20+ Best (MUST TRY) Things to Do When You're Visiting Melaka

Name: Elf Lovely Home, Bali Residence SeaView Netflix
Address: Melaka, Malaysia
Price range: CAD 55
Rating: 9.3

Oleh Trip.com

1 April 2025

Melaka – our beloved historical city where every corner tells a story, every bite reminds you of home, and every weekend trip somehow ends with a food coma.

For most Malaysians, Melaka is the go-to short getaway spot. Why? Because it’s got everything we love:
✅ Rich history – A mix of Malay sultanate, Portuguese, Dutch, and British influences.
✅ Amazing food – You haven’t lived until you’ve had authentic asam pedas here.
✅ Chill vibes – No need to rush; just walk, eat, and repeat.

I’ve been to Melaka more times than I can count (mostly for the food, let’s be real). But over the years, I’ve realized something – many of us keep doing the same things: Jonker Walk, chicken rice balls, maybe a boat ride. But Melaka is so much more than that!

So in this guide, I’ll share not just the must-visit places but also some hidden gems and local tips to make your next trip extra special. Whether you’re a history geek, a foodie, or just someone looking for a fun weekend escape – there’s something here for you. 💙

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Historical & Cultural Must-Visits

Melaka’s history is like a rojak – a mix of cultures, rulers, and stories, all blending together into something uniquely Malaysian. If you want to really feel the city’s soul, these are the places you must visit:

📍 A’Famosa & St. Paul’s Hill

The OG landmark of Melaka. You’ve seen it in history books, now it’s time to climb up St. Paul’s Hill and take that classic tourist photo in front of the A’Famosa ruins. The view from the top? 10/10. The stairs? Maybe not so much.

🔥 Pro Tip: Go in the evening when it’s cooler. Also, be ready for some unexpected leg day exercise.

Book a Tour around A'Famosa

📍 Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum

Want to see how the Melaka Sultanate lived before the colonial times? This museum is a must. It’s a gorgeous wooden replica of the Sultan’s palace, filled with historical artifacts and stories about the golden days of Melaka.

🔥 Pro Tip: If you love Malay heritage and legends (Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, siapa betul?), this place is a goldmine of info.

📍 Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum

Inside of the baba nyonya heritage building

Ah, the Peranakans – one of the most fascinating cultures in Malaysia! This museum takes you inside a real Baba-Nyonya house, complete with antique furniture, intricate designs, and stories about their traditions.

🔥 Pro Tip: Take the guided tour – the stories they tell make all the difference! Also, if you love Peranakan-style OOTDs, this is the place to flex.

📍 Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

This is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia (founded in 1645!), and it’s still an active place of worship. Even if you’re not religious, the architecture alone is worth the visit – think intricate carvings, stunning murals, and a peaceful vibe.

🔥 Pro Tip: If you visit during Chinese festivals, the atmosphere here is super lively and beautiful.

Best Time to Visit & Entry Fees

Attraction 🏛️	Best Time to Visit ⏰	Entry Fee 🎟️
A’Famosa & St. Paul’s Hill	Evening (cooler weather)	Free
Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum	Morning (before crowds)	RM5 (locals)
Baba & Nyonya Museum	Anytime (guided tour recommended)	RM18
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple	Morning (quiet & peaceful)	Free

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Cheap Hotels in Melaka

5 star

Hatten Hotel Melaka

8.6/10Very Good2746 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.83km dari pusat bandar

Hatten Hotel offers an excellent location, conveniently situated right next to large shopping malls and within easy reach of many attractions. Jonker Street is only about a 10-minute walk away, making it very convenient to explore the main tourist spots. There is also an abundance of good food options around the hotel, so dining is never an issue. The morning buffet provides a reasonable spread and is sufficient to start the day well. Overall, a comfortable stay with great accessibility.

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Casa del Rio Melaka

9.3/10Great325 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.07km dari pusat bandar

Amazing indoor and outdoor living experience in this hotel. Love the private balcony facing Melaka River. I can spend my entire afternoon there with good coffee and snacks (coffee machine and snacks provided free in room). Tried their Kaya thost during breakfast. I gave 10/10! At night soak yourself in the bathtub with essential oil provided. Awesome experience! Every single detailing the room can wow you with such a specious and comfortable space. The best part is the hotel car park is just within minutes reach from your hotel room. So, it is so convinient after check out. All tourist attractions and restourant surrounding are within walking distance. Will definitely come back next time.

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The Majestic Malacca Hotel - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

9.3/10Great538 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.02km dari pusat bandar

The parking lot is behind the hotel. It would be great if they offered valet parking. Luckily, there's a side door from the hotel that leads directly to the parking lot. The room facilities are quite new and have a strong local flavor. It overlooks the Melaka River cruise, and the view isn't as good as the Dusit Thani Princess next door, which faces the sea. The TV, however, is a bit old-fashioned. Both the pool and gym are very small, barely better than nothing, but the gym environment is quite good. Breakfast is served until 10:30 AM. We went at 10 AM, and the breakfast staff were incredibly impatient. I also mentioned this in my subsequent hotel review: if they don't want to serve breakfast guests at 10 AM, they should just say so, rather than making guests face their bad attitudes. Breakfast is à la carte with unlimited ordering. We, as a couple, ordered four dishes plus one dessert. The presentation was terrible; the plates were oily when they were brought out. We were very disappointed with the breakfast. The front desk service was decent, but it took a while to process the parking ticket when we were leaving. Perhaps the staff weren't very familiar with the operation, or the system was slow. It's worth staying for one day to experience the Melaka charm, but don't expect much from the hotel's facilities and services.

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Elf Lovely Home, Bali Residence SeaView Netflix

9.3/10Great4 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.67km dari pusat bandar

The house is comfortable for us who have small children. Even though it is a studio house, the house is very clean, beautiful and tidy. Thank you for giving us an interesting experience. The view from the house is beautiful. Especially at night. 🥰

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The Straits Premium Malacca Sea View By I Housing

/100 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|1.05km dari pusat bandar

habis dijual

Asteria Melaka by Attic Suite

9/10Great40 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.61km dari pusat bandar

What a gem we found in Malacca! This Chinese-owned hotel, just opened 9 days ago, is absolutely divine. The facilities are brand new with no strange smells, the room was sparkling clean, and the bedding was incredibly soft and skin-friendly. It was so quiet that I slept like a baby, and all my travel fatigue was completely cured! The biggest surprise was that the owner, an 'old buddy' from Guangxi, was so warm and genuine. He provided thoughtful guidance throughout our stay and even shared some local, lesser-known travel tips. The service was excellent, and we felt incredibly welcome. The location is also very convenient for getting around, making our stay comfortable and worry-free. It offers incredible value for money! I've already recommended it to my fellow travelers, and I'll definitely stay here again next time I'm in Malacca. Five-star strong recommendation to all travelers!

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Happy Home @ Atlantis Residences [Pool View]

10/10Outstanding1 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.73km dari pusat bandar

Gonna repeat again next time. Host very friendly, helpful and most important is house is very clean.

habis dijual

Eco Tree Hotel, Melaka

8/10Very Good700 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|1.26km dari pusat bandar

Quite clean if you compare to other similar standard hotels in the area, booked it at a cheap rate so cannot complain much for the price paid… Soap is somehow 3-in-1… Wifi was good when I checked in, but got pretty bad when i returned from dinner… not sure what happened… lazy to go down to the reception so just slept early Overall, it was alright. Location was amazing tho, 10 mins to the nearest mall, heng chicken rice balls across the street :)

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Business travel

Bayview Hotel Melaka

8.5/10Very Good961 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.04km dari pusat bandar

good to be back here after a while. but the toilet irritates me. the water stagnates on the floor and cannot flow into the drainage as it should, the beds are not comfortable enough, problems also occurred when i want to empty the water in the bath tub - the scrubber problematic. I was given the room number 1403.

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The Shore Hotel & Residences

8.2/10Very Good1382 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.89km dari pusat bandar

The hotel is located in the middle of Melaka, but there are not many activities nearby. There is a river cruise within walking distance, but I didn’t try it. We only used the water taxi, which was cheaper, to travel from Jonker Walk back to the hotel. The food selection is limited—just enough to fill your stomach, but not much variety. I was quite disappointed with the coffee machine; the coffee is too light, and even the Americano is not strong. The lift is annoying, as the waiting time is very long when going up or down. and the sticker make it confusing to search for number,and screen didn't show which floor when lift stop. need to upgrade or do something ,the lift waiting time is very poor. The lifts are frequently full. At times, we opted to use the stairs due to long waiting times; however, the stairwell is dull and gives an uncomfortable feeling. My kids loved the pool, but it needs maintenance. I noticed some broken tiles, which could potentially cause injuries to children. The room is just nice. I booked a studio suite, and the toilet has transparent glass. In our room, the glass was blurry, but you can still see shadows. I asked the receptionist about the Premier room, and they mentioned that it is not even blurry—it is fully see-through. I think the hotel should consider installing a curtain or proper covering for the bathroom, as this can be quite inconvenient when traveling with family.

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Estadia Hotel

8.1/10Very Good642 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|0.94km dari pusat bandar

Located in an alley behind Hatten Hotel with Bus/coach bay (1 way traffic direction). Parking is chargable. Nearby Shopping mall - Mahkota Parade, Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. walking distance to Jonker Street. Room was spacious (living room, 2 bedrooms 2 toilets) comfortable beds (2 single & 1 queen size). Bathroom was clean. No Face / hand towel provided. TV reception was weak. the chair cushions were abit worn off and dust can been seen on beams of the table. Some wood lamination has peel off and chips near the window panel. The spread of the morning breakfast was plain and simple with 1 ”live” egg cooking section. hence did not opt or it.

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ibis Melaka

8.3/10Very Good720 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.68km dari pusat bandar

I had a wonderful stay at ibis Melaka! The hotel is clean, modern, and very well-maintained. The location is excellent — just a short walk to Jonker Street and other main attractions, yet quiet enough for a relaxing night’s rest. The room was comfortable, with cozy beds, good air-conditioning, and all the essentials you’d expect from an international hotel brand. The staff were friendly, professional, and always ready to help with directions or local recommendations. Breakfast offered a good variety of both local and Western options, and the dining area was bright and pleasant. Parking was convenient, and Wi-Fi connection was stable throughout the stay. Overall, ibis Melaka delivers great value for money — perfect for both leisure and business travelers looking for a reliable, comfortable place to stay in the heart of Melaka. Highly recommended!

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The Pines Melaka

8.5/10Very Good637 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.26km dari pusat bandar

Location: Near to tourist attraction, can easily get grab car to jonker street, distance about 5 min, rm5 fee Room: Clean and big, very convi to arrange our luggages, bed is soft like 5 star standard Service: Some front counter staffs are not helpful, as tourists, we ask questions like how to go nearby attractions, they answer us impatiently, a male staff even show sour face when i ask him about the parking payment, housekeeping also very slow responde when we need help about the safety box usage.

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Hotel Sentral Riverview Melaka

7.8/10Good407 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.5km dari pusat bandar

Cleanliness room need to improve further which i believe the hotel have done on new painting for all units/areas. Guests lift available 1x unit..with small capacity...and beware on your vehicles parking which a lot bird spread eapecially on your roof car😁..its like black magic drawer

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Hallmark Crown Hotel

8.3/10Very Good322 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|1.3km dari pusat bandar

I had a lovely stay at this hotel. The cleanliness was impressive, with the room and common areas kept spotless. The food was equally good - fresh, well-prepared, and flavourful. Every meal (breakfast) was enjoyable, reflecting great attention to quality and hygiene. Overall, the Hallmark Crown Hotel provided a comfortable and satisfying experience.

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The Sterling Boutique Hotel Melaka

8.6/10Very Good597 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.57km dari pusat bandar

We really enjoyed our stay at Sterling Hotel. The best part is definitely the location — it’s just a short walk to the Red House and Jonker Street. This saved us so much time since we didn’t have to worry about finding parking around Jonker, which can be a real headache. The room was comfortable and the staff were friendly, making the whole stay pleasant. If you’re planning to explore Melaka’s heritage area, this hotel is super convenient and makes everything easier.

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Breakfast

Moty Hotel

8.7/10Very Good453 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.63km dari pusat bandar

This is one of the best hotel stay in Melaka , never regret booking this hotel Near Jonker street , walkable distance , if you are tired can take their bicycle back quite cool Cost around 30-40rm The hotel staffs is all friendly assist you on every needs you need. I extend my half day stay & cost about additional 150rm , I find it reasonable , I will choose to stay this again. Love it thanks Moty Hotel for the wonderful stay

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Hotel Sentral Melaka @ City Centre

7.7/10Good377 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.24km dari pusat bandar

It was good, considering it's very cheap. Food could be a bit better. But for the price, it's really ok. But, please, clean the air conditioner. It's dusty, taking so much time to the room to be cold

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Grand Swiss-Belhotel Melaka

8.6/10Very Good528 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.42km dari pusat bandar

I had a pleasant stay here with my family. Our room had a view facing the main road, and although there was no bathtub, only a shower but the kids still enjoyed the space. The area came alive at night with a bustling bundle fair just outside, adding to the lively atmosphere. The building has a charming colonial-style architecture, which adds to its unique character. The hotel seemed to be popular among local Malay guests, giving it a warm and familiar vibe. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the food was quite satisfying. It would be even better if the hotel had facilities like a gym and spa, which I personally prefer. Overall, it was a great staycation for the whole family.

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Arenaa Deluxe Hotel

8/10Very Good406 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|2.06km dari pusat bandar

Lain ok cuma katil x ok. Sewa bilik deluxe double room, patut dpt katil queen tapi dia bgi katil single yg dirapatkan. Mengecewakan. Kalau kita sewa twin room nk katil queen confirm kena bayar harga lain. Tapi kalau mcm ni blh pulak. Xde pulak potong harga.

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Prima Hotel Melaka

7.8/10Good307 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.66km dari pusat bandar

Love love love the location!!!! Near to Jonker but it’s in the quite area so you can sleep peacefully 🥰🥰🥰

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Sunday Malacca Formerly Tun Fatimah

7.1/10292 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.67km dari pusat bandar

The room was clean and well-maintained, with an ideal location just steps away from Jonker Street, making it incredibly convenient for exploring the area. A standout perk was the complimentary parking—a major plus for travelers with cars. Given the affordable price, the hotel offered excellent value for money. The staff were friendly and always ready to assist, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay. I’ll definitely be back!

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Euro Rich Hotel Melaka

7.6/10Good265 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.7km dari pusat bandar

Staffs are very polite and professional, will stay there in the future if we get chance to visit there

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Baba House Melaka

9.1/10Great764 Ulasan

Jonker Melaka|0.33km dari pusat bandar

Lovely hotel within walking distance to Jonker Street. Rooms are spacious and quality of the toiletries are good. Would like to compliment front desk staff named Leong who is friendly and helpful, the eating places recommended by him did not disappoint, turns out to be the best meals in the trip!

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Foodie Paradise 🍜

Okay, let’s be honest – the real reason most of us go to Melaka? THE FOOD. 😍

Melaka’s food scene is legendary. Spicy, tangy, sweet, and full of history, every dish here tells a story. If you’re not leaving Melaka with a full stomach and a packed container of kuih for the drive home, you’re doing it wrong.

Here are the must-eat foods (with insider tips on where to get the best ones!):

🔥 Asam Pedas Power – The Sourest, Spiciest, Best Thing Ever

If you love your food pedas kaw and full of flavor, asam pedas is a must. This fiery fish stew, cooked with tamarind, chili, and spices, will wake up your soul and clear your sinuses.

📍 Where to go?
✔️ Asam Pedas Claypot Kota Laksamana – Spicy, tangy, served bubbling hot!
✔️ Asam Pedas Selera Kampung – More homey, less touristy.

🔥 Pro Tip: Order extra rice. You will need it.

🥥 Klebang Coconut Shake – The Ultimate Hot Day Refreshment

One word: legendary. This is not just any coconut shake – it’s blended fresh coconut, vanilla ice cream, and magic in a cup. Perfect for cooling down after walking around Jonker.

📍 Where to go?
✔️ Klebang Original Coconut Shake – The OG, but be prepared for a queue!
✔️ Coconut Shake Batu Berendam – Equally good, less waiting.

🔥 Pro Tip: Get the special one with extra ice cream on top. #NoRegrets

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🍢 Satay Celup – It’s Like Lok Lok, But Better

Imagine skewers of meat, seafood, and vegetables dipped into a boiling pot of thick, nutty satay sauce. It’s communal, fun, and delicious!

📍 Where to go?
✔️ Ban Lee Siang Satay Celup – Local favorite, less touristy.
✔️ Capitol Satay Celup – More famous, but expect long lines.

🔥 Pro Tip: The sauce gets better the more people dip into it. It’s like hotpot, but with satay vibes!

🍜 Nyonya Kuih & Laksa – Sweet, Savory, and Full of History

Melaka is the heartland of Baba-Nyonya cuisine, and you need to try their colorful kuih and laksa. The kuih is soft, fragrant, and not too sweet, while the laksa is a perfect mix of creamy coconut and spicy broth.

📍 Where to go?
✔️ Kuih: Baba Charlie Nyonya Kuih – Hidden in a kampung house, but 100% worth the hunt!
✔️ Laksa: Donald & Lily’s – Thick, flavorful broth that hugs the noodles perfectly.

🔥 Pro Tip: Bring some kuih home – your family will love you for it.

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