Miri, Malaysia: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Miri is a coastal city in northern Sarawak, on the island of Borneo near the border with Brunei. Known as the birthplace of Malaysia’s petroleum industry, it is also a gateway to some of Sarawak’s most important natural attractions. Neywo has a free audio guide for Miri with 3 narrated places, available in 11 languages.

What to See in Miri

Petroleum Museum and Canada Hill

The Petroleum Museum stands on Canada Hill in Miri. Also known in Malay as Muzium Petroleum, it introduces one of the defining stories of the city: the development of the petroleum industry.

Miri’s modern history began in 1910, when Royal Dutch Shell drilled the first oil well. The discovery brought rapid development, and the city became the administrative centre of Sarawak’s northern region in 1929. The preserved oil well known as the “Grand Old Lady” is closely associated with this heritage.

The oil industry continued to shape Miri after the Second World War. During the war, the Brooke government destroyed the oil fields in an attempt to hinder Japanese operations. The effort did not prevent the Japanese landing at Miri, and later Allied air raids damaged the city’s oil refinery facilities. From the 1950s, oil exploration moved offshore, while new inland fields were found in 1989 and 2011.

For anyone looking for things to do in Miri, Canada Hill is one of the clearest places to understand how a small settlement grew into an important city. Petroleum remains part of Miri’s economy, alongside timber, oil palm and tourism.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Miri

St. Joseph’s Cathedral is an important Catholic church in the city and the cathedral of the Diocese of Miri. Its Malay name is Katedral St Joseph Miri.

The cathedral adds a religious and civic landmark to a city better known internationally for oil and its location in Borneo. It is one of the places to include when exploring Miri’s urban character.

Miri’s Coastal and River Setting

Miri’s location gives the city a distinctive connection to both the coast and the region’s waterways. Traditional stilt homes and local markets recall a time when Malay and Melanau communities relied on rivers for transport and trade.

The waterfront also features the Seahorse Statue, a symbol of Miri’s maritime character. Together, these places offer a different perspective on the city from the industrial history of Canada Hill: Miri is not only an oil town, but also a coastal centre shaped by local communities, rivers and regional connections.

Miri and Northern Sarawak

Miri is known as a gateway to some of Sarawak’s most important natural attractions. Its surroundings reflect the natural richness of Borneo, while the city itself provides an urban base in northern Sarawak.

Petroleum, timber, oil palm and tourism all form part of Miri’s modern identity. On 20 May 2005, Miri became Malaysia’s first city that was not a state capital to receive official city status. That change marked an important point in the city’s civic history.

Miri Travel Guide: A City Shaped by Oil and Borneo

Miri brings together several layers of Sarawak’s history. The first oil well and the Petroleum Museum explain the city’s industrial beginnings, while St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the waterfront reflect its religious, civic and local character.

Its position on Borneo, near Brunei and close to important natural areas, gives Miri a wider regional role. For a broader journey through the country, continue with the Malaysia destination guide, or compare Miri with other Malaysian cities such as Kuching and Semporna.

Explore Miri with Neywo

There are no scheduled group walks or fixed tour routes to join. Neywo’s free Miri audio guide includes 3 narrated places, with each story playing as you reach the place, at your own pace. The narration is available in 11 languages, so you can explore independently, without a group or a schedule.

Download Neywo and discover Miri while walking through its oil heritage, cathedral and waterfront landmarks.