The city of Malacca in Malaysia is one of the most beautiful historical cities of the country. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you want to discover this historical and cultural jewel that Malaysians call Melaka, follow the guide! We have listed for you 6 things to do there.
Located about 125 km from Kuala Lumpur (the Malaysian capital), the city of Melaka is the capital of the state of the same name.
This touristy city is known for its historical heritage, which you'll get a glimpse of by starting your visit at Dutch Square. This small square, usually crowded with tourists and tuktuks (a kind of bicycle cab with a lot of decoration and music), can be recognized by the red color of its buildings.
Visitors come to take pictures in front of the church, the fountain and the museum whose facade has the same red color, with the only regret that the church can not be visited ...
After sacrificing to the tradition of a photo in Dutch Square and maybe a tuktuk ride (which seems like a tourist grabber to me given the price), one of the 6 things to do there is to go admire the only remnant of the Portuguese occupation.
Malacca is the oldest port in Malaysia and the Portuguese controlled it from 1511 until 1641, before the Dutch and then the British took over. Of this period of Portuguese occupation, no trace remains today, except for a gate called Porta de Santiago or A Famosa.
This remnant of a former Portuguese fort is one of the oldest European-style architectural testimonies in all of Asia. This powerful fortress was indeed built in 1511 under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque.
On the other hand, the VOC coat of arms that can be seen on the gates is a testimony to the later presence of the Dutch as this acronym stands for the Dutch East India Company.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Melaka city is its culture known as Peranakan or Baba Nyonia. These two terms are synonyms and refer to a unique cultural mix between the Chinese and Malay ethnicities.
This mixture is expressed in various aspects of daily life such as traditional clothing, local cuisine and the architecture of buildings.
The best way to experience the different facets of Peranakan culture is to visit the Baba Nyonia Heritage Museum (or Baba Nyonia Heritage Museum in VO) which recreates a richly decorated traditional house.
Among the 6 things to do locally when visiting Malacca, we must also mention river cruise which has the double advantage of being refreshing and offering an original view of the city.
This boat ride on the Melaka River allows you to admire several of the city's sights at a more leisurely pace.
The river is also the nerve center around which the city was built. It is therefore interesting to sail on its waters, where the history of the city began.
If you want to experience Malacca's nightlife, you absolutely must visit the Jonker Street Night Market. This street located in the heart of Chinatown (the city's Chinatown) is the perfect place to shop at any time of the day.
But it is at night that this shopping street is transformed and becomes the most picturesque, with the effervescence of the tuktuks and the night market. You can then stroll through the dense crowd to buy souvenirs and street food at rock bottom prices.
Take the opportunity to try local specialties such as egg tarts (inspired by Portuguese pasteis de nata), pineapple tarts (a kind of small pineapple-filled cookie) and coconut ice cream served in the fruit shell.
The last of the 6 things to do around the city is to go to Malacca Beach. Even if you don't want to attempt a swim, this last visit will give you a closer look at the famous Strait of Malacca.
The one Malaysians call the Melaka Strait is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world as Singapore major international trade hub is located at the end of this strait.
From the shoreline one can see on the horizon the oil tankers and container ships that transit its waters, continuing a centuries-old maritime and trading tradition.
You will then understand that the port of Malacca occupies a strategic position, which has enabled 500 years of commercial and cultural exchanges between East and West and given the city a unique multicultural identity.
Author Audrey on 23 February 2009
Travel and Tourism : Stay
Author Audrey on 23 November 2022
Travel and Tourism : Stay