Malacca Day Trip with River Cruise & Lunch from Kuala Lumpur

Malacca, a UNESCO Port City on the Straits

Malacca, also written Melaka, grew around 1400 into one of the richest trading ports of Asia, where ships from China, India and Arabia met to exchange spices, silk and porcelain. It was later held by the Portuguese from 1511, the Dutch from 1641 and the British from the 1820s, and each left buildings that still stand in the old town. In 2008 Malacca and George Town in Penang were inscribed together as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Many travellers ask how to get to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur: it lies about 150 kilometres to the south, roughly two hours by road on the North-South Expressway, which makes a Malacca day trip from Kuala Lumpur the easiest way to see it. With a guide on board, the drive becomes a chance to hear the city's story before you even arrive.

Dutch Square, the Stadthuys and Christ Church

The heart of the old town is Dutch Square, a cluster of buildings painted a deep terracotta red around a small fountain and clock tower. The Stadthuys, completed in the mid-1600s as the Dutch governor's office, is believed to be the oldest surviving Dutch building in the East, and today it houses a museum of history and ethnography. Its thick walls and heavy timber doors are typical of Dutch colonial architecture.

Next to it stands Christ Church, finished in 1753, with roof beams each cut from a single tree and handmade bricks brought from the Netherlands. Your guide explains how the square was laid out and why the buildings were later painted red. This is the most photographed corner of Malacca, so the morning visit helps you enjoy it before the busiest hours.

St Paul's Hill and Church

A short climb behind Dutch Square leads to the top of St Paul's Hill, where the roofless walls of St Paul's Church stand among frangipani trees. The Portuguese built the first chapel here in 1521, making it one of the oldest church buildings in South-East Asia. The Dutch later used it as a burial ground, and large carved tombstones with Dutch and Latin inscriptions still line the inner walls.

From the hilltop you look over red roofs to the waters of the Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, which explains why so many powers fought for this town. The steps are moderate and shaded in places; allow about 30 minutes for the climb, the visit and photos.

A Famosa (Porta de Santiago)

At the foot of the hill stands the Porta de Santiago, the stone gateway that is all that remains of A Famosa, the fortress the Portuguese built after capturing Malacca in 1511. The walls once ringed the hill and protected the town for three centuries, but most of the fort was demolished by the British in the early 1800s, and only this gate was saved.

Look closely and you will see a coat of arms carved by the Dutch, who repaired the fort after taking the city. Nearby are a replica of the Malacca sultanate's wooden palace and the Proclamation of Independence Memorial, which your guide may point out on the way. It is a short stop of about 15 minutes, but one of the most iconic images of any Malacca city tour.

Malacca River Cruise

The river that once carried spice cargo into the town is now lined with walkways, cafes and painted walls, and the Malacca River cruise is included in this tour. The boat ride lasts about 40 to 45 minutes, gliding under bridges past Dutch-era warehouses, colourful murals, old shophouses and the stilted wooden houses of Kampung Morten, a traditional Malay village with distinctive tiled staircases.

Sitting on the water is also the most relaxing way to rest after the morning's climb. A guide on the boat usually comments on the sights, and you get a different angle on the old town that is hard to see from the streets. The open sides make it easy to take photos, and the breeze is welcome in the tropical heat.

Jonker Street and the Old Chinese Quarter

Across the river from Dutch Square, Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat) runs through the old Chinese and Peranakan quarter, lined with narrow shophouses selling antiques, crafts, pineapple tarts and coconut shakes. Nearby lanes hold Cheng Hoon Teng, one of the oldest Chinese temples in Malaysia, the Kampung Kling Mosque with its pagoda-like minaret, and a Hindu temple, all within a few steps of one another.

You have free time here to stroll, shop and taste local snacks such as cendol and chicken rice balls; halal stalls and restaurants are easy to find across Malacca. Is Malacca worth visiting on a day trip? After a day that moves from Malay sultans to Portuguese forts, Dutch churches and Chinese shophouses, most guests agree it is one of the most rewarding excursions from Kuala Lumpur.