Skip to content
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
Wandering Journal
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • North America
      • California
    • Oceania
      • New Zealand
  • Series
    • Cities on a Budget
    • Through My Eyes Series • Story Behind A Photo
      • New Zealand
      • USA California
      • Singapore
  • Discover More
    • Travel Tips & Resources
      • Saving Tips
      • Recommended Gears
      • Amazon’s Best Travel Accessories Under $20
      • Travel Inspirations
    • Blogging Resources
      • Start Your Travel Blog
    • Travel Product Reviews
  • For Malaysians
    • Work & Travel USA Guide
    • NZ Working Holiday Visa for Malaysian
    • NZ Working Holiday Visa Application
    • What I Learnt From NZ Working Holiday
    • How It’s Like Working in Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
  • Search
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Work With Us
Wandering Journal
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • North America
      • California
    • Oceania
      • New Zealand
  • Series
    • Cities on a Budget
    • Through My Eyes Series • Story Behind A Photo
      • New Zealand
      • USA California
      • Singapore
  • Discover More
    • Travel Tips & Resources
      • Saving Tips
      • Recommended Gears
      • Amazon’s Best Travel Accessories Under $20
      • Travel Inspirations
    • Blogging Resources
      • Start Your Travel Blog
    • Travel Product Reviews
  • For Malaysians
    • Work & Travel USA Guide
    • NZ Working Holiday Visa for Malaysian
    • NZ Working Holiday Visa Application
    • What I Learnt From NZ Working Holiday
    • How It’s Like Working in Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
  • Search

17 Best Things To Do In Melaka - Never Miss Out No. 4!

Yen
·
October 17, 2018
·
Wandering Journal eBook Cover

Get Your Free
"Ultimate Travel Bucket List" eBook!

It’s my first ever e-book, and I want to share it with you! 

Everyone hates spammy emails, so do I. 
Rest assured, I will never spam your inbox! 

When I first told my friends that I will be spending 3 days in Melaka, they told me it’s too much. I was deciding whether to change my plan or stick to it. I chose the latter in the end. But guess what, I ended up staying 5 days in Melaka. There’s just a lot of things to do in Melaka, despite me spending a lot of time chilling.

Melaka (or Malacca) is located near two hours drive south of Kuala Lumpur. Once an important port in the world, Melaka has centuries-long of glorious history. It is also the place where Islamism first came into the lands of Malaysia.

Also, for this post, the activities are focused on the UNESCO World Heritage Site and its nearby. You’ll not find any activity near Ayer Keroh region here. If you’re visiting from Kuala Lumpur or other cities in Malaysia, check out 12Go and book your ticket at the best price!

So here we go, the best things to do in Melaka to help you plan a perfect trip.

things to do in melaka

Contents

  • 1 Indulge in Melaka Cendol
  • 2 Rewind Histories in Kota A’Famosa
  • 3 Walk the Jonker Street
  • 4 Visit the Underrated Morten Village
  • 5 Enjoy the Nyonya Baba Asam Laksa
  • 6 Take the Melaka River Cruise
  • 7 Popping Chicken Rice Balls
  • 8 Learn History in Cheng Ho Cultural Museum
  • 9 Visit Malacca Sultanate Palace
  • 10 The Leaning Church in Melaka?
  • 11 Sip on Gula Melaka Latte
  • 12 Tour in Nyonya Baba Heritage Museum
  • 13 Hike Up to St. Paul’s Church
  • 14 Pay Tribute in Cheng Hoon Teng
  • 15 Visit Maritime Museum
  • 16 Enjoy the Street Arts
  • 17 Take a Photo in Christ Church

Indulge in Melaka Cendol

The secret recipe that makes Melaka Cendol perfect is the Gula Melaka (Malacca Sugar). Made of coconut, the authentic aroma and flavor of Gula Melaka, mixed with the shaved ice make the dish unique like nowhere else in the world.

It’s kinda hard to find a good Cendol in Melaka as almost every restaurant is selling them. The best one I had is served at The Wild Coriander Restaurant at RM6.00. Be sure to check them out.

Do you need a visa to enter Malaysia? Check it and apply your Malaysia visa online here in just 5 minutes!

things to eat in melaka

See how you should spend 2 days in Melaka here!

Rewind Histories in Kota A’Famosa

The landmark of Malacca city was built under the order of Portuguese admiral, Alfonso d’ Albuquerque in 1511. More than 500 years ago!

However, after the invasion of the Dutch army in 1641, most parts of the fort were destroyed. Today, all we see is the main fortress gate and some remains of the bricks.

things to do in melaka

Editor’s Note: Planning a visit to Penang? See what you can do in Penang in 3 days!

Walk the Jonker Street

Jonker Street is undoubtedly the busiest street in Melaka city. Crowded with tourists all day long, this street is home to various traditional restaurants like Nyonya Baba restaurants and chicken rice ball restaurants. Souvenir shops selling local products like Gula Melaka and local biscuits can also be found here along with several museums.

The best part happens during the weekends from Friday to Sunday. At weekend nights, the street was sealed and the whole street transformed into a night market. Street food junkies should never miss the show here.

It’s definitely one of the best things to do in Melaka. A great place to spend your holiday getaway from Kuala Lumpur as well!

things to do in melaka

Visit the Underrated Morten Village

Morten Village, or known locally as Kampung Morten is the most underrated gem of Melaka city. Located just outside the heritage designation area, Kampung Morten had not received any funds from the government to preserve the village.

Here are the interesting things they did.

The Ketua Kampung (Head of Village) decorated his own house, now known as Villa Sentosa to depict the traditions and cultures of Malay villagers, and opened his house for public visits.

That’s such a wonderful thing to do, right?

Since then, the village has been attracting visitors, mostly foreigners. Homestays have been popping up in the area by the local villagers and funds have been granted for them to preserve the area. The visit to Villa Sentosa is free of charge and accepts donations.

I have an article solely on Kampung Morten, go check it out!

kampung morten melaka

Enjoy the Nyonya Baba Asam Laksa

Nyonya Baba or Peranakan Chinese are descendants of Chinese immigrants who moved into the Malay archipelago between 15th and 17th centuries. They’re best known for their unique traditions, cultures, and food.

Nyonya Baba’s traditional cuisine is a must-try in Melaka, not only Asam Laksa. Not sure where to find them? Head over to Jonker Street and try out Baba Freds Nyonya Restaurant or Jonker 88 Restaurant.

what to eat in melaka

Take the Melaka River Cruise

Melaka River Cruise is one of the most popular things to do in Melaka. The cruise trip lasts around 45 minutes for a return trip.

Along the river, get flowing between the gaps of urban development, where there are huge modern buildings on a side, facing the untouched heritage areas on the opposite. Kampung Morten is one of the latter.

Note that the queue can be surprisingly long during the peak hours. Be sure to check out the changes of operation hours if you visit during Ramadan Month.

The price starts at RM6.50 for children, RM13 for adults with MyKad and RM18 for foreign adults. There will be an increase of RM5 on weekends for adults. Learn more about Melaka River Cruise here!

where to go in melaka

Popping Chicken Rice Balls

Chicken Rice Balls are kind of a traditional meal in Melaka. In the old days when food containers are not as common, labor workers squeezed the chicken rice into small spherical shapes. This came in handy when it’s time for a meal.

Somehow this leads to an invention of something new. Chicken Rice Balls! But really, it’s nothing special other than chicken rice being squeezed into ball shapes.

And these spherical cuties are so popular that it’s hard to find a delicious one.

A little advice here, don’t go for the huge franchise in Jonker Street which has numerous branches. Really, they taste bad, in my opinion. You’ll know when you got there.

melaka things to do
Photo by TummyRumble

Learn History in Cheng Ho Cultural Museum

Do you know that Portuguese is not the first foreigners to set their footprints in Melaka? Yes, 600 years ago in 1405, Cheng Ho, the Ming Dynasty Admiral brought a fleet of business ships to Melaka.

Over the course of a few years, Cheng Ho revisited Melaka several times and brought numerous techniques, skills, and knowledge to share with the people in Melaka.

Some arguments even appealed that he brought Islamism to Melaka during those times.

The price can be a little costly but definitely worth the cash. The entire museum takes you more than an hour to read and learn with interesting infographics, decorations, and models.

The entrance fee is RM20 for adults and RM10 for children or students. More information can be found here. The opening hours are from 9 am to 6 pm every day.

thing to do in malacca

Visit Malacca Sultanate Palace

The palace is actually a replica of the Sultan’s palace centuries ago. It was said to be destroyed by a huge fire caused by lightning under Allah’s will.

As the name suggests, the palace depicts mostly the histories and cultures of Malacca Sultanate during its golden ages. In the 1400s, the strategic location of Melaka made it one of the greatest ports in the world, connecting the trades of the western and eastern world.

Legends and myths are also shown in interesting infographics in the palace so be sure to pay a visit.

The Leaning Church in Melaka?

It’s surprising that we have never heard of anybody talking about the tilting of St Francis Xavier’s Church. It’s in fact very obvious and noticeable from far away.

The church was built in 1856 on the site of an old Portuguese church. The softer ground on one side causes the tilt of the building. Though not as popular as the one in Italy, it’s still worth a quick visit.

tempat menarik di melaka

Sip on Gula Melaka Latte

Latte + Gula Melaka? That’s one of the best beverages in Malaysia that I’ve had. The unique aroma and sweetness of Gula Melaka bring the beverage to a whole new level. A sip of Gula Melaka Latte will make your day.

Not sure where to find it? Here’s my recommendation in Jonker Street.

melaka attractions

Tour in Nyonya Baba Heritage Museum

Nyonya Baba Heritage Museum is worth the time of those who appreciate traditions and cultures. The museum was once the house of a rich Nyonya Baba family. Having refurbished and decorated, the house is now open for public visits with some entrance fees.

The museum is full of artworks, most notably the needlework arts and wood carvings. Touring in the house will definitely leave you questioning, “How rich was this family?”.

Check out here for more information about the museum. The entrance fee is currently RM15.

places to visit in melaka

Hike Up to St. Paul’s Church

St. Paul’s Church is located just up A’ Famosa Fort. At the back of A’ Famosa Fort, there an alley leading up to the church, and it’s easy to find.

This oldest European-built church in Southeast Asia was built in 1521. It’s renowned as the place where the body of Francis Xavier, a pioneering Catholic missionary in Southeast Asia was laid to rest for 8 months after this death in 1553.

things to do in melaka

Editor’s Note: Discover more than just the bustling city of Penang Island – Check out Balik Pulau and Pantai Kerachut too!

Pay Tribute in Cheng Hoon Teng

Cheng Hoon Teng, founded in the 1600s by Chinese Kapitan Tay Kie Ki alias Tay Hong Yong. Kapitans were appointed chiefs of various ethnic communities during the Portuguese and Dutch eras.

In its early years, the temple also played a role as the official administrative center and a court of justice for the Kapitans.

Visit their website here for more information about the temple.

what to do in melaka

Visit Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum showcases the maritime histories of Melaka and the golden ages of Malacca Sultanate. You can learn about the different eras that Melaka went through starting from the golden age to the Portuguese era, the Dutch era, and finally the British era.

Even if you’re not going inside, it’s still worth to be impressed by the Flora de la Mar replica. The huge ship is a replica of Portuguese Nau of 400 tons. She sank near the coast of Melaka in November 1511.

melaka attractions

Enjoy the Street Arts

Like Penang, Melaka is also home to street arts. Along Melaka River, you will stumble upon a variety of street arts, most of them with human figures.

It’s a lot of fun exploring around the city looking for street arts. The most noticeable street art is the Nyonya paintings in the picture below.

tempat menarik di melaka

Take a Photo in Christ Church

Melaka’s Christ Church was built by the Dutch in 1753. Taking 12 years to build, Christ Church is now one of the landmarks of Melaka. The 8 feet long ceiling beams were cut in one-piece and constructed without joints.

The bright red color of Christ Church makes it a popular spot for photos. Tourists and vendors are concentrated in the area, contributing to the huge crowd.

places to visit in melaka

Wrapping It Up

Melaka is more than just a travel destination for photos. It has centuries-long of history in it which is worth learning and discovering. I would say you shouldn’t miss it, especially you’re into histories and human civilizations. Been to Melaka? Feel free to comment below!

Would You Pin This?

17 Amazing Things to do in Melaka 17 Unique Things to do in Melaka

17 Fun Things to do in Melaka 17 Best Things to do in Melaka

17 Best Things to do in Melaka Malaysia 17 Awesome Things to do in Melaka Malaysia

17 Memorable Things to do in Melaka

Tweet
Pin22
Share
22 Shares

Written by

Yen

Yen is a university student from Malaysia and a huge fan of Blues music and photography. His passion for travel can be traced back to 2016 when he spent 6 months traveling New Zealand. By blending into the locals and traveling long-term, he shares all the comprehensive and detailed travel ideas and guides for the countries with his footprints.

Related Posts:

10 Best Beaches in Malaysia You Don't Wanna Miss!
Yen
//
February 15, 2020
Malaysia is home to some of the most amazing beaches in Southeast Asia. Check out these best beaches in Malaysia to plan your memorable trip to Malaysia! Suggested...
Visiting Tasik Biru Kangkar Pulai (Blue Lake) Made Easy!
Yen
//
January 7, 2020
Tasik Biru Kangkar Pulai is yet another viral attraction in Johor, Malaysia. If you're living nearby or you're a UTM student, here's how you can visit it! Note...
Getting From Kuala Lumpur to Penang - 5 Easiest Options
Yen
//
October 19, 2019
Need a DIY guide for getting from Kuala Lumpur to Penang? Look no further, these 5 options are easy to follow and packed full of details. Follow these...
Where to Stay in Penang - Best Tips From a Local Penangite
Yen
//
October 12, 2019
Planning a trip and not sure where to stay in Penang? I got you covered! Find out the best places to stay in Penang from a Penangite here,...
How to See Penang on a Budget - Under $20/day!
Yen
//
September 15, 2019
It's totally possible to travel in Penang on a budget under $20 a day! Click here to learn all the money-saving tips for your Penang trip! Psst... You're...
Pantai Kerachut - How to Visit The Best Beach in Penang!
Yen
//
July 14, 2019
Pantai Kerachut in Penang National Park is my top recommendation in Penang for my foreign friends visiting Penang Island! Learn more about this amazing beach here!
2 Days Melaka Itinerary - Enjoy Your Trip Like No One Else!
Yen
//
July 6, 2019
Check out why it's best to visit Melaka, Malaysia on the weekends, and what to include into your Melaka itinerary for your 2 days there!
What to Do in Penang In 3 Days - More Than Just Sightseeing!
Yen
//
February 8, 2019
Penang is a gem in Malaysia for many good reasons to back the statement up. Wondering what to do in Penang in 3 days? Here are my top...
Malaysian Work & Travel USA Step-by-Step Guide 2020 Updated
Yen
//
January 14, 2019
In the summer of 2018, I’ve spent a crazy and memory-packed summer in California under Malaysian Work & Travel USA program. It’s an unforgettable 2.5 months working together...
Balik Pulau Penang Guide - Everything You Need To Visit!
Yen
//
December 13, 2018
When we speak of Penang, things that come to our mind is the food, the famous Penang Heritage Site or famous tourist attractions like Penang Hill or Kek...

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About The Blog

swing abroad blog

Greetings! It’s Yen here, the guy behind this blog. Currently a university student who takes advantages of holidays for life-changing experiences abroad. Loves adventurous outdoor sports as much as street foods. Feel free to explore around!

Travel Together?

Popular Posts

things to do in new zealand
New Zealand

27 Remarkable Things To Do In New Zealand South Island

melaka street arts
Malaysia

17 Best Things To Do In Melaka – Never Miss Out No. 4!

things to see in santa cruz
USA California

21 Awesome Things To Do in Santa Cruz California in Summer!

Fun and adventurous Things to do in vang vieng laos
Laos

17 Adventurous Things To Do in Vang Vieng – Not Just Tubing!

For Backpackers

backpacking nepal

Backpacking Nepal – Explore More With This Detailed Guide!

woman on mountain peak vietnam

Backpacking Vietnam – The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need!

laos backpacking laos itinerary

Laos Backpacking Guide – Crafting Your Perfect Laos Itinerary

Travel Resources

save money while traveling

10 Legit Ways to Save Money While Traveling

swing abroad recommended gears

Recommended Gears

nikon d3500 for travel photography

Nikon D3500 For Travel Photography? Great Choice or Not?

Amazon's Best Travel Accessories Under $20

Amazon’s Best Travel Accessories Under $20

Let's Meet Elsewhere

It would be lovely to meet you at social media platforms!

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Wandering Journal eBook Cover

Would You Join Me On My Adventures?

I’m giving away my first ever eBook, which I know you will love it. Subscribe and let’s explore the world bit by bit together!

Now, I know everyone hates spammy emails, so do I. Rest assured, I will never spam your inbox in any way.

Travel Together?

Join me on my travels and get the latest travel ideas, guides and tips. Grab your ebook as freebie now!

More Resources:

Recommended Gears

Amazon's Travel Accessories Under $20

Start Your Own Travel Blog

Disclaimer: WanderingJournal.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites at no additional cost to you. We only link to products & services we personally use or trust.
Scroll to Top
22 Shares
Tweet
Pin22
Share
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok