Fun IdeasTravel Activities

Melaka River Cruise – Explore Melaka

River-Cruise-By-Night-In-Malacca

The Melaka River Cruise is a tourist attraction in Melaka, a UNESCO world heritage site. The cruise is an absolutely enriching experience for locals and tourists. A beautiful combination of the old-world charm of the exhibits of traditional Malay architecture and the serene views from the river, this journey offers some unforgettable moments.

The cruise services include boats and water taxis that take people on a tour of all the heritage sites along the Melaka River. It is operational from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 p.m. The tours are lovely and are functional day and night. You can book a bus online ticket to Melaka City and book a spot for yourself on the cruise.

Your Journey on the Melaka River Cruise 

The Melaka River Cruise is a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction where you can witness the heritage of the Melaka city. Your journey will start from either the Spice Garden jetty or the Melaka River Square jetty. It will offer glimpses of the old buildings of the Stadthuys, some pre-war architectural wonders, the Bastion Middleburg, Kampung Hulu Mosque, and even the Church of St. Francis Xavier. You will also get to see the Tan Kim Seng Bridge, which was demolished by the British in 1942 and was rebuilt again. 

Next, the cruise will approach the Chan Koon Cheng Bridge dating back to the 1930s, built in the place of a drawbridge to allow ships to pass. As the cruise continues, the macabre structure of the Kg. Jawa Bridge, locally known as the Ghost Bridge will loom ahead.

Moving forward, you will see the Pasar Bridge, dating back to the Portuguese rule in Malaysia. It connects the bustling Old Central Market with Kampung Hulu. On your journey, you will see two more bridges: the Old Bus Station Bridge and the Hang Jebat Bridge. The Old Bus Station Bridge features beautiful arches. It was once connected to the Malacca bus station. The Hang Jebat Bridge is a recent reconstruction that includes styrofoam technology.

While heritage buildings and bridges are beautiful, you can also get a glimpse of village life. The cruise will go near the Kampung Morten. It is one of the oldest Malay villages that preserve various traditions and honors the arts and architecture. 

Another interesting aspect of the Melaka River Cruise is the Rhythmic Water Fountain. It is stunning at night-time and is a significant highlight of the evening cruise. 

Facilities on the Melaka River Cruise

The cruise boasts plenty of amenities, with dinner services being one of the most cherished ones. You can choose the dinner cruise and enjoy a delicious meal on board. The cruise journey at night is magical, and the old structures seem full of mystery and charm. All meals on board are freshly prepared with the best local produce. 

Apart from the dinner service, you can also book the cruise for corporate events, weddings, parties, and even brunches with friends and family. 

VIP facilities are also available on the Melaka river cruise. You must book a VIP cruise if you wish to experience a luxurious trip down the Melaka River at night. The VIP cruise is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. 

Melaka River Cruise also extends water taxi services. These water taxis are perfect if you want to visit the nearby islands off the coast of Melaka.

How to Reach Melaka

Melaka City is well connected to various locations in Malaysia. Taking a bus to Melaka River Cruise is the most comfortable and affordable way to reach Melaka. 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 3 hours long. Book a bus online ticket from redBus and travel to Melaka.

If you are planning to visit Melaka, our detailed travel guide can help you plan your itinerary well in advance.

For more information on bus booking in Malaysia in Malay, please visit online tiket bas!

Hi, I’m Laxmi Tiwari