Borneo Cultures Museum

About this place

The largest museum in Malaysia and the second largest in Southeast Asia, opened in March 2022 a few steps from the waterfront at a cost of more than three hundred million ringgit. Its architecture draws on the motifs of Sarawak's traditional crafts, and its galleries spread over several floors to tell the story of Borneo's peoples and cultures. The galleries are arranged by theme: the rivers and life along them, living in harmony with nature, changes through time from prehistory to today, and treasures of old crafts and trade. The displays are modern and interactive, with screens and models, alongside many original objects from the heritage of Sarawak and Borneo. Entry for non-Malaysians is about fifty ringgit per adult, twenty-five for students aged 13 to 17 and for seniors, and twenty for children up to 12. It opens Monday to Friday 09:00-16:45 and on weekends and holidays 09:30-16:30, with last entry at four, and closes on some public holidays. Allow two hours at least, ideally in the morning; the museum is air-conditioned and a comfortable refuge from the midday heat. It is close to the Islamic Heritage Museum and the old City Mosque, so the three make one outing.