Malacca (also called Melaka or Malakka) is a tourist attraction in southern Malaysia. It is right in the middle of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, from both destinations it is 2 hours by bus. Because Malacca is visited by many tourists each year, it has many fun activities. Did you know that Malacca was a colony of the Netherlands for nearly 200 years? You can still see many Dutch influences here. In this article, you will discover the 7 best things to do in Malacca.
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1. Jonker walk street night market
The first tip, if you are flexible, is to come to Malacca on weekends. Every Friday and Saturday night, Malacca’s most famous street, the Jonker walk, is completely filled with stalls. It is so busy here then that you slowly stroll past the stalls selling food, drinks, souvenirs and knick-knacks. There is a cozy and relaxed atmosphere about this night market.
2. Stadthuys museum Malacca
Because Malacca was a Dutch colony for 183 years, you can see Dutch influences everywhere. For example, the old building in the middle of town is still called Stadthuys and you will also see the Dutch Harbour and windmills.
A large museum has been created in the Stadthuys. Here you will walk through the entire history of Malacca: from the time the city was founded to the arrival of the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and the Japanese. Malacca has a special and eventful history with all these countries. Admission to the Stadthuys Museum is 20RM (€4.50) per person. The Stadthuys is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Make sure you go in at least an hour before closing time so you have plenty of time to see everything.
3. Streetart
Everywhere you walk in Malacca you see street art. The buildings, walls and tiles are completely filled with the most colorful paintings. As you walk along the river you will encounter this street art quite often. The little breeze by the river provides a little coolness as you feast your eyes. It is really recommended to walk along the river for an hour and just look at all the beauty.
4. Boat Tour
If you can’t (or don’t want to) walk, you can also choose to take a boat tour of the river. You will see Malacca River Cruise boats passing by every 10 minutes. During this River Cruise, you will sail +/- 40 minutes on the river, passing the colorful neighborhoods of Malacca. It is fun to view Malacca from the water like this, but not a must for those who like walking. Then better to walk by yourself and quietly take your time everywhere. Tickets can be purchased at the Malacca River Cruise booths (there is a booth across from the Stadthuys) and a ticket costs 30RM (€6.50) per person.
5. Malacca Straits Mosque
A little further out from the center is the Malacca Straits Mosque. This is an extremely special mosque because it is located on the sea! This produces extraordinary pictures.
You can take the Grab from downtown to the mosque. This takes about 15 minutes and costs around 12RM (€3). Upon arrival, you will see a cottage with a guard. This friendly man will help you with the covering clothes (for women a long dress and headscarf and for men a sarong). After this, you may enter the complex of the mosque with bare feet.
Please note that Friday is the holy day in Islam, like Sunday of Christians, therefore you cannot enter here on Friday as a tourist. Make sure you’re not here then, and come on one of the other weekdays or weekends. Furthermore, it is also not allowed to enter the mosque. You are only allowed to walk around it and take pictures.
6. Upside down house
Between the city and the mosque you will find the upside down house. This is a fun activity to do in between. In 15 minutes, a staff member guides you through all the places where you can take pictures and gives you directions on how to stand and look. The photos afterwards are worth sending home. Admission costs 22RM (€5) per person.
7. Bicycle cab
You can’t escape it in Malacca: everywhere you see colorful bicycle cabs with loud music blaring from the speakers. You’ll see all themes popping up here: from spiderman to frozen to hello kitty, there’s something for everyone. Especially at night, it is funny to watch these decked-out bikes because they are extremely illuminated. Of course, a ride on this bicycle cab is not cheap. Consider 20RM (€4.50) per 3 – 5 minutes.
There is plenty to do and see in Malacca. Therefore, it is recommended to stay here for at least one full day, and possibly two. If you are flexible in days, it is best if you are here on Friday and/or Saturday due to the Jonker walk night market. Do count on a lot of (local) tourists. You can easily visit Malacca with a short trip from Kuala Lumpur. By bus from the TBS station, you can get there in 2 hours. Read all the information about this bus and transportation here.
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