Getting around Melaka

Overview
getting-around-melaka2

As any other historical city, Malacca is very interesting, original and special. It offers delicious local cuisine, amazing attraction places and many astonishing photo shoot points. No matter how curious or eager you can be, this state will fulfill your whims. If you choose Malacca as your tourist destination you won’t be disappointed. As soon as you reached this city, don’t waste your time, just find a conveyance and explore, learn, eat, drink, have fun and feel Melaka.

Whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or in a group, the best way to get around the prime of Malacca is on foot. First of all visit Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum and Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum. These 2 places will tell you everything about Malaccan history. It is very important to know its past. The good part about Melaka is almost 70% of the major attractions are within 1km radius. There is no better way to have a good feel about Melaka by walking. It’s also a good free way to burn calorie without too exhausted.

If you are running out of time, rent a bicycle or join a cycling tour group. Some hotels offer bicycle rental for their guests. Each corner in Malacca denotes history, but at the same time, it is a modern city. The drawback of cycling within the city area is there is limited tracks for bicycle so sharing roads with cars and buses may become a bit dangerous. Also, do take note that some attractions in the hill side like St. Paul’s Hill are not reachable in bike.

When you reached Malacca River, try to look for Muara Jetty, which is next to Quayside Heritage Centre. This is the where the river cruise journey starts. In the 45-min sightseeing tour, you’ll cruise past historic buildings, old warehouses(godowns) and graffiti art on the buildings. Melaka River Cruise is one of the best ways to see the city’s beauty. If you haven’t got enough of the river view, pick a restaurant by the river and see how the environment changes color when the sky turns dark.

An unusual transport within Melaka is a trishaw. It is a small vehicle with a pedal and three wheels. You can find them at the Dutch Square. This non-pollute vehicle driver and at the same time guide, will acquaint you with every touristic point in the city.

No doubt a car is the faster way to explore a city. For most visitors who wants to explore Melaka outside the prime city area, hail for a taxi and the driver will take you anywhere you want. If you prefer chartered taxi services, they are available at the end of Jalan Kee Ann. A taxi can carry up to 4 passengers. As most taxi drivers don’t use meter, it is best to negotiate the price before hopping in the taxi. You are being ripped off if a ride less than 5 mins is charged RM15. A personal car is the most convenient vehicle. You have everything you may need at hand, especially when you travel with kids.

Any transport vehicle you choose will help you to explore the beautiful and unique Malacca.


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2 Responses to Getting around Melaka

  1. Anne Liltved says:

    I have tried to find a bus from Malacca to Mersing on July 8, but it seems as if they are all fully booked. Could it still be a chance to find bus transport or do we need to take a taxi (family of five)?

    • Go Admin says:

      You may want to search for the bus availability at Easybook and see if you can secure the seats. If bus transport is not possible, taking a taxi is an option.


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Best 10 Malacca Tourist Attractions you should not miss

There are plenty of tourist attractions in Malacca and the fact that the city is a UNESCO heritage site, every street and corner became an attraction for visitors. People that have visited Malacca would tell you why it is one of the best places to visit in South East Asia. Whether you want to go for fun, foodie venture, historical tour or natural beauty, Malacca is one of the best stations in Malaysia.

Best 10 Malacca Tourist Attractions

There are plenty of Malacca attractions for tourist to visit see. We have compiled list of the best 10 Malacca tourist attractions, which should not be miss.

1. Melaka Wonderland Theme Park

For fun lovers, Melaka Wonderland Theme Park is the best Malacca tourist attraction. You would find one of the best theme park of Asia in here. It is located in the area of Ayer Keroh. You would not feel any less entertained than any of other theme parks. The clean blue water in the ponds and pools will wash away your worries and you would never regret putting Melaka Wonderland on the top of your list. Slide, twirl, jump and get thrilled in Melaka and be a cheery child again!

Read more about Melaka Wonderland Theme Park

2. The Stadthuys

When back from Malaysia, you will surely like to tell your buddies that you actually visited a seventeenth century building; The Stadthuys in Melaka. It is one of the Malacca tourist attractions for history lovers while not the only one. It is said that it is the oldest structure of Dutch architecture that survived in Melaka. The colonial time structure lives in the shape of gigantic walls, wide windows and heavy doors. The reddish brown, wooden-iron structure is the place to visit if you want to see oldest Malacca buildings.

Among all Malacca tourist attractions, this one should not be missed. The picture of The Stadthuys can be seen in plenty of postcards in Melaka as well.

Read more about Stadthuys Melaka

3. A Famosa Fort

Can’t tell if your picture with A Famosa Fort where a cannon on your right will be most liked or the one with the cannon on your left. But the A Famosa Fort trip is going to be fun and your buddies will love to comment on your pictures at A Famosa Fort. Reason? The fort got history, sight, location and architecture. It is sixteenth century building that survived only enough to tell you where the fort stood. A Famosa Fort reminds of the Portuguese rule in the country. The only thing the fort misses till today is; A picture with you.

Read more about A Famosa Fort

4. Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

Probably among the first Chinese to enter Malacca, and introduced a culture that will mix with Malay’s to give birth to a unique and celebrated culture of Chinese-Malays or the Baba Nyonya. The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is one of the finest depiction of culture of the Chinese Malay people. You would love to see the art, architecture, furniture, style and bridal rooms of the culture that are still saved in the museum.

Read more about Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

5. Melaka Zoo

I love the way my Chinese friend calls it an animal garden. The Malacca Zoo offers same species of animals you would not find anywhere else in the world. There are no two headed dogs or four headed snakes. What makes Melaka Zoo Ayer Keroh specialty is to offer an environment where animal moves freely and yet providing safe environment to the visitors as well. Seriously, I don’t like talking to animals with them behind the bars. Animals are no prisoners! You would love the stalls in the zoo too and will certainly appreciate a guided tour.

For animal lovers, Melaka Zoo is a must visit tourist attractions in Malacca.

Read more about Melaka Zoo

6. Bukit China

The China Hill in Melaka is home to a number of graves of Chinese ancestors in Malaysia. At first sight, you won’t believe that it is a graveyard. The reason is that the greaves are spread at an area and the graves are not simply pile of rocks. They hold memorials of the ancestors. There are around 12,500 graves. People jog here since the scenery is good and the area is green and fresh.

7. Butterfly Reptile Sanctuary

Malacca Butterfly Reptile Sanctuary is a serious endeavor. You will find here the cutest parrots, the most colorful big size butterflies and the haunting thick snakes. The sanctuary also called Taman Rama Rama, offers you view of the best crocodiles in the town! A Must visit if you doubt it and again a must visit Malacca attractions if you believe it.

8. Jonker Walk

If you have been to Malacca before then you probably took a walk in the famous Jonker Street once or twice. You also bought something from the street or ate from one of the local restaurants. The street is so popular among the tourists that the local authorities have made an attraction by the name of Jonker Walk. If you are visiting Malacca then you should experience Jonker Walk in the famous Jonker Street.

The street became live mostly past sunset and that’s the best time to visit this local attraction. There are plenty of stalls on both side of the street selling various stuff. You will find a lot of souvenirs as well and the local food.

Read more about Jonker Walk Melaka

9. Menara Taming Sari

One hundred and ten (110) meters tall tower, the Menara Taming Sari Melaka is a great Malacca tourist attractions for those that love to see how the city looks at a glance. The Tower offers a 360 degree view allowing you to see different places, their locations and distances. Operational since 2008, the tower is visited by most of tourists at night because the city turns into a very mystical place at night as seen from above.

Read more about Menara Taming Sari

10. Maritime Museum Melaka

You would find another Melaka attraction a little ahead of the Stadthuys. It is the Maritime Museum that offers you model of ship that does not belong to this century. You have probably seen such ships in movies but here you will come to know that this model is Portuguese and the ship is replica of ship that sank in the coast of Malacca. This model is 34 meters high and 8 meters wide. The Museum preserves the history of Malacca, particularly its maritime history.

Read more about Maritime Museum Melaka

Please let us know what do you think of best 10 Malacca tourist attractions list. Share your experience by adding comments below.

Photo Credit: Phalinn Ooi

Malacca Malaysia – A must visit UNESCO world heritage site

Malacca Malaysia heritage did not remain unnoticed by the appreciating eyes of UNESCO. In 2008, Malacca was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site along with Georgetown Penang. There are plenty of heritage sites, ruins of fort, colonial buildings, temples, churches and old architecture that can be found in Malacca.

History of Malacca Malaysia

Malacca Malaysia was not historically connected to other countries through traded networks alone. In late 1500, there was a huge interest of Chinese emperor in Melaka due to it’s strategical location for trading. The Chinese migrated to Malacca and their inter-marriages with the local Malay people start a new generation known as “Baba Nyona”.

In 1511, Malacca was conquered by Portugese followed by Dutch in 1641. In 1795, Malacca was handed over to British India Company. Later in 1826 it came under British administration and in 1827 it became a British colony. In 1956, Tunku Abdul Rahman became first prime minister of Malaysia and in 1957, Federation of Malay was formed.

Malacca Malaysia was built several times and destroyed too. All the rulers have left their footprints in the area which add to the beauty of Malacca. What could not be destroyed was its pure air and walkable land. There is much more to see in Malacca besides the water and parks. The tourists are excited to see the Dutch Square and miles of area.

Cultural Hub

Melaka is culturally similar to Malaysian island Georgetown, on Penang. Thus the two share UNESCO World Heritage status. Melaka touches shipping routes that connects Indian Ocean with the Far East. Malacca experiences monsoonal winds and thus the weather is very pleasant during monsoon season. Historically, visitors came to Malacca from India, Arab, China and Iran for trade purposes. It was a hub of traders for exchanging silk, spices and dyes. Every trader and every nation that came to Melaka added some value in it that enhances its grace till today.

Heritage Sites


You will find many historical buildings while roaming in Malacca like Churches, Ruins of Forts, Palaces, Temples and Graveyards. The Melaka administration has remarkably saved its heritage and apart from destroyed centuries old forts, the Dutch, Chinese, Malay and Muslim buildings are nicely preserved.

The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is one such site that offers an insight to the lifestyle, dressing and rituals of the old Chinese Malay people. The Heeren heritage house was a warehouse that today serves as a guesthouse. The Sultanate Palace Malacca is another heritage currently being used as a museum.

There are many other heritage sites which attract tourists including Christ Church Melaka, St. Paul’s Hill, the Stadthuys, A Famosa Fort, St. John Fort, Cheng Hong Ten Temple, St Peter’s Church, Maritime Museum others.

It is also recommended to do one of the activities for the heritage exploration in Melaka:

  • Explore central Malacca on foot
  • Take a trishaw ride
  • Take a Melaka river cruise ride

Read More: Top 10 historical places to visit in Melaka

Popular food in Melaka

Tourists seldom forget what they ate while travelling. You will also collect some great memories of Malay, Chinese and Nyonya food from Melaka. The popular food of Melaka includes Chicken rice balls, Satays, Cellups (local deserts), Coconut shakes, Noodles, Soups and Fried Fish. Melaka people love their half cooked seafood dishes dipped in Satays. The one-bite puffs are great and fabulously fresh confectionery food item of Melaka.

Night life in Malacca

Walking in the street markets of Melaka is best night time activity. You would love the walk in Jonker Street and Jonker walk where you can shop around on the stalls selling things from artifacts to food, clothing and jewelry. This is one of the best places to buy a gift for your family and friends as well.


Photo Credit: Symphonex