Why go
- Malaysian town.
- Served by Sandakan Airport (SDK).
History
Sandakan formerly known at various times as Elopura, is the capital of the Sandakan District in Sabah, Malaysia. It is the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu. It is located on the Sandakan Peninsula and east coast of the state in the administrative centre of Sandakan Division and was the former capital of British North Borneo. In 2010, the city had an estimated population of 157,330 while the overall municipal area had a total population of 396,290. The population of the municipal area had increased to 439,050 by the 2020 Census.
Restaurants & places to go
101 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 4 direct destinations
- Malaysia Airlines MH (737-800, ATR 72, DHT) · 4 routes: Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kudat*, Tawau*
- AirAsia AK (A320) · 2 routes: Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Sandakan Airport (SDK); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: SDK has direct flights to 4 destinations on 2 airlines (incl. Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kudat, Tawau). By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km (nearest: Sandakan, 5.1 km); routes include Bongao PH - Sandakan MY, Zamboanga PH - Sandakan MY.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Sandakan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.