Planning a short but memorable escape to one of Malaysia’s most charming historical cities? This 2-day, 1-night (2D1N) itinerary is your perfect guide to exploring the best of Malacca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich culture, colonial architecture, vibrant street life, and mouth-watering local cuisine. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just someone looking for a relaxed weekend getaway, Malacca offers a beautiful blend of old-world charm and modern attractions that will leave you wanting more.
This article is your gateway to discovering the essence of Malacca in just two days. We’ll first cover the best time to visit Malacca, taking into consideration weather patterns, local events, and crowd levels, so you can make the most of your trip. After that, we’ll walk you through a carefully curated 2-day itinerary that captures all the city’s highlights—from the bustling energy of Jonker Street to the flavorful journey through Malaccan cuisine, and a peaceful cruise along the Malacca River under a canopy of lights.
While we won’t dive into the day-by-day breakdown just yet, rest assured that every activity included is meant to give you a taste of Malacca’s unique character without feeling rushed. Ready to step back in time and experience Malaysia’s historical gem? Let’s get started.
Best time to visit Malacca
Malacca weather is warm and tropical year-round, so itineraries should be planned accordingly. Like, schedule outdoor activities for mornings and evenings, and save indoor activities for afternoons. Travelers who arrive in April, May or October may find cooler afternoons and less humid conditions. Regular rains can be expected during March and April and also in October and November.
While the time of the year to visit Malacca is important for any itinerary, so is the day of the week. Jonker Street Night Market is can’t-miss attraction, and it’s only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.
2-Day Malacca Itinerary | Day 1
A morning walking tour in Malacca’s historic district of Bandar Hilir is the perfect way to start a 2-day itinerary. Both Dutch Square (Red Square) and A Famosa are in the area, and these epic Malacca attractions are just a five-minute walk apart. A Famosa is the gateway to some of the city’s most historic buildings, and the entire district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plan on spending at least four hours touring this legendary district.
Morning Walking Tour
- Windmill Dutch Square (Red Square) Melaka – wander through a sea of red buildings that housed Dutch officials in the 1700s. The complex includes several museums, Queen Victoria’s Fountain, Christ Church Melaka and The Stadthuys, where tourists can photograph a clock tower and view several exhibits.
- A Famosa (Porta de Santiago) – this famous gate stands at the entrance to Malacca’s historic district. The gate, called Porta de Santiago, is the sole remnant of the once-sprawling settlement of A Famosa.
- St Paul’s Church – directly behind Porta de Santiago is a staircase that leads to St Paul’s Church, the oldest European-style church in Southeast Asia. The iconic church was built in 1521 and contains the tomb of pioneering Catholic missionary Francis Xavier, and it offers a stunning view of the Malacca City skyline.
- Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum – step into Malacca’s history with a tour of a reconstructed palace and garden.
Afternoon: Peranakan Food, Plus Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum
Refuel from your morning tour with a scrumptious lunch of traditional Peranakan dishes. This regional cuisine is a fusion of Chinese and Malay flavors, and since the Peranakan people originated in Malacca, so did their food! Take advantage of being near a few authentic and highly recommended Peranakan restaurants like Nancy’s Kitchen, Amy Heritage Nyonya Cuisine and Peranakan Place @ Jonker Street. Read more about each of them and their specialties in Agoda’s Malacca Food Guide.
Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum – Baba-Nyonya is a household name in Malacca, as it is the name that local Peranakan people sometimes call themselves. Spend the afternoon getting familiar with what Baba-Nyonya culture was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s at this one-of-a-kind museum.
Evening: Melaka River Cruise & Jonker Street Night Market
Taking a cruise down the Malacca River is one of the best ways to see the city at night. The Melaka River Cruise port is located just across the river (a 5-minute walk) from the entrance to Jonker Street Night Market. Tickets are available at the dock, and round-trip cruises last about 45 minutes.
Jonker Street Night Market – this iconic market gets hopping about 6 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s the one-stop shop for street food, souvenirs, handmade goods, entertainment and nightlife in Malacca.
FIND & BOOK A MALACCA HOTEL TODAY
2-Day Malacca Itinerary | Day 2
Now that you’ve cruised the Malacca River by boat, it’s time to peruse the area by foot. The second and final day of your Malacca itinerary can be spent eating a traditional breakfast of chicken rice balls, strolling down the Malacca River Walk, which leads to an authentic Malay village, and photographing stunning mosques, one of which looks like it’s floating in the sea!
Breakfast of chicken rice balls
Chicken rice balls is a breakfast staple in Malacca, though these tasty nuggets are good any time of the day and super handy to have as snacks while sightseeing in Malacca City. The dish is legendary in Malacca, and there are many legends about how how the dish originated. Some say Hainanese immigrants used to pack their chicken and rice lunches into compact balls so that it would stay warm longer and also to have “quick energy” on hand while working long and strenuous hours. Other stories claim the workers were too poor to afford lunch boxes, so the rice balls – sometimes as big as tennis balls – were the most convenient way to transport their meals to work. While the original chicken rice balls often contained both chicken and rice, the modern-day version is served a little differently. Now, the flavorful chicken is served alongside rice balls and various vegetables, with a spicy chili dipping sauce on the side. Three highly recommended restaurants in Malacca are Chop Chung Wah, Hoe Kee Chicken Rice and Ee Ji Ban Restaurant.
Mid-morning stroll down Malacca River Walk
The Malacca River Walk is one of the city’s most peaceful attractions, and taking a stroll down its pathways is a must-do activity on any Malacca itinerary. The 1.6-kilometer path takes guests through scenic natural attractions, restored historic buildings and Instagram-worthy street art murals. Many of the historic buildings now house quaint coffee shops, modern hotels and popular restaurants, so lunch is easy to find on Malacca River Walk, and you can even grab a few souvenirs along the way.
- Morten Village (Kampung Morten) – the Malacca River Walk leads to the entrance of Morten Village, a traditional Malay village containing more than 100 traditional Malay houses. The area is an important piece of Malacca’s cultural history and is a sight to see amidst the city’s commercial district. To preserve the site from inevitable demolition, Kampung Morten was declared a heritage village in 1989 under the city’s Preservation and Conservation Enactment. Tourists are welcome to explore the area on foot, but visitors should keep in mind that Morten Village is a residential neighborhood as well as a tourist attraction.
Afternoon: Mosques tours
Unique mosques and places of worship can be seen throughout Malacca City. You’re bound to notice several ornate religious buildings while trekking through popular neighborhoods in Malacca. While you’re out and about, you should make it a point to stop by some of the more historical religious sites in Malacca City, and you can’t miss a trip to the Floating Mosque at sunset.
- Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, 25, Jalan Tokong, Kampung Dua – this 17th-century Chinese temple features intricately carved woodwork and traditional architecture.
- Kampung Kling Mosque, behind Cheng Hoon Teng Temple – this historic mosque is admired for its Asian-inspired architecture and fountain.
- Sri Poyyatha Vinayaga Moorthy Temple, No: 5 to 11, Jalan Tukang Emas – this colorful Hindu temple was built in 1781 and is the oldest functioning Hindu temple in all of Malaysia.
- Melaka Straits Mosque (Masjid Selat Melaka) – often referred to as the Floating Mosque, the Melaka Straits Mosque is a picturesque religious site that is built over the waters of the Malacca Strait on the southern coast of Malacca Island. The mosque is especially stunning to photograph at night, as it is illuminated in a colored lighting scheme, but a daytime view also guarantees an Instagram-worthy pic.
Check In to Hatten Place Melaka, Step Out to Melaka Straits Mosque
FIND & BOOK A MALACCA HOTEL TODAY
