Wild Rose Travel

Melaka / Malacca

September 2022

A city two hours south of Kuala Lumpur, Malacca is the capital of Malaysia’s coastal state of Malacca – a bit confusing as both the state and the city share a name! With Melaka being the Malay spelling, Malacca is the English spelling. You often see both used interchangeably.

From Vintage Inn we crossed over the river and were immediately along the main river pass through the city centre – just like a mini European city! Malacca has a completely different feel to it, as though you had stepped outside of South-East Asia.

Not the most stunning or clean river or coastline, the city boasts a lot more than its waters. Known for its quirky shops, markets and cafes, there was plenty on our to-do list when arriving into the city.

First things first we took a walk around and discovered a big undercover food hall (Waronk – see map), with multiple counters to choose from. This is ideal if travelling as a group or with somebody else, as you’re not restricted to the same menu or cuisine.

We grabbed some lunch and continued to explore. I’ve highlighted my top five things to do below.

Malacca Prison

With an interest in history, Malacca prison was one of my favourite things to do in the city. Whilst we chose to walk (approx. 45 minutes from the centre) it may have been easier to get public transport to save yourselves in the heat! It is however in walking distance for those that like to get their steps in like I do.

The prison is a real life, former prison that has now been converted into a museum. The prison only opened as a museum in 2014, and was still up and running before this. At only RM6 admission pp (approx. £1.08) it is definitely worth a visit.

You can go in real life prison cells, with exposed wall drawings and writings from the former prisoners, as well as explore the corridors, kitchen, bathroom and execution areas. I’d probably recommend a couple of hours here, depending on how much you want to read the information boards and explore every room.

Dog/Cat cafe – ‘Relish the Moment’

Located directly on the river front, we found an adorable little dog/cat cafe when in desperate need for a coffee. Nice (aka Western) coffee is often hard to come by in Malaysia, therefore a good flat white is always appreciated when found. And what’s better than having a coffee in the company of puppies?

We came here two or three times whilst in Malacca – for coffee (of course) and for a nice quiet place to get some work done on laptops and make use of their free wifi. We did also grab a bite to eat on one occasion – I opted for the french toast and it was delicious!

On our visits, there were three puppies and two cat’s roaming around upstairs. The dogs are kept in a small area sectioned off from the rest of the cafe, so you don’t have to sit with them if you don’t want to. There is a couple of tables within the sectioned off area if it is of interest, and treats available to feed the dogs. You can also just step into the area without actually sitting there for a quick cuddle too. Overall – very cute.

Jonker Street Night Market

Note: The night market is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sundays! Be sure to time your stay over one (or more!) of these nights. Visiting Malacca without the night market isn’t as special.

Open from 6pm, you notice the streets slowly fill and more people make their way into the centre of Malacca in preparation to visit the night market. The area has a completely different feel, with street performers, jazzed up singing and dancing tuk-tuk rides, you name it.

You can find an array of food stalls as well as clothes, souvenirs, DIY, health and beauty. Again – you name it!

One of the most fun things to do in my opinion, is have a snacky dinner and try lots of different local foods from multiple stalls. Some local delicacy’s we tried here were the famous ‘pineapple tarts’ which were delicious! As well as dragon’s beard candy (spun sugar filled with peanuts) and ‘ondeh ondeh’ (filled pandan balls with coconut sugar). You can see all sweets being made fresh which is interesting and exciting to watch. You also know what you’re eating which is always a plus!

A Famosa

A Famosa is an old portuguese fort, worth a visit if you’re interested in history. The name is the direct translation of ‘famous’ in Portuguese. Whilst a lot of the structure has crumbled away, you can walk in and amongst what remains.

Dutch Square / Red Square

The Dutch square is a historical square situated in central Malacca, just opposite the top of Jonker Street. All the buildings are painted in a red brick colour and built between the 1660s and 1700s, in colonial style. There is a water fountain in the centre, and the area is often populated with tourists. Although not the most to see here, it is still a nice area to visit and take a slow stroll around.

St Pauls church

Situated on top of a hill behind the Dutch Square, St.Pauls church is next on the list. Following the guided steps and pathway up the hill, you are not only presented with the beautiful old church but 360 degree views around Melaka too. There are multiple museums around this area but we opted to walk around and visit the free public areas only.

Next stop – Pangkor Island