Malacca, or Melaka, is a historic city on the Strait of Malacca, roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. For centuries it was an important trading port, and traces of the different cultures and colonial powers that passed through the city can still be seen today. Its historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with George Town, since 2008. For us, Malacca was the first city we visited in Malaysia after travelling overland from Singapore, and it is a very convenient stop between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The centre is fairly compact, and one full day is enough to see the main attractions.
Information and prices can change over time, so always check the linked official websites for the latest details.
How to get to and around Malacca
We travelled to Malacca overland from Singapore with StarMart Express, paying around €20 per person. Tickets can be bought online or directly from the company’s offices. In Singapore, we left from the Golden Mile Tower, one of the departure points for buses heading to Malaysia.
During the journey, you cross the border between Singapore and Malaysia. You leave the bus for immigration checks and then get back on once the formalities are complete. In our case, the process was very quick and, including a break along the way, it took around six hours to reach Malacca.
To reach Malacca from Kuala Lumpur, the most practical and inexpensive option is the bus. Services leave regularly from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS), Kuala Lumpur’s main long-distance bus terminal. The journey takes around 2–2.5 hours, depending on traffic. Tickets can be purchased at the terminal or online through RedBus. At weekends and during public holidays, we recommend booking in advance.
Buses arrive at Melaka Sentral, which is outside the historic centre. From there, we recommend using Grab, which is simple and inexpensive. Alternatively, you can take the local M100 bus and buy your ticket directly at the terminal.
Once you reach the centre, Malacca is very easy to explore on foot, as the main attractions are concentrated within a fairly compact area.
Things to do in Malacca
Cheng Hoon Teng, considered the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia, is one of the places not to miss in Malacca, and admission is free. It was our favourite place in the city.
It is also worth walking up to St. Paul’s Church, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century and located at the top of St. Paul’s Hill. Today, mainly ruins remain, but the hill offers a pleasant view over the city.
At the foot of the hill is Dutch Square, easy to recognise by its red buildings. One of the most notable is the Stadthuys, built during the Dutch colonial period and considered one of the oldest surviving Dutch buildings in Asia. Next to it are Christ Church and the distinctive red clock tower.
On the other side of St. Paul’s Hill is the Porta de Santiago, also known as A Famosa. It is what remains of the old fortress built by the Portuguese in the early 16th century, before the Dutch conquest of Malacca.
To learn more about the history and events that led to Malaysian independence, we recommend visiting the Proclamation of Independence Memorial, housed in a colonial building at the foot of St. Paul’s Hill. Admission is free. In the same area, you will also find the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum, a reconstruction of the sultanate palace that tells the story of Malacca before the arrival of the colonial powers. We skipped this one.
Another enjoyable thing to do is a boat trip along the Malacca River, which passes through the city centre between historic buildings, murals and riverside bars and restaurants. The cruise lasts around 30–45 minutes and, during our 2024 trip, we paid 30 MYR per person. We departed from the Taman Rempah jetty.
Besides the historic sights already mentioned, it is worth walking around Chinatown, one of Malacca’s liveliest areas, filled with shops, restaurants, temples and old shophouses. The heart of the neighbourhood is Jonker Street, the name commonly used for Jalan Hang Jebat. During the day, it is lined with shops, cafés and restaurants. It really comes alive at the weekend, when the Jonker Walk Night Market fills the street with food stalls, souvenirs and local products.
If possible, try to be in Malacca between Friday and Sunday evening, when the market takes place and the area is much livelier.
To end the day, head to Masjid Selat Melaka at sunset. It is also known as the Malacca Floating Mosque. Built on an artificial island overlooking the Strait of Malacca, it is especially atmospheric at sunset and just after dark, when the building is illuminated. At high tide, it almost appears to float on the water.
Entry to the mosque is free. We paid 5 MYR to access a private viewpoint with a good view of the mosque, and the price also included a drink.
The mosque is outside the historic centre. We walked there and returned by Grab, which works very well in Malacca. If you do not feel like walking, we recommend going directly by car.
Where to stay in Malacca
We stayed for a couple of nights at Haven Inn, in a small private room with a shared bathroom. The property is simple but clean, the owners are very kind and the location is perfect for walking to the historic centre.