Like all of Malaysia, Malacca or Melaka is a perfect combination of cultures. We are talking about a small charming city just a few hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur. In the past, due to its geographical location, it was one of the most important commercial ports disputed by the Portuguese and Dutch over control of the Spice Route.
Today, walking through its historic centre, a World Heritage Site, you come across small restaurants, antique shops, Chinese temples, colonial houses, street art, mosques and a fort, all of which reminds us of the impressive mix of this country.
Its inhabitants are friendly and will not hesitate to recommend places and help you if you are looking for something in particular.
Melaka, located on the west coast of Malaysia, was an important trading port founded by a Hindu prince in the 14th century. The city attracted traders from all over the world.
From the 15th century, ruled by a sultan, it became a strategic location in the Melaka Strait and was very important for maritime trade. Shortly afterwards, the Portuguese conquered the city, marking the beginning of European domination in the area.
The Dutch and the British also arrived until Malaysia gained its independence in 1957. As previously mentioned, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it a paradise for visitors due to its rich cultural and architectural heritage.
Melaka is located on the Malay Peninsula and, like most of its cities, has an equatorial climate, which means warm and humid temperatures all year round.
In our opinion, perhaps the best time to visit Melaka is between January and March, when temperatures are a little milder and there is less rain. However, here are the main seasons so you can plan your trip:
For tourism purposes, you can enter Malaysia without a visa. Usually, you’re allowed to stay for up to 90 days upon arrival. If you intend to stay beyond 90 days or are visiting for reasons other than tourism, you need to obtain a visa from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic office prior to your departure.
It goes without saying how important it is to travel to Malaysia with a good insurance. We were the first ones to offer the famous 5% discount on IATI Insurance, but you also have it available with Heymondo Travel Insurance.
Follow the links below to get a discount on their website:
Melaka is located halfway between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (just a 2 hours drive), so it is always a good stopover between the two cities.
Melaka has an international airport with flights from Vietnam, Indonesia, and other locations in Malaysia. If you are flying from Europe, you can also fly directly to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which is just a 2-hour drive from Melaka.
There are two trains a day from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka, with the journey lasting approximately two hours from KL Sentral, the city’s main station.
There is also the option of going from Penang (Butterworth Railway Station) to Melaka which takes about 7 hours.
Buses in Malaysia are pretty good, offering bus services between most cities. Even by changing trains, you can get from/to Singapore or Thailand to Melaka Sentral station or the newer Bersepadu Selatan station. If you are coming from Kuala Lumpur (a couple of hours) or Singapore (3-4 hours), you will find daily buses to this historic city.
Melaka is another of the most common destinations when visiting Malaysia, so here are a few options for getting there from Kuala Lumpur:
Singapore and its hawker centers is another of the most common destinations for entering into Southeast Asia, it is a good option to get to Melaka and start or continue your journey through Malaysia:
Also if you come from Georgetown, you have the option of train and bus, leaving from Butterworth (in front of Penang Island):
While many hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in Thailand offer free Wi-Fi, some travelers prefer or need a constant connection. We’ve included details on obtaining a eSIM Malaysia card with unlimited data. If you want to get one directly, use the following link (with a discount):
The A Famosa fortress was built in 1511 by Alfonso de Albuquerque after conquering the city and dethroning the fleet of the Sultanate of Melaka. The intention of the Portuguese was to create an intermediate port for the Spice Route as they did in other cities in China and India.
Despite being in ruins, it is a symbol of the city and the only part that remains is the Porta de Santiago.
This is one of two entrance gates to the fortress and has become one of the oldest European remains in Asia.
This hilltop church was built in 1521 by a Portuguese nobleman as a token of gratitude for surviving a storm at sea. It was visited on a few occasions by St. Francis Xavier and it is said that he performed miracles inside.
When the Dutch conquered the city, it was converted into a Protestant church, until they built Christ Church, and then St Paul’s Church fell into disuse. Today only its ruins remain, the walls of the temple with the empty interior, but from up there you have beautiful views of the city
Dutch heritage is concentrated in Dutch Square, this red square that was built in 1753 to celebrate the first century of occupation. It is home to buildings such as Christ Church, the Queen Victoria Fountain, the Clock Tower and Stadthuys.
This Dutch building, constructed between 1641 and 1660, is today the Museum of History and Ethnography, which showcases Melaka’s customs and traditions as well as its history, from the Malay Sultanate through to the Portuguese, Dutch and British occupations.
In the heart of Chinatown in Melaka we find Jonger Walk, a street where on Fridays and Saturdays, a night market is held, with numerous food and craft stalls. The people of Melaka come here to dine and enjoy the atmosphere, as there is a stage where shows or concerts are regularly held.
During the day, you will find antique shops and shops selling handicrafts. Beautiful buildings and galleries invite you in to stroll along this well-known street.
Hundreds of years ago, the Melaka River was an important port and a trade route between Europe and Asia. Today, it is a tourist and commercial area. It is interesting to take a tour on one of the boats that travel along it, where you will see historic bridges, restaurants and shops. Kampung Morten is an old Malay settlement overlooking the river, where one can observe its architecture and customs.
Villa Sentosa is a museum inside a 1920s house full of objects such as ceramics and family photos. The entire area is also decorated with murals.
Founded by Tay Kie Ki in 1645 during the Dutch period, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is a Buddhist temple dedicated to Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy. It was originally an administrative centre and court of justice.
One of the oldest and most important temples in Southeast Asia, it is a spiritual pilgrimage site for the Chinese community of Melaka.
The building is more reminiscent of the southern Chinese style because the builders and craftsmen who built it came from Fujian and Guandong.
The Sultan’s Palace, which stands at the foot of St Paul’s Hill today, is on the outside a wooden replica of the original Melaka Sultanate palace before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century.
Inside, it is a museum that tells and displays the history of the region with over 1,000 objects such as photographs, weapons, drawings and musical instruments that show us part of Melaka’s past.
The palace we see was built in 1985 using traditional construction techniques and materials.
The most striking feature of this maritime museum is the replica of the Flor de la Mar which is “docked” right next to the river. Inside this Portuguese ship, which is said to have been shipwrecked with loot stolen from Melaka, you will find part of the exhibition that shows the different eras that Malacca has gone through.
In the museum you will travel from the period of the Sultanate of Melaka, to the Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. But our favourite part is the last one, which raises awareness of the importance of the marine ecosystem and makes it more relevant to the visitor.
This house, which was lived in by four generations before it opened as a museum in March 1985, is a combination of three buildings that were acquired by the Chan family in 1861.
The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum, which is still run by the family today, gives us a glimpse into the past of the Peranakans, merchants from China, “Babas”, who formed families with Malay wives and bought houses from the Dutch.
In the museum there is also the entire history of the exquisite Nyonya food, typical of this area of Malaysia.
The neo-Gothic St Francis Xavier Church was built by the French priest Fabre in the 19th century on the site of an old church. It is dedicated to St Francis Xavier for his efforts in spreading the Christian religion and the miracles he is said to have performed in Melaka.
It is said to have been created in the image and likeness of the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Montpellier, although a portico was added later to differentiate it from the latter. Inside, the white interior features colourful stained glass windows.
Street art is something that has proliferated in Malaysia in recent years (we have already mentioned the number of popular murals in Georgetown, Penang). And on our last visit to Melaka, we noticed the numerous examples of street art in this World Heritage city, especially in the river area.
From colorful murals like the one by artist Fritilldea at Kiehl’s, to scenes of daily life, food, children, women, animals, etc. A good idea might be to rent a bike and take a ride along the river.
Built in the 18th century, this ancient mosque mixes architectural styles from Sumatra, China, India, and Malaysia. The green roof is reminiscent of a pagoda or meru, its Moorish-style minaret is similar to mosques in Sumatra and its interior features Dutch and English mosaics.
As proof of the great variety of cultures found in Malaysia and especially in Melaka, locals have named the street where Masjid Kampung Kling, Cheng Hoon Temple and Sri Poyatha Venayagar are located, the street of harmony.
It is said to be the largest Chinese cemetery outside China. More than 12,000 graves are located on Bukit China or Chinese Hill. It is a place with a special aura, not only because of the tombs but also because it is a historical place for Malaysia.
The marriage between the Sultan Shah of Melaka and Princess Hang Liu, daughter of a Ming emperor, who moved to live on this hill, was an historical moment as it sealed agreements between the two countries.
In addition to the cemetery, there is a memorial to the Chinese residents of Melaka who fell during World War II.
On Harmony Street, next to a Catholic church, a mosque and a few Hindu temples, we find Xiang Lin Si, a two-storey Buddhist temple built in 1958 and rebuilt about thirty years later.
Less visited than its older neighbour Cheng Hoon Temple, this temple is also simpler in terms of decoration and structures, so you can focus on other things, such as the Buddha figures, the urns containing incense at the entrance and watching religious families praying.
Admission is free and the only thing they ask for is respect and silence.
“Melaka from a bird’s eye view” is how they officially describe the sensations of climbing this attraction, a 110-metre-high tower with a platform for 80 people that rises from the ground to 80 metres in 7 minutes.
Menara Taming Sari or Taming Sari Tower, was opened to the public in 2008 and it is a good idea to go up to enjoy some impressive views and compare the entire historical part of Melaka with the new area that has been developed in recent years.
Built in 2006 on an artificial island, Masjid Selat Melaka or Melaka Straits Mosque is a spectacular mosque that, during high tide, appears to float on the sea. Its façade is decorated with large arches with stained glass windows and its gold-coloured dome is reminiscent of more western mosques.
We recommend visiting it at sunset, to be able to appreciate it with all the range of colours that the sun and the sea offer us at that time. It is a bit far from the centre, so you will have to go by taxi.que ir en taxi.
Considered one of the oldest active temples in Southeast Asia, Sri Poyatha Vinayagar Moorthi is a chitty centre, founded by Tamils (Indians who settled in Malaysia and adapted Chinese and Malay culture into their own) that was built in the 19th century in a Dravidian architectural style.
It is dedicated to Ganesha and numerous festivals dedicated to different deities are celebrated inside. It is also located on Harmony Street.
If you want to get a deeper understanding of Melaka’s colonial architecture and learn about the rich history of Malaysia’s oldest state, we recommend this full-day private guided tour of Melaka City from Kuala Lumpur. You’ll be taken to see different historical buildings, and you’ll enter the Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
From Kuala Lumpur you have many options to visit Melaka, such as this full-day tour with river cruise and lunch. You can also choose a Melaka and Putrajaya tour to visit some of the old areas and the most modern ones.
Sleeping in Melaka is not a problem because there are accommodations that suit all budgets. Our friend Nando Baba always stays at Voyage Home. We stayed at Wayfarer Guest House the first time we went to Melaka and we treated ourselves to Aava Malacca Hotel the last time we were in the city
You can also take a look at these recommendations:
The historic centre of Melaka is perfect for walking from one place to another. Places are not too far apart, and it is also a good idea to rent a bike to explore some of the streets. The bus service in the city is well-developed.
As in most Southeast Asian countries, you have to negotiate if you want to get into a taxi as they don’t always have the odometer on. In these cases, you can also hire Uber or Grab by downloading the app.
Click on the image and it will take you to a new Google Maps window with all the points of interest to travel around Melaka.
