Malacca Attractions
It's easy to get around Malacca on foot or by trishaw to explore the many places that make it unique. You'll learn about the rich heritage and history that has shaped Malacca into the unofficial historic capital of Malaysia. That means that sightseeing should be high on your priority list. Several places are not to be missed.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Malaysia's oldest traditional Chinese temple, dating from 1646, continues to serve the spiritual needs of the Buddhist community. Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia, was built in 1753 to commemorate a century of Dutch rule in Malacca. Painted an unusual coral red with a huge white cross in the middle of its facade, this church is one of the most distinguished heritage sites in the city. The Maritime Museum & Naval Museum is housed in an authentic re-creation of the Flora de la Mar, a Portuguese galleon that sank off the coast of Malacca.
The Malacca Sultanate Palace is a wooden replica of a Sultan's palace and houses a cultural museum. The remains of Porta De Santiago (A'Formosa), built by the Portuguese as a fortress in 1511, are nothing more than a quick photo stop, as the Dutch destroyed most of the fort. What remains today was saved by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1810.
The imposing salmon-pink town hall and governor's residence known as Stadthuys is Malacca's most instantly recognizable landmark. Believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East, it was built shortly after Malacca was captured by the Dutch in 1641. It houses several museums.
The Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum allows you to step back in time. This is an actual Peranakan heritage townhouse and is a great example of Peranakan culture. The Portuguese Settlement is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city center, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square.
There are also some modern structures worth seeing. The Taming Sari Revolving Tower seats 66 people at a time, taking them on a seven-minute ride that offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the historic city and the coastline. There are two competing Ferris wheels. Eye on Malaysia is on the west bank of the Melaka River right beside the modern vehicular bridge, and Eye on Melaka is a smaller wheel on the west bank of the Melaka River 200 meters due west of the Immigration Office.
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Malaysia's oldest traditional Chinese temple, dating from 1646, continues to serve the spiritual needs of the Buddhist community. Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia, was built in 1753 to commemorate a century of Dutch rule in Malacca. Painted an unusual coral red with a huge white cross in the middle of its facade, this church is one of the most distinguished heritage sites in the city. The Maritime Museum & Naval Museum is housed in an authentic re-creation of the Flora de la Mar, a Portuguese galleon that sank off the coast of Malacca.
The Malacca Sultanate Palace is a wooden replica of a Sultan's palace and houses a cultural museum. The remains of Porta De Santiago (A'Formosa), built by the Portuguese as a fortress in 1511, are nothing more than a quick photo stop, as the Dutch destroyed most of the fort. What remains today was saved by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1810.
The imposing salmon-pink town hall and governor's residence known as Stadthuys is Malacca's most instantly recognizable landmark. Believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East, it was built shortly after Malacca was captured by the Dutch in 1641. It houses several museums.
The Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum allows you to step back in time. This is an actual Peranakan heritage townhouse and is a great example of Peranakan culture. The Portuguese Settlement is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city center, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square.
There are also some modern structures worth seeing. The Taming Sari Revolving Tower seats 66 people at a time, taking them on a seven-minute ride that offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the historic city and the coastline. There are two competing Ferris wheels. Eye on Malaysia is on the west bank of the Melaka River right beside the modern vehicular bridge, and Eye on Melaka is a smaller wheel on the west bank of the Melaka River 200 meters due west of the Immigration Office.
