Overview
There are truly few places in the world like Malacca. The embodiment of cultural diversity, Malacca has endured. A singular identity blended by years of colonization, exchange and transfer. Less of a place and more a cultural hub, this Malaysian city has just about everything you are looking for if you happen to be interested in Asian culture and how it stands today.
For a little background, Malacca, Malaysia was the epicenter of Malaysian civilization in years past. Home to kings, royalty and influential traders, this port city was controlling the Malay waterways centuries before Kuala Lumpur even existed.
As the world began to change and shape itself with the influx of Western colonizers, Malacca, itself changed as well. Being originally influenced by Muslim traders from the west, the city went through periods of colonial rule by the Portuguese, British, Japanese and Dutch at one point or another. Not only were European people imported during the colonial times, traders, merchants and religious figures from the Indian and Chinese subcontinents made their way to Malaccas shores as well.
What you will find in modern Malacca is a city with a confusing cultural past. Portuguese style churches sit along Dutch named streets. Traditional Chinese colonial housing exists nestled behind the oldest Mosque on the peninsula.
The greatest thing about Malacca is truly that nothing makes sense, but everything works together in harmony. There’s a stylistic symmetry, a yin and yang effect with its diversity; nothing in the right place but everything in disarray together. The place is authentically inauthentic and that’s what we like about it.
What even is an authentic culture anyways? You have Indians, Chinese, Malays, Indonesians and Thai all walking the streets together, leaving their own individual impression on its artwork, culture, food and history.
Why not visit this backpacker paradise, this warm weathered jewel about 2 hours away from Kuala Lumpur?
Is it Cheap?
Yes. We found that Malaysia in general was very cheap, rivaling the prices you’d typically find in Vietnam. While Kuala Lumpur can at times be a bit pricey, Malacca is extremely cheap for Malaysian standards, with the average meal costing around 2-3 dollars and a hostel around 10$ per night.
A Famosa
Portugese Style Fish
Masjid Selat Mosque
Jonker Walk
Christ Church Melaka
What to Do?
Check out the ruins of Malacca’s Colonial Past
We would argue that the most important and notable colonial presence in Malacca was the Portuguese, with ruins being a main sightseeing attraction to anyone’s time in the old city of Malacca.
The most notable are A Famosa, an old fortress set on the hill overlooking the old city and the Christ Church of Melaka, set directly in the cities center. Both are great for sightseeing, for taking a couple photos and for getting acquainted with Malacca’s colonial past. If you are in fact really interested in the Portuguese influence, we would recommend taking an Uber to the Portuguese Settlement about 15 minutes out of the old town.
There you will find a church and a bunch of restaurants overlooking the sea. The locals in this part of Malacca still hold onto their Portuguese heritage, many the offspring of Portuguese and Malay ancestors. These people still cook traditional Portuguese food and even speak the language to this day.
Roll Around The City In Style
Malacca has become known for maybe one of the silliest modes of transportation you can find anywhere, and we really appreciated the style. For around 5$ you can whip around the old streets of Malacca in a absurdly adorned pedicab, normally blasting loud music and flashing their gaudy neon lights. Each car has a theme, from “Disney Princess to Minions, Spiderman to Pikachu.
Stuffed animals, colored tape, cards and flowers all seem to make there way on to this two wheeled monstrocity. We have to say, normally we hate overly touristy things, but these special bikes are too ridiculous to pass up.
Get Lost In The Junker Market
The Junker Night Market is one of the many reasons tourists end up in Malacca and it is truly impressive. The nearly one kilometer stretch of road called Junker street is filled with hundreds of vendors from around 7 pm to late in the night, hocking local food specialities, cheap goods and souvenirs.
One of the most interesting parts of the market is the karaoke stage, where locals get up in front of hundreds of people and sing traditional Chinese karaoke tunes.
Visit the Masjid Selat Mosque
Located on a peninsula 20 minutes from the old town, the Masjid Selat Mosque is the perfect place to experience authentic and friend Malay Muslim culture.
All the people at the Mosque were helpful and respectful and the building itself is spectacular. The Mosque stands on the shores of the Indian ocean, giving you an epic view of the Malacca beachfront, something you won’t find in the old town.
What to Eat?
Eating in the old town of Malacca is not only easy, but recommended, as you will find 100’s of delightful spots to satisfy your taste buds. Malacca is known for Nyonya cooking, or cooking from Chinese immigrants who came to the peninsula during colonial times with the British or Dutch.
Nyonya cooking is different than both your typical Chinese or Malay kitchens, featuring a mix between the two. The most famous dish in Malacca is probably the chicken rice ball, basically a rice ball cooked in chicken broth and combined with ground chicken served alongside steamed or roasted chicken. You can find plenty of places serving up this famous dish!
The market is probably the best place to try local dishes if you are in the dead center of Malacca.
Transportation
Transportation in Malacca is pretty straight forward and most of the lodging is located in the city center. If you want to get out of the city, definitely take an Uber, they are cheap and efficient. If you want to see Malacca front a different point of view, we recommend taking a sunset riverboat tour. The tour lasts around 30 minutes and you are able to go north up the river and see the unique and stylish architecture of the Malacca riverfront.
Clubbing and Nightlife
Malacca is very different than the big city lights of Kuala Lumpur. The nightlife is contained and centered more along long nights drinking in the cool Malaysian night air with friends. Many hostels and cafes along the river are open late and are the perfect place to have a local beer or two.
Malacca is also an excellent night eating city, as many of the locals stay up laters and avoid working the days because of the brutal heat. You can find amazing Indian, Thai and Malay restaurants along with Hocker Markets (Small Warehouses of food stands around various parts of the city.)
My Travel Essentials For An Asian Backpacking Trip
Below you'll find a list of my must bring backpacking items. I have gotten this list down to my essentials through trial and error over 4 years of living in a backpack. I hope you'll find these items helpful on your journey!
►Main Backpacking Backpack: https://amzn.to/3vUHdik [Amazon]
►Great Front Facing Duffle-bag : https://amzn.to/3SjK6Ra [Amazon]
►Quick Dry Towel : https://amzn.to/3uarxH8 [Amazon]
►Multi Country Charger Adapter : https://amzn.to/3Ul37p0 [Amazon]
►Refillable Water Bottle : https://amzn.to/48SnG0n [Amazon]
►Padlock : https://amzn.to/3SdyYp7 [Amazon]
►Earplugs : https://amzn.to/498xTpl [Amazon]
►Power Bank : https://amzn.to/3SyXP8e [Amazon]
Travel Photography & Video Favorites
If you're interested in creating your own video content on your trip, these are some of my favorite items I've had. They work, they're effective and besides the Sony Aa7C, they aren't going to break the bank either!
►On the Go Video | Go Pro Hero 12 : https://amzn.to/3u38oHh [Amazon]
►Photography | Sony A7C : https://amzn.to/3u1Y6ap [Amazon]
►Portable Tripod | https://amzn.to/42ojHqc [Amazon]
►Lavalier Microphone | https://amzn.to/3SbL41U [Amazon]
►Drone | https://amzn.to/47TCwSY [Amazon]
►Portable Monitor | https://amzn.to/3Hzv2dg
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