Malacca walking tour & city guide

The old town

The red buildings of the Dutch Square include Christ Church and the Stadthuys. On the hill, the ruins of St Paul's Church overlook the remains of A Famosa, a Portuguese fort. Jonker Street, in Chinatown, has a famous weekend night market.

The river

The Malacca River is lined with murals, cafés and old houses, and river cruises are especially pretty at night. Colorful trishaws decorated with flowers and lights carry visitors around.

A day in Malacca

Start at Dutch Square, with its red Christ Church and Stadthuys, then climb St. Paul's Hill to the ruined church at the top. Walk past the A Famosa gate, the last remnant of a Portuguese fortress.

In the afternoon, cross the river to Jonker Street, a street of antique shops and Peranakan houses, then take a river cruise. On weekend evenings, Jonker Street becomes a busy night market.

Good to know

Malacca was a great trading port ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, and its UNESCO-listed old town reflects all of them. It is about two hours from Kuala Lumpur.

Try chicken rice balls and Nyonya laksa, and the cendol, a shaved-ice dessert with palm sugar. The colorful trishaws decorated with flowers play music at night.