Melaka is simply bursting with interesting sights reflecting a long, rich history or maritime trade and Portuguese and Dutch occupation. Here are just a few of the top attractions.

A Famosa:
The remains of this mighty fortress are is the oldest surviving European architecture in Malaysia and consists of a small gate, canons and foundation stones. Built in 1511 by the Portuguese during the colonisation of Melaka, the fortress was taken over by the Dutch and was later given to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleon’s expansionist France.

Cheng Hoon Teng’s Temple
Awarded by UNESCO for outstanding architectural restoration, the Cheng Hoon Teng’s Temple is one of the most exquisite Chinese temples in Malaysia. Boasting its beautiful walls with ornate mythological figures, spectacular Chinese paintings and carvings dating back to the early 1600s, the temple is a centre of worship and spirituality for the Chinese, remaining one of the most significant sanctuaries in the Southeast Asia. You can also observe how the Chinese pay respect to their gods here at this temple.

Kampong Kling’s Mosque
This stunning temple marks as an important venue of worship for the Muslim community. One of the oldest mosques in the country, the Kampong Kling’s Mosque reflects rich Sumatran influence through its magnificent three-tired pyramid-shaped roof and an infusion of Oriental influences through a tall free-standing white pagoda. Tourists are welcome to visit this impressive mosque but no flip-flops, shorts and sleeveless shirts are allowed.

Maritime Museum
The museum is built in a replica of the ‘Flor De La Mar’ (the Flowers of the Sea), a Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Melaka and disappeared mysteriously on the way to Portugal. Visitors can explore the ship and detailed history of Melaka here at this museum. Children will find it fun to play pirates and sailors while adults can observe a map displaying actual charts used by Portuguese sailors in the past.

Melaka’s Sultanate Place
This large and lavish palace reveals outstanding Malay architecture based on the sketches found in the Malay Annals. Believed to be a replica of the original 15th century palace of Melaka’s Sultanate, this beautiful place now houses the Maleka Culural Museum displaying an impressive collection of artefacts, prints, photographs, drawings, costumes, jewelleries, brassware and ancient weapons.

St. John’s Fort: is another stunning sight in Melaka, St. John’s Fort was built as a chapel by the Portuguese but renovated into a fort by the Dutch. The fort enjoys a perfect location on the top of the hill where visitors can witness picturesque views of the city and clear blue sky. Interestingly, unlike other forts, St. Paul’s Fort was built to defend from inland invaders so the canons are faced towards inland.

The Baba and Nyonya Heritage: is a private museum run by the Babas and Nyonyas (Chinese of noble descendants) of Melaka who have blended the Malay culture into their own. The Babas and Nyonyas are also known as ‘Straits-born Chinese’ or ‘Peranakans’. Displaying distinctive and unique heirloom, the museum is a hidden gem that will unlock the rich history of the Babas and Nyonyas for visitors to see.

The Stadthuys:bBuilt in 1650, the Stadthuys (or the Dutch Square) is one of the most famous landmarks in Melaka. Boasting its exquisite bright red-painted buildings and a magnificent clock tower, the square also houses a Historic and Ethnography Museum displaying traditional bridal costumes and relics. Visitors can also observe outstanding Dutch architectural details shown in heavy wooden doors, thick red walls and wrought-iron hinges.

Situated about 150 kms away from Kuala Lumpur towards the southern-west of Peninsular Malaysia, Melaka is easily accessible by bus, train and car. Air travel is also possible but not very convenient as there isn’t an airport in Melaka and you still need to transfer two hours from Kuala Lumpur Airport.

By bus
Travelling to Melaka by bus is very convenient and is the most popular means of transport from nearby areas. There are many long-distance buses connecting Melaka state with major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and other cities in Peninsular Malaysia. Located about 3kms from the historic city centre, Melaka City’s Melaka Sentral is a major bus station that receives express buses from several locations in the state and other neighbouring countries.

Getting to Melaka by train can be very slow but the experience is truly rewarding as travellers can admire scenic views of lovely countryside along the way. However, the nearest station to Melaka is at Tampin, which is about 38kms to the north of Melaka City. From there, passengers can easily take a bus or wave down a taxi to their destination in Melaka.

By car, simply follow the signboards on the North-South Highway and choose to exit at the Alor Gajah-Tampin (Simpang Ampat), Ayer Keroh or Lipat Kijang (Jasin). Ayer Keroh exit is the nearest to Melaka City. Melaka City is located on the Coastal Trunk Road (Federal Route 5) so if you are on the Main Trunk Road (Federal Route 1), turn off at Simpang Kendong or Tampin, which is about 40 kms from Melaka City.

Without its own airport, travelling by plane to Melaka is not very easy. The nearest airport is Batu Berendam Airport which is about 10kms from Melaka City. There are no domestic flights but Riau Airlines operates flights to Pekabaru and Sumatra.

The best way to travel around in Melaka is on foot as you can take time to admire this charming city. Cycling is also another good option while taking a trishaw ride to major tourist attractions is enjoyable and eye-opening (with a trishaw rider being your guide). Those who want to take a bus, make sure you have exact amount of money for tickets as the drivers do not give change.

Malaysia Truly Asia

Holding its own among Asia’s best know destinations, Malaysia encompasses the best of the region’s outstanding characteristics, without the hassle or concerns of its neighbours. From the stunning beaches in Langkawi to the history on Penang and Sophistication of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers its 20 million annual visitors a completely satisfying experience.

On this site we cover the entire Peninsula and Borneo, including Melaka, the Cameroon Highlands, the islands of Perhentian and Redang, as well as Kinabalu, and the jungles and beaches of East Malaysia. Written by an old hand on Southeast Asia, this blog will soon be upgraded to a full travel site with hundreds of pictures and pages to help you plan your trip to Malaysia.

Whether you’re into diving, hiking, history, shopping, beaching, culture, backpacking or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this organised and mutli-cultural country, there’s something for you on this site. We’ve got the tourism on Malaysia covered.

The best way to see Malaysia is under your own steam with a rental car. This allows you to get around easily to the various rural areas of beauty. It’s best book online in advance using an online car hire comparator that lists the best deals from car hire companies in Malaysia