On a chill weekend, I decided that I should probably check out Melaka – for three reasons:

1. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site and is just brimming with local culture and architecture
2. Food is good, and ‘unique.’ I’d been to Penang and had absolutely loved the food. Therefore, I was eager to try what Melaka had to offer as well
3. It’s only two hours away from KL, I had nothing to lose and a cultural experience to gain!

If you feel the same, then join me in exploring the nooks and crannies of Melaka today!

**NOTE: It takes 2 hours from KL to Melaka Sentral, then another ~30mins bus from Melaka Sentral to the town proper

How to get there via bus

Go to Bandar Tasik Selatan Station (~20-30 mins from the KL city center). This station is HUGE and is a major bus terminal for the city, with hundreds of buses arriving and departing from this hub every day.

Tickets from KL to Melaka are fairly easy to purchase on the day itself. Once you arrive at the station, head to a booth window and tell the person you want to go to Melaka. They’ll then bring up a list of buses that are operating, number of seats available and cost. Each bus company is different, but my local friends assure me that they’re all pretty decent + it’s only a two hour drive

Because of this, I decided to optimize based on the schedule rather than the bus company. My ticket cost RM 10 one-way, and I opted to purchase a return ticket as well, as I was worried I might run out of tickets on the way back (return ticket cost RM 12 because it was a fancier bus)

Afterwards, just go to the indicated platform on your ticket and hop on! All the buses drop their passengers off at Melaka Sentral, which is quite unfortunately, outside of town. There are local buses and taxis that can bring you to the Melaka town proper, and we managed to find the bus through trial and error (and lots of hand miming). Basically, we just kept repeating Melaka to everyone we met, and they pointed us to the right direction. Nice people, these Malaysians

What to do once you get to Melaka

1. Check out the Christ Church Melaka

This church was built by the Dutch, and the design is iconic. The brick-red building with a huge white cross in front feels very familiar, doesn’t it?

2. Enjoy a juicy watermelon shake

Super worth your money! I had difficulty finishing this big watermelon on my own!

3. Ride a trishaw with upbeat music blaring and colorful decors waving at the Red Square

4. Walk up the Bukit St. Paul and down to A’Famosa Fort

It requires a bit of exercise to ascend the hill. Just think of it as burning calories to justify the heavy meal you’ll be eating after this. Once at the top, you’ll get a semi-panoramic view of Melaka, the opportunity to see old Portuguese tombstones, and a chance to buy local wares (e.g. paintings) for a souvenir

5. Walk along the Melaka River bank

6. Take nice artsy shots (or not) against the pretty wall murals

7. Eat lunch at Restoran Chop Chung Wah

Famed for their chicken rice balls, this is a must-try. I’ve never tasted rice balls like this, with Hainanese chicken cooked to perfection as the perfect complement

Location: 18, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka, Malaysia.
GPS: https://goo.gl/hElIcX
Opening Hours:

• Monday to Friday: 8:30am – 3:00pm
• Saturday to Sunday: 8:30am – 4:00pm

8. Grab dessert at Jonker 88

Notable desserts that we tried – Chendol, Gula Melaka, and Nyonya Laksa. Online reviews state we should’ve probably tried everything, but we had no stomach space left!

Location: 88, Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka, Malaysia.
GPS: https://goo.gl/63iyDn
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 8:00pm (Daily)

9. Walk along Jonker Street

Check out the eclectic stalls and stores selling various wares along the street – from street food, to cultural items, to souvenirs, to kitschy stuff – everything seems to be here! At night, the whole street transforms into a night market with local music playing loudly in the background, with bright lights set up all throughout

10. Drop by the Cheng Hoong Teng Temple

This temple is considered to be the oldest Buddhist place of worship in Malaysia, and is a heritage landmark that you should definitely check out

And, that’s a wrap! Time to head on home – or else you might miss your bus back to KL!

And that’s a wrap! Hope you enjoy the amazing Melaka – and more broadly, the beautiful Malaysia. If you’re interested, below is a full list of Malaysia blogs I have available:

• What to do when in Kuala Lumpur, including day trips
• Eating my way through Kuala Lumpur – my top picks!
• Day trip from KL: Putrajay’s architectural wonders
• Day trip from KL: What to expect from Batu Caves
• Day trip from KL: Discovering the hidden treasures of Melaka
• A travel and food guide to Malaysia’s hidden jewel: Penang