White mosque with a blue patterned dome and minarets reflected in a still lagoon under a pale sky

Religious site · Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

Blue-domed mosque on a lagoon at Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu

Ambient sound · similar settingGently lapping water

Photo: Andy Wang (@andywang02021) / Unsplash

Discover Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

Set on the edge of Likas Bay a few kilometres north of the city centre, Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is one of Sabah's most recognisable buildings. White walls, four slender minarets and a patterned blue and gold dome sit beside a lagoon, so that on a calm day the whole mosque appears to float on its own reflection.

The design draws on the Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi) in Medina, and the prayer hall can hold between 9,000 and 12,000 worshippers. For Muslim travellers it is a natural place to pray while in Kota Kinabalu; for others it is a peaceful introduction to Islamic architecture and to the faith of most Sabahans. Visitors are welcome during set hours, with robes provided at the entrance, and the lagoon edge is a favourite spot for photographers at sunrise and sunset.

Don’t miss

01The patterned blue and gold main dome inspired by Medina's Prophet's Mosque
02Four white minarets reflected in the surrounding lagoon
03The main prayer hall, accommodating 9,000 to 12,000 worshippers
04Lagoon-side viewpoints popular at sunrise and sunset
05Views across Likas Bay towards the South China Sea

History & culture

The story of Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

Construction of the City Mosque began in 1989. Foundation work started in 1992, and the project paused in 1993 and 1994 for lack of funds before resuming. The mosque was officially opened on 2 February 2000.

It is the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu. Besides daily and Friday prayers, the complex serves as a centre of learning, with three madrasahs attached to the prayer hall, and it is a focal point for the city's Muslim community during Ramadan and the two Eids.

Local life & traditions

The mosque is an active place of worship first, and you will see families arriving for prayers, students heading to classes and, during Ramadan, crowds gathering at dusk to break the fast. Friday is the busiest day, and the mosque is closed to tourists then. Behave quietly, keep to permitted areas and avoid eating or drinking inside the grounds.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Visit during the published tourist hours, register at the visitor counter, and put on the coverall provided before entering. Take time to walk around the lagoon for the classic reflected views, then step inside to see the prayer hall's scale and calm. Muslim travellers can join congregational prayers; check prayer times locally.

For photographs, the soft light just after sunrise or before sunset works best. Combine a visit with a walk along the Likas Bay waterfront or a trip to the city centre markets.

When to go

The mosque can be visited all year, outside prayer times and Fridays. Early morning offers the calmest water for reflections and cooler temperatures, while late afternoon brings warm light on the white walls; short tropical showers are common in the afternoon. During Ramadan tourist hours may change, so check locally before visiting.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Tourist visiting hours: Daily 8:00 am to 12:00 noon, 2:00 to 3:30 pm and 4:00 to 5:00 pm; closed to tourists on Fridays; subject to change (as published, Oct 2026) Source: sabahtourism.com ↗
Admission (as published, Oct 2026): RM5 for Malaysian and international visitors; registration with City Mosque tourism management required Source: sabahtourism.com ↗
Dress code: Modest dress required; visitors must wear the coverall provided by the mosque before entering Source: sabahtourism.com ↗
Capacity: The prayer hall accommodates 9,000 to 12,000 people Source: sabahtourism.com ↗
Address: Jalan Pasir, Teluk Likas, 89400 Kota Kinabalu Source: sabahtourism.com ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Wear long trousers or a long skirt and covered shoulders even though robes are provided.
Remove shoes before entering the prayer hall and keep your voice low.
Avoid posing for photos in ways that could be seen as disrespectful.
Go early in the morning for the calmest reflections in the lagoon.
Taxis and ride-hailing cars are the easiest way to get there from the city centre.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Kota Kinabalu City Mosque: food, markets & places to stay

The mosque sits beside Likas Bay, where a waterfront promenade is popular for evening walks and exercise. Kota Kinabalu city centre, with its waterfront, night markets and wide choice of halal restaurants, is a short drive south. Hotels are concentrated in the city centre and along the coast.

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque & what’s nearby

All places in Malaysia →

Loading map…

Open larger map ↗

Bare granite summit plateau of Mount Kinabalu with a pointed peak and a sea of clouds beyond

National park

Ranau, Sabah · 51 km away

Kinabalu Park & Mount Kinabalu

Explore

Mount Kinabalu rising above the green hills and farmland of Kundasang, Sabah

Nature

Sabah, Malaysian Borneo · 94 km away

Sabah, Borneo

Explore

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque in pictures

Visit Kota Kinabalu City Mosque on a Malaysia holiday

All Malaysia packages →

Petronas Twin Towers lit up at night above the KLCC Lake Symphony fountains, Kuala Lumpur

NatureBeach

Malaysia · 11 nights4★ Resort

Malaysia Rainforest & Islands

Sepilok orangutans
Langkawi beaches
Kinabatangan river

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$2,138 pp

Trishaws with umbrellas parked by heritage shophouses on a tree-lined street in George Town, Penang

City breakCulture

Malaysia · 7 nights4★ Boutique

Kuala Lumpur & Penang Food Trail

Hawker food tour
George Town street art
Petronas skybridge

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$1,559 pp

Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

City Mosque — Sabah Tourism Board
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque: A serene waterfront sanctuary — New Straits Times
Kota Kinabalu City Mosque — Wikipedia

Want Kota Kinabalu City Mosque in your itinerary? Our specialists will fit it in.

Customise a Malaysia trip Ask a specialist