Jonker Street
First-timersThe old town by the river.
Melaka city guide
Things To Do In Melaka
A trading port of red Dutch buildings, Portuguese ruins and Peranakan houses, with a weekend night market on Jonker Street and decorated trishaws blasting pop music.
20
Hostels in the city
7.4
Average, from 6,737 reviews
1511
The Portuguese arrive
2008
Joins UNESCO
Weekends
Jonker Street night market
Five hundred years of trade
Melaka was the greatest port of Southeast Asia in the fifteenth century, controlling the strait between Malaysia and Sumatra. The Portuguese took it in 1511, the Dutch in 1641 and the British after them, and each left their mark. Its historic centre, shared with George Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is also the heartland of the Peranakan, or Baba-Nyonya, culture, blending Chinese and Malay traditions.
Melaka is small and busy at weekends. One or two days is right.
Where to stay
Stay in the old town, around Jonker Street and the river, where the heritage sights, the night market and the cafés are all walkable. Melaka Raya, south-east of the centre, has cheaper hotels and malls, a short Grab ride away.
Melaka Raya
ValueCheaper hotels and malls, a short ride away.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Melaka
Melaka was the greatest trading port in Southeast Asia in the fifteenth century, and was ruled in turn by the Portuguese from 1511, the Dutch and the British. Its old town became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, together with George Town.
In the Dutch Square, the red Stadthuys, the old town hall, and Christ Church are among the oldest Dutch buildings in Asia. Climb St Paul's Hill to the roofless church at the top, then walk down to A Famosa's Porta de Santiago, the only gate left of the Portuguese fortress.
Jonker Street, in Chinatown, is lined with antique shops, cafés and clan houses; on Friday to Sunday evenings it becomes a crowded night market of food and stalls. Cheng Hoon Teng, the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia, is nearby, and the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum shows the life of the Peranakan community.
Take a river cruise along the Melaka River in the evening, past murals and lit-up warehouses. The decorated trishaws, covered in flowers and lights and playing loud music, are a Melaka sight in themselves.
Free things
Free things to do in Melaka
Walking the old town, the Dutch Square, St Paul's Hill and the Porta de Santiago is free. The Jonker Street night market is free to wander, and so is the riverside walk.
The temples, including Cheng Hoon Teng, and the Kampung Kling Mosque are free to visit, dressed respectfully.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Melaka
Melaka is known for Nyonya food, the cooking of the Peranakan Chinese-Malay community: Nyonya laksa, ayam pongteh, a chicken stew, and kuih, colourful sweet cakes. Chicken rice balls, rice shaped into balls served with chicken, are a local speciality.
Cendol, shaved ice with coconut milk and gula Melaka palm sugar, is the classic dessert, and satay celup, skewers dipped into a pot of peanut sauce, is a Melaka favourite.
A meal is €2 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Melaka
Melaka is relaxed at night. The Jonker Street night market, on Friday to Sunday evenings, is the busiest time. A few bars along the river and in Chinatown serve drinks, with live music at weekends.
A beer is €4 to €7.
Getting around
Getting around Melaka
Buses from Kuala Lumpur's TBS terminal reach Melaka Sentral, the bus station, in about two hours; from there, a Grab or local bus reaches the old town. Buses also run to Singapore in about four hours.
The old town is walkable. Grab is cheap for longer trips.
Costs
What Melaka costs
Melaka is cheap to mid-priced. Dorms start around €8 and a careful day is €20 to €30.
Museums charge a few euros, and the river cruise about €5. Trishaw rides are negotiated; agree the price first.
Foreign visitors pay a tourism tax of RM10 per room per night, added to accommodation bills.
The currency is the Malaysian ringgit (MYR or RM); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 5 ringgit to the euro. Cards and e-wallets work widely in cities; carry cash for hawker stalls and smaller towns.
Safety
Staying safe in Melaka
Melaka is safe. The old town is busy and crowded at weekends; watch your belongings at the night market.
Agree trishaw prices before riding.
Complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arriving.
Emergency number is 999.
Day trips from Melaka
The capital and the nearest beaches.
Kuala Lumpur
The capital.
Port Dickson
Beaches on the Strait of Malacca.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Jonker Street's night market runs every weekend.
9 October
Dr. Jason Leong: In Laughing Memory
Dr. Jason Leong returns with his most personal stand-up special yet, turning grief into comedy after losing one of his best friends to cancer.…
10 October
Madani Fun Run & Melaka Aspiration Run
Held in conjunction with National Sports Day 2026, this run brings together the Melaka Ministry of Youth and Sports and 1 Krubong Night Runner…
6 November
Fadzri Rashid
Fadzri Rashid tackles turning 40 with the kind of sharp wit and brutal honesty that makes you laugh while nodding in recognition. His new…
Hostels
Where to stay in Melaka
The top-rated places to stay in Melaka right now, live from Hostelworld.
Ola Lavanderia Cafe
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Three Little Birds Home
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
Sleep Here Hostel Melaka
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Ringos Foyer Guest House and Hostel
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
Yote 28
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
When to go
Warm all year. Weekdays are quieter.
Jan
Chinese New Year
Feb
Dry
Mar
Good
Apr
Rainy
May
Good
Jun
Good
Jul
Dry
Aug
Merdeka
Sep
Good
Oct
Rainy
Nov
Wettest
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in ringgit locally; these are euro equivalents.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Melaka travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
When is the Jonker Street night market?
Friday to Sunday evenings.
What should I eat?
Nyonya laksa, chicken rice balls, satay celup and cendol with gula Melaka.
How do I get there?
By bus from Kuala Lumpur, about two hours, or from Singapore, about four.
Is Melaka worth an overnight stay?
Yes, to see the old town in the evening, especially at weekends.
How many days do you need?
One or two.
When is the best time to visit?
Year-round; weekends are busiest.
What are the trishaws?
Bicycle rickshaws decorated with flowers and lights, playing loud music. Agree the price first.
Say yes to hostels, meet the world
Compare Melaka hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.
Get the App.