, the mosque has a modest dress code that applies to all visitors:
- Cover your arms and legs. Avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and tight or revealing clothing.
- Wear the coverall provided. All visitors must wear the coverall supplied by the mosque, which rents for RM5 to RM10 (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
- Remove your shoes before entering prayer areas.
- Speak quietly and behave respectfully, especially near worshippers.
- Avoid the five daily prayer times, and remember the mosque is closed to visitors on Fridays.
Best time to visit and photography
For photography, the late afternoon is ideal. The golden-hour light warms the domes and the calmer water produces the clearest reflection of the mosque in the lagoon.
The mosque is also striking at night, when the building is lit and the illuminated domes stand out against the dark sky and water. Many visitors photograph it from the lagoon walkway, where photography is permitted.
If your main goal is the classic floating reflection shot, aim for a calm, clear evening and position yourself along the water's edge so the lagoon fills the foreground.