Sarawak · Malaysia
Where to stay in Sibu
Sibu is a city in Sarawak, Malaysia, home to about 248,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- SBW19 km · Sibu Airport
- Currency
- MYRMalaysian ringgit
- Time zone
- Asia/Kuala Lumpur
- Language
- Malay
About
About Sibu
Sibu () is a city located in the central region of Sarawak, Malaysia. It serves as the capital of Sibu District within Sibu Division and is situated on the island of Borneo.
Garden City to be, this is a quiet town along Rejang River. Sibu is one of the three towns in Malaysia which consists of a predominantly Foochow-Chinese population (Yong Peng in Johor and Sitiawan in Perak are the others). Sibu is not only famous for food (such as Kompia, Kampua and the like), but also boasts of being the hometown of a national patriot called Rosli Dhoby. The town symbol is the Swan. Sibu has been called the 'Wild West' of Malaysia because of its 'lawlessness' and the frequent triad activities in Sibu.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Sibu
See
- Tua Pek Kong Temple
- Sibu Town Square
- Lau King Howe Hospital Memorial Museum
- Sibu Central Market
- Bukit Aup Jubilee Park
- Sibu Lake Park
- Sungai Merah Heritage Walk
- Sibu Heritage Center
- Yu Long Shang Tian En Shi
- Tan Hua Hu Temple
- Poh Guan Hong
- Bukit Lima Nature Reserve
Do
Visit the local Sibu Central Market. Local products can be found extensively such as local black olives called dabai, other exotic fruits and vegetables as well as some handicraft. Do not miss out on the action in Sibu Night Market in the evening till midnight every day. You can get anything here. From delicious Chinese food, Malay delicacies and bargain for attire. It is said that the night market in Sibu is the liveliest in Sarawak.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Sibu
32 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| De House Hotel | 1.2 km | |
| Kawan Hotel | 2.6 km | |
| Kingwood Hotel Sibu | 2.5 km | |
| Ming Kiong Hotel | 24.8 km | |
| OYO 1173 Mandyrin Hotel OYO Rooms | 1.8 km | |
| OYO 44054 Holiday Mansion Inn OYO Rooms | 1.6 km | |
| OYO 89578 Dung Fang Hotel No. 1 Sibu OYO Rooms | 2.3 km | |
| OYO 89840 69 Room 4 Stay OYO Rooms | 6.3 km | |
| OYO 89855 Salim Room OYO Rooms | 6.4 km | |
| OYO 89885 Nice Stay Three Six Five Services OYO Rooms | 1.7 km | |
| OYO 90055 Mansion Inn OYO Rooms | 1.4 km | |
| OYO 90094 Hi Inn 3 OYO Rooms | 8.7 km | |
| OYO 90105 Towermas Hotel OYO Rooms | 0.7 km | |
| OYO 90251 Hotel Malaysia OYO Rooms | 1.5 km | |
| OYO 90310 E Homestay Permai Timur OYO Rooms | 4.1 km | |
| OYO Home 90186 Tiong's Homestay - Gated Community Sibu OYO Rooms | 6.9 km | |
| OYO Home 90187 Hello Kitty Homestay - Gated Sibu OYO Rooms | 6.9 km | |
| OYO Home 90189 Sibu Wedding Homestay2u OYO Rooms | 3.8 km | |
| OYO HOME 90241 Villa Home Sibu OYO Rooms | 2.7 km | |
| Premier Hotel, Sibu | 2.0 km | |
| RH Hotel Sibu | 1.4 km | |
| Salim Inn | 6.3 km | |
| SPOT ON 89706 To-day Hotel OYO Rooms | 1.8 km | |
| SPOT ON 89805 The Traveler Home OYO Rooms | 3.0 km | |
| SPOT ON 89818 Ban Hin Hotel OYO Rooms | 1.7 km | |
| SPOT ON 90341 Jackie Home OYO Rooms | 5.4 km | |
| SPOT ON 90390 Hostel Solution OYO Rooms | 5.0 km | |
| SPOT ON 90432 Brilliant Home OYO Rooms | 3.7 km | |
| SPOT ON 90439 Lh Home OYO Rooms | 1.6 km | |
| Tanahmas The Sibu Hotel | 2.0 km | |
| The Paramount Hotel Sibu | 1.0 km | |
| Win Hotel | 1.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Sibu
Sibu has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; January is the wettest, with about 418 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 Sibu: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sibu Airport (SBW), about 19 km from the city centre in a straight line; Mukah Airport (MKM, 69 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Tel: 6084-313384 Most taxis here are not metered. To get to destinations outside the city or on the outskirts, you can find yellow-roofed taxis near the Central Market going to specific places. The ridesharing app Grab is popular. Head over to the short-distance bus terminal, near the Central Market and express boat terminal. There is an inquiry counter there, and you may ask for directions. The buses however are non-air conditioning buses. Downtown Sibu is a very compact area, so it is easily walkable.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
SBW · Sibu Airport
MKM · Mukah Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Sibu
Drink
Do not miss to try the famous Teh C Special. It is available in most kopitiams. It is a three-layered drinks, tea, milk and flavour (available in Pandan and Gula Apong flavors).
Stay safe
Gossip is an endemic problem in Sibu. It can be difficult to escape unwanted and intrusive attention but keeping a low profile can help to reduce the extent of this problem. There are many shady characters in Sibu, whom one must avoid at all costs. Gangsterism is a problem in Sibu; most of the gangs are probably connected with some of the numerous timber barons in the town. Be on high alert while walking, especially at Sibu Central Market. The risk of being pick-pocketed is high,as there are several cases involving the customers and also shop owners being pick-pocketed. Should you have been pick-pocketed, go to the nearest Tourist Police Station, not far from the Central Market.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Sibu: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Sibu?
Sibu has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. May is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; January is the wettest, with about 418 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Sibu?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Sibu Airport (SBW), about 19 km from the city centre in a straight line; Mukah Airport (MKM, 69 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Sibu?
Malaysian ringgit (MYR).
Nearby
Destinations near Sibu
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.