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Malacca Cultural Museum

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Getting There - Get Around - Attractions - Experience - Buy - Eat  and Drink - Stay

Malacca

Malacca (Malay: Melaka) is well known as the historical city in Malaysia. It is also the oldest city in Malaysia. Malacca was founded in 1390s by Parameswara, a fugitive Sumatran prince and therefore started the Malay Sultanate in South East Asia. Malacca has done a good job on preserving the historical building and also the old town.

Getting There

• Flight - There is no domestic flight or international flight to Malacca. International air flights will arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), located about 130km from Malacca. Budget airlines will be using the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) which located just beside KLIA.
• Bus – Malacca is accessible from most of Malaysia cities including Singapore by express buses. There are buses leaving for Malacca almost every 30 minutes from Pudu Station, Kuala Lumpur. Taking bus is the most cost effective way to Malacca.
• Taxi – Most of the Taxi are not willing to travel inter state. Chartered taxi to Malacca is available at KLIA (Airport Limo) and KL Sentral in KL city. From Malacca, chartered taxi is available at end of Jalan Kee Ann.
• Car - Malacca can be accessed from the North South Expressway. There are 2 exits in Malacca; Ayer Keroh (North) and Melaka / Bandar Hilir (South). If you are visiting the city center or historical spots (A’Famosa Fort, Dutch Square, St. Paul’s Hill, etc), take exit at Melaka / Bandar Hilir. If you are going to the golf course / A’Famosa Resorts / Zoo, take exit at Ayer Keroh.
• Train – Malacca is not connected by railway line.

Historical Resident House

• Walk – Tourist spots are quite concentrated in Malacca city area. Most of the spots are within walking distance. Exploring the Malacca old Chinatown on foot is recommended! You can do some shopping, discover and experience the local lifestyle when you walk on the street.
• Beca (Trishaw) is available in Malacca city area. Beca is good for city exploration and also short trip. Recommended!!
• Taxi is a convenient transport in Malacca. However, you should ask and negotiate price before hopping on the cab. Traveling within the city area should cost below RM10.

• Bus is not a convenient transport for traveling in Malacca. There is not much information of the bus routing services in the city. For tourist, bus no.17 can be able to bring you between Melaka Sentral Terminal and the city center (historic core).

Interesting Places

Dutch Square / Stadthuys

• A’Famosa Fort was built by Portuguese in 16^th century. It is believed to be the oldest historical buildings in Malacca. A’Famosa is located at the foot of St. Paul’s Hill.
• Muzium Budaya (Malacca Cultural Museum) – Located just beside A’Famosa Fort. It is a reconstruction of the old palace of the Sultan Melaka. Muzium Budaya is open daily from 9am to 6pm but close on Tuesdays.
• St Paul Church was also built by Portuguese in 1521 on top of St. Paul’s Hill. It was originally a chapel, called as "Our Lady of the Hill" (Nossa Senhora do Oiteiro) and was later acquired its present name from the Dutch, when the Dutch took over Malacca.
• Dutch Square, place where the Red House, Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower and the Queen Victoria's Fountain is. Red House (Stadthuys) was built in 1650. It is now the Historic Museum and Ethnography Museum.
  

Cheng Hoon Temple

• Christ Church was built by the Dutch in 1753. It is located just beside the Queen Victoria's Fountain. Christ Church bears all the features and characteristics of 18^th century Dutch architecture. 
• On top of the St. Paul Hill, you should able to see an old wooden ship sitting near the coast. It is the Maritime Museum which is constructed after 'Flora De La Mar', the Portuguese ship that sank off the Coast of Malacca. Maritime Museum is relatively a very small museum but it is a good chance to step into an ancient ship.
• Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is believed to be the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. It is located at Temple Street (Jalan Tokong) in the Malacca old Chinatown. The temple is built in 1645,
• The Kampung Keling Mosque is the oldest mosque in Malaysia. It is built in 1728 during the Dutch occupancy. Kampung Keling Mosque bears a unique architecture with blend of Sumatran, Hindu and Western architecture.

Shopping

• Take a walk in the Malacca old Chinatown area and enjoy a different kind of shopping experience. There are a lot of souvenir shops selling t-shirts, handicraft, food (biscuits, cakes, and candies), artwork, antiques, etc... Feel free to step in to find out more details on the selling item.

** The Malacca old Chinatown is surrounded by Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock / Heeren Street, Jalan Kubu, Jalan Kampung Hulu, Jalan Kampung Pantai and Lorong Hang Jebat

• Jonker Walk (Jalan Hang Jebat) is an open air night market held on Friday to Sunday and public holidays (6pm – 12pm). At Jonker Walk, you can find various types of local souvenir at a bargain price. Sit down in a café or pub and enjoy the environment here!!
  

Food

Malacca Chicken Rice Balls

• Satay Celup, a combination of Satay and Lok-Lok. Fresh foods like prawns, squids, fishballs, meatballs, crabsticks, chicken fillets, vegetables and etc are put on a bamboo stick and then dip in boiling satay sauce. Recommended!
• Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball is the chicken rice which the rice is served in balls. It is made so for the port workers during the old days because it can be consumed without plate and spoon.

Accommodations

Staying in Malacca is cheap, a 3-4 star hotel can cost from RM100 per night during offpeak season. 

Budget travelers can find the best deals, which can go as low as RM30 for a night stay.

Miscellaneous

• Security - Malacca is a safe city for tourist. However, walking around at night is not recommendable.

• Internet access - internet access is not too easy to find in Malacca. Most of the hotels do provide internet access but charge in additional.
• It's highly advisable to boil tab water before you drink.  Bottle water is available at most shops.

• Pharmacies are available only in shopping malls and busy streets. It is advisable to put some simple medications like painkillers and anti-diarrhea in your luggage.
• Toilets - the hygiene level of public toilets are generally poor, but mostly well maintained at tourist hotspots. Some toilets charge a small token (20-50cents).