Gaya street market kota kinabalu

Street market in Malaysian Borneo

I love visiting local street markets on my travels and the Gaya Avenue Market on Sundays is the foremost known and most popular market in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the Sabah province in Malaysian Borneo.

Colourful umbrellas shade a multitude of stalls selling fresh produce, crafts and more. The most popular stalls include an elderly man writing people’s names in exquisite calligraphy and the fresh coffee sellers, each with a little generator running a grinder and bagging up the fragrant coffee on the spot.

My daughter loved the hair clips, the imitation Hello Kitty bags and the animals. At first I was hesitant, thinking these may be sold for diet as you view often elsewhere in Asia. But no, the fluffy bunnies, kittens, puppies, birds and fish are all at pop-up pet stalls.

Against the side of the street a line of blind people sits, providing massages on low stools. The air is bright in Kota Kinabalu, the sky blue all morning, the sea glitters and the enclosing jungle is emerald green. I just wish the masseuses could see it.

Here are a limited of my favourite photographs of the Sunday Gaya Road Market in Kota Kinabalu:

Happy travel d

Kota Kinabalu: Gaya Street Weekend Market

Highlights:

Explore vibrant Gaya Street Market with your local guide
Taste traditional snacks

Explore the vibrant atmosphere of Gaya Street Weekend Market, nestled in the heart of the capital centre, on this walking tour. Every weekend, farmers and vendors from various tribes and regions of Sabah come together to showcase and sell an array of local goods and delicacies. The entire Gaya Street is closed to traffic so visitors and locals alike can stride freely and enjoy everything the market has to offer.

During our tour we have the chance to indulge in some of the region's signature snacks, including the flavourful Rojak (local fruit salad) and crispy fried carrot cake, as well as exploring its diverse offerings, from arts and crafts, batik sarongs, footwear, fruits and flowers, antiques and souvenirs. After exploring the market, we conclude our culinary journey at a traditional Chinese restaurant, savouring a local meal before returning to our hotel.

What's Included:

English speaking guide
Food sampling

Please note: All Freedom Day descriptions represent a typical itinerary and may not operate exactly as described. Loc

Gaya Street

Visit Malaysia in April for a Tropical Adventure Without the Hassle

Take a spontaneous trip to Malaysia during the Qingming holiday! In six days, we'll take you to travel the beautiful sunset and seascape, and experience the romance of the sea and sky. Don't leave out to check out the super cool Petronas Twin Towers and leave your travel memories. Come and get this guide to start a wonderful journey! / Malaysia has a rich history and picturesque scenery 🌴. From the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur to the beaches of Langkawi 🏖️, there are sights everywhere. The local customs are unique, everyone is a boss, warm and hospitable, and the food is spicy and extraordinary, making it worth a visit! / 🎈Itinerary: Day 1: ✈️Arrive in Sabah and start a worry-free independent tour! After arranging your accommodation, you can adore free time in Sabah and experience the one-of-a-kind charm of this municipality. Day 2: Kawa Mangrove Forest Adventure -> Tanjung Aru Beach to savor the sunset In the morning, go to Kawa Mangrove Forest to scout the mysteries of world. In the evening, arrive to Tanjung Aru Beach to enjoy the attractive sunset and seascape, and experience the magnifi

Gaya Street – The Sensational Weekend Street

Suppose you are planning a trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. There is a good possibility that locals would urge you to allocate some time in Gaya Street, more specifically during the Gaya Sunday Market, which takes place, as the label suggests, every Sunday, along Gaya Street.

The weekly hype happening on this road actually begins on Friday evening. Api-Api Night Food Market is a sustenance fair happening every Friday and Saturday night. The late hours market was inaugurated in December 2018 but reopened in 2020 after the COVID pandemic improved. By 6 pm on Friday, vehicle owners will launch to vacate the parking bays along the street and the pitter-patter of vendors can be heard as they start to put up their tent. The entire Gaya Street will be closed for the Api-Api Night Diet Market from 6 pm to 12 midnight. enabling visitors to walk freely along the route and enjoy the food siesta.

Whiff the smell of aromatic satay being grilled, murtabak, wok hei char kuey teow, otak-otak, oyster omelette, fried chicken, local kuih-muih, fruit juice, and so much more. It’s a food display galore from one terminate to another showcasing multiracial v