Malacca: Malaysia’s historical gem

#1 The Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

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This building is typical of the 19th century Baroque-style homes of wealthy Chinese families. Furnished with Chinese rosewood furniture with a mix of Chinese, Victorian and Dutch designs, this museum was the ancestral home of three generations of a Baba Nyonya family.

Admission Fee: RM8 (Adult), RM4 (Children)

#2 Malacca Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary

Photo credits: S.Tan

Lovers of nature should not miss this out. The Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary is reputed to be the largest netted butterfly park and insect garden in the world. The farm houses more than 200 local butterfly species as well as a wide variety of exotic snakes and other creepy crawlies.

Admission fee: RM5 (Adult), RM3 (Children) - Malaysian resident
Admission fee: RM10 (Adult), RM5 (Children) - Non-resident

#3 Jonker Street

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Jonker Street or Jalan Hang Tuah is sprinkled with antique shops selling an interesting array of authentic artifacts some dated as far back as 300 years and can be found amongst a host of interesting collectibles, each with its own history and mystery.

#4 Maritime Museum

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The Maritime Museum is housed in a replica of Flor de la Mar, a Portugese vessel that sank off the coast of Melaka. Inside the museum are model ships, authentic maps, charts and old iron chests that were once used to store precious cargo.

Admission fee: RM3 (Adult), RM1 (Children)

<>#5 Porta de Santiago

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The Portugese admiral, Alfonso d' Albuquerque, built Porta de Santiago or A'Famosa in 1511. However this fortress was badly damaged during the Dutch invasion 1641. Sir Stanford Raffles, a British official, intervened in 1808 and saved what remains of A'Famosa today.

Admission is free.

#6 Melaka River Cruise

Photo credit: Rachel Yap

The 45-minute Melaka River Cruise passes through the downtown area where you can see old warehouses, shop houses, bridges and Kampung Morten, a traditional Malay village.

Fare: RM10 (Adult), RM5 (Children)

#7 Taming Sari Tower

Photo credit: Tien Soon at www.flickr.com

A 360 degrees view of Bandar Hilir and its environs awaits you at 110m high Taming Sari Tower. The name and design of this tower was inspired by the taming sari dagger, the legendary weapon owned by the Malay warrior, Hang Tuah.

Admission fee: RM20 (Adult), RM10 (Children)

#8 The Stadthuys

The Studthuys is the most imposing relic of the Dutch rule in Malacca. It features salmon red walls, heavy wooden doors and wrought-iron hinges. Once the official residence of the Dutch governors and their officers, it now houses the Museum of History and Ethnography.

Admission fee: RM5 (Adult), RM2 (Children)

#9 Trishaw rides

Photo credits: S.Tan

Lean back and enjoy a ride in one of the city's most interesting old-school mode of transportation. Located at The Studthuys, these quirkily decorated trishaws will take you through a discovery venture around Malacca city.

Fare: Rental is based on hourly or distance covered basis.

#10 Pure Bar

It's hard to miss Pure Bar with its bright blue neon sign and music thumping from its speakers. Chock-full on the weekends, the upstairs is a swanky nightclub with live bands performing, whilst the downstairs is a pulsating bar.

Source: MSN Malaysia