Melaka/Malacca, Malaysia Travel Guide – (Part 1)

Malacca is one of Malaysia’s coolest cities to visit. This charming UNESCO World Heritage city, located at two hours drive from Kuala Lumpur City is rich in history, culture, colonial buildings, ancient landmarks, family-friendly attractions, and yummy local cuisine.

Hence, people head to this city for all sorts of reasons. If you enjoy history, you’ll love checking out the historical buildings around in the city. The best thing is that these places are still maintaining in good shape. Then there’s Jonker Street, which turns into a lively market at night.

Recommend to at least stay for two nights, for you to have enough time to see the old places, try the tasty local food, have fun shopping at the market, and even take a nice walk along the pretty river.

St. Paul’s Church

Located near the remains of the A’Famosa Fort at the summit of St. Paul’s Hill, the St. Paul’s Church is another iconic historical building reflecting transformation from Portugese to Dutch rule. Originally built in 1521, it is the oldest standing church building in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, it’s a refreshing spot to visit when climbing up a steep flight of stairs. You will get gorgeous city view when you reach the top! Exciting activity with kids, to spend energy while learning great history and able to witness beautiful architecture of the city.

Address : 1935, Jln Kota, Banda Hilir, 75000 Melaka (map coordinator).

Red Square Melaka | Dutch Square

Red Square Melaka is one of the most popular tourist attractions by locals in Malacca. This area is iconic because of red buildings dominate it. This area includes the Christ Church Melaka, the History and Ethnography Museum, the Tan Beng Swee clock tower, and the Victoria Fountain. You can even find the Trickshaw decorated lively, an unique local transportation ready to take you anywhere.

Tip : FOC visit is only on weekdays, on weekend and holidays ticket range from RM2 to RM4 per person.

Address : Banda Hilir, 75200 Malacca (map coordinator)

Melaka River

Make sure to walk to Melaka River which just around the city, to immerse into river beauty where Melaka was given the title ‘Venice Of The East’ back in old days. The river is very important part of Melaka’s rich history, inviting international traders from all over the world back in the 1500s. Today, it is lined with many little shops, houses, cafes, restaurants, and buildings lived with creative graffiti and street art. You may choose to slow down and relax to have dine-in any cafe there to enjoy local foods or just a cup of local style “kopi” (coffee) while catching beautiful scenery around you.

Tip : You can choose to do River Cruise for a different view and scenery of river or simply spend some time strolling down the banks to have equal fun. For map coordinator, please click here.

Menara Taming Sari Tower

Ever thought to have one glance full view of historical places from top? Yes, you can simply do that now as Melaka has built Menara Taming Sari Tower since 2008. Get aboard a glass cabin and ride to the top of Menara Taming Sari, an iconic gyro tower (landmark of Melaka) with a revolving observatory that soars 110m above ground. Features a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the city and catch sight of iconic landmarks such as Pulau Melaka, the Maritime Museum, the Melaka River, and more from the top. Recommend also to visit in the evening or at night if you’d like to see the city come to life once the sky dims and the lights come on. Tower is opening for visit from 10am to 11pm daily.

Address : Jln Merdeka, Banda Hilir, 75000 Melaka (map coordinator).

A’Famosa Water Park

For family and group visitors, this aquatic playground is surely a fun place of activities which caters for adults and kids alike. Swim through 11 exciting rides and attractions here from game pools to twisting water slides, water playgrounds for the little ones, and more. A’Famosa Water Park is home to one of the tallest, longest, and widest ‘ice cream’ rides in Southeast Asia too. Don’t missed this exciting place, if you are water playground fans. Check ticket from here, or comparing with few online sellers across before making final purchase.

Tip : Applying sunscreen is a must, especially you will definitely spending hours on exciting water games under good and hot weather.

Address : Jalan Kemus / Sempang Ampat, Simpang Ampat, 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka (map coordinator).

A’Famosa Safari Wonderland

Animal lovers and family travellers, not fancy with getting wet and too extreme on waterpark, then A’Famosa Safari Wonderland is surely your place. Located within the A’Famosa Resort. Chances of getting close and personal to towering giraffes, majestic tigers, elegant flamingos, cheeky monkey squirrels, playful monkeys, and more in this spacious safari-style zoo! Other than playing withh wide variety of animals, the safari’s daily schedule is packed with multi-animal shows, feeding times, and fascinating performances.

Tip : Mosquito repellent is necessary especially for younger child, you may also want to pre-apply sunscreen bring along mini fan on your visit.

Address : Jalan Kemus / Sempang Ampat, Simpang Ampat, 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka (map coordinator).

Jonker Street

No one can said you had visited to Melaka without completing Jonker Walk at Jonker Street. From food, museum to shopping modernly and traditionally that all you can see them here. At day time, you can get traditional local food such as chicken rice ball, cendol and laksa to modern cosy cafe for authentical culinary experience. At night, you can experience unique street food, knick-knacks, musical instruments, clothes, local handicrafts, to souvenirs too.

Tip : Mini fan, sunglass and umbrella, make sure you have them all on your visit. Hoping from shop to shop or street to street, could be very hot and sweaty too (but is worth it!)

Address : Jalan Hang Kasturi, Melaka (map coordinator).

Mamee Jonker House

Kids or even adults would love this place! Mark this quirky Mamee Jonker House with its cheery yellow exterior and huge Mamee signages. A house that not only selling Mamee products, crunchy snack from childhood time, instant noodles, a gift shop, a cafe and also a restaurant too. Adults can shop for childhood snack while younger kids can participate in workshop to personalised your very own style of Mamee Cup Noodle to bring home!

Tip : This building is not only a shop selling Mamee products, but also a restaurant you can have breakfast, lunch or tea time. Opening from 10am to 5.30pm, air-conditioning most importantly (yay!).

Address : 46 & 48, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka (map coordinator).

Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum

While walking along Jonker Street, you will noticed the building served as a home for four generations of a local family and has today been transformed into a well-preserved house museum carefully maintained in honour of the Peranakan spirit and culture. The beautiful Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum is one of many pre-World War II Peranakan houses in Melaka. The museum was established in 1986 by Chan Kim Lay, the fourth generation of his family to reside in the large house built by his great-grandfather in 1896 in Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock.

Tip : Entrance ticket is between RM13 to RM25, you can opt to join guided tour on your interest. Taking picture is not allow in the museum.

Address : 48-50, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka (map coordinator).

The Shore Sky Tower

Climb 163 metres and be greeted by panoramic views of Melaka from the open-air observation deck perched at the top of The Shore Sky Tower! This tallest building in Melaka is built with glass-floored sky deck with breathtaking views for up to 50 kilometers in every direction. To visit in the evening to witness a spectacular sunset from the top – you’ll also get to watch the city come alive with lights. After fun walk along Jonker Street, you probably want to drop by here for breezy windy and refreshing air. Check here for ticket price.

Tip : If you afraid of height, make sure you got accompany and prepared for the famous glass-floored sky deck.

Address : 193, Pinggiran @ Sungai Melaka, Jalan Persisiran Bunga Raya, 75100, Melaka (map coordinator).

Upside Down House Gallery Melaka

If you are more to indoor person, The Upside Down House Melaka is a fascinating inverted version of a modern Malaysian home. Built by a director with 10 years worth of industry experience, this family-friendly attraction is set within a quaint two-storey shophouse and will amaze you with its life-sized gravity-defying props and decoration in multiple settings. It’s not only instragram-able picture post but you will definitely getting very fun and interesting play while exploring in the gallery.

Tip : Opening hours may vary between weekdays and weekend. We suggest to check prior visit to avoid disappointment. Weekdays operating hour is from 10am to 7pm, weekend opens from 10am to 9pm.

Address : Plaza Mahkota, G12 & G14 & G16, Jalan PM7, Banda Hilir, 75000, Melaka (map coordinator).

Tan Kim Hock Product Centre

For last stop of your trip, pop by the Tan Kim Hock Product Centre to get your souvenirs! This local famous brand shop offers over 100 local food products under its roof and is a popular shopping place for locals and tourists. Plenty of rows and rows of goods stacked high with treats like boxes of durian dodol, coconut candy, gula melaka, cincalok, sambal ikan bilis, and more to shop and explore around. If you’re a fan of durian, head to the shop’s durian cendol stall right outside the shopping area for a refreshing bowl of cendol topped with a generous lump of red beans and durian paste. No one could resist!

Address : 157, Jln Laksamana Cheng Ho, 75000 Melaka (map coordinator).

There are too many unique and fun attractions in Melaka we would like to share with you, will be updating post from time to time. Stay tune!

Coming posts, we will be sharing must-eat food in Melaka and we are putting together a best 3days 2nights itinerary for you, sit tight and scroll – we have compiled and arranged!