Borneo Cultures Museum
Muzium Budaya Borneo
Opened in 2022, this is Malaysia's largest museum. Its five floors systematically present Borneo's nature, Dayak cultures and Sarawak's history.
The Borneo Cultures Museum officially opened in 2022 and is the largest museum in Malaysia. Its façade is inspired by the rattan weaving patterns of the Orang Ulu. The museum has five floors. The ground floor has temporary exhibitions and a children's gallery. The second floor's permanent exhibition introduces Sarawak's rainforests, caves and river ecosystems. The third floor focuses on the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and other ethnic groups, covering longhouse life, beaded costumes, wood carving, headhunting culture and music, including the sape lute. The fourth floor traces history from the Neolithic Niah Cave people through the Brooke dynasty to the formation of Malaysia. The fifth floor explores Borneo's exchanges with the wider world.
Across the road, the old Sarawak Museum (built in 1891, Borneo's oldest museum) has been restored and reopened, so the two can be visited together.
Admission: about RM 30 for foreign adults (lower for locals with a MyKad). Please check the official website for current prices.
Getting there: the museum is near Independence Square in the city center, about 10 minutes' walk from the riverfront. Allow 2–3 hours. It is the best 'preview' before visiting the longhouses and cultural villages.
Opening hours
09:00–16:45 (closed Mon; check website)
Nearby sights
- Kuching City Mosque
- Sarawak Textile Museum
- Carpenter Street & India Street
- Kuching Waterfront
- New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building
- Fort Margherita
- Top Spot Food Court
- Satok Weekend Market