slothis · English

Sabah State Mosque: Kota Kinabalu's Gold Mosque

2017-10-28 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Sure enough, the "what should I do now" game began again today. I highly discourage coming alone if your trip is just about visiting downtown Kota Kinabalu and the nearby islands. Especially if you're a guy traveling solo, there's a 100% chance you'll meet your alter ego. Chatting with some European guys at the guesthouse, it seems a few of them head out to the far ends of the islands for activities. Personally, I love that kind of travel, but right now I'm on the fence about going. I don't know if there will be a next time, but if there is, I wouldn't even think about anywhere else—I'd want to go to Mount Kinabalu. That seems like a great place whether you're alone or with a group. Of course, given the massive cost, I probably couldn't go with ladies in their 60s (like my mom) or older gentlemen.

Anyway, after debating what to do today, my conclusion was "mosque sightseeing." I personally love looking at architecture, especially religious buildings. It's not because I have a huge interest in architecture, am deeply religious, or have a lot of related knowledge. It's simply because when traveling, they stand out the most, give off the strongest foreign vibe, and are the cheapest to visit. I've seen cathedrals in Europe and Russia, though the religions are obviously different, shrines in Japan, and temples in Korea, but I had never seen an Islamic mosque. I've only ever seen the mosque in Itaewon (in Seoul) from a distance and never actually went inside. So I was full of curiosity, and since Malaysia is an Islamic country and I had nothing else to do, it turned out to be the perfect day to check one out.

Old stilt houses built on water with modern high-rise buildings visible behind them
A very contrasting view of Kota Kinabalu seen while walking to the mosque.
A long wooden boardwalk stretching between stilt houses built on water
Red blossoms blooming among leafy green branches

There are three main Islamic mosques in Kota Kinabalu. Based on their colors, they are called the "Gold Mosque," the "Pink Mosque," and the "Blue Mosque." The most famous of these is the Blue Mosque, officially the Sabah City Mosque. It's also known as the "Floating Mosque" because it looks like it's floating on the water.

Regardless of their importance, my own legs are what matter most to me, so I started my tour with the closest one to my accommodation: the Sabah State Mosque, also known as the Gold Mosque.

A gray mosque building with a round dome featuring golden patterns and several smaller golden domes
The ornate dome of a mosque towering against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds
A large mosque dome with golden zigzag patterns on a gray background and a small golden dome in front of it
The entrance area of a mosque building with an ornate dome and a tall minaret
I was too lazy to edit these, so the photos all look a bit weird.
The exterior of the Sabah State Mosque featuring a golden dome with geometric patterns and a minaret
Golden round roofs and a towering multi-tiered mosque minaret
An English and Malay sign indicating the location of the men's washroom and toilets
The passages for men and women are separated. I had heard about this, but seeing it in person felt a bit strange.
If you look at the building, there's a tall tower used for reciting the Quran to spread it far and wide. The sound in the video above is the Quran, and it flows out endlessly. I heard Catholic churches also used to recite prayers at set times, but apparently stopped worldwide due to noise complaints. It's interesting how similar religious cultures have evolved differently over time.

Once I arrived, the sense of unfamiliarity was definitely stronger compared to other religions. Unlike other religious buildings where you can just walk right in, I saw shower facilities and felt some wary glances. I had read up on the dress code before coming, so I was fine wearing the long pants I bought at the Sunday Market. However, I had no idea if I could wear slippers or what to do with my hat. When in doubt, the best thing is to just go in. I figured they wouldn't yell at me since I'm just a tourist anyway. Once I actually stepped inside, people were incredibly kind, using hand gestures, eye contact, and body language to explain things. They showed me where to wash my feet and pointed out where the prayer area was. I guess I had unconsciously tensed up because Islam is the religion most talked about these days.

A man washing his hands while standing in front of a tiled washbasin
Right as you enter, there's a place to wash your hands and feet. I was standing there blankly until a man in a checkered shirt gestured to show me what to do.
The back of a person walking down a covered corridor lined with blue pillars
Entering right behind the man.
A massive concrete pillar with vertical stripes rising high beneath a glass ceiling
A water feature inside the mosque with spherical decorations set in a shallow pool
Wide marble stairs and railings leading to the upper floor
The prayer area is on the second floor.

Unfortunately, there were no mosque pamphlets or maps, but someone who looked like a mosque guard explained in very short English which way to go. He specifically pointed out that the decorations surrounding the mosque's dome were made by an Italian architect and are highly valuable. In European cathedrals, the guards usually just stand watch and don't explain anything, but here they even guide the tourists. The man was so friendly that he even told me his name, though I've forgotten it now.

People praying beneath a wall decorated with Arabic script
A massive circular chandelier hanging from the center of the mosque ceiling
The interior ceiling of a massive mosque dome decorated with Arabic calligraphy and geometric patterns
The interior of a round mosque ceiling decorated with geometric patterns and Arabic calligraphy
Detailed patterns on the mosque ceiling decorated with gold and turquoise lines
While cathedrals have paintings of Jesus, here the Quran is written out.
Mosque window decorations consisting of star-shaped geometric patterns
The work by the Italian artist that the guard proudly mentioned.
The interior view. I filmed this right as he was telling me it was made by an Italian artist. I tried to minimize the shaking, but it still trembles a lot.

If you're on a trip where you just relax at a Kota Kinabalu resort the whole time, you probably won't have any reason to come here. But if you're staying at a guesthouse or hotel, you'll likely have some free time and inevitably end up visiting a mosque. Most people head to the Blue Mosque, but if you want to slowly and quietly look around the interior, I highly recommend the Gold Mosque. Out of the three mosques, the pattern inside its dome is the prettiest, and since it's a place frequented by local residents, it has the cozy feel of a neighborhood church or cathedral.

The exterior of a mosque with a gold and gray patterned dome and flags under a blue sky
The Sabah state flag, mosque dome, and minaret seen beyond green plants
A black marble sign reading Masjid Negeri Sabah

Expenses (conservatively calculate by multiplying by 300 to get the amount in KRW)

Daily expenses: RM 330.42

Total trip expenses: 2,875,000 KRW + RM 1050.83