48 hour trip to Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca is a wonderful mix of modern living and centuries’ old heritage, with the tagline ‘Visiting Malacca is visiting Malaysia’. It is a small state but has plenty to offer. The city can be deemed sleepy compared to the bustling Kuala Lumpur. See all sides of Malacca with those things to do when in this UNESCO World Heritage city, and while public transportation is a little scarce, most hotspots are within walking distance from each other, so invest in a pair of good walking shoes and start exploring!

Admire the Sultanate Palace

The Sultanate Palace is actually a model of the original wooden palace that belonged to Sultan Mansur Shah who would have been the ruler of Malacca from 1456 to 1477. The home has now been transformed into a cultural museum which is flanked by pretty gardens and what makes the building even more impressive is that it was made without using any nails to hold it together.

Instead the structure stands as a result of some clever engineering and a series of wooden grooves and slots and the reconstruction was done after taking detailed notes of how the original palace would have looked according to the Malay Annals.

Walk around Jonker Street

Jonker Street is the soul of Malacca. The former residential centre of the old city bursts with life and activity. Colourful and decorated shop houses, each different from its neighbour, line the winding and branching streets. Stop by the vibrant cafés to rest your feet or hunt for bargains and relics in the antique shops.

In the evening, Jonker transforms into the city’s beating heart with energetic travellers, riverside bars and unlimited street food. Weekend travellers can hit the nationwide-famous Jonker Street Night Market on Friday and Saturday nights.

Enjoy Street Art

The street art is what makes Malacca so colourful and will give you lots of photo opportunities on your Malacca trip. Lots of street art can be found around the River and it is all in perfect condition too! Visit Melaka must be taking care of it as they know the street art is now one of the top places of interest in Malacca and it is becoming so famous for it!

As well as looking along the river be sure to head off into some side streets around Jonker Street to find the best street art in Malacca.

Explore the Botanical Garden

Escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself with lush greenery with a visit to the Botanical Garden in Ayer Keroh. Home to over 300 species of flora and fauna, enjoy a scenic morning walk, a healthy jog or a bike ride through its pathways, and when you are done, pay a visit to the Book Village located right in the heart of the park. With over 15,000 books on its shelves, the Book Village makes a great place for a relaxing afternoon with a great read.

Visit Cheng Hoon Temple

Photo Yann Pinczin du Sel

Cheng Hoon Temple is just off of Jonker Street and worth a quick visit. There are a few Buddhist Temples in Melaka but this is famous and on my list of Malacca things to do as it is the oldest working Buddhist temple in Malaysia. It is very pretty from the outside and inside.

Visit Stadthuys

Stadthuys is one of the most famous landmarks in Malacca and you will recognize it immediately thanks to the crimson façade.

The building dates from 1650 which makes it the oldest of its kind that was built during the Dutch colonial period and is modeled on the Stadhuis or town hall in Hoorn in the Netherlands. This used to be the local town hall and residence of the governor but nowadays it houses the History and Ethnography Museum.

Shop local food products

Some claim that Malacca is home to some of the finest food in Malaysia. People from all over Malaysia flock to Malacca to get some of only-in-Malacca food products, so grab the opportunity while you are in town. Head to two of the biggest food manufacturers in Malacca; Tan Kim Hock for delicious dodol and coconut candy, and San Shu Gong for durian chocolate and bean biscuits. When you are done, hop over to LW Pineapple Tarts for some fresh out-of-the-oven nyonya pineapple tarts.

See more: Malaysia and spectacular places to visit

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A guide to Malaysia's regions

Malaysia offers travelers tropical islands, a 130-million-year-old rainforest and (almost) secret diving havens. The country’s many features make it challenging to know where to visit.

Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s beating heart. This skyscraper-laden city houses the world-famous Petronas Twin Towers, while Little India and Chinatown offer a taste of its thriving multiculturalism. Malls are stocked with the latest fashion, technology and souvenirs, alluring bargain-hunters inland and overseas. But it isn’t all about the high life: KL is also one of the world’s food capitals, filled with street-side restaurants, vendors and food courts. Away from the skyscrapers, KL Forest Eco Park provides a slice of the rainforest in the city center.

Malacca

Malacca oozes with history and culture, with a celebrated title as one of the most historically important states in Malaysia. Malacca’s 15th-century Sultanate led to the modern Malay identity, accepting three eras of colonial influence (Portuguese, Dutch and British influence) that spanned almost five centuries. Today, UNESCO-listed Malacca City bursts with centuries-old structures, including St Paul’s—Malaysia’s oldest church. It also has a thriving food scene: Many people come here solely to eat their way through Jonker Street and stuff their faces with mountains of Peranakan cuisine.

Penang

Penang, once Malaysia’s colonial jewel and now proud street art and food capital, is split between Penang Island and mainland Butterworth. Capital George Town’s historical center includes dozens of colorful restored British colonial buildings, with traditional two-storey decorated shophouses lining the narrow streets. More curious travelers can stop by Butterworth, the hub connecting Penang and KL. This little-visited city offers colorful Chinese temples and views over the Straits and Penang Bridge.

Sabah

Borneo’s Sabah in East Malaysia showcases the best of Malaysia’s biodiversity. Pre-historic rainforest covers most of the state, where endemic proboscis monkeys and orangutans swinging from the trees. Mount Kinabalu at 4,095 metres (13,435 feet) stands proudly as Malaysia’s tallest peak, with most travelers arriving at Kota Kinabalu (literally Kinabalu City) as a base for scaling this beast. Speedboats connect the city with Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park’s beach and snorkeling opportunities within minutes. Take a day trip to the northernmost ‘Tip of Borneo’ in Kudat and watch the fireflies in Kota Belud. If you want the jungle, spend a few nights in Danum Valley or the rarely explored Maliau Basin.

Kedah

Kedah State covers a section of the Malay Peninsula and the famously duty-free Langkawi Island. World-acclaimed Langkawi receives the vast majority of the state’s tourists, home to beautiful beaches, verdant hills and a colorful nightlife scene. As an alternative, the dazzling white-sand beaches of Pantai Cenang provide the perfect place for relaxation, especially with cheap cocktails in beachside bars overlooking the gentle sea. Mainland Kedah offers a completely different travel package. Alor Setar’s modern city center blends decorative, traditional and Islamic styles of architecture, while paddy fields forming the famous ‘Rice Bowl of Malaysia’ stretch towards the horizon.

Read more: Top reasons why you should visit Malaysia

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Visit Malacca, the pretty old town in Malaysia

Malacca (Melaka) is a famous tourist destination with a rich cultural heritage, subsequent to the colonial rule of Portuguese, Dutch and British. It becomes one of the hottest tourist destinations in Malaysia because of its centuries-old architecture that gives you a glimpse of Malacca's glorious past.

Dutch Square

Dutch Square Malacca is the most picturesque along Jalan Kota. It's also a colorful trishaw pickup point, it is distinguished by a group of bright, terracotta-red colonial Dutch buildings, built between 1660 and 1700, with louvered windows and chunky doors with wrought iron hinges.

Jonker Street

This street is the center of Chinatown of Malacca. It began in Dutch Colonial times as the home to many of the servants of Dutch nobility. However, after the Dutch left, it became the home of the nobles themselves. Many seventeenth-century manors remain here, along with a large number of shops, restaurants and other amenities. When the large Chinese presence moved in, decorative accents like a large Chinese-style archway were added. The street is blocked off every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening to become a pedestrian-only night market.

Maritime Museum

With monthly visitors around 20,000 people, Maritime Museum is the most visited museum in Malacca. The museum main exhibits the replica of Flor de la Mar. The museum also houses exhibits, artifacts and documents from the golden era of Malacca and shows how political control of Malacca was essential to the establishment of maritime dominance in the region. It also displays the trading link of Malacca from the early time through the colonial era until independence.

St. Paul's Church

Originally built by a Portuguese captain in 1521 as a simple chapel, St. Paul’s Church offers views over Malacca from the summit of Bukit St Paul. St. Francis Xavier, one of the founders of the Jesuit order, used the church as his base for his missionary journeys to China and Japan. In one of those journeys, Xavier fell sick and eventually died in China in 1552. His body was temporarily interred here for nine months before being transferred to Goa, where it remains today. Visitors can look into his ancient tomb inside the church, and a marble statue of the saint gazing over the city.

Stadthuys

The Stadthuys (an old Dutch spelling, meaning city hall) is a historical structure situated in the heart of Malacca City, the administrative capital of the state of Malacca, Malaysia in a place known as the Red Square. The Stadhuys is known for its red exterior and nearby red clocktower. It was built by the Dutch in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor.

See more: Visit the best 7 old towns in Asia

Sultanate Palace

Malacca Sultanate Palace is a wooden replica of Sultan Mansur Shah’s 15th-century palace. Set at the base of St. Paul’s Hill it was painstakingly constructed in 1985 using traditional construction techniques and materials, based on accounts in the 16th century, Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) text. According to the annals, Sultan Mansur Shah’s seven-tiered palace was built entirely without nails and supported with carved, wooden pillars and featured a copper and zinc roof. The most elaborate royal palace ever constructed in the world in 1459. According to the annals it was destroyed the year after the sultan ascended the throne when it was struck by lightning.

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7 Old towns in Asia you must visit at least once in a lifetime

The old towns usually have unique beauties and stunning architectures, various culture and special cuisines. Here are the 7 Old towns that are famous in Asia.

1. Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca is the capital city of the Malaysian state of Malacca. Malacca (or Melaka in Malay) is a sleepy old city with a quaint colonial town center and is a great place to spend a few days on a trip to Malaysia. Malacca can easily be overlooked as a place to stop in Southeast Asia. Travelers will find some of the best food in Malaysia, unique cafes, timeworn architecture and well preserved historical sites in Malacca. Don’t miss it on your next trip to Malaysia.

2. Takayama, Japan

Takayama's old town has been beautifully preserved with many buildings and whole streets of houses dating from the Edo Period when the city thrived as a wealthy town of merchants. Several homes in the old town open their doors to the public. They provide a glimpse behind the facade into the former living quarters of the local merchants and exhibit traditional household goods and local arts and crafts.

3. Hoi An, Vietnam

Graceful, historic Hoi An is Vietnam’s most atmospheric and delightful town. Once a major port, it boasts the grand architecture and beguiling riverside setting that befits its heritage, and the 21st-century curses of traffic and pollution are almost entirely absent.

See more: Hoi An, quintessence of cuisine in Vietnam

4. Vigan, Philippines

With many villas for thousands of years, Vigan is a truly a witness of what used to be a royal city. With a Spanish-inspired architecture, it makes the old town of Vigan more unique. There are more than 200 ancient works are preserved in Vigan. It is where the Ilocos region’s rich culture and history are crafted in ornate architecture, furniture, and detailed ornaments. For this reason, Vigan Heritage Village was considered a UNESCO Heritage Site to preserve the cultural past of the Ilocandia region.

5. Bukcheon, Korea

Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. The name Bukchon, which literally translates to "northern village," came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants, and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture.

6. Tunxi, China

Tunxi Ancient Street is situated in the center of Tunxi District, the location of Huangshan City Government. Shops standing on both sides are generally of two or three floors, which feature the local Anhui style of stone base, brick construction, and tile roof. The layout of these buildings commonly takes on the appearance of shops in front while houses and workshops are to the rear. Once a professor from America was amazed by it and he said he had found an Oriental Ancient Rome. Nowadays Tunxi Ancient Street is also used as a natural studio for films and TV series.

7. Luang Prabang, Laos

Walk the streets with picturesque traditional houses, colonial-style villas, and Lao Buddhist temples at Old Quarter Luang Prabang, part of a bustling UNESCO-protected city area packed with history and culture. A night market, many shops, and restaurants set in pleasant two-story houses on clean, quiet streets give a totally different feel from the madness of other large Asian cities. Check out many temples with practicing monks praying or burning incense, or mingle with locals during their coffee breaks in the street. The nearby Mekong River surrounding this peninsula quarter, as well as abundant frangipani trees, add to the overall charm of the place. For travelers who use our online itinerary creator, Luang Prabang holidays become easier to arrange, with trips to the Old Quarter.

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