Melaka in 2 Days: Dutch Core and Jonker Street

StadthuysChrist Church

The Stadthuys was completed in 1650 and served as the Dutch governors’ residence and office until British control began in 1824. Christ Church was completed in 1753, and its red exterior dates to 1911. The Stadthuys houses the History and Ethnography Museum, whose displays cover Portuguese and Dutch artefacts, Peranakan domestic life and Malay heritage. The museum adds context to the landmarks around the square.

The Portuguese built a fortress around St. Paul’s Hill, completed in 1548, and also built a church on the hilltop. The Dutch later made the church Protestant and named it St. Paul’s Church. The church ruins are identified with the remains of the Portuguese-built Chapel of Our Lady of the Hill. Look closely at the hilltop remains to see the church site that gave the hill its name.

Porta de Santiago was a gate of the Portuguese fortress A Famosa and is the only standing physical remnant of Melaka’s fort. British-directed dismantling of the fort began in 1795. This surviving gate gives you a close-up look at one of the fort’s remaining physical features. Its position below St Paul's Hill makes a compact contrast with the church ruins.

The museum presents a palace design based on the Malay Annals’ account of Sultan Mansur Shah’s era. Its exhibits include palace models, traditional clothing, ornaments, weapons and pottery. The palace-inspired setting gives the collection a distinct frame. Start with the scale model, then compare the garments, decorative pieces, weapons and pottery on display; seeing the objects together gives you a broad look at the museum’s exhibits.

Jonker Street, also known as Jalan Hang Jebat, lies in the older section of Melaka City. Come for the mix of browsing and eating: Jonker Walk has art galleries, antique shops and food outlets, with souvenir shops adding another browse. On Friday and Saturday nights, the street also hosts a market, making it a useful evening stop for shopping and dinner.

The Chan family acquired the three terrace lots in 1861, and four generations lived in the house before it opened as a museum in March 1985. Look closely at Thia Besar, where tall Chinese silk-embroidered panels sit alongside wood and marble furnishings. Elsewhere, compare Dutch, Portuguese, Malay and colonial design influences, lavish blackwood furniture and rooms with Peranakan details.

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Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch

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Founded in the 1600s by Chinese Kapitan Tay Kie Ki, Cheng Hoon Teng served as a place of worship and an administrative centre and court for the Kapitans. Kapitan Chan Ki Lock added two side halls in 1704. Look for the main hall honouring Kuan Yin, then note the prayer halls associated with Taoist, Confucian and Buddhist traditions. These details make the temple worth a careful visit.

Jalan Tukang Emas, Jalan Tukang Besi and Jalan Tokong are collectively known as Melaka’s Streets of Harmony. A mosque and Hindu, Chinese and Christian places of worship stand close together in this area. Make a respectful pause near Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple, both among the religious sites visitors can see in Melaka.

Kampung Morten is a traditional Malay village beside the Melaka River. It was named for British Land Commissioner Frederick Joseph Morten, who helped acquire its land in 1938, and became a heritage village in 1989. Take a look at Villa Sentosa, the village’s oldest house and a living museum. Its collection includes Ming-era ceramics and an old Quran, offering a closer focus than the village walk alone.

Melaka River Cruise is a boat service officially launched on 11 November 2005. The launch marked the beginning of the cruise service in Melaka. Take the boat for a different view of Melaka’s landmarks from the river. The route passes the Stadthuys, Kampung Morten, river murals and the Church of St. Francis Xavier; look out for Kampung Jawa Bridge, which dates to 1714.