Looking forward to a day trip to Melaka? You’re in the right place! I’ve visited Melaka three times and will probably visit again in the future because I love this place.
It’s hard to describe, but I love the feeling of walking along Melaka town and the riverside, with all the old buildings and colorful street art murals. You’ll know what I mean when you get there.
In this blog post, I’m going to share a Melaka day trip itinerary, including what to do, recommended restaurants and cafes, and some important notes for the trip at the end.
Read more: Full list of Interesting Places to Visit in Melaka
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Table of Contents
1. What to do in Melaka for a day? Day trip itinerary
Here is a Melaka day trip itinerary that I suggest for first-timers who want to experience most of the town in just 10-12 hours.
Note: The attractions in this Melaka itinerary are within walking distance.
Morning itinerary
➡ 10:00 AM: Depart from KL
The travel time between KL and Malacca is about 2 hours without traffic jams. If you travel during holidays, it could take about 3-4 hours.
➡ 12:30 PM: Eat lunch in Melaka
Here are some popular restaurants (great food and Instagrammable) to try in Melaka:
- The Baboon House
- The Daily Fix Cafe
- Wild Coriander Melaka
You might need to wait in a long queue to get a table at these restaurants. If you wanna save time, try a less popular one such as 175 Gallery Cafe.
Afternoon itinerary
➡ 1:30 PM: Visit Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
Visiting this museum, you will have a chance to learn about the Baba-Nyonya culture (also known as Peranakan) – a Chinese-Malay ethnic group. This museum was originally the house of a wealthy Baba-Nyonya family, built in 1896. In 1986, it was converted into the museum it is today.
➡ 2:30 PM: Take pictures at Melaka 3D Street Art and enjoy a leisurely riverside walk.
The mural art in Melaka is very creative and colorful, making it perfect for taking aesthetic pictures.
One of my favorite street art pieces is Kiehl’s Mural. Click here to save it on Google Maps.
Additionally, you can take a stroll along the riverside, where you can slowly enjoy the scenery with ancient houses, mural art, and the Melaka River.
➡ 3:30 PM: Visit the Dutch Square (Christ Church and Stadhuys)
The Dutch Square is probably the most iconic attraction in Malacca, where everything is painted in pink. Here, you can visit Christ Church and Stadhuys.
Christ Church, founded in 1753 by the Dutch, is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia.
Next to Christ Church, you can see Stadhuys, a building erected by the Dutch in 1650. It originally functioned as the office of the Dutch governor and deputy governor. Nowadays, it houses the History and Ethnography Museum, which showcases Melaka’s history from its establishment in 1400 until 1957.
➡ 4:30 PM: Enjoy the bird-eye view of Malacca at the Taming Sari Tower
This tower is the first and tallest tower in Melaka that offers a panoramic view of the town.
Buy tickets: Click here
➡ 6:30 PM: Experience the Melaka River Cruise
Taking the Melaka River Cruise is a must when you visit Melaka for a day trip. This experience allows you to enjoy the breeze while seeing the beautiful street art on the riverside. Additionally, it’s perfect for kids and the elderly because there is no walking required.
Read more: My detailed guide about the Melaka River Cruise
➡ 7:30 PM: Explore Jonker Walk (Fri-Sat only) or have dinner at a riverside cafe
If you take a Malacca day trip during the weekend, you should definitely go to Jonker Walk. This night market offers tons of street food and souvenirs, so I’m sure you can find something you like there.
If you travel to the town during weekdays, no worries! You can enjoy the evening by dining in a riverside cafe. The river view is absolutely stunning after dark.
During my day trip to Melaka, I discovered a riverside food court called Makan Avenue that offers a variety of Malaysian dishes at affordable prices. Additionally, you should try the cendol at Cendol Kampung Hulu, their cendol is incredibly tasty!
➡ 8:15 PM: Depart to KL (10:30 PM reach KL)
Well, I guess that’s enough for a Melaka day trip. Now it’s time to head back to KL. If the traffic is smooth, you will reach the city in about 2 hours.
👉 Wanna rent a car charter for a day trip to Melaka from KL? WhatsApp me (click here) for the best price 💸💸.
2. How to go to Melaka from Kuala Lumpur?
By Bus
The cheapest way to go from KL to Melaka for a day trip is by bus which costs only about RM 10-15 for a one-way ticket. You can choose either KKKL Express or Delima operator as they are newer compared to other buses.
Buy a bus ticket from KL to Melaka: Click here
Read more: Detailed guide to take a bus from KL to Melaka
By Car
Another way to go to Melaka is by private car. This is much more convenient but it’s more expensive for non-local tourists.
You can rent a car charter at around RM 350 for one way for a 4-seater car.
If you travel with a large group (10-15 people), renting a charter van is definitely the best option as you pay only RM60-80/person for a whole day of transportation, including hotel pickup and drop off.
👉 Wanna rent a car charter for a day trip to Melaka from KL? WhatsApp me (click here) for the best price 💸💸.
By Tour
For solo travellers or small groups seeking a convenient yet affordable way to explore Melaka, joining a day tour is the perfect option.
The most affordable and reliable tour I found is: Historical Malacca Tour with Lunch from Kuala Lumpur. Here are some highlights of the tour:
- Include pick-up and drop-off in the KLCC area
- Visit the most popular attractions in Melaka such as the Red Square, A Famosa, Melaka River, and more
- Include a professional tour guide
💡 Book this Melaka day tour: Click here
3. Things to know before your Melaka day trip
- Bring water and sunscreen because it’s pretty hot in Malacca.
- Expect a lot of walking during the Melaka day trip because most attractions are within walking distance, and it’s hard for cars to move around in the town center (even during weekdays).
- If possible, arrange your trip during weekdays because there is a high volume of tourists during weekends or holidays.
- If you take the bus from KL to Malacca, delays are quite common.
Above is the Melaka day trip itinerary that I believe is perfect for first-timers. I’ve shared about what to do in Melaka for a day trip, how to go to Melaka, as well as things you need to know before the trip.
Share this post for your future reference and comment below if you have any questions.
Thanks for reading! See ya.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you do Malacca as a day trip?
Since it takes only 2 hours to travel from KL to Melaka by bus or car, it’s possible to visit Melaka in a day.
2. How do I explore Malacca?
You can explore Malacca on foot because many tourist spots are located within walking distance. For further areas, you can easily call a Grab car.
3. Is Malacca worth going?
Melaka is definitely worth a visit. The town offers a rich history, interesting Baba-Nyonya culture, and creative street art. Plus, it’s near KL, so you can easily get there by bus or car.
4. Can I wear shorts in Malacca?
Absolutely. You can wear whatever you want when visiting Melaka as long as you cover your sensitive body parts. In fact, wearing shorts in Melaka is a good way to cope with the hot weather. However, if you plan to visit religious places, make sure to wear something that covers your knees and shoulders.
5. How much time should I spend in Malacca?
If you can spend 2 days in Malacca, that’s great. However, if you don’t have that much time, a day trip to Malacca works as well. Since most of the tourist attractions are within walking distance, you will be able to visit many places in a day.
6. Can you use Grab in Malacca?
Yes, it’s very easy to call a Grab car in Malacca. However, most of the attractions in Malacca are within walking distance, so you don’t really need to use Grab most of the time.
