How to plan a tour to Melaka – Best things to eat, see & do in Melaka
A mesmeric mix of culture, history and cuisine, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Melaka, Malaysia welcomes you to experience a different side to the country. With plenty to do, see and importantly eat, one will find Melaka to be just up your alley in every sense of the phrase. Described below is how you can plan and enjoy the very best of what Melaka has to offer.
Reaching Melaka
Malacca City in Malaysia | Image via Wikimedia Commons
From Kuala Lumpur, you will be presented with quite a number of transportation choices ranging from renting your own vehicle, riding the bus to booking a guided tour that will cover all bases with no fuss involved. If you opt for the rental option, then know that you will be in complete control of the pace of your adventure with the average travel time known to not exceed 2 hours. For those arriving on a budget, then taking the bus will be the wiser move. For this, you will need to journey to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in KL from where a ticket can be bought for between RM 10 – 15. Your drop off point will be Melaka Central and from here, you will need to organise your own transport via Grab, taxi or the local bus to get you to the city center. On the other hand, a guided tour will remove the hassle of having to book tickets to popular attractions in Melaka and even scheduling transportation.
Places to focus your travels on
Page through Melaka’s rich and storied history by visiting the iconic Dutch Square that showcases a breathtaking array of sights and sounds to behold. Stop by Christ Church which is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia and admire the architecture of the Queen Victoria Fountain that was built in 1904 to commemorate the former monarch’s diamond jubilee. Further the Stadthuys is replete with a host of museums such as the Governor’s Museum and Literature Museum which successfully bring to light the glory days of Melaka. Stumble upon intricate carvings and astounding design elements which encompass the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple that is dedicated to Guanyin – the Chinese Goddess of Mercy.
Learn of the traditions and values of the Peranakan people within the four walls of the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum that also offers a glimpse into the lifestyles of a wealthy Peranakan family who once resided here. Next up, do reserve time for the A’Famosa Water Theme Park which is located near the Melaka family hotel of PARKROYAL A’Famosa Melaka Resort where you may take pleasure of as many as 11 attractions.
An ideal stopover for the family, this theme park allows you and those with you to take on the challenge of navigating twisty water slides and fun game pools. From here onwards, you may calm things down a tad by choosing to go on a scenic boat ride along the Melaka River. Move past some of Melaka’s most cherished sites while admiring the sculptures and murals that adorn the riverbanks that would make for quite the sight for sore eyes.
What to eat?
Giving into your guilty pleasures will be easier to deal with in Melaka for the region provides a plethora of culinary specialties well worth getting your teeth into. For a good old dose of delicious chicken rice balls and sour plum juice, look to Kedai Kopi Chung Wah while for the best serving of cendols in town, consider stepping inside Cendol Kampung Hulu where you will have the leisure to choose from a range of toppings such as dragon fruit, mango cubes and coconut ice cream. Keen coffee shop fans would do well to check out the Stolen Cup which serves a host of tempting treats including salted egg yolk croissants and the highlight on their menu – the flavourful Gula Melaka Latte.
Should you be seeking to give your tastebuds a holiday of their own in the company of authentic Peranakan fare, then it is a must to call at Nyonya Delights Homestyle Cooked Food who will certainly need no invitation to cook up a storm for you.
Favourites such as mee siam, Nyonya rice dumplings and chicken rendang will be hard to look beyond. On a concluding note, factor in the possibility of beginning your day at the Daily Fix that will have you salivating at the ends no sooner you are shown the menu. Located within a double-storey vintage shophouse from the 1800s, the Daily Fix is where foodies commune in order to sample delicious cakes, great tasting pastas and the fluffiest pandan pancakes in town topped off with gula melaka.
