How to Spend a Day In Malacca

Malacca (or ‘Melaka’ which is now the official spelling) is one of my favourite places in Malaysia. It’s rich in culture, food, history, art and a beautiful sunset. Located along the southwest coast of Malaysia, Malacca is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site for Culture and the birthplace for modern Malaysia, making it a place not to miss!

I was very lucky to spend two incredible weeks in Malaysia with Malacca being my base camp! I was shown around Malacca by a close family friend who lives there and can’t wait to share some of my favourite places with you so you can plan your perfect Malacca day trip!

I’ll be sharing with you a guide on spending one day in Malacca but you can pick and choose which places you want to see from the guide or squeeze all of it into your day. It’s up to you!

Morning

Christ Church and Stadthuy’s 

This is the most famous spot of Malacca and I had no idea at the time just how popular it was! Found in the center of the Dutch Square (or Red Square as some call it), the Church is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia and is worth a visit, whether you go inside or just stroll around the outside square. 

Around the square, you will also find Stadthuy’s (the huge red building near the Church) making it easy to explore the two together. It is believed that the Stadthuy’s is the oldest surviving Dutch building in South East Asia, making it another place not to miss! It has been converted into a museum so you have the option to pop in and explore. 

Tip: Go early morning so you can take some awesome pictures without the crowds. During the day it can get pretty busy!

Duration: Exploring the outside square doesn’t take very long. If you decide to go into the Museum, give yourself an hour to explore.

Price: The outside area and the Church are free to visit. The Museum costs 10 RM per adult and is open from 9.00 am to 5.30 pm.

St Paul’s Church and Famosa Fort

Once you’ve explored the Dutch Square, it’s time to explore St Paul’s Church, another must-see. This church was built in 1521 and is the oldest church building in South East Asia! Amazing right?! This was a little bit of a climb up the hill but trust me, it is worth it as you get to see some epic views of Malacca! 

Fomosa Fort is super close to St Paul’s Church, being only about a 30-second walk! Famosa is a former fortress and one of the oldest European remains in Southeast Asia, so deffo not one to miss! 

Tip: Climbing up the hill is much harder when the sun hits you, so try doing this as early as possible.

Duration: About 1 hour. You may be a little quicker or longer, but I suggest taking your time and enjoying those gorgeous Malacca views. 

Price: Free!

Sultanate Palace Museum

This is about a 5-minute walk from Famosa Fort to the beautiful Sultante Palace museum. The Palace is a wooden replica of the Palace the Sultan stayed in the 15th century. 

I wasn’t able to pop inside the museum as it was closed, but for all you history lovers I really recommend seeing this, especially the Forbidden Gardens that are part of the Palace. 

Tip: Similar to the previous places, you want to come in the morning to get some amazing pictures. If you visit on a Saturday or Sunday you may even get to see the changing of the guards which takes place every 2 hours starting from 11.30 am.

Duration: 1 hour if visiting inside

Price: For the inside Palace and Gardens it is 2 RM (although some websites state 5 RM) and is open Tuesday-Sunday 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Head to Menara Taming Sari for Views of Malacca

The Menara Taming Sari is 110 meters tall and rotates 360 degrees giving you panoramic views of Malacca. The only downside is it is too quick being only 7 minutes long!

Having said that, if you’re a sucker for a good view like me, then I highly recommend this! It ended up being one of my favourite parts to see in Malacca.

We managed to watch the sunset whilst on here which was amazing to see, so that could also be an option for ya!

Duration: 7 Minutes – Open 10am to 11pm (but last admission is 10pm).

Price: Tickets start from 21.70 RM per adult. We walked in on the day with no queue but it all depends on if you travel during peak time or off-peak!

Grab A Bite To Eat

After that grab a bite to eat and get some fuel in you ready for the rest of the day!

Malacca is known for its food, so if you are a huge foodie then this is the place for you! Malacca is a mixture of Malay, Indian and Chinese cuisines – you just can’t get better than that – ah my mouth is already watering!

My favourite places to eat were at:

Jonker Street: There are plenty of cafe’s dotted around Jonker Street in the day. At night you gotta try the street food. It is delicious and so affordable that you will keep buying and eating and buying and eating and so on!

Ban Lee Siang Celup: If you are looking to sit down and eat then I highly recommend this satay place which is about a 15-minute walk from Jonker Street. The food is delicious!

Afternoon

Take a stroll along Harmony Street

Located near the famous Jonker Street, Harmony Street is just as famous and is worth a visit. As the name indicates, it is a harmonious place where different religions worship side by side along the street.

The places of worship you’ll see are Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism Temple and the Oldest Temple in Malaysia), Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple (the oldest Hindu Temple in Malaysia), Kampung Kling Mosque (a Mosque established in 1748) and Xiang Lin Si Temple (a Buddhist Temple).

Tip: Dress appropriately especially if you are heading inside the places of worship.

Duration: 1 hour if you visit inside some of the places of worship. If you are only strolling by it will be much quicker!

Price: Free!

Stroll along Malacca River

You can either stroll along the river on foot or you can take a river cruise! Taking a River cruise is something that is on my bucket list! At whatever time of day, this is one of the perfect ways to get a real feel of Malacca and of course, view all the amazing street art along the river.

Duration: 45-minute cruise

Price: Starting at 30 RM per adult. You can find some more information on their website.

Malacca Straits Mosque and Sunset

This Mosque is so beautiful, the architecture is amazing and it looks like it is floating on water! The best time to visit is during the sunset (around 6.00 pm) as you’ll have some amazing views and you may even get to see the mosque light up at night, something I can’t wait to see when I’m back there.

Tip: I didn’t get a chance to go inside unfortunately, but if you do, remember dress appropriately and respectively, after all, it is a place of worship.

Duration: As long as you like!

Price: Free – but during prayer times the Mosque is closed for visitations but you are still able to roam outside. 

Evening

Jonker Street Night Market

Jonker Street is filled with shops and restaurants during the day but after 6.00 pm Fridays – Sundays it transforms into one of the most amazing night markets in the world, something not to miss!

This is the place to grab souvenirs, clothes, crafts and of course street food. If you are feeling peckish, this is the perfect place to grab starters, dinner and even dessert!

Jonker Street closes at midnight giving you plenty of time to explore. This is the perfect way to end your day in Malacca.

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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE

Information About Malacca

I recommend checking out your Government Travel Advice or Guidance on the country you are visiting. You will find information safety, local laws and customs and so much more. It is usually very up to date and is something I always check before booking a trip and also a few days before travelling!

Languages: Malay is the main language spoken in Malacca but we found many people spoke English well.

Currency and Tipping: The currency in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (RM). Tipping is discretionary and is not a common practice in Malaysia!

Safety: Malacca is one of the safest places to visit in Malaysia as it is a popular tourist destination. I have heard that pickpocketing is common so keep your belongings close to you and stay vigilant.

Planning Your Trip to Malacca

BEST TIME TO VISIT MALACCA

Malacca is warm and sunny pretty much most of the year, with temperatures varying from 29-35 degrees Celsius!

March to mid-April and October to November is the wet season. Although you will still get the warm weather, you may bump into showery days.

I visited in December and found the weather to be perfect. It was warm with short, light outbreaks of rain. Although December is a very touristy month, January and February should have fewer crowds which I suspect would be the perfect time to go!

The best days to visit are Friday-Sunday so that you can experience the famous Jonker Street Night Market, but it can be very touristy and busy. Avoid Tuesdays if possible as some attractions are usually closed on this day!

GETTING TO MALACCA

We were lucky enough to have family friends who drove us around Malacca. But some of the options available to you are:

From Kuala Lumpur International Airport:

• Taxi: A taxi from Kuala Lumpur Airport to Malacca can cost from 250 to 290 RM (roughly £52) which is very pricey but it is the quickest and easiest way to get to Malacca from the airport.
  
• Rent a car: Alternatively, you can rent a car and drive straight to Malacca! Plus you get to see the beautiful greenery on along the roads!

From Kuala Lumpur:

• Taxi: You can take a taxi straight from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca, again although this is pricey it ends up being the most convenient option.

• Bus: You can take a bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Malacca. Buses to Malacca run every 30 minutes and cost around 15 RM (roughly £3). The journey takes roughly 2 hours but it is best to take one of the first departure buses to avoid traffic and to ensure you arrive nice and early for a full day of exploring!

If you arrive at Melacca Sentral you can take a taxi or bus (bus #17) towards the Dutch Square (where our first point stop of exploring is!).

From Singapore:

There are a number of different companies that provide this transportation to Malacca from Singapore so it is worth checking them to compare which one will suit your needs best!

GETTING AROUND MALACCA

Malacca can be explored on foot as everything is very close together.  When heading to the Malacca Straits Mosque you can take a taxi or trishaw as it is slightly further out of Malacca!

Tip: Taxis in Malacca do not go off meters so make sure you set a price before entering to avoid any unexpected costs.

Staying In Malacca For Longer

What Else To See In Malacca

Do you have more time on your hands to see Malacca in the day? Or are you visiting Malacca for more than a day?
Here are some other spots you can visit:

Maritime Museum Malacca: The famous ship museum can be seen from various spots in Malacca and is the most visited museum in Malacca.

Roman Ruins: Just to the right of the Maritime Museum, there are some Roman ruins that you can explore. I feel like this spot is always overlooked, but it is cool to see and doesn’t take up much of your time!

Church of St Xavier: Built in 1865 and is on the banks of the River, this is a beautiful Church to see. You can even see it on the river cruise!

Bukit Cina: An ancient burial ground of Malacca’s Chinese community set along a hillside.

Portuguese Settlement: This is an area known as Ujong Pasir just outside of the city of Malacca which is worth exploring, especially during Christmas time! Here you will find the Christ the Redeemer statue (although not as big as the one in Brazil!).

Take a ride on a Trishaw: Skip the taxi and opt for a ride on a trishaw tour instead!

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And there you have it, a perfect day in Malacca! Have you been to Malacca? Let me know which places you visited, I’d love to know!

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