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Voykit pocket guide · Malaysia
Tawau
Spend 2 days in Tawau: one day for town sights and market, a second for a day‑trip to nearby dive islands (Semporna, Sipadan).
Tawau is Sabah’s third‑largest town, a gateway to diving sites and the Indonesian border. Its compact centre and cheap transport let you see the market, waterfront and jungle park in a day, then catch a ferry for a dive day. One night is enough if you only want the town; add a second night for the dive trip.
- Country
- Malaysia
- Best months
- Mar–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (heavy rain)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MYR
- Money
- Malaysian ringgit (MYR, RM); cards and e-wallets are widely used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Daily spend
- Budget RM70–RM120 excl. bed · Mid RM120–RM200 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and Unifi sell tourist SIMs at KLIA with passport registration.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Fire 994 · Ambulance 999
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · UK three-pin; hotels often have universal sockets.
- Tipping
- Hawker stalls: Nothing.; Restaurants: Nothing if 10% service charge is added; otherwise round up.; Grab / taxi: Round up.; Guides: RM20–50 a day.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people filter or boil; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Western and squat toilets side by side; water hose instead of paper; some public toilets cost RM0.20–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Airport taxi | RM45 |
| Town bus fare | RM2 |
| Ferry Nunukan | RM130 |
| Grab ride (short) | RM5–RM7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TWU · Tawau International Airport
- Flights from Kuala Lumpur (2 h 45 min), Kota Kinabalu (45 min) and Sandakan (40 min).
Typical fares
- Airport → town (taxi)
- RM45, ~30 min
- Bus town centre
- RM2 per ride
- Ferry to Nunukan
- RM130, 1 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Grab or local taxis (RM5–RM7 town trips). Bus routes within town cost RM2; airport taxi costs RM45. Ferry to Nunukan departs twice daily, RM130 one‑way.
See and do
Known for
- Diving from Semporna and Sipadan
- Tawau Bazaar market
- Tawau Hill Park jungle trekking
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Semporna (dive base) | Bus from Tawau station, ~2 h, then local boat | ≈3 h total |
| Nunukan (Indonesia) ferry | Ferry from Tawau port, 1 h | ≈1 h 30 min including check‑in |
Sleep
- Hotel Emas Tawau
- Budget option, central, basic amenities.
- Kingston Executive Hotel
- Mid‑range, double rooms ~RM77, Wi‑Fi limited.
- King Park Hotel Tawau
- Renovated 3‑star, RM98–RM388, free breakfast.
- Belmont Marco Polo Hotel
- Large rooms, central, cheap rates.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | Berapa harga?berapa harga |
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
| Where is the bus stop? | Di mana perhentian bas?di mana perhentian bas |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake or hand on heart; wait for women to offer a hand; avoid: Firm grips, hugging
- Pointing: Use the thumb with fingers folded; avoid: Index finger pointing
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Walking in with shoes
- Mosques: Covered clothes, headscarf for women; avoid: Entering during prayers
- Public affection: Keep it low-key; avoid: Kissing in public
Scams and watch-outs
- Airport ATMs often out of service after hours – carry cash.
- Ferry tickets close half an hour before departure.
- Internet in many hotels is spotty; plan offline maps.
Tawau is generally safe for tourists; keep valuables secure, especially on night markets, and be aware of occasional petty theft.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tawau yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Diving from Semporna and Sipadan
- Tawau Bazaar market
- Tawau Hill Park jungle trekking
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata Tawau: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Tawau, revision 5243812 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243812
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tawau). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.