Getting around
Low
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: en.wikivoyage.org, wikitravel.org
Overall2.1/10Harder to get around than about 85% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Avoid offers from unlicensed private taxi drivers who solicit at bus arrivals; they may overcharge significantly and take inefficient routes.
- Minivans depart only when they have enough passengers (typically 7), so expect variable wait times.
- Grab availability is limited compared to larger Malaysian cities; reliability cannot be assumed.
- Long-distance buses can be booked in advance, especially during high season (June–August) when they fill up quickly.
Car Rental
Daily Rates
Small Car
- Small Car
- MYR 110
per day
SUV
- SUV
- MYR 234
per day
Public Transit
- Description
- Public transportation is not convenient on the mainland. Long-distance buses serve major routes with reasonable fares.
Bus Fares
Semporna to Lahad Datu
- Semporna To Lahad Datu
- MYR 29
Semporna to Sandakan
- Semporna To Sandakan
- MYR 45
Semporna to Kota Kinabalu
- Semporna To Kota Kinabalu
- MYR 75
Airport Transfers
Tawau Airport to Semporna
- Tawau Airport To Semporna
- MYR 10
Wait time can be up to 1 hour for vehicle to fill
Tawau Airport to Semporna
- Tawau Airport To Semporna
- MYR 100
Semporna to Tawau Airport
- Semporna To Tawau Airport
- MYR 10
Departs from KFC parking lot; wait until full
Walkability
- Getting Around Tier
- low
- Getting Around Tier Rationale
- While the town center is walkable, the best way to travel around the mainland is by car as public transportation is not so convenient.
- Description
- Semporna is very small and easy to navigate. Because of its small size, Semporna town is easily explored on foot. The town center is walkable, with easy access to transport for island hopping.
Minivan Local
- Route
- Semporna to Tawau
Fare Range
- Amount USD Max
- 9
- Amount USD Min
- 6
- Currency Local
- MYR
- Amount Local Max
- 35
- Amount Local Min
- 25
- Note
- 2026 rates; minivans depart when full
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this walkability & transport research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Semporna
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.