Malacca Beaches & Islands

Pulau Besar , Tanjung Kling, Pantai Kundur

While Malacca may not have rich rainforests or long stretches of warm sand, it does have a few magical islands and beaches to discover.

Perfect for a weekend getaway, the beaches and islands of Malacca will allure you with thaeir serenity and comfort under a tropical sun.

Pulau Besar

Located near Umbai and 10 km south of Bandar Melaka, Pular Besar or ‘ Big Island' is a mysterious island that has many fables and legends behind its origin. Some say that the island resembles the shape of a pregnant woman, due to a story that a princess who, heart-broken because of her husband's death, jumped into the seas and consequently, her body floated and took the form of an island. As she was pregnant at that time, Pulau Besar, with a landscape resembling a belly, was born.

On the island, one can find a cave which is believed to be used by ancient warriors for practising magical arts. Yet another sight is a giant rock called ‘Batu Belah' or Split Rock. Legend has it that a magician trapped his apprentice inside the rock by splitting it in half and then rejoining it with the apprentice inside.

Today, most people would enjoy the recreational activities on the island. There are resorts, a yacht club and a host of water-sport facilities. Visitors can also enjoy evening strolls on the sand, swimming in the calm waters or snorkelling the seabed.

Tanjung Kling

The beach of Tanjung Kling is one of the more recent developments of the Malacca tourism industry. Located 15 km away from Malacca Town, Tanjung Kling is a pleasant stretch of white beach lined with coconut palms and sea shells, perfect for a quick jaunt.

Pantai Kundur

On this peaceful beach lies a small fishing village, approximately 17 km from Malacca Town. Locals often frequent this beach which is popular for swimming and picnicking. Rows of casuarina trees provide shade as visitors frolic in the water and play on the sand. At night, fishermen

head out in boats to ‘Kelongs' (Platforms built on stilts on the sea) and fish for squid and other marine creatures.

Tanjung Bidara

Located approximately 20 km from Malacca Town, the beach of Tanjung Bidara has lush vegetation and a tranquil atmosphere. The beach is more for relaxation or recreational activities that exclude swimming, as the waters are a little murky. Many hawkers line the beach peddling food and there are amenities such as parking lots, playgrounds and showers.

Pulau Upeh

The tiny island of Upeh is located near Klebang town in Malacca. During the War, it was used as a scouting point for invading ships in the Straits of Malacca. Also the island was often a nesting ground for pirates.

Of course, the pirates have now long been cleaned out, and today, Pulau Upeh is a peaceful getaway for locals and tourists. There is a resort and water-sport facilities are available. Visitors can also visit an ancient well and view relics from World War Two scattered around the island.

Perhaps most attractive about Pulau Upeh is that it doubles up as a sanctuary for nesting Hawksbills, one of the rarest species of sea turtles. During the egg-laying season between March and June, visitors can come here to catch a glimpse of Hawksbills coming on the beach to nest.

Ayer Keroh Attractions

What to See in Ayer Keroh

Established by Parameswara in the 1390’s, Malacca is Malaysia’s historical pride and joy. Under his rule, it thrived, emerging as a successful international port so esteemed that Portuguese writer Tome Pires once said ‘Whoever is Lord of Malacca has his hand on the throat of Venice’. This port lured Javanese, Indian, Arab and Chinese traders and soon caught the interest of expansionist Europeans. As time went on Malacca gained its freedom – along with the rest of Malaysia – and nowadays boasts beautiful architecture and good fare.

Ayer Keroh – located on Malacca’s outskirts – is a sleepy backwater with scanty activity options and is simply a visitor’s complex of hotels and trivial attractions. Although it has been publicised as a key Malaccan tourist site, since it is home to a hotchpotch of attractions such as the Melaka Zoo and the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary, this area is mostly rural. There’s not much dining, nightlife and shopping but the few parks here are must-see sightseeing attractions.

Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort

The best way to cool down on a hot and sticky day in Malacca is to do some splashing around at the spanking-new Melaka Wonderland Theme Park & Resort. Built in Ayer Keroh – Malacca’s tourist attraction-laden quarter – the highlights of this multi zone park are its high-speed water slides and thrill rides. Read more...

Book Village Malaysia Melaka

Located in the Melaka Botanical Garden, the Book Village Malaysia Melaka, is only the second of its kind in Malaysia and is part of the International Organization of Book Towns. The place is surrounded by lush green forests and has over 15,000 books in its collection. Here it’s really peaceful to just curl up on a couch and read.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 15:00 Tuesday to Thursday; 09:00 – 12:30 Friday; 09:00 – 18:00 Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
Address: Taman Botanical, Ayer Keroh, 75450
Tel: (606) 251 9181

Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary

Just across from the zoo is the Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary which has a collection of exotic creepy crawlies, snakes and some rather sad-looking crocodiles at the reptile aviary. With more than 30 species of butterflies and exhibiting the largest collection of reptiles as well as two golden leopards, this animal haven is much more beautiful than its unassuming exterior suggests.

Opening Hours: 08:30 – 17:30 everyday
Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450.
Tel: (606) 232 0033

Melaka Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens – formerly known as the Hutan Rekreasi Ayer Keroh – was established in 2006 and is encircled by a forest that contains over 300 species of fauna and flora. The cheesy yet cute thing about this park is the collection of giant stone carvings of prehistoric animals – that were indigenous to this area – scattered all around the park.

Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450
Tel: (606) 231 6095

Melaka Zoo & Night Zoo

Kids will enjoy the luxuriantly landscaped Melaka Zoo, the second-largest zoo in the country. With more than 1,200 animals of over 200 different species, it is also the first in the region to display the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros of Gaur and serves as a centre for conservation breeding and wildlife study. The best time to go is at night when the nocturnal animals are up and about.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 everyday
Address: Hang Tuah Jaya, Ayer Keroh, 75450.
Tel: (606) 232 4053

Taman Mini Malaysia & ASEAN

The main attraction in Ayer Keroh is the Taman Mini Malaysia/ASEAN, a large theme park that has examples of all 13 Malaysian state houses as well as neighbouring ASEAN countries. Each abode is furnished with life-like figures 'inhabiting' each charming home that features authentic arts and crafts items which represent the customs of its particular state.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 everyday
Address: Lebuh Ayer Keroh
Tel: (606) 232 1331

Jonker Street Attractions

What to See in Jonker Street

Jonker Street is a small street in Chinatown in the city centre. Along Jonker Street there aren’t a lot of sightseeing opportunities unless you count the noisy Chinese New Year song-and-dance show that takes place this time of year. In fact the only attraction worth getting a quick glimpse of is the historic mausoleum of Hang Jebat – named after the second most skilful of a band of five warriors. The exact age of this grave is unknown but its Acehnese design shows that Jebat was given a warrior’s burial despite his murderous rampage and inglorious death at the palace.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

Hang Jebat was once the second most skilful member of a band of five warriors, who was unceremoniously killed in a duel of honour by his best friend Hang Tuah. His mausoleum is located along Jalan Hang Jebat near Jonker Street.

Address: Jalan Kampung Pantai Melaka, 75200.
Tel: (606) 283 6538

Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum

East meets West in the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum – established in 1896 – and arranged to look like a typical 19th-cenutry Baba-Nyonya residence with Chinese hardwood furniture featuring a blend of Victorian and Dutch designs with mother-of-pearl inlay. The best parts of this tour are the guides who tell stories of the times of yore with conspicuous Peranakan wit.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 12:30 & 14:00 – 16:30 Monday - Saturdays
Address: 48-50 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200.
Tel: (606) 283 1273

Malacca City Attractions

What to See in Malacca City

Malacca is a small city with many eye-catching sights and attractive modern establishments. It is easy to get around on foot or trishaw to explore the many places that make it unique. You'll learn about the rich heritage and history which has shaped Malacca into the unofficial historic capital of Malaysia.

The most prominent contribution that Malacca has lent to the Malaysian cultural landscape is the Baba-Nyonya culture. Possessing an entirely new blend of customs, traditions, food and lifestyle, the Nyonya are especially prominent throughout Malacca. Although the city is a mix of old and new with historical buildings standing side by side with ultra modern shopping centres it retains this seamless blend of cultures.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Malaysia’s oldest traditional Chinese temple – dating from 1646 – continues to serve the spiritual needs of the Buddhist community in Melaka. Noteworthy due to its carved woodwork, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, is dedicated to Kwan Yin. A robed effigy of the Goddess of Mercy can be found within the main hall and remains the focal point for the entire shrine.

Opening Hours: 07:00 – 19:00
Address: No. 25, Jalan To’kong 75200.
Tel: (606) 282 9343 or (606) 282 2906

Christ Church

Christ Church – the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia – was built in 1753 to commemorate a century of Dutch rule in Malacca. Painted an unusual coral red with a huge white cross in the middle of its façade, this church is one of the most distinguished heritage sites in the city and has undergone some serious architectural changes under the different colonial governments

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00
Address: Jalan Gereja

Maritime Museum & Naval Museum

Built in 1990 and housed in a faithful recreation of the Flora de la Mar, a Portugese galleon that sank off the coast of Malacca, the Maritime Museum certainly merits a visit. Scuttle up for an in-depth look into Malacca’s history via old maps, scale-model ships, weaponry and nautical-related accessories and relics.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:30
Address: Jalan Merdeka
Tel: (606) 283 0926

Melaka Sultanate Palace

The Melaka Sultanate Palace is a wooden replica of a Sultan’s palace during the ruling era of Sultan Mansur Shah. Housing a cultural museum, it was built based on description taken from the Malay annals of the original 15th Century palace. Apart from the building’s unique design and ornate wood carvings, visitors can also marvel at the numerous dioramas portraying the true palace atmosphere of the era.

Opening Hours: Open: 09:00 – 17:30 Everyday
Address: Jalan Kota
Tel: (606) 282 7464

Porta De Santiago (A’Famosa)

Although the remains of Porta De Santiago – built by the Portuguese as a fortress in 1511 – are nothing more than a quick photo stop, it is a must for anyone visiting Malacca. The Dutch destroyed most of the fort but what remains today was saved by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1810. The Romanesque architecture as well as the cool breezes wafting through the ruined walls will make your exploration a pleasant one.

Stadthuys

This imposing salmon-pink town hall and governor’s residence is Malacca’s most instantly recognizable landmark. Believed to be the oldest Dutch building in the East, it was built shortly after Malacca was captured by the Dutch in 1641. Visit the extensive History & Ethnography Museum, Governor Museum, Admiral Cheng Ho Gallery, Democratic Rule Museum and the Literature Museum.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:30 Saturday – Thursday and 09:00 – 12.15; 14:45 – 17:30 Friday
Address: Town Square
Tel: (606) 282 6526

Proclamation of Independence Memorial

The Proclamation of Independence Memorial was built in 1912. Visitors will be able to view a collection of exhibits – displayed in chronological order and divided into several sections – including manuscripts, videotapes and other audio and visual collections which all document Malaysia’s struggle to achieve its independence from the British colonial rule.

Opening Hours: 09:00 – 18:00 everyday; 09:00 – 12:00 and 15:00 – 18:00 Friday
Address: Beside A’Famosa fort and the Melaka Sultanate Palace
Tel: (606) 284 1231

Joget Melaka by Hang Mokhtar

Empayar Melaka Trailer

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