3 Best Sights in Malacca, Malaysia

Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum

Peranakans, also called Straits Chinese, are descendants of the Chinese who migrated to Malacca and adopted the Malay culture; here you can learn about the history of Malacca and get an inside look at what life was like for these families in the early 20th century. The historical museum is housed inside the stately traditional house of Baba Chan Cheng Siew. A guide leads you on a house tour and tells stories about the families' lives and their belongings, including fine examples of china, jewelry, and silk embroidered panels.

Harmony Street (Jalan Tokong)

So-called Harmony Street in Malacca's Chinatown neighborhood (its official name is Jalan Tokong Besi) takes its nickname from the trio of interesting religious attractions found here. The intricately carved Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is Malaysia's oldest Chinese temple, dating from 1646 and still in use as a Buddhist temple while the 18th-century Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple is Malaysia's oldest Hindu temple. The third house of worship is Kampung Kling Mosque, which is not the oldest mosque in Malaysia (that honor belongs to Masjid Kampung Hulu, also in Malacca and built by the Dutch in 1728), but it was finished back in 1868 and is notable for its pagoda-like architecture.

Jalan Tokong Besi, Malacca, Melaka, Malaysia
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Rate Includes: Free

Malacca River Cruise

Now a lot cleaner than it used to be, the Malacca River is worth a short scenic cruise to see old warehouses, churches, Malay villages, and bridges from a different perspective. The facades of many historic buildings along the route have also been painted with murals, making the cruise a bit of an art tour as well. The departure point is next to the Maritime Museum—a minimum of eight passengers is required before they'll leave—and tours last about 30 minutes. It's especially nice to do the cruise at dusk, as the sky changes color, or at night, when many buildings along the way are illuminated (and it's much cooler, weather-wise).

Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, Malacca, Melaka, 75100, Malaysia
062-814--322
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Rate Includes: RM16

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