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

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

8.7/10Very Good2829 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.83km dari pusat bandar

The hotel's location is excellent, just a 10-minute walk to the iconic Red Square. Our room faced the sea, offering clear views of the beautiful Straits Mosque, which looked especially stunning at night with its constantly changing colored lights. There are plenty of dining and shopping options nearby; across the road, there's an authentic and delicious Nyonya restaurant. I particularly enjoyed the hotel's swimming pool and sauna; it was so relaxing to go from a swim to a sauna session. Malacca is a wonderful place for a vacation, especially the weekend night market, which is great for eating and drinking. There's so much delicious food! The hotel breakfast was also very rich. The only drawbacks were that the hotel facilities are a bit old, there was no power outlet next to the bedside table for charging, and the bathroom door design had some issues. The service was alright.

Dari£26

Casa del Rio Melaka

9.1/10Great326 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.07km dari pusat bandar

My mother and I took a bus directly from Yishun, Singapore to this hotel, which was incredibly convenient. The hotel is located near Airport Street, within walking distance to all the attractions. They refilled snacks and drinks every day. In the evenings, they even lit candles and essential oil diffusers in the room and on the balcony. The bed and pillows were very comfortable, and the quiet, cozy environment made for a great night's sleep. The rooftop pool has an amazing view (though I'd suggest replacing the two ice bowls with two drinks, and using disposable hand towels for better hygiene). Overall, a really excellent experience.

Dari£132

The Majestic Malacca Hotel - Small Luxury Hotels of the World

9.3/10Great565 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.02km dari pusat bandar

This hotel is a beautiful 10-minute taxi ride from Melaka Sentral. The front desk service was very warm and welcoming. I arrived quite early, and after I checked my luggage, it was already in my room when I checked in later that evening. Breakfast is à la carte, and the service was consistently good. The hotel's location is great, within walking distance to attractions like Jonker Street. There's also a fantastic char kway teow stall nearby that's open at night; a local taxi driver recommended it, and while there's often a long queue, it moves very quickly.

Dari£82

Courtyard by Marriott Melaka

9.1/10Great1212 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.25km dari pusat bandar

It's a bit far from the main tourist areas, so you'll need a taxi to get there as it's quite sunny to walk. However, the hotel facilities are excellent and very comfortable, and the service is good too. There are also some eateries nearby, although they don't look particularly clean.

Dari£67

Elf Lovely Home, Bali Residence SeaView

9/10Great8 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. 🥰

Dari£42

The Straits Premium Malacca Sea View By I Housing

7.2/103 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|1.05km dari pusat bandar

Comfortable stay. Host was friendly and helpful

Dari£26

Asteria Melaka by Attic Suite

9.3/10Great157 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.61km dari pusat bandar

I had a wonderful stay at this hotel. The room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, and the staff were friendly and always ready to help. The check-in process was smooth, and the facilities were excellent. I especially enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and convenient location. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience, and I would definitely recommend this hotel to others. Looking forward to staying here again!

Dari£26

Happy Home @ Atlantis Residences [Pool View]

10/10Outstanding2 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.

Dari£38

Business travel

Eco Tree Hotel, Melaka

8.1/10Very Good727 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|1.26km dari pusat bandar

This the second time im staying here. First time was a week ago and the staff was fantastic but unfortunately this time there was this guy(i dont know him/her) was very rude. Totally pissed me off, if you cant be nice and polite in your service industry then better just stay at home!!! Very arrogant.

Dari£16

Bayview Hotel Melaka

8.5/10Very Good984 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.04km dari pusat bandar

Bayview Hotel Melaka offers a pleasant and comfortable stay that covers all the essentials for a simple getaway. The room was clean and well-kept, providing a nice space to rest after a day of sightseeing. While the facilities are not particularly luxurious, everything functioned as expected and met the basic needs of a short stay. The staff were the highlight of the experience. They were friendly, polite, and always willing to help whenever I needed assistance. Their warm attitude made the overall stay feel more welcoming. The location is convenient, with easy access to Melaka’s main attractions such as Jonker Street and the river area. It’s suitable for guests looking for a fuss-free hotel that’s reasonably priced and comfortable enough for a couple of nights. Overall, Bayview Hotel Melaka is an average but reliable option—clean rooms, helpful staff, and a good base for exploring the city.

Dari£23

The Shore Hotel & Residences

8.2/10Very Good1478 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.89km dari pusat bandar

Facilities: Newly built and excellent, very clean! Cleanliness: Spotless, I brought a lot of my own stuff but didn't even need it! Environment: It's a mixed-use hotel and apartment building with a mall right downstairs, including KFC and Subway. Just a heads-up, many of the food options are spicy. There are also play areas for kids. It's about 1000 meters from Jonker Street, but be cautious if you take the smaller alleys at night, it can be a bit spooky. Also, the swimming pool on the 9th floor was super cold in the morning! Service: The service was great, everyone was very friendly and greeted us warmly! Breakfast was especially rich and delicious, with a lot of Malaysian-style options!

Dari£20

Estadia Hotel

8.2/10Very Good675 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|0.94km dari pusat bandar

When we arrived, we were surprised that this hotel is under the same group company, Hatten Group. So it has the same parking lot shared with Hatten Hotel. Different building though. The check-in was fast but only at 3pm. The room was extremely comfortable, bed was comfy, and the shower water is really strong. The room itself overall is very clean too and well-maintained. Price is very affordable even at high-season which makes it a very attractice stay. The breakfast is just average and a bit-tad too pricey at RM 35 p/pax since Melaka itself has an abundance of other eateries options. Will definitely return.

Dari£22

Swiss-Garden Hotel Melaka

8.7/10Very Good2072 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.99km dari pusat bandar

We are a family of 5 adults visiting Melaka for my mom's 96th birthday celebration with her family and friends living n Melaka. We had the family suite - 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. *Reception lobby has an overwhelming smell that is disgusting. *Bathrooms: the tiles in the bathroom are moldy and falling apart with makeshift patchu. Bath towels had a funny smell and had seen better days. We had no choice but to replace the while towels with the blue-striped pool towels. * Kitchen - a skeleton setup with sink, microwave, fridge, kettle and coffee maker. Basic amenities like one would expect in a kitchen such as stovetop, dish washing liquid, kitchen hand towels, crockery and utensils are missing. The microwave is filthy. We have to use the white hand towels that guests would normally use in the bathroom to dry our hands in the kitchen. We had to request room service to clean the filthy microwave, provide plates and utensils for us to eat out take-out food, along with dish washing liquid to wash our dirty dishes. Pictures speak a thousand words. Hotel is connected to a Mall - Shore that is deserted. Foot traffic is at its all time low. Mall is dimly lit ... a HUGE contrast to AEON. I would not recommend this hotel. Sorry.

Dari£26

ibis Melaka

8.2/10Very Good708 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.68km dari pusat bandar

Location is great, there's ample of parking in the back - except it's not sheltered, you get all the ibis standard stuff you can expect. There r no water bottles as they have a filtered water dispense in the bathroom (odd choice) but it's good. My only grouse is the reception is super avoidant. When I arrived, there were about 7 people and 3 counters but everyone avoided eye contact except for the one person doing check in - creating a queue that should not happen, and this was after 3 pm check in time. So if you don't mind being ignored during check in n be made to wait in a queue, everything else with the hotel is good

Dari£36

The Pines Melaka

8.5/10Very Good688 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.26km dari pusat bandar

Nice stay overall, however there were a couple of areas that disappointed us. Breakfast used Buttercup margarine instead of butter. I understand some guests may prefer it, but it was really not to my taste. We requested two additional bottles of water, and the next day asked for another two. We were told we had already “claimed” our allocation and would need to pay for more. We were asking for a normal amount, not excessive quantities. These small issues affected the experience, and unfortunately we may consider other options for our next stay.

Dari£32

Hotel Sentral Riverview Melaka

7.8/10Good374 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.5km dari pusat bandar

Smoke smell in the room and toilet, although this is a non smoking room. We have to use our own air freshener. Better bring own towels as the towels provided are quite old. Room is spacious. There is a ceiling fan in the family room, as the aircon is not cold enough. Breakfast is decent. However, I would suggest hotel to provide jam and butter in individual pack instead of in big bowls. It is not very hygiene for everyone to use the same spoon to scoop and spread it on the bread near the toast area. The hotel is about 10 mins drive to Aeon mall. Ample car park space behind the hotel and it is free. The lift is quite old and looks like going to break down anytime when you are inside.

Dari£13

Breakfast

Hallmark Crown Hotel

8.5/10Very Good327 Ulasan

Melaka Raya Melaka|1.3km dari pusat bandar

We had a good rest at Hallmark Crown Hotel. The room was a bit small but clean. The bedsheets and towels were clean. The water pressure was very good, the air conditioning was comfortable and the service was above satisfactory. The room has all the basic facilities and amenities. Upon checking in, we found the room kettle was rusty but it was promptly replaced by a good one after we brought it up to the operation's attention. The sewage system disappointed us, too. On our first night, our toilet choked. But the technician came promptly and cleared the mess. The bathroom waste water took a long time to go down too but we did not make a complaint. The continental breakfast was average but sufficient. The checking out procedure was also fuss free. Overall, Hallmark Crown provides a decent accommodation at a budget price.

Dari£19

The Sterling Boutique Hotel Melaka

8.6/10Very Good620 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.57km dari pusat bandar

Location very close to jalan bandahara indian town Turn right Turn left indian food shop medicine shop From indian town junction turn left is every museum attraction Beside indian town is jalan bunga raya Here while wall turn left before hotel 1825 there is nonya kaya cafe laksa vegeterian too toast after 1825 hotel turn left jewel.shop and near river turn right malay food cafe 1825 hav cafe near river too Jalan bunga raya there is watch shop there is bata shoe shop too This hotel lobby very fantastic room light dim only room very lovely Outside room very fantastic with water dispenser Lovely place very clean only Thank you

Dari£20

Moty Hotel

8.6/10Very Good454 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.63km dari pusat bandar

Location-wise, it’s quite good. There are plenty of food stalls and restaurants nearby, and Mahkota Parade is also within walking distance (if you want haha). The room is spacious, and the bathroom is also generously sized. Cleanliness could be improved. Breakfast had a good spread with enough variety, and the room service food was also good. One issue I faced was the extra lock on my door, which was broken. I didn’t report it immediately and only informed the staff during checkout. Also, there’s no designated parking. The surrounding area gets full easily, and my car ended up being compounded by the Majlis. And, avoid parking under the trees or your car will definitely get covered in bird droppings 😅 Overall, it was a good stay, but with a few areas that could be improved.

Dari£30

Hotel Sentral Melaka @ City Centre

7.7/10Good362 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

Dari£16

Grand Swiss-Belhotel Melaka

8.2/10Very Good523 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|1.42km dari pusat bandar

Room is spacious. However furnishings are quite old or outdated. Floors are carpet, felt a little dusty. Quite noisy at night, due to passing traffic, occasionally loud motorcycle or car exhaust. Didn’t had the chance to utilize the swimming pool. Breakfast so-so, could improve on food choices or variety. Parking area could use better lighting and maintenance.

Dari£35

Arenaa Deluxe Hotel

8.1/10Very Good417 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|2.06km dari pusat bandar

The problem here is the limited car parks. Lucky I'm able to parked near to hotel. Also, there's a mosque VERY near the hotel. So for non Muslim like me will get an early wake up call...

Dari£9

Prima Hotel Melaka

7.6/10Good294 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.66km dari pusat bandar

The room just ok. Ac is cold. Staff hotel friendly & helpful. Easy to get food & beverage by walking distance. Parking is free provided by the hotel.

Dari£14

Sunday Malacca Formerly Tun Fatimah

7.3/10286 Ulasan

Melaka City Center Melaka|0.67km dari pusat bandar

During my recent trip to Malacca, I stayed at Hotel Sunday Malacca (formerly Tun Fatimah). The accommodation itself may be a little old, but it was clean and offering a comfortable stay. My room was on 8th floor, the views from the window overlooking the Malacca River was truly amazing. It also featured a cozy king-sized bed that ensured a good night’s rest. Parking was available on-site, which added convenience. However, it would have been even better if a water dispenser had been provided for guests.

Dari£7

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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