Set upriver from the swamp-ridden coastline, Kuching will almost certainly be your first port of call when you visit Sarawak. More adventurous travelling can be found beyond Sibu but the city and surroundings contain enough to occupy a couple of weeks’ systematic sightseeing.
Housing the state’s best collection of antique ceramics, brassware, ethnic artefacts and natural history exhibits, Kuching’s Sarawak Museum merits a visit. Meanwhile the city’s colonial structures merit exploration – start with the white Courthouse, the Round Tower and the 20-foot granite obelisk Charles Brooke Memorial; later pay a visit to the absurdly grand Post Office, the modern Anglican Cathedral and the Bishop’s House – the oldest structure in Kuching.
Accommodation options in Kuching are varied. Finding inexpensive accommodation is not easy as budget deals are oftentimes full, so be sure to book ahead. Mid-range lodgings are steadfast options and there are no less than a dozen in the Jalan Green Hill vicinity. At the top end of the scale, most of the pricey hotels boast dramatic views over the river as well as swimming pools and 24-hour service.
▷ The cheerful four-star Four Points is a stylish hotel with rooms that feature Wi-Fi access and the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed.
▷ Winner of a Sarawak Hornbill Tourism award in 2000, the five-star Merdeka Palace has classically cosy rooms and boasts six food and beverage outlets.
▷ The four-star Grand Margherita, Kuching's only riverfront hotel, has 288 plush guestrooms with wireless internet access and four posh restaurants.
▷ Adjacent to a five-storey shopping complex, the four-star Riverside Majestic has a pool, five F&B venues and 250 rooms with basic amenities and internet access.
▷ A four-star venture offering rooms with standard amenities (select rooms feature Wi-Fi access), Hotel Grand Continental’s facilities include an outdoor pool.
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