Kota Bharu: Travel Guide
Kota Bharu is known as a transit city to Perhentian Islands or Thailand. In case you get stuck in the city for a few hours or overnight, read our travel guide on how to spend a day there, what to expect, the best things to do in Kota Bharu, how to get, and where to stay.
Kota Bharu is not the typical tourist destination. Not at all.
You might even ask yourself, where is Kota Bharu as you've most likely never heard of it, and why would you even want to go there?
But once you start preparing for your Malaysia trip, and once you start working on your perfect itinerary, the name of this city will certainly come up.
Kota Bharu lies in the northeast tip of Peninsular Malaysia in the Kelantan state near borders with Thailand, and most importantly, it's a transit city from where travelers can get to the top Malaysian destination.
Kota Bharu is a place where foreign tourists wait for the next bus on the way to Perhentian Islands or for a bus which will take them to borders with Thailand. In our case, it was a little bit different, as we arrived in Kota Bharu after we had visited Perhentians, and the city happened to be for us a waiting spot for the bus to Tioman Island.
The truth to be told, foreign tourists don't perceive Kota Bharu as a city with top attractions and as a place where they should spend more time than necessary.
Honestly, we didn't have a reason as well to spend a night in Kota Bharu, but as we had decided to take the overnight bus to Mersing, we had almost all day to go on a small adventure, explore the city from a slightly different perspective, and get the feel of a place which is not on the top pages of guide books.
And we found something not very surprising, Kota Bharu is not ready for tourism yet.
Which is a shame, because believe it or not, the capital city of Kelantan state played a major role in Malay history and culture, and even now is quite different from other states, due to conservative Islamic politics and has a strong cultural identity.
You can't see the difference immediately when you step off the bus, but you can sense it somehow when you stroll around the busy streets.
More than nine people out of ten in the city are Muslims, and the Islamic laws are quite strict here.
Now we get that this is one of that information that you might brush off and forget, but listen to this, you can get a fine for wearing leggings, or miniskirts in Kota Bharu.
Supermarkets may have separate counters for males and females, and the state government even attempted to introduce punishments such as flogging or stoning, so Kota Bharu has a different character than the rest of Malaysia.
That news is worse when you read about it, but it is not that bad for a regular tourist who comes and goes the next day. At the end of the day, we walked around the city, saw the main sights, and everything went well.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN KOTA BHARU
In general, transit cities are not very appealing for tourists, and Kota Bharu is no exception. There is not much to do in Kota Bharu, no must-see sights and activities you could not live without.
But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Kota Bharu allows you to see the city from a more authentic point of view, which is sometimes rare to find in the world fighting with over-tourism.
It's just you have to look a bit harder than usual, and you have to entertain yourself. If you can do so, you will have a good time.
We can imagine, that someone likes more authentic cities with their unique atmosphere, and this is exactly what you will get in this city. Moreover, the food we had in Kota Bharu was great, like on Penang or in Melaka, which are some of the country's best destinations, only without the crowds.
Although Kota Bharu is a large city, the city center is quite compact, and you can easily cover it on foot. Let's have a look at the best things you can see and do in Kota Bharu before you set off for another adventure.
KOTA BHARU MARKET
Kota Bharu market is a must-visit place while in the city. Its full name is Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah, and it's one of the most diverse markets we've seen in Malaysia so far. It's a colorful 'wet' market that has this exotic appeal for western tourists, but without the usual crowds of foreigners.
Said that the market is still for locals, who do the shopping there every day, and it's one of those places where you can buy probably everything you can think of, from (Lucie's all-time favorite) dried fish (just kidding) and fresh meat to clothing or jewelry.
Though the overall cleanliness has improved in recent years, the omnipresent smell of meat and fish will fill your nostrils with unpleasant odor the second you step into the meat section.
The market is also the perfect place to try traditional Malay food. You will find many local eateries in the upper levels where you can order traditional meals and drinks.
Ask a local on the market for advice, this will help you to taste regional cuisine and discover new meals, though be prepared it might contain dried fish chips.
Nasi Kerabu is the traditional dish served with blue rice (the blue color comes from petals of Clitoria Ternatea flower), and if you don't like dried fish, the word you are looking for is 'Ikan Kering'.
It was one of the first words we learned in Malaysia, and after several bad choices, it was also a word we never failed to mention when ordering food.
The array of food on the market is impressive, and we bought a lot of exotic fresh fruit for a great price. Remember that before purchasing anything from the sellers, bargain to get a reasonable price, but be fair.
You can easily reach the market on foot from the city center, it's a ten-minute walk, so no need to take a taxi. However, if you've just arrived in Kota Bharu by bus and have only a few hours to spend, take a taxi from the bus terminal directly to the market. It's three kilometers, and the sidewalks in Malaysia are not very pedestrian-friendly.
ARCHITECTURE AND MUSEUMS
To be honest, we couldn't spot the difference in the architectural styles of the buildings in Kota Bharu from the rest of Malaysian cities, and the museums were somewhat disappointing.
It's not like they're bad, but they're rather small, and you have to be a history nerd to enjoy them. The Istana Jahar is the best museum in the town and a former royal residence. It's interesting little peek into the life of a royal family and Kelantan history over two centuries ago. The entrance fee is nominal.
If you like traditional art and craft, visit Handicraft Village and Craft Museum, where you can buy souvenirs.
There are a couple of smaller museums, but they are nothing to write home about.
BEST HOTELS IN KOTA BHARU
Kota Bharu is a city where you will probably spend only one night.
Nevertheless, even for one night, it is better to sleep in something decent and clean.
When booking a room, always consider your plans. Do you need to catch a bus early in the morning? It might be a good idea to stay in a hotel close to a bus terminal. Have you just landed at the airport from Kuala Lumpur, and are you carry on to Perhentian Islands? There is a possibility you don't have to go to the city center at all. All these things are better to sort out before you book a room.
Most of the hotels have a central location, but you will also find a few hotels near Kota Bharu airport, which is about 10 kilometers out of the city.
We've selected three best hotels in Kota Bharu, two of them are directly in the city center. On top of that, we added one more hotel near the airport in case this option is more convenient for you.
Budget | Aam Hotel - A nice simple hotel with basic rooms that are perfect for all budget travelers is a great pick. The hotel offers a calm and quiet location, clean rooms, helpful staff, and most importantly, it is cheap. If you want to save some money on accommodation, this is a place to go.
Mid-range | Hotel Perdana Kota Bharu - Centrally located Hotel Perdana Kota Bharu is an excellent value for money. The staff is friendly and attentive, the rooms are spacious, clean, and the bed is comfy.
Luxury | The Grand Renai - Kota Bharu doesn't have many luxury hotels, but the Gran Reani hotel is a good choice despite the limited selection of hotels in this price range. Rooms are cozy and clean, many restaurants and shops are within walking distance, and the buffet breakfast is excellent.
Airport | The Sofea Inn Transit Room Airport Kota Bharu - This hotel with a very convenient location sits only a few hundred meters from the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. It's a perfect choice for everyone who is waiting for the next flight and doesn't want to travel to Kota Bharu city center. The hotel is pretty, airport transfer is in the price, and owners can arrange transport to Kuala Besut jetty as well.
HOW TO GET TO KOTA BHARU
When arriving at Kota Bharu from Kuala Lumpur, you have two options. Take a bus or catch a plane.
The bus ride is approximately nine hours long, and the flight takes about an hour. Flight tickets are fairly cheap, and make an affordable alternative for travelers pressed for time.
Flying is a great way to reach Kota Bharu in no time, especially if you are on your vacation or a strict schedule. There are currently a few flight operators such as AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines or Firefly operating on this route.
Make sure to check which airport they depart from, as some companies use domestic airports and not the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
From Penang or Butterworth, several direct buses depart daily, and the journey to Kota Bharu takes approximately 7 hours.
And here's the way how we got to Kota Bharu city.
We started our journey to Perhentian Islands in Taman Negara National Park, so we took the 'jungle train' from Jerantut to Wakaf Bharu, and got off at Wakaf Bharu station (no need to go all the way to Kota Bharu), and then reached Kuala Besut, which is a place from where it is possible to take the speed boat to Perhentian Islands.
We spent a few nights on Perhentians and then returned to Khota Bharu, where we had all day for exploring the city, and in the evening, we took a bus to Mersing.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO GO NEXT
As we’ve mentioned before, Kota Bharu is an important transit hub, where travelers arrive with a vision of beautiful islands, sandy beaches, and blue sea.
Kota Bharu is a gateway to Perhentian Islands, but if you want to get to islands, you need to split the journey into two parts.
First, you need to actually get to Kota Bharu, and then take a bus or taxi to Kuala Besut, from where the ferry leaves.
It's also better to start your trip early in the morning, so you can catch a speed boat before noon. Buses leave the main bus station in Kota Bharu frequently to Kuala Besut.
Taxi is another option on how to get to the jetty as it's faster, though more expensive. Taxi drivers know the way, just say Perhentian Islands or Kuala Besut Jetty.
You can find all the tickets and bus schedules here, and it is also possible to book them in advance.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can visit Sungai Kolok, a Thai border town, to get a new stamp in your passport and try some delicious Thai food.
For serious traveling, it's better to cross borders from the west coast of Malaysia, like Langkawi or Georgetown.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
