Most visitors to Miri are passing through to Mulu or Niah, but the city itself rewards a day or two of exploration. Canada Hill (Bukit Kanaan) is worth an hour for the panoramic views over the South China Sea, and the Petroleum Museum at the site of Malaysia's first oil well — drilled here in 1910 — gives vivid context to Miri's history.
In the city, the Tua Pek Kong Temple by the river is the oldest Chinese temple in Miri, while the San Ching Tian Temple in Krokop claims the title of the largest Taoist temple in Southeast Asia. The Waterfront Commercial Centre has seafood restaurants and evening hawker stalls, and the Tamu open market — busiest on weekends — sells jungle produce, traditional crafts, and local goods.
The main draws beyond the city are exceptional. Gunung Mulu National Park, a 30-minute flight away, has the world's largest cave passage, nightly bat exodus flights, and the dramatic Pinnacles trek. Niah National Park, three hours by road, contains 40,000-year-old human remains and active birds' nest harvesting operations inside its immense cave chambers.
For divers, Miri-Sibuti Coral Reef National Park offers excellent visibility (up to 30 metres), healthy reefs, and several WWII wreck dives from March through November. Music fans should check the dates of the annual Borneo Jazz Festival, held each May at Marina Bay.