8 Things To Do in Melaka, Malaysia (2-day Travel Guide)

Things To Do in Melaka in Two Days

Melaka, formally written as Malacca, has something for everyone, so plan to spend one or two full days exploring this city. If you’re in a time crunch, an alternative would be to book a day tour leaving from Kuala Lumpur.

1. Discover Melaka’s Riverside Street Art

One of Melaka’s biggest surprises is its vibrant street art scene. Everywhere you look, buildings are decorated in the brightest colors, with large murals covering the walls. By strolling a few hours along the river or taking a river cruise, you will find many older houses that have been renewed by street art in this area.

Tip: The river is not the only place you can find street art! There is much more tucked away in Melaka’s narrow back streets.

2. Murals and Orangutan House

Two huge murals stand out among the rest: a fun thing to do in Melaka. Situated just away from the river is Kiehl’s heritage mural. Made up of primary colors in a lively color block design.

The brand collaborated with UNESCO to create a heritage site trail of six sites in Malaysia. The mural is one of them and is a great place to take some photos that will truly represent the energetic feeling of Melaka. The Orangutan mural, created by artist Charles Cham, is located just around the corner.

3. Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese Temple

Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese temple is the oldest operating temple in Malaysia and is quite different from the other buildings in Melaka because of the Chinese architectural influences. Ornate gates, gold leafing, and ruby red Chinese lanterns are just some of the features that make this a top thing to see in Melaka. 

4. Stadthuys and Christchurch

The red square is the epicenter of Melaka, featured on many postcards. The iconic red (pink-ish) buildings were built using bricks shipped over from the Netherlands during the period of Dutch rule.

Both buildings are in the trademark Dutch style which provides a unique European-Asian fusion of architecture. The central town hall named Stadthuys is even believed to be the oldest surviving Dutch building in the east! 

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We do recommend visiting this in the early morning as it will be busy with visitors after 8 AM. 

5. Melaka Straits Mosque

This majestic white building is a highlight of the things to do in Melaka. The mosque is located on the edge of the city, situated on a jetty emerging from the water. This means that when the water level is high, it gives the impression the mosque is floating. See the building’s stained glass and gold details by day or when it’s lit up by many different colored lights by night.

6. Jonker Walk 

The Jonker Street night market is a long stretch of street vendors selling products like jewelry and unusual foods. The market is held on Friday and Saturday nights, with live street music on every corner. If you’re unable to visit over the weekend, Jonker Walk is still an enjoyable place to visit in Melaka, as it’s in the center of Chinatown, where the majority of the historical monuments and good restaurants are located.

7. St. Paul’s Church

St Paul’s is the oldest church building in Malaysia and South East Asia! It was originally built by the Portuguese in 1521 but was taken over by various other European powers over time. Now the church is in ruins, but it’s still a beautiful and impressive place to see. Interesting fact: The stones featured inside have old-dutch texts on them. 

Finally, it is an excellent place to enjoy a panoramic view of Melaka due to its position on a hill.

8. Maritime Museum

A replica of the ancient Portuguese ship ‘Flora de La Mar’ stands high above the buildings as a museum. After having stolen goods, the original ship famously sank off the coast of Melaka.

Situated just a short walk from Dutch Square, the museum is a great place to learn a bit about Melaka’s importance as a maritime trading center. 

How to Visit Melaka

Melaka is easy to get to, with numerous travel options on offer. There is an international airport, and many flights leave for Kuala Lumpur daily. You can also visit Melaka on a day tour leaving from Kuala Lumpur if you’re in a time crunch.

Kuala Lumpur to Melaka

However, if you are flying into Kuala Lumpur, the journey by road is very easy and takes only 2-3 hours. Buses leave from Kuala Lumpur Airport and the city center at various times throughout the day.

Singapore to Melaka

Another good option is to travel from Singapore to Melaka. A bus takes 3-4 hours.

How to Get Around Melaka

Once you arrive in Melaka, almost everything can be done on foot as all the main landmarks are within walking distance of each other. For those sights that are further away (such as Melaka Straits Mosque), jump on a trishaw for an authentic Malay experience, cycle by bike, or take a Grab taxi.

Restaurants in Melaka

Melaka is an established foodie paradise. The melting pot of different cultures in Melaka makes for a variety of tasty foods from all over the world. These were our favorite restaurants and cafes:

Where to Stay in Melaka

It’s best to situate yourself centrally so as to be within walking distance from all the attractions. There is a nice atmosphere by the river, and plenty of hostels and guesthouses are situated here.

Our favorite hotels in Melaka 😴

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1825 Gallery Hotel

Melaka

Yote 28

Melaka

The Nest House

Melaka

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Melaka

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Check available hostels

Guesthouses in Melaka are very reasonably priced and of good quality. However, there are more upmarket hotel options that sit a little further out of the center.