Melaka is a historically rich city in Malaysia with old heritage buildings, modern cafes and fascinating street art all spread around a narrow river splitting the city. In this 2 day Melaka itinerary, we’re going to show you the best things to do, where to stay and how to get around with many extra tips along the way!
During your 2 days in Melaka, you can experience the blend of old and new between the colourful streets and incredible culture as Melaka is one of the oldest cities in Malaysia.
The city has plenty of well-preserved Dutch, British and Portuguese buildings in the form of churches and now, museums. Most of the best things to do in Melaka are around Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk) and it’s easy to walk around the historic city.
Melaka completely surprised us in Malaysia! It was one of the cities we almost skipped as we weren’t continuing to Singapore and didn’t know if the round trip from Kuala Lumpur would be worth it. But, trust us – it is! It’s definitely worth spending at least 2 days in Melaka but it is also possible on a day trip from Kuala Lumpur with a guide!
Is it Melaka or Malacca? You may have noticed Melaka is also known as Malacca. Melaka is the capital city of Malacca which is a Malaysian state. We also saw that the city used to be referred to as Malacca City. It’s a little confusing, but here’s our 2 day Melaka itinerary!
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This post may contain affiliate links. We will receive a small commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no additional cost to you.
Quick Tips for a 2 Day Melaka Itinerary
- Currency – Malaysian Ringgit (compare your own currency here)
- Language – Malay (also Mandarin and Tamil)
- Cuisine – Malay, Chinese & Indian (noodles, rice, dosas, soups, curries, roti & more)
- Apps – Google Translate, Google Maps, Grab, Booking.com &, Hostelworld
- Power Voltage – Plug G, 240V (Same as the UK)
- Sim Card – Digi, Hotlink or grab one on Klook!
Visiting more of Malaysia? Check out our itineraries for the Cameron Highlands, Penang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur!
Where to stay in Melaka
Melaka is a large city, but the areas of interest are all around the Old Town. The best area to stay in Melaka is near Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat). Prices of accommodation are very affordable in Malaysia, so staying within walking distance won’t be a problem, even if you’re on a budget.
Melaka Hotel, Hostels & Guesthouses
The Cozy Place by Nestcove $ – A modern guesthouse with lots of amenities in the heart of Melaka. Also includes free breakfast! – Find on Booking.com here!
Bali Residences $$ – A luxury and affordable stay in Melaka, with rooftop pools and a modern layout – Find on Booking.com here!
We stayed in Haven Inn for 4 nights in Melaka but it looks like they’ve stopped taking bookings for the moment in 2024. We’ve included it just in case they re-open!
How to get around Melaka
Melaka city centre is very walkable and easy to get around. There’s one spot on this 2 day Melaka itinerary that will require a Grab, which is also an easy way to get around Melaka!
- Bus – There are buses in Melaka, however, you’ll only need to take one when arriving at Melaka Sentral.
- Trishaw’s – You’ll find these dotted around the city, they are touristy and usually more expensive than a Grab, but trishaws are a fun way to get around!
- Taxi & Grab – Grab is a great way to get around Melaka if your destination is out of the main touristy city centre. Download the app!
- Car – Browse prices for car rentals on Discover Cars!
We used Grab to get from Melaka Sentral to the city centre of Melaka when we arrived by bus from Kuala Lumpur!
2 Day Melaka Itinerary: Best Things To Do (2024)
During this Melaka 2 day itinerary, we’ll show you how to plan your trip and what’s achievable in 2 days. You can switch these days around or mix them up, but here’s our Melaka travel guide for you!
Some of the main things to do are quite close together and we’ve spread them out over 2 days, so if there’s a point of interest we don’t mention on the first day, you’ll see it on the second day!
Day 1 – The Art & History of Melaka, River Cruise & Night Market
When arriving in Melaka, the bus station (Melaka Sentral) is a little outside of the city centre. Search for a Grab on the app to make your way to the historic centre (near Jonker Walk). We’ve included our accommodation recommendations above, but The Cozy Place by Nestcove is perfect for this 2 day Melaka itinerary.
We highly recommend trying Chin Hua for lunch as you can grab as much food as you like from the buffet and you pay by weight and selected items! We ate here several times during our Melaka trip!
The cafe culture in Melaka is incredible, similar to other popular Malaysian cities! You’ll find cosy cafes with different specialities, themes and cuisines! Malay, Chinese and Indian food is popular to find here and you’ll also have a few Western options.
Search for Street Art in Melaka
As you start to walk around the city you’ll notice the beautiful old shop-houses and the colour blasting through the streets. Melaka was first colonised by the Portuguese followed by the Dutch and then the British.
Amongst all the mixed influences, you can find amazing street art. Most of the art is spread out near the streets of Jonker Walk. We encourage you to just wander around!
- Kiehl’s Colourful Wall – The perfect backdrop for photos in Melaka (location)
- Melaka Street Art (The Well) – An alleyway filled with lovely murals (location)
- The Orangutan House – A cafe with an Orangutan mural (location)
- Murals near the River – When walking down the river look out for murals on the buildings, you’ll find some behind The Old Merchant and various other spots! (location)
Admire the views on Tan Kim Seng Bridge
Once you’ve had a browse at some of the street murals in Melaka, head over to the Tan Kim Seng Bridge and walk across to the east side of Melaka to discover some history.
The main highlights are close together, so there’s a high chance you’ll be crossing this bridge a few times to get over the river. The views from Tan Kim Seng Bridge look beautiful day and night!
Visit the Dutch Square
The Dutch Square is also known as the ‘Red Square’ in Melaka and it’s hard to miss on your 2 day Melaka itinerary. You’ll be greeted with bright red colonial buildings as soon as you walk over the bridge!
Christ Church Melaka
One of the buildings you’ll see is the Dutch Church which was built in 1753! It’s one of the most popular landmarks in Melaka and worth checking out alongside the other colonial buildings.
Stadthuys
Stadthuys was built by the Dutch as a building with office rooms, similar to a city hall. It is now the Museum of History and Ethnography with a history of Melaka and many historic artefacts. There’s a small entrance fee to enter:
- Malaysian residents: 5 MYR for adults and 2 MYR for children.
- Foreign visitors: 10 MYR for adults and 4 MYR for children.
Queen Victoria’s Fountain
In the heart of Dutch Square is Queen Victoria’s Fountain which was actually built by the British! There’s also an I Love Melaka sign!
Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower
Next to the Stadthuys is the Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower which was purchased by a wealthy Chinese family and given to the city of Melaka. The clock was also built by the British and it blends in perfectly with the other Dutch buildings in the square!
Exploring Malaysia on a budget? Here’s our top tips on how to save money for travelling.
Walk down the River
During your Melaka 2 day itinerary, definitely take the time to fully explore the streets along the river. There are cute riverside cafes, bars and restaurants and many boardwalks to discover!
For this Melaka itinerary, head south down the river (which is the wide area) passing by Melaka Fort.
Admire the Giant Ship
Right next to the river, you’ll find the Muzium Samudera (Flor de La Mar) located on the east side near the Melaka River Cruises. The Muzium Samudera is a museum inside a giant ship! We didn’t visit inside the ship but there’s lots of information about the history of Melaka and the river.
Go on a Sunset River Cruise in Melaka
One of the best things to do in Melaka is to go on a river cruise through the city. You can take tours at any time throughout the day (9 AM – 11 PM), but sunset may be the best time to go!
Head to the Melaka River Park and Cruise building to buy a ticket and hop on a ride! There can be quite a long queue during weekends but it moves quickly. The tour is around 30 to 45 minutes long and costs around RM25.
Visit Jonker Street Night Market (Friday to Sunday)
If you have any energy left on the first day of your 2 days in Melaka, it’s time to hit up the famous Jonker Street Night Market in Melaka. The night market only runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but the street and most shops are open during the weekdays too.
Jonker Street Night Market is full of incredible food, souvenirs, clothes and music! As it’s on a weekend, it’s usually very busy and you’ll find a big atmosphere in the area. Note – We didn’t find many vegan options.
Pahlawan Walk Night Market is another night market to visit during your 2 days in Melaka, however, this also runs from Friday to Sunday.
Day 2 – Shops, Temples, History & Mosques
Start your day near Jonker Walk and find a cosy cafe for breakfast! We opted for a Chinese-style breakfast from Shui Xian Su Shi Yuan Vegetarian as they open at 7:30 am!
Shop around Jonker Street in Daylight
During your 2 days in Melaka, you have to check out Jonker Street in the daytime! The area is full of boutique shops, old colonial buildings and amazing food choices. We found a spot selling coconut ice cream which is the best in hot weather!
There are a few places of interest around the area of Jonker Street such as museums and temples. Here are a few you can check out whilst you’re wondering around the shops:
- Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
- Sri Poyyatha Vinayaga Moorthy Temple
- Melaka San Duo Temple
- Cheng Ho’s Cultural Museum
- Kampung Kling Mosque
Check out our 2 Week Malaysia Itinerary for more planning tips!
Visit Cheng Hoon Temple
Another temple that you can find near Jonker Street is Cheng Hoon Temple! This Buddhist temple is on the same street as the Malay Kampung Kling Mosque and Hindu Sri Poyyatha Vinayaga Moorthy Temple which shows the diverse religions in Malaysia!
Cheng Hoon Temple is a historic Chinese temple built in the 17th century. The interior of the temple is more impressive than the outside and there’s beautiful architecture and carvings throughout! It’s also one of the oldest functioning temples in Malaysia.
Walk around Little India
To add to the culture of your Melaka itinerary, head to Little India for a tasty lunch and a walk around the neighbourhood. It is one of the smallest Little Indias in Malaysia, so it won’t take long to browse the area.
We recommend Restoran Saravanna for lunch as we ate there multiple times on our trip! There’s also a Little India sign to look out for!
Admire the Church of Saint Paul
After fueling up on food in Little India, walk up St Paul’s Hill (slowly if you’re still digesting), it only takes 5 minutes! You’ll see some of Melaka’s many museums here, Muzium Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka and Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum.
One of the most interesting antique buildings we came across during our Melaka itinerary is St. Paul’s Church. It’s the oldest church in Malaysia and the region of Southeast Asia, which is crazy to think about! St Paul’s Church was built in the 1500s and is now one of Melaka’s famous ruins.
The rustic building no longer has a roof and although it’s well-preserved, it’s free to the public, so you can browse in and around the building with no supervision.
You can find tombstones within the building and there’s also an old lighthouse and a statue of St Xavier next to the old church. As the church sits on top of a hill, you can watch over the city of Melaka from gaps in the trees! It’s a very peaceful area in the morning or evening when it’s quieter.
Visit the A Famosa (Fortress)
A few minutes walk away down some stairs you’ll come across Melaka Fort, also known as A Famosa! A Famosa means ‘The Famous’ in Portuguese!
The fortress isn’t in the best shape anymore after the British demolished most of it, however, it still holds so much history! Porta de Santiago (the gate to the fortress) is one of the parts still standing and is a highlight! We recommend visiting during your Melaka 2 day itinerary.
Take a break at Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall
This part of the itinerary is optional but if it’s a hot day, a walk around the mall is a great idea! We took the opportunity to cool down and grab a drink inside – there are so many things to do in Melaka, so it’s good to rest in between!
Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall is very modern with famous chain shops and restaurants. Sadly we have no photos of the modern area of Melaka, but here are a couple of photos from other areas of the city!
You can also find the Upside Down House in the modern area of central Melaka – Book your tickets in advance here!
Find the Taming Sari Tower
Nearby the mall is Melaka’s modern tower standing 80 metres tall in the sky. You may have already seen it as it’s close to Muzium Samudera (the giant ship). Taming Sari Tower was completed in 2008 and created another reason for tourists to visit the city!
There’s a slow-spinning observation desk that takes you to the top of the tower giving the best views of Melaka! Book your tickets in advance here!
Watch Sunset at Melaka Straits Mosque
The last activity on our Melaka 2 day itinerary is a visit to the beautiful Melaka Straits Mosque. It’s a little out of the city centre so it’s best to catch a Grab for around RM10 one way.
Melaka Straits Mosque sits on a platform just above the water which makes it one of the best sunset spots in Melaka. When we saw a photo online, we immediately added it to our list!
If you’re wearing the correct covering, it’s okay to enter the mosque but as it’s a place of prayer, it’s important to be respectful. We stayed on the outside admiring the exterior and the views of the water.
We found a lovely viewing point from the rocks on the other side of the Mosque and watched the sun go down. The mosque lights up at night too!
We use a Joby GorillaPod to take our photos! It’s small and lightweight, so it fits in a day bag without worrying about losing it!
More Ideas for 2 days in Melaka
There are still more things to do in Melaka if you have more than 2 days. We didn’t get to visit any museums, but Melaka has so many! There are also more towers, an upside-down house and a water park.
- Cheng Ho Cultural Museum
- Maritime Museum
- Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum (location here)
- The Shore Sky Tower – Find tickets here!
- Bayou Lagoon Water Park Ticket in Melaka – The best way to cool off – Find tickets here!
- Upside Down House Gallery Melaka – Book your tickets in advance here!
Where to stay in Melaka? The Cozy Place by Nestcove!
Klook.comBest Restaurants in Melaka
As well as exploring the best things to do in Melaka we hunted for the best places to eat! Here’s our selection of places we would eat again when we visit Malaysia in the future! Chin Hua was our favourite place during our Melaka itinerary 2 days.
- Chin Hua Vegetarian Food $ – The best Chinese buffet restaurant in Melaka! (location)
- Restoran Saravanna – Chettinadu King $ – Authentic Indian food in Melaka! (location)
- Thong Xin Vegetarian Restaurant $ – Delicious Chinese food! (location)
- Shui Xian Su Shi Yuan Vegetarian $ – Near Cheng Hoon Teng Temple! (location)
- Botanist Cafe $$ – Vegetarian restaurant with Malay options! (location)
Switch to more sustainable travel products before visiting Melaka, Malaysia! Here’s a guide to help – 18 Great Sustainable Travel Products You Need to Swap Now!
Best Time to Visit Melaka
The best time to visit Melaka is from May to July and December to February in between the rainy seasons. It’s perfectly fine to visit all year round, some days outside of the dry season won’t even rain!
Melaka has a tropical climate so it’s always hot and humid. We visited in June and experienced a mix of sun and rain! Most of Malaysia had mixed weather for our visit, but we still had a great time!
How to get to Melaka
Flying – Melaka has a very small airport (Malacca Airport) with limited flights, however, Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a bus journey away with routes all over the world. Book your KLIA Ekspres Airport Train Tickets on Klook.
Bus – The best way to get around Malaysia is by bus, especially to get to Melaka. Check for times and prices on 12Go, RedBus or EasyBook. It’s a 2-hour bus journey from Kuala Lumpur and a 4-hour bus journey from Singapore. You’ll arrive at Melaka Sentral where you can get a local bus or a Grab to the main city centre of Melaka.
Tours – Historical Melaka Tour with Lunch from Kuala Lumpur.
Also check out our 3 day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary to explore the capital!
How many days to spend in Melaka
We highly recommend spending at least 2 days in Melaka! This 2 day Melaka itinerary shows you all the best highlights of the city and although it’s possible to squeeze into one day, we really think the area deserves another day.
With an extra day, you can spend longer browsing Jonker Street and visiting the beautiful mosque on the water!
Budget for 2 days in Melaka
Melaka is a very affordable city to visit in Malaysia. It’s slightly cheaper than Kuala Lumpur (the capital) and similar to other destinations in the country. For 2 days in Melaka, a good budget is around £30 a day. On a Malaysia trip, some days will be less or more!
- Accommodation: from £12 / RM66
- Food: around £2 to £4 per meal / RM11 to RM22
- Grab Journeys: around RM10 (around £1.80)
- River Cruise: RM25 (around £5)
➤ Also check out our Southeast Asia budget guide!
Things to do in Melaka for One day
Day trips from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore are a popular way to explore Melaka. Using your own car, a rental car or the buses in Malaysia you can explore the highlights of the city in 1 day.
If you only have 1 day in Melaka, try to time it on a weekend so you can visit the Jonker Street Market in the evening! If that’s not possible, a visit to the street in the daytime is also good.
Use this 2 day Melaka itinerary to create a faster-paced version for your day trip. Skip the Melaka Straits Mosque as it’s too far away from the city on a short trip. Focus on the beautiful old town, including Jonker Street and visit the Church of Saint Paul on the hill for some views of the city.
Things to do in Melaka at Night
- Go on a River Cruise
- Browse Jonker Street Night Market
- Hit up a restaurant for some late dining
- Walk along the riverside
- Go for an evening swim at Bali Residences!
Visiting Thailand next? Get prepared for your trip with our 1 Month in Thailand Itinerary!
Travel Essentials for a Melaka Itinerary
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – The best way to pack your backpack or suitcase for Malaysia!
- Rain Mac in a Bag and a Backpack Cover are essentials we use in rainy weather!
- Anker Power Bank – A small power bank to keep your phone charged.
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Reduce the plastic you use and fill up your reusable bottle!
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600.
➤ Here’s our Southeast Asia Packing list to help you plan your trip to Melaka!
Don’t forget about Travel Insurance! – SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
SafetyWing is a flexible monthly-rolling travel insurance to help you stay safe on your trip anywhere in the world. Find out more here!
Is Melaka worth visiting?
The world heritage city of Melaka is definitely worth visiting in Malaysia! We’re so glad we visited and even though it’s slightly touristy, it still feels underrated. It’s in the perfect location if you’re travelling from Malaysia to Singapore and it’s so close to the capital city (Kuala Lumpur).
It’s an easy place to visit to discover the history, street art and Western ruins! If you’re visiting Malaysia it’s definitely worth spending 2 days in Melaka!
Check out our other Malaysia Travel Guides:
- 3 Day Kuala Lumpur Itinerary
- 2 Week Malaysia Itinerary
- 2 Days in Ipoh Itinerary
- Cameron Highlands Itinerary
- 4 Day Penang Itinerary
- Also browse our Thailand, Sri Lanka and Philippines guides!
That’s the end of our The Best 2 Day Melaka Itinerary: Things To Do (2024)! Have a lovely trip to Melaka and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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Love it 💕 Also interesting about St Paul’s Church