Palu to Kota Kinabalu flights
Kota Kinabalu lies 874 km (543 mi) north-west of Palu, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 52 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open Kota Kinabalu in Google Maps
| Palu | Kota Kinabalu | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Malaysia |
| Population | 389,959 | 500,421 |
| Elevation | 9 m (30 ft) | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+8 (Asia/Makassar) | UTC+8 (Asia/Kuching) |
| Nearest large airport | PLW, 4 km out | BKI, 5 km out |
| Postal codes | 30653 | 88000–88999 |
What changes when you arrive in Kota Kinabalu
Crossing from Indonesia into Malaysia: money changes from the Rupiah to the Ringgit (MYR); sockets are BS 1363; the dialling code becomes +60; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q3086706.
Airports at each end
Leaving Palu
Palu is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Mutiara - SIS Al-Jufrie Airport (PLW), 4 km (2 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,781 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
Arriving in Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, whose 12,402-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Kinabalu International Airport | BKI | 5 km (3 mi) | 12,402 ft | 10 ft |
Book a flight to Kota Kinabalu
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Kota Kinabalu
Our booking partner lists 1,131+ places to stay in Kota Kinabalu (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 624 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (258), and 12 are five-star. Across 332 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.2 out of 10. Guests have left 149,522 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Kota Kinabalu
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Kota Kinabalu from Palu?
874 km (543 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Palu.
How long does it take to get from Palu to Kota Kinabalu by air?
About 1 h 52 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Palu and Kota Kinabalu?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
Which airports are used for Palu to Kota Kinabalu flights?
Typically Mutiara - SIS Al-Jufrie Airport (PLW) to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI).
What currency do I need in Kota Kinabalu?
The Ringgit (MYR).
Where can I stay in Kota Kinabalu?
Our booking partner lists 1,131+ places to stay in Kota Kinabalu, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.