Overview
The city of Melaka is divided into the new and old sections. The older part of
the city is fairly compact and has many historical attractions tucked into the
nooks and crannies of its narrow streets.
Much of the remnants of Melaka's glorious past lie within the Town Square
and waterfront area near the river.
Just above the Town Square is St. Paul's Hill (Bukit St. Paul) which is the site
of the original Portuguese fort of A'Famosa and St. Paul's Church.
There is a sign-posted heritage trail which visitors can follow to visit all the
historical places in the older section of town. The new section of Melaka lies
across the Melaka River and is mostly built on land reclaimed from the sea. It
contains modern shopping centres like the Mahkota Parade and is a food and
entertainment district.
Outside Melaka town, there are a few beaches, offshore islands and the Air
Keroh district. This area is close to the North-South Expressway and has
many recreational theme parks.
Getting to Melaka
Melaka is 149 km from Kuala Lumpur, 216 km from Johor Bahru and 90 km from
Port Dickson. The Kuala Lumpur to Melaka trip by road takes about two
hours, while the trip to Johor Bharu further south takes about three hours.
Several tour agents and hotels in Kuala Lumpur offer packages to Melaka for
weekend or day trips. Taxi and express bus services are easily available.
You can get around Melaka by taxi or bus. The local bus station, express bus
terminal and taxi stations are all located around the same area on Jalan Hang
Tuah
By Road
There are a number of bus companies that service the Kuala Lumpur/Melaka
route daily, as well as between Melaka and other towns and cities. To get to
Melaka from Kuala Lumpur, you can take an express bus at the Puduraya Bus
Terminal in Kuala Lumpur. Tickets can be purchased at the terminal, but
during festive seasons it is advisable to book ahead. Outstation taxi offices
are also located in the terminal. Taxis normally wait for a full passenger load
before they depart.
Taxi
Taxis leave from the taxi station just opposite the local bus station and
operate to Kuala Lumpur, Port Dickson, Johor Bahru, Seremban and Mersing.
Rates are between RM30-RM50
Public City Buses
A useful service is the No.17 town bus from the local bus station which runs
to Taman Melaka Raya and on to Portuguese Square and back.
To get to Tanjung Kling take PATT HUP bus No.51 from the same station.
Bus no.19 goes to Air Keroh. To get to the airport at Batu Berendam, board
Batang Bus No.65.
Outstation Buses
Express Bus Lines
Melaka-Kuala Lumpur Express - Phone: 06-282 2503/238 1578
Melaka-Seremban Transnasional Express - Phone: 06-282 0687
Melaka-Port Dickson-Klang Barat Express - Phone: 06-283 3462
Melaka-Ipoh-Butterworth-Penang S.E.Express - Phone: 06-282 4327
Melaka-Kuala Terengganu-Kota Bharu Budaya Express - Phone: 06-282 2555
Melaka-Ipoh-Lumut S.E.Express - Phone: 06-282 4327
Melaka-Johor Bahru/Singapore - Phone: 06-282 4470
Melaka-Tampin - Phone: 06-283 1667
Melaka-Muar - Phone: 06-283 1667
Places of Interest
The Stadthuys
Built in 1650 as the official residence of the Dutch Governor and his officers,
The Stadthuys is a fine example of Dutch architecture of that period.
Preserved in its original structure and form, the edifice now houses the
History Museum and Ethnography Museum.
On display daily are traditional bridal costumes and relics from Melaka's
glorious past.
St. Paul's Church
Originally named Our Lady of the Hill, this fine church was built by a
Portuguese captain named Duarte Coelho. Years later, the Dutch turned the
chapel into a burial ground for their noble dead and renamed it St. Paul's
Church.
St. Francis Xavier's remains were briefly enshrined in the open grave in 1553
before being brought back to Goa, India.
A'Famosa
The hallmark of Melaka and perhaps the most photographed colonial building
here next to the Stadhuys.
Built by the Portuguese in 1511 as a fortress, it sustained severe structural
damage during the Dutch invasion.
The Dutch had set to destroy it, but timely intervention by Sir Stamford
Raffles in 1808 saved what remains of A'Famosa today.
Muzium Rakyat (People's Museum)
Here, there are exhibits on Melaka's economic and social progress spanning
from after the independence of Malaya in 1957 till the end of the 20th
century. The exhibits are segmented into tourism, agriculture, industry and
other sectors.
The Baba and Nyonya Heritage
'Straits Chinese' or the Baba and Nyonya, are Chinese who have adopted
much of the Malay culture. The public can now view this unique heritage at
the private museum run by the Babas and Nyonyas of Melaka.
Jonker Walk
A definite haven for antique collectors and bargain hunters. Authentic
artefacts and relics, some dating as far back as 300 years, can be found
among a host of interesting collectibles, each with its own history and
mystery.
Jalan Hang Jebat, formerly known as Jonker Street, is known worldwide
among famous antique collectors as one of the best places to hunt and
bargain for antiques.
St. Peter's Church
Built in 1710 during the Dutch occupation in Melaka. It is the oldest Roman
Catholic church in Malaysia and sits on a piece of land donated by a Dutch
gentleman, Maryber Franz Amboer.
Its façade and décor have a combination of Eastern and Western
architecture. One of its bells was cast in Goa in 1608.
Poh San Teng Temple
The temple is located at the foot of Bukit China. This handsome place of
worship was built in 1795 by Kapitan Tsai Shih Chang. Within the temple is
the famous well, San Pao Ching or Perigi Raja, subject of many legends and
stories.
Hang Li Poh's Well
Built in 1459 by the followers of Hang Li Poh, the Chinese princess who
married the Sultan of Melaka.
The well never dried up during the days of old and was the only source of
water during great droughts. The Dutch enclosed it with stout walls in 1677
to maintain ultimate right to the well.
It has been turned into a wishing well and it is said that those who throw
coins into it will return to Melaka time and again.
St. John's Fort
Rebuilt by the Dutch during the third quarter of the 18th century, St. John's
Fort was once a private Portuguese chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
The fort has an interesting feature - cannons face inland as, during that
time, attacks on Melaka came mainly from the hinterland instead of from the
sea.
Portuguese Square
Perhaps the right phrase to infer strong affinity to Portugal would be 'Mini
Lisbon'. Located within the Portuguese Settlement, the square is the centre
of Portuguese culture in Melaka and Malaysia.
West Malaysia
Cameron Highlands Genting Highlands Kuala Lumpur Langkawi Melaka Penang Port Dickson
West Malaysia
Johor Kedah Kelantan Kuala Lumpur Melaka Negeri Sembilan Pahang Penang Perak Selangor Terengganu
East Malaysia
Labuan Sabah Sarawak
