Malacca Tourist Information and Tourism
(Malacca / Melaka City, Malaysia)
Malacca (Melaka City) is one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations, and following its recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site title, the city has seen an enormous redevelopment and influx of visitors. Located down in the south-west of the Malay Peninsula, Malacca has a quaint river flowing through its centre and an enviable coastal positioning.
Loaded with monuments and old buildings from past colonial powers, Malacca is easy to get about on foot. The city also boasts decent shopping and a noticeable night-time tourism buzz, with much of the activity being centred around the vibrant districts of Chinatown (especially around the Jonker Walk Night Market), Bukit China and Little India, as well as along the Jalan Taman Melaka Raya. If you are in need of tourist information, then both the Tourism Malaysia and the Tourism Melaka outlets on the Jalan Quayside are well worth visiting.
Malacca Tourist Information and Tourism: Top Sights
You will certainly be overwhelmed with the sheer quantity and quality of tourist attractions present around Malacca, many of which are historic and packed with Dutch and Portuguese character. Old Malacca is home to some of the most visited sights, with its ancient churches and old Chinese townhouses. Dutch Square is a particularly important part of the Old Town and is home to many of the city's most imposing and impressive buildings, such as the 17th-century Town Hall (Stadthuys) and the iconic 18th-century Christ Church. Tourists will also enjoy visiting the famed A Famosa Fortress (Porta de Santiago), the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and St. Paul's Church, while cruises along the river and a ride on the enormous observation wheel named the 'Eye on Malaysia' are also recommended. More information about
Malacca Tourist Attractions.
The landmarks of Malacca are certainly plentiful and range from temples and mosques, to towers and public plazas. Based within Old Malacca is the Jonker Walk, which deserves a stroll and comes lined with shops, eateries and a busy outdoor market. Standing on the Jalan Merdeka and overlooking the city, the Taming Sari Revolving Tower (Menara Taming Sari) boasts views as far as the eye can see. The waterfront Portuguese Settlement is an interesting place to hang out, with its charming wooden houses and history spanning some five centuries. Both the Masjid Kampung Hulu and the Masjid Tranquerah provide further interest to the avid sightseer, with their oriental architecture, domes and minarets. More information about
Malacca Landmarks and Monuments.
The historic centre of Malacca contains a huge choice of museums, which are noticeably concentrated around the Jalan Kota, where the Malacca Sultanate Palace Museum is amongst the most eye-catching and offers visitors a taster of the opulent lifestyle of Sultan Mansur Shah. Located within the village of Kampong Morten and right next to the Malacca River, the Villa Sentosa is an unofficial museum, with period exhibits and Chinese pottery. In Chinatown, it is the Baba Nyonya Peranakan Museum on the Jonker Walk that beckons those looking for information about the city's Peranakan legacy. The Heritage Trust of Malaysia manages the house named '8 Hereen Street', where a restored Dutch appearance and regular walking tours are the principal attractions. At the Maritime Museum, you can find out all about the sinking of the Flor de la Mar ship in the early 16th century and the priceless treasures that were lost forever, just off the coastline. More information about
Malacca Museums.
After a few days spent in Malacca, you may well need a break from the city's strong tourist character, and many appealing day trips are possible. The neighbouring town of Ayer Keroh offers something different, with its Mini ASEAN Park and Zoo Melaka attractions suiting all ages. If you want to experience something a little more natural in appearance, then take an excursion to the Gunung Ledang National Park, where hiking trails lead to scenic vantage points, picnic spots and the Sagil Waterfall. Just a few kilometres offshore is the island of Besar (Pulau Besar), where sandy beaches, jungle trails and meditation caves await. Further beaches lie to the north-west of Malacca, in Tanjung Bidara, while the countryside town of Alor Gajah provides contrasting scenery and is located on the road connecting Malaysia's capital city,
Kuala Lumpur. More information about
Malacca Attractions Nearby.
More Malacca Information / Fast Facts and Orientation
- Country: Malaysia
- Location: Western coast of Peninsular Malaysia (Malay Peninsula) / Straits of Malacca
- Status: city
- Area: approximately 640 square miles / 1,658 square kilometres
- Population: approximately 800,000
- Language: Malay
- Currency: Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
- Time zone: MST (UTC + 8)
- Country dialling code: +60
- Telephone area code: 06
- Average daily Malacca January temperature: 31°C / 88°F
- Average daily Malacca July temperature: 31°C / 88°F
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