Sabah · Malaysia
Sandakan travel guide
Sandakan is a city in Sabah, Malaysia, home to about 396,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- SDK9 km · Sandakan Airport
- Currency
- MYRMalaysian ringgit
- Time zone
- Asia/Kuala Lumpur
- Language
- Malay
About
About Sandakan
Sandakan formerly known at various times as Elopura, is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu.
Sandakan was the capital of British North Borneo until 1946. The town prospered in the early days due to its port with visiting traders from around the world. Sandakan is an important town to Australian and British World War II history with the infamous Death Marches commencing here in 1945 and ending in Ranau. After the war, the capital was moved to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu). "Sandakan" is derived from the Suluk word "sanda", meaning to pawn, and "kan" being the suffix. So "Sandakan" means the place that was pawned. Who pawned it, and to whom, remains a mystery.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Sandakan
See
- Sandakan Memorial Park
- Puu Jih Syh
- St Michael and All Angels Cathedral
- Buli Sim Sim
- Agnes Keith House and Museum
- Gomantong Caves
- Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre
Do
- Cruise on the Kinabatangan River
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Sandakan
Sandakan has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; December is the wettest, with about 456 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Sandakan: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sandakan Airport (SDK), about 9.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Lahad Datu Airport (LDU, 93 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Daily direct connections with Kuala Lumpur (by AirAsia) and to Kota Kinabalu (by Malaysia Airlines and its subsidiary MASWings). MASWings also has connecting flights with Kudat, Lahad Datu, and Tawau.
Getting around
The city center area, near the jetty, is walkable. Otherwise, the city broadly sprawls out to the west and north up to the airport, and is best to rent a car or use Grab taxis. Travel by taxi out to places such as Sepilok or the War Memorial is easy, however fare negotiation will be required as meters are not commonly available. Taxi to Sepilok wait and return RM 40. Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary RM 180. Airport from downtown RM 28. [Feb 2010] Taxi to Sepilok and Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary wait and return RM 160.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
SDK · Sandakan Airport
LDU · Lahad Datu Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Sandakan
Stay safe
Turtle eggs, while illegal, are obtainable at the local wet market at a very cheap rate. Do not get caught with turtle eggs in your luggage as police and customs officials will take a very serious view of this and will press criminal charges. Due to the ongoing kidnapping threats and actions posed by pirates from the southern Philippines, there is a large military/police presence in Eastern Sabah coastal waters and a night time curfew on all vessels.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Sandakan: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Sandakan?
Sandakan has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; December is the wettest, with about 456 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Sandakan?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sandakan Airport (SDK), about 9.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Lahad Datu Airport (LDU, 93 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Sandakan?
Malaysian ringgit (MYR).
Nearby
Destinations near Sandakan
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.