The Best Itinerary for Malacca (1-2 Days)

After spending a few weeks in Malaysia, I glanced at a map (while I was in Kuala Lumpur), saw that a town named “Malacca” was nearby, and decided I’d go see what the city was about.  Lucky for me, Malacca was better than I could’ve imagined.  (It actually turned out to be my favorite place in all of Malaysia!).  The history, quaint streets, Portuguese, Dutch, and British influence – all added to its charm.  With history seeping out of every building and every street – I was hooked.  While I originally planned to stay for two nights, I booked a third night at the hotel so that I could just spend a day soaking it all in.  Here is the best itinerary for Malacca whether you have time to spend one or two days.

 

FOR A MORE VISUAL LOOK AT MALACCA, CHECK OUT MY INSTAGRAM REEL!

 

If you’re planning a trip to Malaysia, don’t miss…

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Brief History of Malacca

Malacca has a fascinating history.  The city was first prominent in the 14th century as a flourishing trading port.  The Portuguese seized control in 1511, bringing a wave of European influence.  This control shifted to the Dutch in 1641 and later to the British in 1824, each adding layers to its rich cultural mosaic.  During World War II, Malacca experienced Japanese occupation, further diversifying its historical narrative.  The city witnessed the dawn of a new era with Malaysia’s independence in 1957.  This fusion of influences is evident today in Malacca’s architecture and multicultural ambiance, making it a fascinating destination.

 

Is Malacca Worth Visiting?

As I mentioned earlier, Malacca is my favorite place in Malaysia so I would say that yes, it is absolutely worth visiting.  The city is a treasure chest of history and culture.  Stroll the quaint streets during the day, admiring influences from the Portuguese, Dutch, and British; each building and street telling a story of Malacca’s rich past.  Take a cruise down the Melaka River when your feet hurt from walking.  And at night, head to the Jonker Street Night Market (open Friday-Sunday) or enjoy dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants in town.

 

The Best Time to Visit Malacca

The peak month for visitors in Malacca is December, when the weather is good and the atmosphere is festive with Christmas and New Years decorations.  Because of Malaysia’s weather patterns, there are two different rainy seasons/dry seasons.  The dry months are generally from mid-December to mid-March and June through mid-September.  The “wet” months (not heavy rainfall, but scattered storms) occur from April-August.  And heavy rains last from September through mid-December.

I visited Malacca in January and experienced great weather.  It was warm during the day, mild at night, and cloudy.

 

How to Get to Malacca

Malacca does have a small airport, so depending on where you’re coming from – you can opt to fly into the city.  I like to use Skyscanner and Expedia to search for flights.

However, in my opinion, the most convenient way to get to Malacca is by bus.  And the two most common routes are from Kuala Lumpur or from Singapore.  When searching for bus routes to Malacca, I recommend using 12Go or Bookaway.

 

TRAVELING BY BUS FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO MALACCA

If you’re traveling to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur, here’s what you should know.  First, you’ll want to leave from Kuala Lumpur “TBS” (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) station.  The buses run often, almost every 30 minutes so you can easily show up to the station, purchase a ticket there, and then get on the bus to Malacca.  (Purchasing a ticket at the terminal is cheaper than purchasing online).

Another option would be to book a bus ticket from the KLIA2 station (this is the bus station at the airport).  Depending where you’re at in Kuala Lumpur, or if you’re flying to Kuala Lumpur and immediately boarding a bus to Malacca, this might be your best bet.  Again, you can book a ticket ahead of time or show up to the station and purchase one on site (this will be cheaper).

If you don’t want to purchase at the station and would rather have a ticket in hand before showing up – you can book on 12Go or Bookaway.

Depending on where you’re leaving from in Kuala Lumpur, the bus ride to Malacca will take around 2-3 hours.

 

If you’re traveling to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur, don’t miss…

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TRAVELING BY BUS FROM SINGAPORE TO MALACCA

If you’re traveling to Malacca from Singapore, here’s what you should know.  First – make sure to have your passport as you’re traveling between two countries.  You should also know that there are many different routes to take, but the quickest route will take around 3-4 hours depending on traffic.

I haven’t personally traveled from Singapore to Malacca so I can’t speak to ticket availability at the terminal (in person) versus booking ahead of time.  But your best bet would be to ask your hotel concierge if it’s easy to show up to the terminal and get a ticket or if they recommend booking online ahead of time.  If you decide to book online ahead of time, I recommend 12Go or Bookaway.

 

If you’re traveling to Malacca from Singapore, don’t miss…

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TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR MALAYSIA

If you’re planning on visiting Malacca, I highly recommend protecting your trip with travel/medical insurance in case anything were to go wrong.  (You can ready why here and here).  After doing some research, I ended up using SafetyWing for traveling to Malaysia because it covers both travel mishaps like delayed flights, lost luggage, emergency evacuations; plus it covers medical emergencies like surgery, hospital stays, and depending on what plan you get it can even provide medical coverage in your home country.

 

GET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE HERE!

 

How to Get Around Malacca

Malacca is a very small and walkable city.  If you’re staying around the historic centre of Malacca, you can easily walk everywhere.  If you’re staying on the outskirts of town or want to venture to more local areas, you can easily get around by using “GRAB” – a rideshare app.

 

Where to Stay in Malacca

Malacca has a ton of great hotels to stay in, but I stayed at The Majestic Malacca and would highly recommend it.  It’s in a quieter area, but only a 10-15 minute walk from all of the main tourist attractions.  Plus, the hotel has a fascinating history (it was once a mansion for Leong Long Man and his wives and children, and was built in 1929), great food, and incredible amenities.

If you want a more visual look at The Majestic Malacca, check out my Instagram post here!

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN MALACCA HERE!

 

Itinerary for Malacca:  Day 1

HIGHLIGHTS OF MALACCA DAY 1:  Stadthuys + Christ Church of Malacca + Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese Temple

If you only have one day in Malacca, these would be my top recommendations.  If you have two days, I’ve listed more off the beaten path recommendations for day two in Malacca.

 

Spending the Morning in Malacca

Begin your first morning in Malacca grabbing a traditional Malaysian coffee or “Kopi” before setting out to see the town.  If you’re looking to enjoy a savory breakfast with your coffee, head to Vintage Green Cafe at The Daughter.  If you’re looking for a sweet treat with your coffee, head to Sin See Tai.

Once you’ve left, make your way to the most famous square in Malacca – Dutch Square.  As you can assume by the name, the architecture leftover here was from when the Dutch colonized Malacca from 1641-1825.  Here you can visit Christ Church of Melaka and learn about the history of Malacca at Stadthuys.  The cost to visit Stadthuys is 40 Ringgit/adult.

 

You’ll also find the Maritime Museum nearby Stadthuys.  I personally do not think this was worth the visit and if you’re limited on time or simply not too interested, I would skip it.

 

Spending the Afternoon in Malacca

For lunch, I recommend stopping at The Daily Fix Cafe which was an excellent choice for both local and international dishes.  Plus, there are great desserts and pastries here if you’re looking for a sugar fix!

Once you’ve finished lunch, continue to explore Malacca on foot and make sure that you stop at Cheng Hoon Teng – the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia.

And to finish out the afternoon, I highly recommend a visit to the oldest bar in Malacca – Sin Hiap Hin.  Here you can try their specialty – different types of Malaysian rice wines.  This bar has been in the family for generations and has truly seen it all.  It’s said that it used to be the bar the soldiers would hang around during WWII but when the Japanese invaded, they would act like the bar was closed as to not serve the “enemy”.  Sin Hiap Hin closes each day at 5:30 pm, so just make sure you stop by before closing.

 

Spending the Evening in Malacca

For the evening, I recommend heading to dinner at Wild Coriander – a restaurant that serves authentic Malaysian food.  And if you’re not ready to turn in for the night, put “Pesuba” in your phone and you’ll be taken to a street that has set out tables and chairs for people to enjoy drinks and music.

 

Itinerary for Malacca:  Day 2

Because Malacca is quite small, on your second day you’ll have time to really slow down and soak in the history and culture of Malacca.  There isn’t too much more to do in town, but I will list some great shops that I think are worth stopping in at.  I think this is also a good time to mention that if you stay at The Majestic Malacca, you can sign up for a history tour of town – which I would HIGHLY recommend.  This tour alone is worth the stay at the hotel.

 

Spending the Morning/Afternoon in Malacca

One of the cool things about Malacca is that there are tons of unique stores that each have such history and stories to tell.  When you get going, I recommend strolling through town and observing the locals at work.  You’ll notice that a lot of stores are famous for “one” thing.  For instance, you have the key maker, tin maker, the person who carves signs with Chinese symbols for locals, the shoemaker, etc.  Some of my favorite stores that we happened across were…

• The Clay House – You can actually book a pottery class here!
• Colour Beads NyoNya – For ornate, handcrafted shoes
• Fwu Chang Carving Art Gallery

 

Spending the Evening in Malacca

If you’re visiting Malacca on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night, I would definitely recommend stopping at the Jonker Street Night Market for some local street food.

 

FAQ

Q:  “How many days is enough for Malacca?”

• A:  Malacca is quite small so you really only need one day to see everything.  However, if you have the time, I recommend slowly down and spending two days in Malacca to soak in the history and quaint streets.

Q:  “Can you do a day trip to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur (KL)?”

• A:  Absolutely!  The bus from Kuala Lumpur is only 2-3 hours (depending on where you’re leaving from in KL) and buses are constantly running between the cities so it’s easy to take a day trip from KL to Malacca.  While it’s completely do-able to day trip on your own, you can also join this tour if you’re hesitant about going at it alone.

Q:  “What are the best things to see and do in Malacca?”

• A:  As mentioned above, a few of my favorite sites in Malacca include the Cheng Hoong Teng Chinese Temple, Christ Church Melaka, Stadthuys (a history museum), Church of Saint Paul, and Francis Xavier Church.

Q:  “Why should you visit Malacca?”

• If you’re interested in history, that’s enough reason to visit Malacca in my opinion.  However, Malacca also has its own culture, people (Baba Nyonya or Peranakans), and food, and its just generally a cute and interesting place.

 

Malaysia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Malaysia

 

I hope that you enjoyed this travel guide and feel inspired to visit Malacca.  After all, this truly is the best itinerary for Malacca!  If you have any questions, let me know in a comment below!

 

For more on traveling around Malaysia, don’t miss…

• The Best 3 Day Penang Itinerary

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Malacca, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinmalaysia” or under my highlights for “Malaysia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Malaysia” highlight

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