Looking for the best things to do and places to visit in Malacca? This historic city, known for its rich blend of cultures and colonial architecture, is a must-visit destination in Malaysia for history buffs, food lovers, and casual explorers alike.
From wandering through its charming streets to exploring ancient and historical landmarks, every corner of Malacca tells a story worth experiencing.
As someone who has explored the Malacca’s attractions, we can help you discover the highlights that truly capture the essence of this UNESCO heritage city.
Curious about where to start? Let’s dive into the best things to do and places to visit in Malacca!
Top 16 Amazing Things to Do in Malacca, UNESCO City
Table of Contents
Malacca Attractions: Top Things to Do and Best Places to Visit
1. Go Museum Hopping
Several museums are located within walking distance of the city of Malacca. Learn about the local history, culture, tradition, and various community and ethnic groups.
The interesting ones include the Prison Museum, the Submarine Museum, the Maritime Museum, and the Royal Press Museum. The entry price for each museum varies. Check the timings from the official website.
Here’s a comprehensive list of museums you could visit in Malacca.
- Malacca Youth Museum
- History and Ethnography Museum
- Maritime Museum
- Royal Malaysian Navy Museum
- Malacca Islamic Museum
- People’s Museum
- Malacca Stamps Museum
- Malay & Islamic World Museum
- Governer’s Museum
- Malacca Literature Museum
- Malacca Educational Museum
- Hang Tuah Museum
- Submarine Museum
- Cheng Ho’s Cultural Museum
- Jayanagar Knife Story Museum
- Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
Did you know? When the city was under Portuguese administration, its name was “Malaca.” Under the Dutch administration, it was “Malakka” or “Malacka.” Under British rule, it was “Malacca.” Now, people spell Malacca or Melaka.
2. Get a Bird’s Eye View of Malacca
Taming Sari Tower is a 360° gyroscopic viewing tower that provides a breathtaking view above 80 m. The 7-minute ride offers a spectacular panoramic view of Malacca from the 43rd floor. The revolving glass cabin has a passenger capacity of 80 people. Do not miss this attraction during your visit to Malacca.
- Timings: 10 AM – 11 PM daily
- Ticket price: RM 23 for adults and RM 15 for children. Show your MyKad for discounts.
Purchase your tickets to Taming Sari Tower online for the best deal!
The Shore Sky Tower also offers 360° aerial views of the city from the glass deck on the 43rd floor. A telescope is also placed at this level to get a closer view of your favorite spots. The glass floor gives a thrilling view.
- Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM, last admission at 9:30 PM
- Ticket price: RM 25 for adults during weekdays, RM 35 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. RM 18 is for children, senior citizens, and handicapped people on weekdays, and RM 25 is for weekends and public holidays.
- Extra RM 40 for taking pictures on the glass bridge.
3. Take a Trishaw ride
The three-wheeled rickshaws, called Trishaw, can be spotted near Stadthuys. With its vibrant lights (after sunset), decoration, and music, a trishaw ride is one of the best things to do and enjoy Malacca in a unique way.
You can view all the prime hotspots in Malacca’s historic city center from the comfort of a trishaw.
- Cost: RM 25 for a shorter ride for 15 minutes and RM 45 for a long ride for 30 minutes.
- Timings: Available throughout the day from 10 AM – 12 PM
4. Watch Cultural Performances
The Malacca people are a close-knit community who practice Islam and are steeped in traditions. The locals perform cultural performances every Saturday in front of the Maritime Museum (Flor De Lamar) at 8 PM, 9 PM, and 10 PM.
Watch the professional dancers dressed up traditionally while serving the local music and dance flavor.
Do not miss visiting the Maritime Museum on Saturday nights for an epic cultural performance!
5. Shop at Jonker Street
Jonker Street Night Market becomes a flea market for food and shopping enthusiasts every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 PM to midnight. On other days, the small street vendors do not set up the stalls.
Jonker Street is well known for its art galleries, food outlets, antique shops, and many more. It is a place where the culture and traditions meet the vibrancy that feels native to Malacca.
6. Cruise the Malacca River
Malacca is also referred to as the Venice of the East. Visiting the historic city of Malacca is incomplete without taking a 45-minute cruise along the Malacca River. Trade and commerce thrived along the river back in the day.
Cruising on the Malacca river is a must-do activity in Malacca.
To know everything about the river cruise, including the water taxi services, refer to the water cruising in Malacca blog.
7. Visit Masjid Selat Malacca
Built in 2006, the Masjid Selat Malacca is a river-side mosque. With a mix of Middle Eastern and Malay architecture, it looks like a floating structure when the water level is high.
The mosque compound has a 30 m tall minaret that also serves as a lighthouse. Just outside the mosque is a viewpoint from where you can see the full view of this beautiful mosque.
Other noteworthy historic places of worship include Kampung Hulu mosque and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.
- Timings: 9 AM – 12:30 PM, 2:30 PM – 4:15 PM, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM during weekdays, while during weekends, 9 AM – 10:30 AM, 3 PM – 4:15 PM, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Entry Fee: Free
If you plan to visit the mosque, kindly adhere to the stipulated dress code. Entry to the mosque will be prohibited if your dress does not cover from your shoulders to your knees. You can buy a robe/ scarf and sarong for RM 5 at the entrance.
8. Stroll Along the Picturesque Selat Avenue
Located en route to the Masjid Selat Malacca, Selat Avenue is a vibrant food court and live music spot nestled between the Riviera Hotel and Kaizen Hotels on Malacca Island.
Established in 2022, the pastel walls make the street a paradise for avid Instagrammers and photography enthusiasts. It is a hidden gem and still not known to many visitors.
While the food options are diverse and tantalizing, the price is also higher. Although the food court is closed during the day, you can still roam the street, take nice pictures, and have a great time.
- Food court timings: 6 PM to 12:30 AM, closed on Wednesdays.
9. Admire the Mural Arts
The city of Malacca is so colorful, with several murals. Along the riverfront, the walls of cafes and homes are painted with colorful art.
We also visited the Orangutan House, the residence and studio of artist Charles Cham, who creates magnificent art based on the concept of Yin-Yang.
Book the best private historic Malacca tour with local lunch!
10. Stay in a Malacca Traditional House
‘Rumah Melayu Malacca’ or Malacca Malay House is the traditional style of Malay residence used even today. The architecture of the traditional houses was mainly adopted from traditional Chinese architecture.
These houses are built with bricks or wood and have a stilt and a unique sloping roof. A few of these houses accept guests and serve as homestays. Below are a few traditional Malacca houses where you can stay.
11. Experience Malacca Duck Tours
Unlike the name, the ducks are amphibious vehicles that offer a unique experience of traveling on both land and sea in Malaysia.
Malacca has the most technologically advanced flock of ducks in the world. These amphibious vehicles show a tour of the prime spots in the city for about 45-60 minutes.
The tickets can be purchased from Mamata Taming Sari (Kiosk).
- Timing: 9.00 AM – 6.00 PM
- Cost: For MyKad holders, the cost is RM 42 for adults, RM 25 for Children between 2 and 12, and RM 30 for seniors above 55. For non-MyKad holders, the cost is RM 48 for adults and RM 30 for children between 2 and 12.
Historic Places To Visit in Malacca
The following are the five historic monuments in Malacca City that are a must-visit.
The UNESCO heritage city of Malacca was once a significant trade center in the east. The colonial era started when the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511 from the early Chinese and Malay Sultanates, followed by the Dutch and the British.
Book the best private historic Malacca tour with local lunch!
12. St. Paul’s Church, Malacca
The St. Paul’s Church is a chapel built by the Catholic Portuguese at the summit of St. Paul’s Hill or Malacca Hill in 1521. It is also known as the Chapel of Mother of God (Madre de Deus) or Our Lady of the Hill (Nossa Senhora do Oiteiro).
Today, only the ruins of the church remain. There are many tombstones on the hill. From the top, you can also see an aerial view of Malacca.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: No restrictions. Go early to avoid the crowd.
13. Porta De Santiago (Kota A’Famosa)
A prominent landmark in Malacca is the Kota A’Famosa, a Portuguese name that translates to “The Famous.” It is one of the few oldest surviving remnants of European architecture in Asia.
It was built by the Portuguese Admiral Alfonso de Albuquerque during the Portuguese invasion in 1511. The fortress was built to consolidate their gains in Malacca after they defeated the armies of the Malacca Sultanate.
The gates of the A’Famosa bear the logo of the Dutch company VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie), which was inscribed on the gates in 1641.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: No restrictions.
14. The Stadthuys (Red Square)
Stadthuys meaning ‘The Town Hall’ – was built by the Dutch in the 1650s after they took over Malacca from the Portuguese in 1641.
Although many changes were made after the British took over, the features of Dutch architecture, such as the thick stone walls, large windows, and doors, remain intact to this day. It also remains one of the oldest surviving European structures in the Far East of Asia.
The Christ Church, just opposite the Stadthuys building, is the oldest Protestant Church in Malaysia. Construction took 12 years and was completed in 1753.
The church has 8-foot-long ceiling beams, which are cut in one piece and constructed without any joints. The handmade pews are said to be original and date to about 200 years ago. Do visit the Stadthuys on your trip to Malacca.
- Timings: 9 AM – 5:30 PM, closed on Mondays.
- Entry Fee: Free
15. Malacca Sultanate Palace
Today’s Malacca Sultanate Palace was rebuilt based on annotations in the ancient ‘Sejarah Melayu’ (Malay Annals) and in consultation with the Malaysian Historical Society (Malacca Branch) and the Artists’ Association of Malacca.
The building you see today is a replica of the palace from the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah (1456-1477).
The palace has a multi-tiered roof, with the first tier being the longest, measuring 246 feet long and 41 feet wide. It is supported by four central pillars and other forms of reinforcement.
The construction materials consist of local timber, such as Resak, Chengal, and Nyatoh, and the roof is made of Belian wood from Sarawak.
The walls are decorated with beautiful carvings of floral and plant motifs, including the Ketam Guri.
Among the interesting exhibits in the museum are the dioramas of the Balairong Seri, the Royal Bedchamber, the fight between Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, and other exhibition materials such as a variety of weaponry, traditional costumes, ceramics, and brassware.
- Timings: 9 AM – 12:15 PM, 2:45 – 5:30. The palace is closed on Mondays, and the counter closes at 4:30 PM.
- Entry Fee: For MyKad holders, RM 10 is for adults, and RM 5 is for children. For non-MyKad holders, RM 20 is for adults, and RM 10 is for children.
16. St. John’s Fort (Kota St John)
Located 2 km from Malacca city, St. John’s Fort is perched on a small hill.
The chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist, which the Portuguese built on the hill, was destroyed in 1628/ 29. After that, the Dutch built the fort with laterite and bricks. It is surrounded by four cannons facing different directions.
The view from the fort is too good to miss, making it a must-visit place in Malacca.
There are no shops or restaurants in the vicinity, so make sure to pack some snacks and water, especially if you have kids.
There are no entry fees or timing restrictions for the fort, but we recommend you visit during the daytime.
There are a lot of monkeys in the area. Keep your snacks and belongings safe, as they are notorious.
How to Reach Malacca?
By Air
Malacca International Airport (Airport Code: BKZ, 11 km) is the nearest airport. From there, you can hop on a bus or taxi to the city center.
By Train
The nearest railway station is Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, 38 km from Malacca. Taxis and buses from Tampin can be used to reach Malacca. But, it is not recommended as the train station is simple too far from the Malacca city.
Book a private transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca and save the hassle!
By Bus
Buses is the cheapest and easiest way to reach Malacca. Buses run frequently between the TBS bus station in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru to Malacca.
A 2-3 hour journey will cost anywhere from RM 10 – RM 25. From the Malacca Bus Sentral, you can walk to the historical city or take a Grab to reach the city center.
Best Time to Visit Malacca
Malacca can be visited at any time of the year. Malacca is vibrant and energetic during the weekends. On Mondays, all the museums and prime spots remain closed.
Book the most sold half-day Malacca tour from Kuala Lumpur (with lunch)!
Commuting Around Malacca
The historic spots are easily walkable, so it is easy to roam around on foot. Local bus services operate from the Malacca Sentral bus station to the city center. Bicycles can also be rented at some guest houses and shops.
Parking Facilities
A few mini streets have a narrow lane where only one four-wheeler can pass. People usually park their vehicles by the side of the road.
Paid parking services are available at certain places across Malacca. If you plan to travel by car, check the parking space availability before booking confirmation.
Hotels in Malacca
Since Malacca is a popular tourist destination, numerous accommodation options are available. From budget hostels to luxury hotels, you can find them all. We stayed at Sleep Here Hostel, Melaka ($). Here are a few other recommendations.
- Thian Siong Inn ($)
- Ola Hostel ($)
- Yote 28 ($$)
- Old Town Guest House ($$)
- Christee Suites Hotel ($$$)
- Liu Men Melaka ($$$)
Restaurants in Malacca
Malacca has several restaurants that serve Indian, Malay, Italian, French, and Chinese cuisines. On weekends, you can also try different types of street food at the Jonker Street Night Market.
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If you have any queries, comment below. We are happy to help you!
Also, tell us how many places are you planning to visit in Malacca in the comments section below!
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