Getting from Tawau Airport to Tawau Town is no hassle at all. Even if you hired a rental car, as there is only one highway leading to town. When you exit Tawau airport, turn left as you enter the main highway, continue on it for 20 minutes and it will lead you to town. If you are heading to Semporna, you turn right, continue on for an hour and there it is.
Getting a Taxi-cab Ride
If you want to take a taxi-cab, you have to buy the ticket at the airport counter. It is located in the middle of the airport, next to the escalators. When you exit the Arrival Hall, turn right until you come to the escalators. The airport limo counter is on the right of the escalators. It is very easy to find as Tawau airport is a small airport. Tell them want a cab to Tawau town and they will issue a ticket to you. Then you present the ticket to the cab driver and go straight to your hotel. There is no waiting, and no other fees involved.
The taxi-cab fees from Tawau Airport to town is RM45 (Ringgit Malaysia). It is a fixed rate, and it is what I consider to be a fair price. If you want to go to Semporna, the fare is RM95.
- Heritage Hotel, Tawau
Travel By Coach
Alternatively, you can travel by coach from the airport to town. You buy the tickets at the same place you get the taxi-cab ticket from. The coaches arrive and leave on schedule, and drop you off in the middle of town. Tawau is a small town, and you can easily walk to any of the hotels. This is a low-cost and safe alternative for the backpacker.
The coach leaves the airport at these times: 8am, 11am, 2.30pm and 5.00pm.
It only costs RM10 for a one-way ticket to town. Coaches are only available from airport to Tawau town.
Rent A Car
For the adventurous, or those who know their way around Tawau, you can rent a car at airport. There are a few car rental booths there, they offer the same kind of cars, and their prices may vary by RM20.
- Perodua Kancil
Perodua Kancil goes for RM100 a day, and if you want a bigger car like the Proton Gen2 or Waja, it costs RM200 and RM230 respectively. If you prefer a Toyota, you can pay RM250 for an Avanza or RM380 for a Camry. Need a 4-wheel drive? A Toyota Hilux (light truck) costs RM380 or a Toyota Fortuner at RM490 per day. It depends on what you want, and I would pay up to RM200 to rent a car if I really needed one.
- Proton Waja
You can also rent by the hour, for a minimum of 3 hours. Or hire a chauffeur with the car, although this option can double the price of the rental. If you do rent a car, rent a Proton Saga, Gen2 or Waja. The ride is more comfortable, and are more enjoyable to drive compared to a Perodua Kancil.
If you are flying to Sabah for a vacation or business, search for hotels and make your reservations here.
Hello,
You have a nice and interesting blog here. This must be a photo and travel blog, right?
I wish someday I could travel to any place in Malaysia. I have known a lot of bloggers from there and maybe meet them someday.
I’m not familiar with the name of the cars you have but I like the look of that Proton Waja.
Hi Marlene, thanks for your thumbs up.
Interesting thing about the Waja, it’s an exactly copy of a Mercedes-Benz. Can’t remember which model but I’ve seen them side by side on the highway before. Of course, it can’t match the Benz, but it handles well on account of its Lotus engineering.
hi,
what a nice blog u have, i will come to tawau on mac 2010 to mabul island, my flight from kk is late and will arrive at tawau 7.20pm, are the taxi available at the time? i plan to spent night at semporna, but the journey take 1 hour, is it okay to take taxi to semporna or just go to tawau town for a night?
tq
Hi Wani, I don’t know if there are any taxis going to Semporna at night. You might have to stay the night in Tawau. If you have never been to Tawau before, it is the largest town outside of Kota Kinabalu. There isn’t much to see at night, except for supermarkets, food and some night entertainment.
The road to Semporna is devoid of streetlights, you will be traveling in the dark through rural Sabah. If you’re a woman traveling alone, it might be advisable to exercise some caution. Hope this helps.
can i stay in the Tawau airport as i will go to interior tawau and its expensive to take a taxi. any advice?
There isn’t any accommodations in Tawau Airport and I think they shut the airport down after the last flight at night.
This is amazing blog as it is exactly what i was looking for. We are going to Mabul soon and out flight back to KL is at 9.30pm. So from the time we arrive from Sempoerna (approx. 3pm) until 9.30pm we’re planning to go around tawau town. We may rent a car or get the coach. Thanks for the pointers and the costing also helps.
@hasniza, thanks for the kinds words and I’m glad you enjoyed this blog. Hope you have a great time in Sabah.
What time is the taxi airport close, may be I will reach kk at nite flight , what time will they close? Thank you
I mean Im From kk to tawau may be is nite time, I would like to go town only
Hi Diana, you didn’t say if you are flying in to KKIA or Terminal 2. But I think you will be fine, KKIA operates round the clock and T2 will likely have taxi-cabs there.
Hi Diana, there will be taxis until the last flight at night. I think the airport closes after 9pm.
Hi Adrian.My name in Gema,and I’m Spanish,and my Inglish isn’t good. we would to rent a car in Tawau,for 10 days more or less,Do you Kown a good Rent a car’s Company?
Thank you very much.
Hi Gema, you can rent a car when you touchdown at Tawau airport. The booths are just outside the arrival hall and the prices are almost universal.
Hi, just found and read your blog. Interesting and informative. I will be going to tawau / semporna for a 2 day 1 night stay soon.
I’m going there myself later this month
I’m going there on April 16. What is the nearest hotel in McDonald’s store?
Hi there
I’m due to be arriving at Tawau airport at 9.30pm at night and need to get a taxi to Lahad Datu for my hotel there and early pick up the next morning. Do you think a taxi will be available at this time or would an earlier flight be advisable? Thanks!
Hi Helen, you are on the last flight to Tawau. I am pretty sure there are still taxis available for the last flight to town. If you need to get a taxi to Lahad Datu, it is best to ask the hotel staff to get the Tawau-Lahad Datu taxis. They tend to leave early in the morning.
@Ivan Vispo, I am not sure what you are asking. McDonald’s is building their first restaurant in Tawau, located at about 2 miles outside of town in Apas road. There are no hotels in that area. You can try Secret Recipe if you want Western food, Secret Recipe is at Fajar Complex in town. You should try it, good coffee, cakes and lamb shank stew.
Hi, may I know the latest fee for taxi from airport Tawau to semporna jeti??
Hi,
Any budget hotel in Tawau? And any intresting places to visit in Tawau town?
Hi,
Which is better:
1) Heritage hotel or
2)Promenade Hotel
any intereted places to visit near this hotel?
Pls advice thanks
@Hang, if you want a hotel somewhere in town, go for Heritage hotel. Promenade Hotel is just a mile out of town, so you should have transport if you stay here. In terms of quality, they are about the same class.
@Hang, for a list of budget hotels, see this post, http://aboutsabah.com/hotel/hotels-in-tawau/
@FISH, I believe it is in the RM100 range. Haven’t heard of any price increase.