Top 10 things to do in Melaka

Malaysia is a beautiful country where you will find people from various cultures and backgrounds living together. The country offers tourists many experiences like beautiful landscapes, forests, beaches and tall skyscrapers. Melaka is one of the places you must visit when you go to Malaysia. 

You can easily reach Melaka from Kuala Lumpur. There is a bus available every 30 minutes from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Melaka, and the journey is approximately 2.5 hours long. A weekend trip to Melaka could be refreshing, and one could visit some of the most famous places that the historic city has to offer, like the Melaka beach, market places, temples and much more.

Top 10 Things To Do in Melaka

Here are the top 10 places that you should go to when you are in Melaka – 

• Visit Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese Temple 

One of the oldest Chinese temples in Malaysia is the Cheng Hoon Teng temple. It is an important place of worship for Buddhists. You should visit this 17th-century temple to learn more about the history and culture of the Buddhist Chinese community. 

• The Sultanate Palace 

The sultanate palace is a wooden replica of the original palace of Sultan Mansur Shah, the ruler of Melaka. The most interesting fact about this wooden palace is that it stands without any nails hammered into it. The palace stands firm on the ground, thanks to the amazing engineering techniques applied to the structure. Many pretty gardens surround this palace. 

• Jonker walk night market 

For all the shopping enthusiasts out there, the Jonker walk night market is the perfect place to collect souvenirs and handicrafts. The market is open from Friday-Sunday and starts after the sun sets. 

Street food lovers can find many delicious options ranging from pancakes, waffles and rice balls. Here, you can find the special dessert, cendol, made using coconut milk and jelly. 

• Stadthuys 

Stadthuys immediately catches one’s attention due to the crimson red facade. It’s one of the oldest buildings of its kind and was made during the Dutch colonial era. The idea of the Stadthuys is derived from the Town Hall in Hoorn situated in the Netherlands. Currently, it houses a museum of history and ethnography. 

• Melaka river cruise 

It is one of those touristy things that you have to do when you are in Malacca. The Melaka river is an important part of the city, and the best way to explore it would be via a cruise. Earlier used as a trade route, today it is a spot one can pass by to soak in the city’s sights. 

A night-time cruise is a good way to witness the city’s nightlife. It generally takes around 45 minutes to an hour. The cruise operates everyday between 9:30 AM to 11:30 PM. There are two jetties from where one can board the cruise. The first is Muara Jetty, located right beside the Quayside heritage centre, and the second one is Taman Rempah Jetty, located near Hang Jebat Bridge. 

• Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple

Melaka has a mix of people practicing different cultures such as Islam, Chinese, Malay and Buddhism. The Hindu community known as the Chitty community moved in 600 years ago. The beautiful Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple is full of exquisite carvings of Lord Ganesha. One can trace back the steps of the Hindu community and learn more about their culture through this place. 

• Taming Sari revolving tower 

Standing tall at 110 meters is the Taming Sari revolving tower of Melaka, which offers a 360-degree view of the city. It is a 66- seater, and the ride takes approximately 7 minutes to go to the top. You get 5 minutes to take in the view before descending. 

• A’Famosa resort 

The A’Famosa resort is the perfect place for families. The resort has rooms for staycations, and one can do a day tour here to enjoy the theme parks. The various types of theme parks here include Old West, Safari wonderland and water world. The resort has many activities for children, such as paintball, rock climbing, horse and carriage rides. 

• St. Paul’s Church 

The St. Paul’s Church was built in 1521 by the Portuguese colonialists. It has a cemetery attached to it where one can find the tombstones of those who had arrived in Melaka from the Netherlands in the olden days. To reach the church, one has to climb the hill. The views from the hill are worth the climb and offer a spectacular sight of the city. 

• Try the Nyonya food 

Never can a travel list be complete without the mention of places that offer some of the best food in the city. Melaka is known for the lip-smacking Nyonya cuisine, a fusion of Chinese and Malay flavours. Many restaurants serve this unique cuisine. 

How to Reach Mekala?

One can fly to Kuala Lumpur and take a bus to Melaka from there. It is always better to book tickets in advance. You can easily book bus tickets online on reliable websites like redBus. You can find buses to various places in Malaysia from the best operators on the redBus website and mobile application. Economy and executive coaches from TBS, KL to Melaka starting at 6:30 AM. The road trip is around 2.5 hours long, and the approximate cost for a one-way trip is MYR13. 

In a Nutshell

You should list Melaka as one of the top places to visit in Malaysia. There are many things one can do in the country. The best way to reach the city is by bus. The online bus booking process is very simple and can be done within minutes. 

Plan a trip to Melaka today to experience the amazing things the city has to offer.

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