Gain a broad overview of Malacca through attractions that reveal significant events in its rich history. Founded in the 14th century, Malacca was eventually colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, all of which left their influences. At the heart of the city, you will find Dutch Square, a collection of reddish government buildings from the 17th century. Because of Malacca’s multi-cultural architecture and heritage, UNESCO deemed the city worthy of a World Heritage site designation. For a glimpse into how Chinese immigrants adapted to the culture over the centuries, you will browse the lavish Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum. An enlightening tour of Cheng Hoon Teng will further enhance your understanding as it is Malaysia’s oldest traditional Chinese temple. Be sure to ask about its design, which follows the principles of feng shui. Similarly, Villa Sentosa is a fine example of traditional Malay architecture and is considered a living museum because a family resides there.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy an introductory tour of Malacca that includes its most enlightening landmarks.
• View architecture so distinct that UNESCO declared Malacca a World Heritage site.
• Browse a Chinese heritage museum and Malaysia’s oldest traditional Chinese temple.
• Visit a classic Malay house that is considered a living museum.

Trace the Dutch colonial influence in Malacca, which dates to 1641 with the defeat of the Portuguese colonialists. Soon afterwards, the Dutch built Stadthuys as an administrative center and residence for their governor. The red-hued building still stands in Dutch Square. Inside, you will browse the Malaysian Historic and Ethnography Museum, a collection of artifacts that brings Malacca’s early years to life. A leisurely walk to the top of St. Paul’s Hill will bring you to the ruins of St. Paul’s Church. Although the Portuguese constructed it, the Dutch expanded the church when they took over. Don’t miss the intricately engraved tombstones for the most prominent Dutch nobles that line the interior walls. Another revealing ruin awaits you at the bottom of St. Paul’s Hill, where you will see the remains of the Portuguese-built fort Porta de Santiago. The Dutch added their coat of arms over the gate, which is about all that is left of the fort.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View relevant landmarks that the Dutch colonialists built while ruling for nearly 200 years.
• See the original 17th-century Dutch administrative center and the museum inside.
• Browse a Portuguese-built church and fort, which the Dutch expanded during their reign.

Delve into the history of multi-cultural Malacca by pausing at characteristic attractions and reflecting on their significance over tea at a traditional Malay restaurant. The Portuguese were the first colonialists to rule Malacca, which they prized for its location for the spice trade. To enhance your understanding of that early maritime trade, you will see a replica of the Flora de la Mar, a 16th-century Portuguese-built ship that sank off the coast while carrying riches plundered from Malacca. The Dutch ousted the Portuguese in 1641 and soon constructed their administrative center in what is now called Dutch Square. The buildings still stand as a reminder of that early, often oppressive Dutch influence. The heavy Chinese influence will be apparent at Bukit Cina, a massive Chinese cemetery with graves dating to the Middle Ages. As a counterpoint, you will pause at the modern Straits Mosque, which rises above the water next to a manmade island just off the coast.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View Malacca at a comfortable pace that allows you to really take in its highlights.
• Pause at a replica of a 16th-century ship that the Portuguese built when they ruled Malacca.
• See a modern mosque and an ancient Chinese cemetery with graves from the Middle Ages.
• Behold the original 17th-century Dutch administrative center in the heart of Malacca.

Become immersed in the history of Malacca and how its rulers often changed over the centuries and influenced the city. You will see a replica of one of their oversized trade ships that sank off the coast carrying treasures back to Portugal. The Malacca Sultanate Palace is actually a replica of the structure which was built by the already extinct sultanate of Malacca. The sultanate of Malacca was the ruler of the city before the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1500s. The plan of the palace was based on the Malay Annals' account of Sultan Mansur Shah's palace. Sultan Mansur Shah was the nobleman who ruled Malacca from 1456 to 1477. The Malacca Sultanate Palace is one of its kind in Malaysia as it offers a rare glimpse of the ancient Malay kingdom which once flourished in Malacca. The Dutch colonists followed, as you will learn at Stadthuys, the 17th-century administrative center they built in the center of town. The Queen Victoria Fountain nearby attests to the British rule, which was short but influential. The British social center at the time was the Malacca Club, now the Proclamation of Independence Memorial. The memorial exhibits are fascinating, especially those chronicling Malaysia’s fight for independence, which was achieved in 1957.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse museum exhibits depicting the 15th century, when Malaysia was a sultanate.
• Pause at a replica of a 16th-century ship that the Portuguese built when they ruled Malacca.
• Behold the original 17th-century colonial Dutch administrative center.
• See the British influence at a club that served as the colonist.

View Malacca from several different perspectives for a remarkably complete overview of the World Heritage site city. One of the most prominent landmarks is Dutch Square, where the Dutch colonialists built their administrative center after ousting the Portuguese colonialists in 1641. A cruise down the meandering Malacca River will present yet another urban view. Along the way, you will pass Chinatown and the traditional Malay village Kampung Morten. You may notice that some of the buildings feature colorful murals depicting the history of Malacca. The revolving observation platform atop the Menara Taming Sari tower will offer the ultimate, 360° view of the city. The guide will point out key attractions such as St. Paul’s Hill and the replica of the Portuguese ship Flora de la Mar, which houses a maritime museum. Back on the ground, you will pause for photos of a 16th-century Portuguese-built fort and the largest Chinese cemetery not in China.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View Malacca from the water by cruising down the Malacca River in the heart of the city.
• Enjoy a sweeping 360° view of Malacca from atop the Menara Taming Sari tower.
• See the original 17th-century Dutch administrative center and the museum inside.
• Browse a Portuguese-built fort and the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China.