Port guide: Melaka, Malaysia

Malaysia’s oldest and most historic town is World Heritage-listed and features a fantastic blend of multinational influences in its architecture, culture and cuisine.

Melaka River cuts across the city.Credit: Toursm Malaysia

Who goes there

Norwegian, Oceania, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas and Royal Caribbean are among lines that visit, either on South-East Asian itineraries or on longer itineraries that link South-east Asia with India or Australia. Many start or finish in Singapore. Hong Kong company Resorts World Cruises recently launched two-night cruises between Melaka and Singapore for a relaxed way to transit between the two nations.

Sail on in

The Malacca Strait that runs between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra is one of the world’s great shipping lanes, so if you’re into ship-spotting you’ll be happy at the sight of huge container ships. Malaysia slumps in a series of green hills clumped with clouds. Closer to Melaka you see a small island that barely rises above the water and is crowned by Batu Gelama Lighthouse. Your ship will anchor off the old town.

Berth rites

Guests are tendered to Parameswara Jetty which is conveniently near Melaka’s old-town core, all of which can be explored on foot. A new Melaka International Cruise Terminal is slated for completion in 2026 in a whole new city area developed over the last decade to rival Singapore as a port - though it is far from a success and many projects lie abandoned.

Going ashore

Christ Church in Melaka.

Melaka (formerly Malacca) was a small sultanate taken over as a trading port by the Portuguese in 1511. A ruined church and fort remain, with fortress gateway Porto de Santiago well preserved. The subsequent Dutch colonists left an elegant, salmon-pink Stadthuys, or town hall, and scarlet Christ Church. For more intriguing architecture, head down aptly named Harmony Street, where you’ll find a Hindu temple, mosque and Chinese temple, the latter decorated with broken Chinese porcelain once used as ships’ ballast. A must-see is the ornate mansion now transformed into Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, splendid in carved wood and gold leaf, and rich in Chinese-Malay heritage.

Don’t miss

Making beaded shoes in Melaka.

Sights apart, be sure to wander old Melaka’s streets, lined by arcaded shophouses that date from the 19th-century British era, some with later art deco embellishment. Cramped Chinese shops sell dried flowers, stationery, boxes of pineapples and Chinese herbal medicines. A few traditional businesses remain amid the souvenir shops: tofu makers, woodcarvers, embroidered slipper makers. Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock is lined with old Dutch trading houses, and Jalan Hang Lekir hosts a morning market.

Get active

Given Melaka’s tropical heat and humidity, you might want to stick to your air-conditioned ship’s gym or choose paintball, bowling or go-karting options on land. The region has several international-standard golf courses including Tiara Melaka, Orna and Gemas, all three a 30-minute drive from the city.

Best bites

Malays, Portuguese, Dutch, British, Chinese and Indians have all left influences on Melaka’s delicious cuisine. Peranakan cuisine (a Malay-Chinese fusion) is best known for its spicy rice-noodle soup dish laksa. Kristang cuisine (a Malay-Portuguese fusion) favours coconut-based curries, spicy sambals and light vegetable dishes. Typical local dishes are chicken rice balls, chicken in bean sauce and fish curry. Afternoon tea includes treats as varied as scones, pineapple tarts and sweet Malay nibbles notable for their bright colours.

Further afield

Cruise lines don’t offer shore excursions beyond Melaka, preferring to concentrate on general tours of the city or tours on specific themes such as cuisine, tea or cultural history. If you have children, you could take a taxi to Melaka Zoo (15 kilometres from downtown) or Melaka Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary another five kilometres beyond.