Visiting a new place without a proper guide and info is frustrating and I get you, therefore, here I want to share with you the essential guide if you visiting Melaka for the first time! Hope this guide makes your travel plan successful and you will have a good visit!
Just two hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur International Airport or 1 and a half hours from Kuala Lumpur by car, Melaka (Malacca) is a "little" state located in the Southern Part of Malaysia. As we know today Melaka is rich in history and cultures and name the top 10 must-visit cities in the world by Forbes.
Transportation and moving around the city.
You can go to Melaka by Bus, Car, and Train. If you are from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, you can go directly to Melaka using the bus located on Ground Floor. The price is roughly around RM20-RM35 per person or less depending on class as well as operator. Advisable for you to check the bus schedule first at redbus.com to ensure that you have the correct time and plan your trip. It is a very convenient and safe way as well.
If you are from Kuala Lumpur, you can go by Car (highly recommended), bus and train. If by bus, head to TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) bus terminal and buy a ticket- roughly ranging around RM10-20 per way. If by train, you can choose KTM Komuter or ETS Train, however, you will have to make a stop at Tampin (Pulau Sebang) station and is located 45 minutes from Melaka city center by car.
Moving around Melaka tourist is very easy, you can use grab or walk on foot. Melaka city center is relatively pedestrian-friendly. If you wish to venture out from a famous tourist spot, you can book grab and available throughout the city. Some tourists park their car at the hotel and use grab, bicycle to come around the city to avoid traffic.
Try the famous tricycle bike to move between tourist spots! It will be fun.
Parking at Public Parking space administered by each district municipal is free on Monday and Tuesday. If you come for the weekend (most people did), you highly recommend installing SMART Parking Melaka apps or buying a parking coupon from participating local stores everywhere located at Melaka (there will be a signboard exclusive indicating if the coupon is available for sale).
Best Area to Stay
Depending on your travel objectives but if you are a first-timer, highly recommended that stay at the Melaka Raya or Bandar Hilir. A lot of choices of accommodations are available from 5 stars like Doubletree by Hilton Melaka, backpacker hostel, boutique hotels depending on your budget preferences. From here, you can walk or take a short drive to many famous tourist hot spots, local restaurants and bars, boutique cafes, night markets, shopping malls, and many more!
Melaka Raya/Bandar Hilir Location Rating (1 to 5, 1 - poor and 5 = Excellent)
Near to tourist spots: 5 - Excellent
Foods and eateries: 5 Excellent
Traffic; 2 -Poor
Noise Amount: 2 - Poor
Entertainment: 5 - Excellent
If you looking for a quieter place or far from the hustle-bustle of the city, you might want to consider the Ayer Keroh area which is located 25 minutes or so from the city center. You might want to have your own transportation and your will spend more money on transportation (Grab or Taxi) instead. Keep this in mind.
Ayer Keroh Location Rating (1 to 5, 1 - poor and 5 = Excellent)
Near to tourist spots: 3 - Good
Foods and eateries: 2 - Poor
Traffic; 3 - Good
Noise Amount: 4 - Very Good
Entertainment: 2 -Poor
List of Foods to Try
Yes, Melaka is food heaven! With so many choices available across the city, as a first-timer, you might want to put this on your foodie's list. Of course, there are more foods to try and 3 days trip is not enough! However, you should try these first
Cendol Kampung Hulu
Kueh Keria
Melaka Coconut Shake
Asam Pedas Claypot
Nyonya and Peranakan Cuisine.
Chicken Rice Ball
Pak Putra Naan
Seafood
Satay Celup
I will post more on Must Try Food in Melaka!
Absolute First Timer must-things to do.
Small city but got plenty of things to do! If you are the first-timer, you are not in Melaka if you not visiting the famous "Red Building" or Stadthuys and A Famosa! On top of that, spend your day exploring;
Visiting Museums (Museum Samudra, Villa Sentosa, and many more)
Spend time walking and shop till drop at ultrafamous Jonker Street
Take a boat ride at the famous Melaka River
Menara Taming Sari ride
Talk a walk at the beautiful Melaka River and enjoy colorful neon lights
Ride the colorful "beca" or tricycle bike around the city center.
and the list goes on and on. I will post more details for top things to do in Melaka in another post.
Emergency
In case of emergency and if you require health care assistance, health care facilities are available 24 hours depending on your budget. You can find pharmacies easily in Melaka City. The police station is also located strategically at the city center in case you need assistance as well.
List of Hospitals/Clinic - Near to City
Mahkota Medical Center
Address: No 3, Mahkota Melaka, Jln Merdeka, 75000 Melaka Hours: Open 24 hours Phone: 06-285 2999
Melaka General Hospital
Address: Jalan Mufti Haji Khalil, 75400 Melaka Hours: Open 24 hours Phone: 06-289 2344
Poliklinik Bandar Melaka
Address: No 33, 35, Jalan Banda Kaba, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 11PM Phone: 06-288 3318
Melaka Tengah Police Station
Address: Jalan Banda Kaba, Bandar Hilir, 75450 Melaka Hours: Open 24 hours Phone: 06-283 8334
What to expect/ tips?
Crowded (Melaka crowd just hits different). So expect a bit of long queue here and there.
Traffic jam. Yes, Melaka is famous for its traffic jam, especially during the weekend.
Navigating or driving on the road is sometimes a little bit tricky because based on my experience, sometimes double lanes can suddenly become one lane and it sometimes leads to different destinations.
Bird poo. Don't park under the tree unless you want to have a beautiful black and white art on your car.
A convenience store is everywhere. 7/11, KK Mart and Family Mart sprawling across the city center to cater to your needs!
These are key questions and info that normally I need to know if I visit a new place for the first time. If you require more info on other matters, let me know in the comment box. Have a safe trip you guys and enjoy your time at Melaka.
