What to do in Malacca: 10 best experiences and places to visit
Visiting Malacca in Malaysia
I was on my way to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore for a conference called Klook TravelFest and I decided to break up the bus journey through Malaysia with a one day and one night stop in the small city of Malacca.
The UNESCO listed city centre of Malacca is small and easy to get around and showcases a mix of cultural and architectural styles from centuries of being an important trading port. Along with great food and a bustling night market, I found that there was a lot to do in the city, so I am sharing my 10 favourite experiences in Malacca to help you plan your next visit !
Is it Malacca or Melaka ?
The city is usually referred to as Malacca in English and Melaka in Malay, and the Malaysian government has confirmed as of 2017, that the state of Melaka that the city is situated within in should be referred to as Melaka in official communications. I will refer to the city itself as ‘Malacca’ in this article.
Why is Malacca a UNESCO World Heritage Site ?
The city centre area is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique cultural and architectural features which developed over hundreds of years of different cultures meeting and mixing in this trading city. Malacca is truly a city that showcases multi-cultural living heritage from the history of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Portuguese, Dutch and British influences in the region. You will notice this in the old buildings in the city centre, in the variety of different foods being offered, and in the unique mix of different cultural groups in the city.
When to visit Malacca ?
While you can visit Malacca any time of year, I visited on a Friday and stayed for one night so that I could experience the Jonker Walk night market, which is only held on Friday and Saturday nights, but the city will also be less busy if you visit on a weekday. Temperatures can reach an average high of 30 degrees year round and the afternoon sun can be quite hot. Rainfall can be high between September to November, so don’t forget an umbrella if you visit during this time !
How much time do you need to visit Malacca ?
Malacca is easy to visit from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur on the bus, and this relaxed, smaller city is a great destination for a fun weekend trip, and can even be visited in a day if you are short on time. I would however recommend at least one day and one night, so that you don’t miss out on evening activities and you don’t feel too rushed !
Here are 10 experiences you can’t miss in Malacca !
1.See the street art of Malacca
You might be surprised by the number of fun and colourful murals and paintings in this small city which adds to the relaxed, hippy vibe, and it is a nice change from the big cities, especially if you’ve just come from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
There are lots of smaller works painted on cafes and guesthouses and some major pieces on a number of riverfront buildings. Don’t miss the murals in the Jonker Walk area sponsored by Kiehl’s to celebrate the heritage of Malaysia.
You can certainly view most of the art by walking along the river bank during the day time, but a river cruise is a great way to get another perspective on the art from the Melaka River. You can also just wander around this small city and see what you find, there are colourful surprises around every corner.
2.Malacca River Cruise
The entire city of Malacca is centred around the river so a cruise is an easy way to get oriented and see some of the street art murals from a different perspective than walking. The cruise passes under several bridges, and you will see both Dutch and Portuguese era colonial buildings along with traditional Malaysian areas. You can also buy tickets which allow you to get on and off the boats at various points along the river, if you want to stop and explore.
An alternative is a night time cruise, which is a fun activity to do after dinner to see all the river side buildings brightly lit up at night.
The river boats have a roof covering but are open on the sides so you can easily take pictures, you can get great views by sitting right up front, but remember to keep yourself safe from the hot sun during the day time. Cruises last about 45 minutes and run every day from around 9 in the morning until 11 at night. You can buy tickets and embark right from the centre of town, about 100 metres south of the Malacca Tourist Information Centre in Dutch Square.
3.Dutch Square or Red Square
The Dutch Square is one of the oldest parts of Malacca and is now the centre of many attractions and tourism activities. It can be easily recognized by the red painted colonial era Dutch style buildings, which include the main ‘Stadthuys’ building where the Dutch governors used to live and Christ Church, which is the oldest Protestant church in the country along with the Queen Victoria fountain from British colonial times and the Red Clock Tower.
The area between the ‘Stadthuys’ and Christ Church is a great place to pick up souvenirs or stop for an ice cream and the Malacca Tourist Information Centre in also located in Dutch Square.
4.Try Local Food in Malacca
Malacca is a great place to try foods from Chinese, Malay and Peranakan traditions. Some notable dishes include chicken rice balls, Nyonya Laksa noodles with chicken and prawns, or fish balls with a curry or satay sauce.
You can also try Satay Celup which is a fondue style experience where you dip your choice of meats, vegetables or tofu into a boiling pot of spicy peanut gravy.
Vegetarians might enjoy pandan pancakes, mango sticky rice, fresh fruit smoothies and anything made from coconut, especially the coconut shakes ! I personally found vegetarian cafes and restaurants a bit hard to find in Malacca, but the Geographer Café is a great choice for vegetarians !
For dessert, try an ice based cendol with coconut milk, green noodles and durian or the traditional Nyonya Kuih (Malay cakes) which are made with glutinous rice or sweet potato and often brightly coloured or filled with palm sugar and rolled in coconut.
5.Take a Trishaw Ride in Malacca
Take a ride around town in one of these brightly coloured carriages, which are often decorated with lights, flowers, sparkling garlands or popular cartoon characters. Sometimes they also have speakers playing loud local pop music to attract attention.
A trishaw ride will typically take you around the main tourist sites of Malacca in about 30 minutes and the driver will provide some commentary. It is a bit of a tourist activity, just agree on the route and price before starting off on your ride. The trishaws are easy to find near the Dutch Square or entrance to the Jonker Walk.
6.Walk down Jonker Street in Malacca
Jonker Street is the main road through the Chinatown area of Malacca, and it is a great place to see heritage houses and grab some food.
This neighbourhood was historically inhabited by Peranakans, whose culture combines Chinese and Malay influences and you can still find antique shops, handmade crafts and textiles along with many souvenir shops and some small galleries are concentrated in this area.
Jonker Street starts directly across the river from the Dutch Square, and there is a bridge you can easily cross over from one side to the other, be aware that the road may be listed by its proper name of ‘Jalan Hang Jebat’ on many maps, even though it is popularly known as Jonker Street.
7.Visit a museum in Malacca
If you are looking to better understand the history and culture of Malacca, there are several museums in the city centre area which explore different topics. Some visitor favorite museums in Malacca are:
1. Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum – The historical home was occupied by four generations of the same family and it highlights the Peranakan identity and culture of Chinese traders who came to Malacca and adopted some local customs.
2. Villa Sentosa Melaka - Located slightly out of the city centre around a 20 minute walk from Dutch Square, this museum allows you to enter inside a 100 year old traditional Malay style house and learn about daily life in the Kampong Morten village area.
3. Melaka History and Ethnography Museum - If you want to learn more about the city of Melaka itself, the Stadthuys in Dutch Square is home to the Melaka History and Ethnography Museum which traces the city’s history from colonial times around 1400 until Malaysian independence in 1957.
4. Flora de la Mar Maritime Museum - this museum inside a replica Portuguese ship is located in Dutch Square and explains the importance of the Strait of Malacca for trading and the history of the Malacca Sultanate.
8.Watch the sunset at the Melaka Straits Mosque
This beautiful building sits on an artificial island in the waters of the Straits of Melaka. Opened in 2006, the Melaka Straits Mosque features a golden dome and stained glass work on the archways, and it lights up once the sun goes down.
You can visit inside either by booking a tour in advance or visiting outside of prayer times and respecting the dress code of having legs, arms and head covered. Sunrise and sunset are considered the best times of day to visit if you want to take pictures outside.
Make your way to the Mosque from the centre of Malacca either by car in about 10 minutes or quite a long walk of about an hour. A great alternative is cycling to the mosque, you can rent a bicycle or join a guided tour.
9.Evening walk along the Melaka River
Once the sun goes down, take a walk along the river to enjoy seeing the different buildings lit up by colourful lights which reflect across the water.
A great advantage of taking a walk at night is avoiding the hot mid-day sun !
If you already went for a walk along the river side during the day, you could do the river cruise at night instead for a fun evening activity.
10.Jonker Walk night market on Fridays and Saturdays
Jonker Street runs through the centre of the Chinatown area and it was once full of antique stores, but now there are a mix of businesses, restaurants, cafés along with tourist shops and chain stores.
On Friday and Saturday night, the road is closed to vehicle traffic and the streets are lined with vendors selling food, clothes, toys, jewellery, art and more. While is it a bit touristy, it is fun to be out among the crowd, trying different street food snacks, and you might catch a dance performance or a karaoke competition.
Malacca attractions, places of interest and best things to do
Now that you know about the interesting places, main attractions and things to do in Malacca, you can start planning your next trip to this historic city in Malaysia.
Start your day in the Dutch Square area in the centre of town to see historic architecture and get oriented to the city on a trishaw tour or a boat cruise of the Melaka River.
Later, walk along the river side to appreciate the colourful street art then take a walk down Jonker Street to see the historic homes and sample some local dishes. Choose to stop by a museum to learn more about the history of this truly multi-cultural city.
In the evening, watch the sunset over the water at the Melaka Straits Mosque, go for an evening walk along the river side or explore the Jonker Street night market, if you happen to stay in town on a Friday or Saturday night.
Visiting Malacca for solo travellers
I visited Malacca alone, and I think Malacca is a great destination for solo travellers, there are a few hostels in town and I stayed in Ringo’s Foyer Guesthouse Hostel. I was able to easily meet other backpackers right when I arrived and I also took part in the cycling tour offered by the hostel to go see the Melaka Straits Mosque during sunset. The city feels very safe, and I found that local people were very helpful and welcoming, I got lost trying to find my hostel and several people pointed me in the right direction.
Is Malacca worth visiting ?
I certainly think Malacca is worth visiting on a trip to Malaysia for at least a day or two, especially if you are already travelling between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
If you are just staying in Kuala Lumpur, Malacca is a very reasonable distance away as a destination for a day trip and provides a relaxing contrast to the big city of Kuala Lumpur.
Read More: How to plan an easy day trip to Melaka from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur
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What is there to do in the historic city of Malacca ? Check out these 10 interesting experiences to plan your next trip to Malaysia !