Located on the shores of the Strait of Malacca, the city of Malacca or Melaka had been governed by the Portuguese, Dutch, British and Malay rulers over different periods of time. So the art and architecture of the region serve as the perfect amalgamation of Western and Eastern cultures. Malacca’s buildings, forts and churches belonging to the colonial era, along with beautiful mosques, make it an ideal destination for every tourist visiting Malaysia. The city’s proximity to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, acts as an added advantage for a quick day trip or a short night stay.
A visit to Malacca would involve a stroll along the quaint streets and learn about the history of the region. When your feet start hurting, take a cruise down the calm Malacca River. And end your day by paying a visit to the vibrant Jonker Street Night Market (open from Friday to Sunday).
In recognition of the rich fusion of the European and Asian culture, UNESCO conferred the World Heritage status to Malacca (along with George Town) in 2008.
Reaching Malacca:
It was the rainy morning of 6th October 2024, when our Air Asia flight from Kolkata landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
It was breakfast time, and we opted for instant cup noodles from one of the shops at the airport terminal. Then we bought a local SIM card and installed the e-hailing “Grab” app and booked a cab to Malacca. It took us a little less than two hours to reach the Hallmark Express Hotel, our abode for the day.
Our Itinerary of Malacca:
- Day 1: Local sightseeing around the Historic area:
- Dutch Square/ Red Square — Queen Victoria Fountain, Stadthuys and Christ Church
- A Famosa
- Church of Saint Paul
- Church of St. Francis Xavier
- Jonker Street Night Market
- River walk
- Day 2:
- Malacca Strait Mosque (Masjid Selat Melaka)
- Malacca River Cruise and Morten Village from cruise.
Day 1 in Malacca:
We reached the Hallmark Express Hotel around noon. The check-in time was at 3 PM, but the manager informed us that he would try to have the room ready by 2 PM. So we kept our luggage at the reception and went out for an early lunch.
By the time we were back, the room was ready. We were red-eyed due to the overnight flight. So we quickly freshened up and settled for a quick nap.
Towards the Heritage Zone:
Our hotel was very near to the heritage zone. So we decided to walk to the nearby attractions. Our first stop was at the Church of St. Francis Xavier, the largest church in the city. Built in 1849, this Roman Catholic Church has a neo-Gothic structure. Due to renovation work, the entry gates were closed to the visitors.
Opposite to the church is the iconic wall art that welcomes every visitor to the city.
In and around Dutch Square:
A short walk brought us to an open area, known as the Dutch Square. It is also known as the Red Square due to the distinct red buildings all around. In the centre is a fountain, named the Queen Victoria Fountain. It was built by the British in 1904, in memory of their queen who passed away in 1901.
On one side of the fountain are the Stadthuys, the Clock Tower and the Christ Church. On the other side, is the Malacca River gently flowing by.
Stadthuys was built around 1650, and is the oldest Dutch building in Malaysia. It used be an administrative office of the Dutch governor. In 1982, Stadthuys was converted to a History & Ethnography museum.
A Famosa and Church of St. Paul:
Perched on top of the St. Paul’s Hill are the remnants of the St. Paul’s Church. The front part of the church has been renovated, but the back side of the structure lies in shambles. Constructed in 1521, it is arguably the oldest Catholic church of Malaysia. St. Paul’s Hill is also a nice place to get a glimpse of the panoramic view of the city below.
A flight of stairs on the other side of the hill brought us to the remnants of a Portuguese fort, called A Famosa (meaning “The Famous” in Portuguese). What remain today are the gate of the fortress and a canon.
Back to Dutch Square:
It was getting dark by then, and we trudged towards the Dutch Square. On the way, we crossed a large ship structure. It is a maritime museum, called the Muzium Samudera.
We found an empty bench at the Dutch Square, and sat there for some time to give some rest to our tiring legs. The area was illuminated with bright light, and their reflection against the red buildings made the whole atmosphere alluring.
We found a lot of colourful ‘trishaw’s, each with different themed decorations and playing loud music. We hopped on a trishaw for a ride around the heritage zone.
Jonker Street Night Market:
The Jonker Street is located opposite to the Dutch Square, just across the Malacca River. Here the night market is setup by the locals only over the weekend, i.e. from Friday till Sunday.
It is a lively place with lots of shops selling items ranging from daily needs to clothes, shoes, bags, jewellery, souvenirs, handicrafts etc. But the major highlight of the night market is the spread of the culinary offerings. With the dishes being prepared live as per the order of the customers, the air was filled with aroma of diverse delicacies.
We had our dinner at the night market, and then headed back to our hotel.
Day 2 in Malacca:
Malacca Strait Mosque – Masjid Selat Melaka:
As we had to checkout of our hotel at 12 noon, we got up early, had breakfast and got ready. Then we hailed a Grab cab for our first destination of the day – the Malacca Strait Mosque – around 5 KM from our hotel.
Malaysia is known for its beautiful mosques, and the Masjid Selat Melaka is one of them. We were mesmerized by the graceful golden dome and the intricate glasswork of the mosque. The beautiful towering minaret adds to the grandeur of the place.
The mosque is located on a man-made island. Constructed on stilts above the sea water, the structure seems to be floating on water especially during the high tide.
There is no entry fee, but visitors need to be in proper attire to visit the place. Specifically the women need to wear hijab (head gear) and full-length dress. My wife had to rent them by paying a fee of RM 5.
Melaka River Cruise:
A must-do activity in Malacca is the cruise along the sluggish Malacca River. You can avail the service from 2 jetties – Jeti Quayside and Jeti Taman Rempah. From the Masjid Selat Melaka, we took a Grab to the Quayside Jetty as it was near our hotel.
The relaxing 30 minute cruise took us on a voyage along the serpentine river that cost us RM 38 for adults and RM 33 for children. As the gentle breeze caressed our skin, we passed along the colourful buildings, decorated bridges, lively restaurants and the traditional houses of Morten Village. The captain of the ferry explained us the tradition and history of the place, and also pointed us to the important buildings and monuments enroute.
What we missed out in Malacca:
We had planned to visit either of the 2 museums – Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum or Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum. Both these museums provide a glimpse of the history and tradition of Malacca and its people. They are open from Tuesday to Sunday, and closed on Mondays.
We arrived in Malacca on a Sunday. By the time we reached the Baba & Nyonya museum after our afternoon nap, it was getting closed. And the next day, when we left Malacca, it was fully closed. So, if you are interested in visiting these museums, please plan accordingly.
Also, if you want to enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of the city, you must visit the Taming Sari Tower, a 24-story, 110-meter-tall tower.
Some useful information and tips:
How to reach Malacca:
Malacca is well connected to major cities like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by road. From Kuala Lumpur city or from KLIA Airport, you can hire a cab or ride a bus to reach Malacca. From Kuala Lumpur, it takes around 2 hours to reach Malacca.
The e-hailing cab, Grab, operates inter-city; and you can book one for one-way transfers. We used Grab both from KLIA airport to Malacca and also from the city to Kuala Lumpur.
The buses from Kuala Lumpur start from TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) and end at the Melaka Sentral station.
Tip: Purchasing a ticket directly from the counter is cheaper than buying from online aggregators like RedBus, EasyBook, 12Go, CheckMyBus etc.
Mode of transport within the city:
If you are staying near the historic area of Malacca, you can walk around and visit the places of interest.
For places a little far away, the most convenient mode of moving around is to book a ‘Grab’ app online. They are easily available, and arrive within minutes.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit the entire West coast of Peninsular Malaysia is between November and March. During these months, the weather remains dry and sunny, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities. It also coincides with popular festivals like Chinese New Year and Thaipusam.
The shoulder season is from April to June. The monsoons lash the area between July and October, which you should avoid.
We explored the West Coast of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang and Malacca) from October 6 to October 16, when the monsoon was receding. So, we experienced mostly sunny weather, with occasional afternoon showers.
Review of Hallmark Express Hotel, where we stayed in Malacca:
The Hallmark Express Hotel is located at a walkable distance from the local Malacca attractions like Jonker Street, Dutch Square, A Famosa etc.
While checking in, we had to deposit an amount of 50 MYR, and a local tax of 2 MYR, which were not mentioned when we booked the room online in the Agoda website. We got the 50 MYR back during check-out.
We had booked a Superior Triple Room, which had 2 beds. The room was nice, but the bathroom was little small. I would recommend it for a short stay in the city.
The Superior Triple Room had cost us RM 97 for 1 night.
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