Malacca: Latest 2025 Travel Guide
🏙️ Malacca Travel Guide | Attractions + Food + Transportation
The charm of Malacca lies in its "slowness". You can stroll around the ancient city, visit the market, eat Nyonya cuisine, and experience the full cultural fusion.
📍 Must-see attractions in Malacca
1. Dutch Square (Stadthuys)
- Features : The bright red colonial buildings are Malacca's most classic landmark.
- Editor's guide : Take photos during the day and ride a trishaw around the ancient city at night. It's super fun!
2. Christ Church Melaka
- Features : The red church built during the Dutch colonial period, the core building of the square.
3. St. Paul's Church
- Features : Remains of a 16th-century Portuguese church located on St. Paul's Hill.
- Editor's note : Not far up the mountain, you can overlook the Strait of Malacca.
4. A Famosa Fort
- Features : The remains of the ancient city gate built by the Portuguese in 1511 are one of the oldest European architectural relics in Malaysia.
5. Jonker Street
- Features : Malacca's most lively night market, open only on weekends, full of snacks and handicrafts.
- Editor's recommendation : It's most lively at night, and you can have fun eating, shopping and so on.
6. Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
- Features : A house showcasing Baba Nyonya culture, where you can learn about the lifestyle of the mixed Chinese and Malaysian culture.
7. Melaka River
- Features : Take a boat tour at night and enjoy the romantic scenery of colorful lights and murals along the coast.
🍴 Must-try food in Malacca
| gourmet food | Reasons for recommendation |
|---|---|
| Chicken Rice Balls | Rolling the rice into small balls and serving it with Hainanese chicken is a Malacca specialty. |
| Nyonya Laksa | A fusion of Chinese and Malay flavors, with a rich coconut milk soup. |
| Nyonya Kuih | Colorful little desserts, soft, sweet and delicious. |
| Satay Celup | Put the skewers of ingredients into satay peanut sauce and cook them, which is unique and satisfying. |
| Cendol Gula Melaka | Green vermicelli + coconut milk + Malacca black sugar syrup, a must-eat in hot weather! |
| Portuguese egg tarts/Portuguese cuisine | You can enjoy authentic Portuguese meals in the Portuguese Village. |
🚆 Malacca Transportation Guide
1. How to get to Malacca
-
From Kuala Lumpur
- Long-distance bus : Take a bus from TBS station to Melaka Sentral for about 2 hours.
- Self-driving/chartered car : The journey takes about 2 hours, suitable for multiple people or families.
2. Urban transportation
- Walking : The attractions in the old city are concentrated, so it is most convenient to walk around.
- Grab (ride-hailing app) : convenient and cheap, suitable for traveling to distant attractions.
- Trishaw : A unique means of transportation in Malacca, it is most atmospheric to ride at night.
💡 My personal 2-day, 1-night itinerary suggestion
Day 1
Arrival → Stadthuys & Christ Church → St. Paul's Church → A'Famosa → Evening visit Jonker Street Night Market (must try the chicken rice and satay chulu)
Day 2
Breakfast: Palm Sugar Cendol → Nyonya Museum → Lunch: Nyonya Laksa → Malacca River Cruise → Return to Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon
💬Editor's thoughts <br>Malacca is a great place for a "walk and eat" experience. The old city is small, but any street in it is perfect for taking stunning photos. My favorite is the Jonker Street Night Market . The old city is quiet during the day, but it transforms into a bustling carnival at night. It's truly charming ❤️
