Attractions in Malacca

1. Taming Sari Tower

   Menara Taming Sari (Taming Sari Tower) is the first and only gyro tower in Malaysia so far. Measuring 110 metres in height, its revolving structure offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Malacca town and beyond. Taming Sari keris, a mythical weapon said to possess mystical powers belonging to the legendary Malay warrior, Hang Tuah. Even the structure’s design follows the shape of the keris, with the peak of the tower resembling its hilt.

Built using advanced Swiss technology, the tower’s structure is reportedly tough enough to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 10 on the Richter scale. Able to accommodate 80 people per viewing session, which lasts about 7 minutes, the glass cabin hypnotically revolves as it rises from the ground to the top of the tower.

Once it reaches the top, a breathtaking, sprawling view of Malacca as far as the eye can see, up to the Straits of Malacca, is clearly visible, especially in good weather, with the Melaka River running through the grand panorama below.

2. Malacca Straits Mosque

   The Malacca Straits Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia. It is also known as Masjid Selat Melaka as it is located on the busiest and longest straits. It is built on a man-made island, Pulau Melaka. When the tide is high, the mosque looks like it is floating in the ocean. The opening ceremony was done by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail on 24 November 2006. The driveway scenery was breathtaking as you get to see the full coast of Malacca city.

There are four small complementary domes in every corner of the mosque. Under the dome, there is a large prayer room that measures 24 square metres and can accommodate1500 people.

3. Maritime Museum

   The work on the museum started in early 1990 and it was officially opened to the public by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on 13 June 1994. The phase two of the museum is housed in the old Guthrie building and was opened by State Committee for Tourism, Culture and Environment Chairman Poh Ah Team on 23 May 1998.

The museum main exhibits the replica of Flor de la Mar with 34 metres high, 36 metres long and 8 metres wide. The museum also houses exhibits, artefacts and documents from the golden era of Malacca and shows how political control of Malacca was essential to the establishment of maritime dominance in the region. It also displays the trading link of Malacca from the early time through the colonial era until independence.

4. Melaka River Cruise

    The Melaka River Cruise is one of the main tourist attractions of Melaka. The city of Melaka is one of Malaysia’s top tourist destinations because of its heritage from the 15th Century. The Melaka River Cruise is the only river journey in South East Asia that takes you back through these 600 years of history. Melaka is also known by the historic name of Malacca.

Melaka started as a trading post in 1403 to serve the hinterland. By the late 15th Century, Melaka was an established trading hub known as the “Venice of the East with people coming from far and wide to trade. It was said that there were 84 languages spoken in its heyday. The river was filled with merchant ships large and small. The buildings that lined the river in the city were for commerce and houses further away.

The Melaka River with a cruise boat going up the river. At this point, the river goes through the centre of the UNESCO heritage site. The left (north) is the cultural side of the city and the right (south) is the heritage buildings built in the Malay, Portuguese, Dutch and English governance.

5. Jonker Street 

  Malacca is widely known for its harmonious blend of cultures as well as numerous historical sites, and Jonker Street (the main street of Chinatown) is the perfect place to see everything merge together. This central hub of activity also serves as a haven for antique collectors, bargain hunters, and vintage fashion enthusiasts

It is a commonly acknowledged fact that Malacca's Jonker Walk Night Market is the best in the country. Well organised with a wide array of stalls, polite and friendly hawkers, ubiquitous bargains as well as live music coursing throughout the area, Jonker Walk comes to life in full colour with a lively street party-like atmosphere. 

6. Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum

   The Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum is a collection of three beautifully restored houses arranged to resemble a conventional 19th-century Baba-Nyonya residence. Excellent examples of Chinese-Palladian style, these townhouses, built-in 1896, were transformed into a traditional Peranakan museum in later years; connected by a commonly covered footway, the museum features hand-painted tiles, elaborately carved teakwood outer swing doors and a sturdier internal door which provides extra security.

At the beginning of the 16th century, merchants and entrepreneurs were lured to Malacca’s shores due to stories of the city’s burgeoning success and wealth. In particular, the city saw an influx of Chinese traders who arrived in droves in an effort to escape Manchu rule. These entrepreneurs went on to marry local Malay women – descendants of these marriages were known as Peranakan or ‘Straits-born Chinese’.

Their relative success resulted in these expatriate merchants becoming the principal wealth catalysts of the thriving city. The ‘Babas’ (male Sino-Malays) flaunted their affluence by purchasing Dutch townhouses and transforming them into out-and-out palaces. The interiors of these homes were opulent and stuffed to the tee with Dutch-influenced fixtures including hand-painted tiles and Victorian lamps.