Handicraft Shop, Kota Kinabalu

The handicraft market is a favorite shopping haunt for locals and tourists alike. You will be spoilt for choice with miles and miles of beautiful trinkets, sarongs and souvenirs. The market also has a wide variety of carved crafts, including exotic wooden masks, picture frames and stunning wall panels.

Tamparuli Tamu

Like most tamu (local market), this is the best place to watch the local folks mingle as they do business. Fresh produce is often on display, as well as a variety of unique delicacies such as bambangan (a sour mango-like fruit preserved in jars and often served to complement main meals) and rice wine, known as tapai or lihing. You can find just about anything here, from clothing to livestock - so it's sure to be a shopping experience like no other! It is held every Wednesday from 6am to 2pm.

Gaya Street Sunday Market

Every Sunday morning, the whole stretch of Gaya Street is closed off to traffic to make way for the street fair. A must visit market while in KK, you will be fascinated by the various items and goods sold at this fair. From arts and crafts, batik sarongs, footwear, fruits and flowers, local snacks and cakes, antiques and souvenirs, to even pets and herbs, this is the best place to experience the culture and lifestyle of the locals. The street fair starts as early as 6am and ends at 1pm.