The expo sits on the Kuching Waterfront, in the old heart of the city. Most of what visitors come to see — the bazaar, the temples, the river crossing and the Brooke fort — is a short walk from the promenade. Walking times below start from the waterfront.
The Borneo Craft Global Expo runs along the Kuching Waterfront. These stops are on the promenade itself, on the street that faces it, or just behind the Old Courthouse.
The venue
A landscaped promenade along the Sarawak River, and the home of the expo. It is at its best from late afternoon, when the breeze picks up and the far bank — the Astana and the State Legislative Assembly — catches the light. Stay for the evening, when the Darul Hana Bridge is lit.
Along the promenade
Kuching’s oldest trading street runs the length of the waterfront. The shophouses sell antiques, beadwork, woodcarving, baskets and textiles — a natural continuation of a day at the expo. Polite bargaining is part of buying here.
Eastern end of the promenade
The 1874 courthouse complex, a short walk from Riverside Majestic Hotel where the conference is held. The courtyard now holds cafés. Inside, the Ranee Museum tells the story of Margaret Brooke, Ranee of Sarawak. The tall building behind the courtyard is Plaza Merdeka.
Just behind the Old Courthouse
The big shopping centre directly behind the Old Courthouse, a minute from the eastern end of the waterfront. Shops, food and air-conditioning when you want a break from the promenade.
Beside the Old Courthouse
Built in 1879 at Pangkalan Batu as a fort and detention post, facing Fort Margherita across the river. It is one of the easiest landmarks to pick out from the expo grounds, and a good place to start a walk toward the old town.
On the promenade
A compact museum in the 1912 Chinese Court building, later home to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The displays follow the dialect groups who settled in Sarawak and the trades they built. It sits between the Square Tower and the start of Main Bazaar.
Step one or two blocks back from the river and you are in Kuching’s old town. Everything here is a flat walk from the expo.
About 5 minutes
A covered street of textiles, snacks and everyday souvenirs, one block inland from Main Bazaar. Behind it is the timber Indian Mosque. Dress modestly if you step inside, and avoid prayer times.
About 5–10 minutes
The lane for kolo mee, Sarawak laksa and kek lapis, with cafés that stay lively after the expo closes. Ewe Hai Street runs parallel, and Hong San Si Temple is on this same short walk. Come hungry in the evening.
About 10 minutes west
Kuching’s oldest Chinese temple, near the western end of the old town and a short stroll from the waterfront. The temple faces the river, and the forecourt is a quiet stop between the bazaar and the Darul Hana Bridge. Remove your shoes before you enter.
About 10 minutes · closed
The museum in the old Pavilion building, near the Padang, is closed. You can see the building from the street, about 10 minutes on foot from the waterfront. You cannot go inside.
About 10 minutes
A quiet colonial corner inland from the Old Courthouse. The Bishop’s House, from 1849, is one of Kuching’s oldest buildings, with the Anglican cathedral beside it. It sits on the same short walk as the Pavilion, where the Textile Museum building can be seen from the street.
The far bank is part of the view from the expo. Cross on foot by the bridge, or take a tambang from the promenade.
A short walk along the promenade
The S-shaped pedestrian bridge, opened in 2017, links the waterfront to the north bank. From the middle you look straight at the Astana — the Governor’s residence, built in 1870 as the Rajah’s palace — and the horn-roofed State Legislative Assembly. Both are landmarks to enjoy from the bridge. The bridge is lit after dark.
Evenings · free
A free 15-minute show of water, lasers and music on the Sarawak River, near Darul Hana Bridge. If you are at the expo in the later evening, stay on the waterfront and watch.
A few minutes on the water
Small wooden boats still ferry people across the Sarawak River from landings along the promenade. It is the old way to reach Fort Margherita and the villages on the north bank. Pay the boatman in cash, and agree the fare before you board.
Across the river, then a short climb
The 1879 fort was named for Ranee Margaret and watched the river from the north bank. The Brooke Gallery inside tells the story of Sarawak’s White Rajahs. Reach it by tambang or by walking over Darul Hana Bridge. Check opening days on the Brooke Gallery site before you go.
These two sit just beyond an easy stroll. Give the museum a morning, and save the seafood for after the expo closes.
About 20 minutes on foot
The Sarawak Museum’s new home, on Jalan Barrack, is the deepest look at the peoples, crafts and history of Borneo you can do from the city centre. It is a straight walk inland from the waterfront, or a very short Grab ride. Plan more than a quick look, and check which days it opens.
A short ride, or an uphill walk
An open-air seafood centre above Jalan Bukit Mata, a few minutes by car from the waterfront. Pick your fish, prawns and vegetables and the stall cooks them. Go in the evening, once the expo day is done.
The expo is on the Kuching Waterfront. The conference is at Riverside Majestic Hotel, Puteri Wing, at the eastern end of the same promenade, beside the Square Tower and the Old Courthouse.
Kuching is hot and humid, and a sharp tropical shower often passes through in the afternoon. The promenade has stretches of cover. A light rain jacket is enough, and the streets dry quickly.
Cover shoulders and knees, take your shoes off where you are asked, and step back during prayer. Photography of worshippers is best skipped unless someone invites it.
Museum days and gallery tickets move. Confirm before you set out, and use the Sarawak Tourism Board for the wider city if you have a free day outside the old town.
For a self-guided tour, open the Jalankaki app in your mobile browser at www.jalankaki.app. No download is needed, and registration is free.
The promenade runs along the south bank of the Sarawak River. Main Bazaar faces the water. The bridge crosses to the Astana and Fort Margherita.
The waterfront craft village is open 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, 25 – 29 November 2026, with the conference on the same river at Riverside Majestic.