Melaka Things to Do Tips by Rodan44

Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum

The Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum is a private museum located in an actual Peranakan (Straits Chinese) row house on what was once known as "Millionaire's Row" because of its many Dutch colonial era mansions. The house, built in 1896, reflects the distinct East-West character that was popular among the wealthy Peranakans of the day. The museum offers a very personal insight into the Peranakan lifestyle in Melaka at the turn of the century. On display are typical furniture, costumes, alters, carvings, and everyday household items from that time.

Guided tours are provided during the visit and no photography is allowed.

Address: Nos 48 & 50, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Melaka

Directions: old city area, one block off Jonker Walk
Admission Fee:
Adult : RM8.00, Children : RM4.00
Opening Hours :
10am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4.30pm (Daily)

Phone: +606 283 1273

Jonker Walk Night Market

On weekend evenings Jonker Street is closed to traffic and becomes a lively pedestrian night market. Here you find every conceivable type of souvenir, handicraft, or street food that Melaka has to offer. There are also street performers and a few hip bars. It becomes quite crowded with locals and tourists alike, so much so that it can be difficult to move at times. A definite must-see for any visitor.

Address: Jonker Street ( Jalan Hang Jebat )

Directions: Old city Chinatown
Every Friday to Sunday nights from 6.00pm to 11.00pm

St. Francis Xavier Church

This Gothic church was built by the French priest Father P. Fabre in 1849. It is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier who was an one of the earliest Catholic missionaries active in southeast Asia. The church sits where an old Portuguese mission once stood.

In the course of his missionary work, Father Fabre developed a close affinity with the Malay people and became a Professor of Malay in Paris. He also wrote several books on Javanese and Malay languages.

The church is essentially identical to its original construction, except for the portico which was added in 1963. The interior is little changed except for the floor which was cemented in 1920. Today it remains a functioning Catholic Church, holding regular mass services.

Address: Jalan Laksamana/Jalan Banda Kaba, Melaka.

Directions: Near entrance to Dutch Square

St. Paul's Church St. Paul's Church Ruins Review

The ruins of St. Paul's church stand at the summit of St. Paul's hill near the remains of A Famosa fortress. The site was originally occupied by the "Chapel of the Annunciation" built in 1521 by Duarte Coelho in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for saving his life in the South China sea. In 1548 the Archbishop of Goa in India handed over the church to the Jesuits, who proceeded to renovate it beginning in 1566. The present building was completed in 1590 and the tower on the right side of the sacristy was added in 1593.

The church is famous because it was here that the body of Francis Xavier, the pioneering Catholic missionary of Southeast Asia, was laid to rest for a period of eight months after his death at sea, beginning from March 22nd, 1553 to December 11th, 1553. The open grave in the church, now covered by a wire mesh, marks the place of Francis' temporary burial. Also of interest inside the church ruins are several gigantic colonial era grave markers laid against the walls.

From atop the hill, you have a wonderful birdseye view of the entire city as well as out into the straits.

Directions: Top of St. Paul's Hill, adjacent to A' Famosa fort.

A' Famosa Fort A' Famosa Review

A Famosa, or "The Famous" in Portuguese, is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. Once part of a mighty fortress, this tiny gate (called the Porta de Santiago) is all that is left of a once-mighty fortress. In 1511 a Portuguese fleet arrived under the command of Alfonso de Albequerque. His forces attacked and successfully defeated the armies of the native Sultanate. Moving quickly to consolidate his gains, Albequerque had the fortress built around a natural hill near the sea. After remvoing the Portuguese, the Dutch renovated the gate in 1670, which explains the logo "ANNO 1670" inscribed on the gate's arch. Above the arch is a bas-relief logo of the Dutch East India Company. The fortress changed hands again in the early 19th century when the Dutch handed it over to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleon's expansionist France. The English were wary of maintaining the fortification and ordered its destruction in 1806. The fort was almost totally demolished but for the timely intervention of Sir Stanford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, who happened to visit Melaka in 1810. Because of his passion for history this small gate was spared destruction.

Address: Jalan Kota, Melaka

Directions: Foot of St Paul Hill, adjacent to the Melaka Sultanate Palace

Stadthuys The Stadthuys Review

Facing Dutch Square, the Stadthuys (Dutch for "cityhall") was the imposing seat of the Dutch colonial administration. Construction was started when the Dutch took possession of Melaka in 1641, making it the oldest surviving Dutch building in east Asia. The building stands on the foundations of the old Portuguese fortifications. The building was completely restored and now houses the Historical and Ethnography Museum, displaying many interesting artifacts from Melaka's 600 year history. Along the base of the Stadthuys facing the square is a row of cheap souvenir stalls.

Address: Jalan Kota, Malacca

Directions: Dutch square, adjacent to Christ Church
Adults: RM2.00
Children/Students: RM0.50
9.00 am - 5.00 pm
(Closed on Monday)

Website: http://www.virtualmuseummelaka.com/historical.htm

Christ Church Churches Review

Christ Church is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia as well the most famous landmark in Melaka. Construction began in 1741 on the centennial of the Dutch occupation, and it was completed in 1753. Prior to this date, the Dutch used the old Portuguese church atop St. Paul's hill. Christ Church bears all the hallmarks of 18th-century Dutch architecture: a rectangular plan, massive walls, red granite plinths, and Dutch roof tiles. The pews are original, as are the windows, but were later reduced in size by the British in the 19th century. The church bell is inscribed with the date 1698, suggesting that it was used for another purpose before the church's completion. Most puzzling are the Portuguese tombstones incorporated into the floor of the church, which were originally in St. Paul's Church inside the Portuguese fortress. However, they were removed by the Dutch when they occupied Melaka in 1641. Since it is unlikely that the highly Protestant Dutch would have used Catholic tombstones inside a Protestant church, historians surmise that they were installed there later by the British.

Directions: Dutch Square, adjacent to Stadthuys

Melaka Sultanate Palace

The Melaka Sultanate Palace is a full-size replica of the Melaka Sultan's palace during the period of the Melaka Sultanate. The replica was built from information and data obtained from the Malay Annals. These historical documents had references to the construction and the architecture of palaces during the era of Sultan Mansur Syah, who ruled from 1456 to 1477. The replica of the palace was built in 1984 and houses a fascinating cultural museum. The building is made of hardwood while the roof is made of 'belian' wood. An interesting feature of the building is that no nails were used in the construction of the building, only wooden pegs, in keeping with traditional construction techniques of the era. Once inside, the musuem focuses on the history and cultural significance of the Malayan Sultans.

Directions: located at the foot of St Paul's Hill, adjacent to A' Famosa fort
Adults: RM2.00
Children/Students: RM0.50
9.00 am - 6.00 pm
(Closed on Monday)

Website: http://www.virtualmuseummelaka.com/cultural.htm

Maritime Museum

The Melaka Maritime Museum is housed inside a full-size replica of the Portuguese ship 'Flora De La Mar' that sank off the coast of Melaka on its way to Portugal. The replica is 34 metres high, 36 metres long and 8 metres wide (you can't miss it!) Once inside the hull of the ship, the museum details the maritime history of Melaka from the Malay Sultanate of the 14th century to the Portuguese era, the Dutch era and the Bristish era. It houses exhibits, artifacts and documents from the Melaka's golden era as the Emporium of the East and reveals how political control of Melaka was essential to the establishment of maritime dominance in the region.

Directions: Jalan Quayside, near the Melaka River estuary
Operating Hours : 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
Entrance Fee : RM2.00 (Adult) and RM0.50 (Children)
Closed on Mondays

Phone: (+606) 283 0926

Website: http://www.virtualmuseummelaka.com/maritime.htm