Located just outside of Brunei, Malaysia’s coastal city of Miri has five surrounding national parks, wildlife attractions and picturesque beaches. An upscale family-friendly city, Miri’s mixture of Asian cultures has created exclusive dining and shopping opportunities, along with enticing music and cultural events.
Things to do in Miri
Miri’s Tanjung Lobang Beach is blessed with rainbow sunsets and two wooden piers perfect for fishing. You can see the one-of-a-kind seahorse-shaped lighthouse and dine on fresh seafood at the nearby Taman Selera food centre. Hawaii Beach is about 15 minutes out of town, aptly named for its palm tree-lined golden sand and calm waters.
Families will love the Miri Crocodile Farm cum Mini Zoo, which boasts more than 1,000 crocodiles (including babies!) as well as sun bears, porcupines, monkeys and pythons. More family fun awaits at Miri Public Park, which has a playground and botanic garden, while Miri City Fan has themed gardens, a swimming pool and an amphitheatre that hosts concerts.
Miri is no stranger to live music, with three festivals highlighting the calendar each year. Borneo Jazz Festival, Asia Music Festival and Miri Country Music Fest celebrate various music genres across multiple days, featuring dance workshops, live bands and games. The Miri May Fest is a month-long cultural celebration with trade fairs, arts, sports, food stalls and parties.
Visiting Miri is a great place to explore Malaysia’s stunning national parks. Gunung Mulu National Park is known for its limestone karsts and hornbills, Lambir Hills National Park features cascading waterfalls and excellent bird watching, and Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park is favoured by divers for its vibrant corals and fish.
Getting around Miri
There are three local bus companies in Miri running during the day. Most of the accommodation in Miri will organise private transport for longer trips, or you can take a taxi.