City or town
Things to see in Tawau (Malaysia): 13 places and when to go
Tawau is a city in Malaysia with around 306,000 inhabitants, and this site lists 13 places in and around it, mainly Nature (9), Mountains (7), Wildlife (1). The best known are Mount Bombalai, Mount Magdalena and Mount Maria. 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 15 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 · 4.271, 117.896
- Population
- About 306,000
- Places
- 13 places on this site, in the town and around it.
- What people come for
- Nature (9) · Mountains (7) · Wildlife (1) · History (1) · Architecture (1) · Temples (1)
- Best time
- February to April and June to August.
- Also possible
- January, May and September to October.
- Nearest airport
- BKI Kota Kinabalu, 276 km as the crow flies
- Highest point
- Mount Magdalena, at 1,311 m.
What to see in Tawau
The places in and around Tawau, 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.
- Mount BombalaiMountain in Malaysia13 km
- Mount MagdalenaMountina in Sabah, Malaysia25 km
- Mount MariaMountain in Sabah, Malaysia19 km
- Tawau Hills National ParkNatural park in Tawau, Sabah20 km
- Mount LuciaVolcanic cone in Malaysia23 km
- Tawau Bell TowerTower in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia3.3 km
- Batu Tinagat LighthouseLighthouse in Malaysia11 km
- Fo Guang Shan Temple, TawauBuddhist temple in Tawau, Malaysia2.4 km
- Middle HillHill in Malaysia3.5 km
- Mount AndrassyHill in Malaysia11 km
- Mount PyramidMountain in Sabah, Malaysia29 km
- Muul HillHill in Malaysia25 km
- Swirl PatchReef10 km
When to go to Tawau
The best time to visit Tawau 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.
- JanPossible11:47
- FebBest time11:52
- MarBest time11:58
- AprBest time12:06
- MayPossible12:12
- JunBest time12:15
- JulBest time12:13
- AugBest time12:08
- SepPossible12:01
- OctPossible11:54
- NovBetter not11:48
- DecBetter not11:45
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 15 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. In February, 13 of the 13 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 Tawau
The nearest main airport is Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI, Kota Kinabalu), 276 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
- Sandakan12 places177 km
- Kota Kinabalu16 places275 km
- Kuching26 places895 km
- Johor Bahru43 places1,605 km
- Kuantan6 places1,619 km
- Kluang5 places1,639 km
And all of Malaysia, in its country guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Tawau?
The best known: Mount Bombalai, Mount Magdalena, Mount Maria, Tawau Hills National Park, Mount Lucia. In all, 13 places in the town and around it, all on your trip map from day one.
When is the best time to visit Tawau?
February to April and June to August; also possible: January, May and September to October. There are about 12 h 15 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
How do you get to Tawau?
The nearest main airport is Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), 276 km away. From there, directions opens the route on the map.
How do I add it to my trip?
Create a trip with Tawau as the destination and these 13 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…
- Nature406 places for nature in Malaysia, from Mount Kinabalu to spots hardly anyone knows. Best time: February to April and June to August. Each with its own season by altitu
- 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.