Miri: City Park, Oil History and Waterside Experiences

Miri combines the city’s history with green spaces, a distinctive waterside location and nature nearby. Between the centrally located Miri City Fan, historic sites and Piasau Nature Reserve north of the centre, there are different places to explore during a stay. Diving enthusiasts will also find a dedicated attraction in the patch reefs. Which holiday apartment suits your plans depends on whether the city, culture, nature or water activities are to shape the pace of your trip.

Green spaces in the heart of Miri

Miri City Fan is a public park in the city centre. Alongside its landscaped park grounds and themed gardens, Miri City Fan Recreation Park includes a botanical garden, an Islamic garden, the Miri City Library, a public swimming pool and a large open-air amphitheatre. Several features come together in this centrally located park: landscaped areas, a library and other named facilities. If you have a range of interests in mind during your stay, City Fan offers a specific starting point for exploring Miri’s urban side.

Temples and oil history

The Tua Pek Kong Chinese Temple in Miri’s Old Town was built in 1913 by Chinese migrants who were working in the city’s newly established oil industry at the time. It is considered Miri’s oldest Chinese temple. The Miri Petroleum Museum is on Power Hill, formerly known as Canada Hill. Nearby is the Grand Old Lady, Sarawak’s earliest oil well. It produced oil from 1910 to 1972. The temple and the oil site offer two different perspectives on the city’s history: the people who worked in the early oil industry, and oil production over several decades.

Nature north of the city centre

Piasau Nature Reserve is in the Piasau district, about five kilometres north of the city centre. The protected area is an important habitat for an estimated 78 Oriental Pied Hornbills. This figure is an estimate and may change. As a guide for your travel planning, this natural area is quite different from the centrally located City Fan: here, a bird habitat nearby takes centre stage, while City Fan has landscaped grounds and facilities in the heart of the city. If you would like to include nature in your stay, you can consider Piasau as a distinct focus alongside the urban sites.

Waterfront, weekend activities and diving

Coco Cabana is a scenic waterside spot in Miri with a distinctive seahorse lighthouse. Weekly markets, street music, small concerts and various arts and cultural activities take place there on weekends. The programme may change, so check the latest dates before your visit. Miri is a popular diving destination thanks to its patch reefs. The nearest dive site is ten minutes from Marina Bay Jetty; this time may vary depending on conditions.

Alongside the city’s history and gardens, there are also waterfront and cultural attractions, as well as diving, to consider as separate interests. You can think about which of these you want to shape your stay, rather than giving every destination equal priority. When searching for a holiday apartment in Miri, the specific location details can help you organise your plans: City Fan is in the city centre, while Piasau Nature Reserve is about five kilometres to the north. Compare the location of each holiday apartment with the places you would like to include in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Lubok Antu, Bekenu, Lingga, Sri Aman, Bintulu, Lundu, Niah, Limbang.

For the wider travel overview: Sarawak.