City or town
Things to see in Kota Bharu (Malaysia): 23 places and when to go
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia with around 506,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 23 places in and around it, mainly Temples (12), Architecture (6), Museums and art (3). The best known are Kampung Laut Mosque, Sultan Ismail Petra Mosque and Kelantan Islamic Museum. The best time to come is February to April and June to August; also possible: January, May and September to October. There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Here is what there is, when to go, how to get there and what else is nearby.
In a nutshell
- Where
- Malaysia · 6.12, 102.23
- Population
- About 506,000
- Places
- 23 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Temples (12) · Architecture (6) · Museums and art (3) · History (2) · Food and drink (1)
- Best time
- February to April and June to August.
- Also possible
- January, May and September to October.
- Nearest airport
- PEN Penang, 235 km as the crow flies
What to see in Kota Bharu
The places in and around Kota Bharu, best known first, each with its own page: what it is, when to go and what is next to it. Distances are from the centre, as the crow flies.
- Kampung Laut MosqueMosque in Kelantan, Malaysia10 km
- Sultan Ismail Petra MosqueMosque in Malaysia30 km
- Kelantan Islamic MuseumMuseum in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia1.5 km
- Istana JaharRoyal residence in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia1.5 km
- Kelantan MuseumMuseum in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia1.1 km
- Bukit Bunga–Ban Buketa BridgeBridge49 km
- Istana Batu Royal MuseumMuseum in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia1.6 km
- Rantau Panjang–Sungai Golok BridgeBetween Malaysia and Thailand30 km
- Guillemard BridgeBridge in Gua Musang-Tumpat railway line41 km
- Siti Khadijah MarketMarket in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia1.5 km
- Sultan Yahya Petra BridgeBridge in Malaysia427 m
- Wat MachimmaramBuddhist temple in Malaysia15 km
- Ismaili Bandar Tumpat MosqueMosque in Malaysia11 km
- Masjid Mukim Alor BakatTemples20 km
- Masjid Mukim Batu TinggiTemples22 km
- Masjid Mukim Beting PauhTemples17 km
- Masjid Mukim PanjiTemples7.5 km
- Masjid Mukim Temu RanggasTemples14 km
- Sultan Ismail Petra BridgeBridge in Malaysia7.3 km
- Tumpat LighthouseA disused but historical lighthouse in Tumpat11 km
- Wat Kok Seraya WanaramBuddhist temple in Malaysia8.7 km
- Wat PikulthongBuddhist temple in Malaysia9.9 km
- Masjid Pasir PutehMosque in Malaysia37 km
When to go to Kota Bharu
The best time to visit Kota Bharu is February to April and June to August; also possible: January, May and September to October. This comes from its own places: a month counts as the town's best time when it is the best time for half of what there is to see.
- JanPossible11:41
- FebBest time11:48
- MarBest time11:58
- AprBest time12:08
- MayPossible12:17
- JunBest time12:21
- JulBest time12:19
- AugBest time12:12
- SepPossible12:02
- OctPossible11:52
- NovBetter not11:43
- DecBetter not11:39
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. In February, 23 of the 23 places are at their best.
When to go to Malaysia in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in its country guide.
Getting to Kota Bharu
The nearest main airport is Penang International Airport (PEN, Penang), 235 km as the crow flies. How to get around Malaysia (train, car, bus) is in its country guide, and what to sort out before you leave is in its checklist.
Where it is (opens in a new tab)Directions (opens in a new tab)
Other towns nearby
- Pulau Perhentian Kecil20 places59 km
- Kuala Terengganu25 places132 km
- Sungai Petani5 places201 km
- Cameron Highlands10 places203 km
- Alor Setar9 places206 km
- Kuala Kangsar7 places207 km
And all of Malaysia, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Kota Bharu?
The best known: Kampung Laut Mosque, Sultan Ismail Petra Mosque, Kelantan Islamic Museum, Istana Jahar, Kelantan Museum. In all, 23 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Kota Bharu?
February to April and June to August; also possible: January, May and September to October. There are about 12 h 21 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Kota Bharu?
The nearest main airport is Penang International Airport (PEN), 235 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Kota Bharu as the destination and these 23 places are on your map, each with its category. The ones you like go into a day's plan with one tap, and Kokai reminds you when you pass nearby.
Keep reading
- MalaysiaBefore travelling to Malaysia: 9 things worth sorting out, each with its deadline. No visa is needed for tourism stays of up to 90 days, but you do have to complete the…
- Temples201 places for temples in Malaysia, from National Mosque of Malaysia to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: February to April and June to August. Each with its own se
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, cities from Natural Earth and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in credits.