Go local and plan a sight-seeing adventure or food escapade with your family to the charming and quaint Melaka city. Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, most places in the city are restored, well taken care of, and revamped. From heritage trails, pleasant stays, to must-try cafes, we’ve got you covered during your road trip; just take this list along with you!
Play and Explore
Discover new places and learn new things together.
1. Walk Around the Dutch Square and Surroundings
The iconic red buildings in the heart of Melaka city simply transports one back in time. Take a walk around the historic square and appreciate the Dutch architectural gems, including Christ Church Melaka and the Stadthuys (city hall).
From the square, hike up a narrow stairway and it will take you up to St.Paul’s Hill and eventually, to A Famosa fort. After exploring the area, stroll towards vibrant Jonker Street for a spot of shopping or people-watching. This is also the perfect stop to shop for a Nyonya kebaya and beaded shoes set.
Travel tip: Give your tired legs a rest, and hop on a trishaw or take a relaxing 45-minute Melaka river cruise.
2. Mamee Jonker House
Pop by Mamee’s first concept store, Mamee Jonker House for an exciting afternoon. With over 40 years in the food manufacturing business, the brand is recognised and well-loved by the young and old. Go behind-the-scenes to see how the crunchy noodle snack is made at the Lil Monster Kitchen, and design your take-home cup. Slurp on signature Mamee chef tarik noodle dishes once you are at the cafe, and if you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a glimpse of the Mamee Monster!
Newsflash! Mamee Jonker House just opened their second outlet, located at L3-40, KLIA2 (departure hall). Now you can shop for exclusive Mamee Monster snacks and cute merchandise before boarding your plane!
3. The Shore Oceanarium
Looking for an indoor activity that is engaging, educational, and interactive? Take your family to the second floor of The Shore Shopping Gallery and visit The Shore Oceanarium. The oceanarium is open from 10.30am to 7.00pm daily (take note that the ticket counter closes at 6.30pm), and is closed on Wednesdays. Entrance tickets start from RM30 and visitors have the option to add-on activities or souvenirs as part of the entry fee.
Participate in the touchpool sessions where you can see and ‘feel’ the starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and bamboo sharks that are freely gliding in the water. Besides marine life, you will also be able to observe a handful of amphibians and reptiles in the ‘Jungle Quest’ section, or immerse yourselves in an interesting 3-D experience.
4. Wonderpark Melaka
Wonderpark Melaka is Melaka’s latest family attraction and it is a one-stop place for all things fun. Snap adorable #wefies together, sing your heart out at the karaoke room, or battle it out during a game of ping pong or arcade games. Refreshments are aplenty over at the desserts cafe, so you don’t have to leave the comforts of the indoor amusement park. Best to beat the long queue for tickets and purchase yours online (bonus: you will score an exclusive deal to boot)!
5. Zoo Melaka and Taman Burung
Tigers, giraffes, tapirs, hornbills, and so much more! Spread across 54 acres, Zoo Melaka and Taman Burung has over 1,200 animals in their care. Bring a hat or umbrella, a pair of sunnies, and don’t forget to slather on some sunscreen for this activity. Families are encouraged to enjoy the bird shows, keeper’s talk, and elephant feeding sessions during the visit. As it is a large compound, a tram service is made available, with a minimum fee of RM6 (adult) and RM4 (children).*
[*The last tram service operates at 5pm.]
6. Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary
Every visit to the Melaka Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary counts, as proceeds go towards local butterfly conservation efforts. Join the butterfly release exercise, or adopt a precious butterfly pupa and release it within your neighbourhood surroundings instead. Aside from magnificent butterflies, the sanctuary is also home to a few Sulcata tortoises, an endangered tortoise species from the southern edge of the Sahara desert, Caimans from Central and South America, as well as emus from Australia.
7. Menara Taming Sari (Malacca Tower)
Get a spectacular bird’s eye view of picturesque Melaka by going up the Menara Taming Sari, either during the day or night (the last entry is at 9.00pm.) The ride takes 7 minutes, and visitors will get a panoramic sight of the city; spotting landmarks like St. Paul’s Hill, Independence Memorial Building, Samudra Museum (Flor De La Mar), Melaka River, Dataran Pahlawan, Selat Melaka Mosque, Pulau Besar and the Straits of Melaka. Worry not about space or over capacity, as the revolving glass cabin is spacious and secure, with a passenger capacity of up to 66 people per viewing session.
8. Skytrex Melaka
Skytrex Melaka is located about a five-minute drive after the exit toll of PLUS highway, along Jalan Ayer Keroh and is an awesome place to sweat it out, bond, and get some quality fresh air among the lush trees and foliage. Between the three Skytrex Adventure parks in Malaysia, it is the first one to have the thrilling Skybike set up. The minimum height for the course at the beginner level, ‘Little Dino’, is 110cm, and children below the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult on the circuits.
9. A’Famosa Resort Melaka (Water World and Safari Wonderland)
Take your pick between adventures at Water World, or Safari Wonderland! Splash along the ‘Lazy River’, or slide down classic water slides together as a family. Thrill-seekers will appreciate the adrenaline-pumping 7-storey water slide, the ‘High Speed’ as it takes mere seconds to reach the bottom (phew)!
For those who prefer to spend the day surrounded by fauna, don’t miss the Safari Wonderland experience. Say hi to majestic animals, such as cheetahs, hippopotamuses, ring-tailed lemurs, tigers, cockatoos, elephants, otters, and more. Daily animal presentations are available on site; check out the latest timings on their official website and social media channels.
Pro tip! Book directly with A’Famosa Resort Melaka to enjoy exclusive rates, discounts, and promotion packages.
Eat and Relax
Indulge in some delicious pancakes, Nyonya cuisine, and chicken rice balls.
10. Chicken Rice Balls
A trip to Malacca would not be complete without having some savoury, fragrant rice balls cooked with aromatic chicken stock, paired with succulent steamed or roasted chicken. Have lunch at Hoe Kee Chicken Rice, located at the tip of Jonker Street, or halal-certified shop, Ee Ji Ban.
Foodie tip! Go easy on the soy and chilli garlic sauce, as the rice balls are already well-seasoned.
11. Cafe Treats
Grab brunch, coffee, or dessert at The Daily Fix Cafe. Established in 2014, this rustic chic cafe is a popular haunt for locals and tourists alike. Selections from their menu range from burgers, pastas, sandwiches, and scrumptious fluffy salted egg or pandan pancakes. Another cafe to make a beeline for is Calanthe Art Cafe. They are best known for serving Malaysian coffees from all 13 states, in addition to their tantalising nyonya laksa and Western food menu.
12. Donald and Lily at The Bendahari Markets
Nestled in a community store called The Bendahari Markets is Donald and Lily Nyonya Food. The homegrown snack bar operates every Thursday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 5.00pm, and sells light bites and authentic fares like nyonya laksa, mee siam, nasi ketuk ayam rendang, and ice kacang gula Melaka, to name a few. Once you’re done filling your tummies, have a browse around the store for local and unique keepsakes. We highly recommend following them on their socials for event updates and menu specials.
Comfortable Stays
Rest, relax and reset at these hotels.
13. Rosa Malacca
Clean, comfortable, and spacious, Rosa Malacca is a superb place for families. Their premier suite can accommodate four people, while the family suite can accommodate up to 6 people (two king size beds and one sofa bed). Parking is available on-site and the hotel is a 13 minutes walk to the waterfront. Feeling peckish? Dine in at Bica & Co Courtyard Cafe; an eatery conveniently located within the hotel premises.
14. Holiday Inn Melaka
It’s always a huge plus when a hotel is family-friendly. Book a stay at Holiday Inn Melaka and enjoy their family package perks. From bunk beds and swimming pool access, to kids-eat-free promotions, this hotel stay will elevate your family trip and create core memories that will last a lifetime. Complimentary shuttle transfers are also available, upon request.
By Amanda Sura
Amanda is a freelance writer, aspiring businesswoman, and mother of two. She’s a proud Sarawakian who hails from Kuching. Apart from writing, she loves mixing natural body scrubs and foot soaks with her business partner for their small business, Suravont.
Photos are taken from the respective brands’ websites, press releases, and social media pages. For more details and prices, please contact the cafes, hotels, museums, attractions, and stores respectively.
Watch this space, as we’ll be updating this list with more must-sees and dos!
