Malacca (or Melaka) is Malaysia’s famous old town, with a large number of visitors each year. Just about two hours away from Kuala Lumpur by bus (150 km), this is also a convenient thing for travelers when traveling to this Muslim country. From the old days, Malacca has been a busy commercial port in Southeast Asia, and the Strait of Malacca is also in the important sea route of the region. In the 16th century, the Portuguese invaded Malacca, then in the 17th century the Dutch took over the port city. In the 18th century the Dutch ceded Malacca to the British. In addition, with the ethnic diversity here, Malacca currently still retains many traces of a Western colonial era and unique Asian features. So, what to do in 1 day in Malacca (1 day in Melaka, one day trip in Malacca, one day trip in Melaka)? Let’s check it out my Malacca itinerary blog and Malacca day trip from kl (Melaka day trip from kl) with the details of Malacca itinerary 1 day (Melaka itinerary 1 day) on how to spend one day in Malacca (one day in Melaka) pefectly to find out the answer!

Wandering and exploring famous attractions in Malacca

1 day in Malacca: Red Square (Dutch Square)

The first place I visited, was no other place than the famous Dutch square, I often called it “the red square”, because it was painted all red. The most prominent Dutch sign is a windmill on the side of the square. Right in the middle of the square is a fountain, and a clock tower. The main building here is the Protestant church of Christ. The church was built in the 18th century, when the Dutch occupied Malacca from Portuguese, until Malacca became a British colony, the place was also slightly renovated. The church itself and the surrounding buildings are covered in a striking red.

What makes you tired when you want to take pictures here is that there are too many tourists and if you want to find a selfie corner without being entangled with each other, you have to patience. The day I came, the sun is scorching, my patience was severely tested.

The road next to the square, with the both sides are red buildings create a great angle for taking beautiful photos, if you are brave enough to stand in the middle of the road despite the cars are running up.

Address: Bandar Hilir, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia
Hours: Open 24 hours

Malacca day trip from KL: Bastion Middleburg Fortress

An old Dutch fortress is located on the banks of the Malacca River, with cannons reaching out in all directions. You can easily find this place, just a few dozen meters walk from the square. The fort was built of honeycomb stone, giving a characteristic reddish-brown color. The area of the fortress is not very large, you can go up to the top to viewing and take photos with the cannons. Malacca was an important trading port, so the defense of this city was strongly promoted by the colonized empires.

Address: Bandar Hilir, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia
Opened: 1660
Floor area: 9,688 ft²
Hours: Open 24 hours

Malacca itinerary 1 day: St. Paul’s Hill & Church (Bukit St. Paul)

On the hill near the square is the relics of one of the oldest churches in Southeast Asia. That is the church of St. Paul’s. As mentioned before, this church is only a ruins, so there is only one holy statue in front of the church, the bell tower, and the ruined roofless church with the old brick color showing because of the lime plaster that has peeled off over time. The church was built in 1521 by the Portuguese. Initially when climbing up here, I even lost my way into an agency, the security guard had to signal me to return to the another way.

Inside the church, there are many large stone steles erected on either side of the wall. At the end of the inside of the church is a tomb, currently covered with several layers of iron net. There are many tourists who have thrown coins into the tomb, probably is the way pray of luck.

Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Phone: +60 17-202 6037
Year consecrated: 1521

Melaka day trip from KL: A Famosa fort

Going down from St. Paul’s Church, I walked along the road, past a locomotive display area, a wagon and an outdoor old-styled plane. Wagon and locomotive were renovated into shops selling clothes, souvenirs, look at them make me remember the trains in Dalat.

Go a little further, I meet the fortress A Famosa, which is a Portuguese fortress, it is unclear how big it used to be, but currently there is only a small house left, and a cannon in front of it.

Address: Jalan Parameswara, Bandar Hilir, 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Phone: +60 6-231 4343

Melaka itinerary 1 day: Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum

Leaving the fortress of A Famosa, I walked on the small path at the foot of the hill. This area, with a series of nearly a dozen museums, allows you to explore freely if you have abundant time. The museums exhibit various artifacts and content. At the end of the road, I chose to visit the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum, because the wooden architecture is very prominent and elaborately built. With a price of only RM5 ($1.19) for foreigners. Clearly I should not miss the opportunity to learn more about Malacca’s architecture and historical information about feudal times.

The entire museum is built of wood, you must leave shoes outside before stepping inside. Inside, downstairs there are wax statues representing a royal court. With the king sitting at the top and the mandarins sitting at the bottom, there is a table describing each person’s position for you to understand nearby.

On the upper floor is the king’s bedroom, which is strictly guarded, even the queen is allowed to enter only with the King’s permission. For the security of the king is absolute. The rest of the palace displays royal artifacts, stories about the Malacca dynasty, information on trade with foreign countries.

Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Opened: 1984
Phone: +60 6-282 6526
Admission: 5RM ($1.19)

Malacca itinerary blog: Melaka Maritime Museum

This unique museum is located beside the Malacca River, from the Dutch square, walk a bit pass the Middelburg fortress, you will meet this “carrack”. The museum was built in the model of the Flor de la Mar (Flower of the Sea) carrack, a large Portuguese vessel in the past, that participated in the conquest of Malacca. But unfortunately when this carrack sank on the way back to Portugal from Malacca, bring with it a treasure that it has just snatched.. The museum is open all day for the week to visit, with admission 3RM ($0.72). I will also mention this Flor de la Mar in the upcoming article of the National Museum of Malaysia.

Address: Jalan Merdeka, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Opened: June 13, 1994
Hours: 9AM–7PM
Phone: +60 6-282 6526

Malacca trip blog: Discover the Chinatown in Malacca

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