8 Things To Do in Melaka, Malaysia (2-day Travel Guide) 8 Things To Do in Melaka, Malaysia (2-day Travel Guide)

8 Things To Do in Melaka, Malaysia (2-day Travel Guide)

Melaka: a colorful, artsy city on a riverbank in southwestern Malaysia. The architecture, monuments, and people reflect the influences of its former position as a trading hub. Absorb the history of this UNESCO site in the mornings, street art in the afternoon, and the lively street market by night.

Things To Do in Melaka in Two Days

Melaka, formally written as Malacca, has something for everyone, so plan to spend one or two full days exploring this city.

1. Discover Melaka’s Riverside Street Art

One of Melaka’s biggest surprises is its vibrant street art scene. Everywhere you look, buildings are decorated in the brightest colors, with large murals covering the walls. By strolling a few hours along the river or taking a river cruise, you will find many older houses that have been renewed by street art in this area.

Tip: The river is not the only place you can find street art! There is much more tucked away in Melaka’s narrow back streets.

things to do Malacca riverside street art

2. Murals and Orangutan House

Two huge murals stand out among the rest: a fun thing to do in Melaka. Situated just away from the river is Kiehl’s heritage mural. Made up of primary colors in a lively color block design.

things to do malacca murals kiehl melaka

The brand collaborated with UNESCO to create a heritage site trail of six sites in Malaysia. The mural is one of them and is a great place to take some photos that will truly represent the energetic feeling of Melaka. The Orangutan mural, created by artist Charles Cham, is located just around the corner.

things to do malacca street art

3. Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese Temple

Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese temple is the oldest operating temple in Malaysia and is quite different from the other buildings in Melaka because of the Chinese architectural influences. Ornate gates, gold leafing, and ruby red Chinese lanterns are just some of the features that make this a top thing to see in Melaka. 

things to do malacca Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese Temple

4. Stadthuys and Christchurch

The red square is the epicenter of Melaka, featured on many postcards. The iconic red (pink-ish) buildings were built using bricks shipped over from the Netherlands during the period of Dutch rule.

Both buildings are in the trademark Dutch style which provides a unique European-Asian fusion of architecture. The central town hall named Stadthuys is even believed to be the oldest surviving Dutch building in the east! 

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8 Things To Do in Melaka, Malaysia (2-day Travel Guide)

We do recommend visiting this in the early morning as it will be busy with visitors after 8 AM. 

red square church malacca malaysia

5. Melaka Straits Mosque

This majestic white building is a highlight of the things to do in Melaka. The mosque is located on the edge of the city, situated on a jetty emerging from the water. This means that when the water level is high, it gives the impression the mosque is floating. See the building’s stained glass and gold details by day or when it’s lit up by many different colored lights by night.

things to do malacca Malaysia mosque

6. Jonker Walk 

The Jonker Street night market is a long stretch of street vendors selling products like jewelry and unusual foods. The market is held on Friday and Saturday nights, with live street music on every corner. If you’re unable to visit over the weekend, Jonker Walk is still an enjoyable place to visit in Melaka, as it’s in the center of Chinatown, where the majority of the historical monuments and good restaurants are located.

jonkerstreet melaka

7. St. Paul’s Church

St Paul’s is the oldest church building in Malaysia and South East Asia! It was originally built by the Portuguese in 1521 but was taken over by various other European powers over time. Now the church is in ruins, but it’s still a beautiful and impressive place to see. Interesting fact: The stones featured inside have old-dutch texts on them. 

Finally, it is an excellent place to enjoy a panoramic view of Melaka due to its position on a hill.

things to do malacca malaysia St Pauls Church

8. Maritime Museum

A replica of the ancient Portuguese ship ‘Flora de La Mar’ stands high above the buildings as a museum. After having stolen goods, the original ship famously sank off the coast of Melaka.

Situated just a short walk from Dutch Square, the museum is a great place to learn a bit about Melaka’s importance as a maritime trading center. 

things to do malacca maritime museum

How to Visit Melaka

Melaka is easy to get to, with numerous travel options on offer. There is an international airport, and many flights leave for Kuala Lumpur daily.

Find flights to Melaka ✈️

Kuala Lumpur to Melaka

However, if you are flying into Kuala Lumpur, the journey by road is very easy and takes only 2-3 hours. Buses leave from Kuala Lumpur Airport and the city center at various times throughout the day.

Singapore to Melaka

Another good option is to travel from Singapore to Melaka. A bus takes 3-4 hours.

private transport malaysia

How to Get Around Melaka

Once you arrive in Melaka, almost everything can be done on foot as all the main landmarks are within walking distance of each other. For those sights that are further away (such as Melaka Straits Mosque), jump on a trishaw for an authentic Malay experience, cycle by bike, or take a Grab taxi.

Restaurants in Melaka

Melaka is an established foodie paradise. The melting pot of different cultures in Melaka makes for a variety of tasty foods from all over the world. These were our favorite restaurants and cafes:

  • The Daily Fix Cafe
  • Mori Vegetarian Tea House
  • Geographer Cafe
malacca malaysia best cafe

Where to Stay in Melaka

It’s best to situate yourself centrally so as to be within walking distance from all the attractions. There is a nice atmosphere by the river, and plenty of hostels and guesthouses are situated here.

Guesthouses in Melaka are very reasonably priced and of good quality. However, there are more upmarket hotel options that sit a little further out of the center.

18/10/2023 https://www.saltinourhair.com/malaysia/melaka/
Blog comments (8)

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  • kazi

    Hi yall, did you have to have an International Driving license? or your dutch driving license was enough?

    • Salt in our Hair

      Hi Kazi, anyone with a valid driver’s license needs an accompanying IDP in order to drive in Malaysia. This is because it needs to either be in English or Malay. Hope that helps!

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