Swiss-Garden Hotel Melaka

Melaka River tour should be one of the first things to do in Melaka, so you can get an overview of the area and see which restaurant suits you best. This state has done a great job making a nice river walk a la San Antonio. It’s quiet, clean and pleasant to stroll. There is lots of good graffiti art on the buildings which adds to the atmosphere. This is a real nice touch in hectic Southeast Asia, where cramming as much stuff into tiny places seems to be the norm.

An abbreviated history of the fort would reveal that it was built by the Portuguese, who arrived here in 1511, defeated the local Sultanate and laid their claim to the area by building the A Famosa Fort. The area and fort fell under Dutch control around 1641 that then passed it to the British in the early 19th century to prevent it from eventually falling under the control of the French. The British ordered the fort to be destroyed in 1806, which it was with the exception of the small front gate, spared only after intervention from the founder of Singapore, Sir Samford Raffles. This is what remains of the old A Famosa Fort you can visit and see today. Walking in will take you back in time. The place has got few ruins well preserved and some stone carvings which are readable; the canons add a nice feudal touch. The place is peaceful, away from the Malacca’s noise.

For a modern shopping experience in the middle of the historical city Malacca, head to Dataran Pahlawan in Banda Hilir. Surrounded by historical sites such as A’Famosa and St. Paul’s Hill, the nine-storey mall is chock-full of name-brand stores, entertainment centres, food and beverages outlets and souvenir shops, catering to visitors of all ages. Shopping malls aren’t top of the list in this city that is full of heritage, but if you’re looking for a one-stop place to check out the latest fashion, catch a movie, and grab a bite, this is the place to be. Parking spots are aplenty if you’re driving (with parking rates of RM2 for the first two hours) , but the mall is also within a stroll of Malacca’s most famous museums and landmarks, so if you’re planning a day out in Malacca, definitely slot Dataran Pahlawan in your itinerary for a relieving pit stop.

The Menara Taming Sari gives you a bird’s eye view of Melaka. The binoculars are provided to rent. The visitors queuing orderly, seated in waiting chairs along the waiting area, The tower is going up and down using a kind of giant hydraulic machine, and the viewing rooms rotates 360°, making a deep impressions. The circular capsule keeps rotating and thus you will be able to see quite a few of the tourist attractions and spots from this. If the weather is exceptionally clear and fine the Sumatera Island can be seen from the top of this attraction. If not, you can see the nearby areas as well as the reclaimed waterfront area. Take a ride at night for a more beautiful view of the Malacca city with the colorful lightings. Although the ride is not that long, it can give visitors an idea of what can be done in Malacca.

Mahkota Parade is one of Malacca’s first shopping malls, housing almost 200 stores, including international brands, food-and-beverage outlets and entertainment centres. Opened in 1994, the four-storey shopping mall was recently refurbished to embrace a modern, sleeker look, and with new exciting tenants onboard, it is set to take the shopping scene in Malacca by storm. With over 1,000 parking spaces, Mahkota Parade is Malacca’s favourite hangout spot, with locals visiting in large numbers, especially at weekends and on public holidays for casual shopping and leisure activities. The iconic shopping mall also sits right in the middle of the city centre, surrounded by Malacca’s most famous landmarks, such as A’Famosa, St. Paul’s Hill and across from its biggest competitor, Dataran Pahlawan shopping mall.

The Malacca Sultanate Palace is a replica and was interestingly constructed without the use of a single nail. It appropriately holds galleries of the pre-colonial rule, a time when this was a very important seat of power for the entire Malaysian peninsula and surrounding area. The place has seven gallery rooms revealing what a Sultanate chamber meeting might have been like. There are displays of Malay dress, arts and crafts as well. The building dates from the beginning of the 20th century, but gives a nice view of the life and culture in the former sultanate and the history of Melaka. Signs are both Malay and English. Good for those with young kids too. Visits here are very affordable and include a garden area called “The Forbidden Garden”, depicting what is believed to have been present during this time period. Since Melaka is often hot and humid, taking a walk in the museum would provide a reprieve from the heat.

The SHORE Shopping Gallery's location is right on the river cruise / monorial route and opposite the Eye of Melaka, just a short drive away from the heart of Melaka's historical sites, the well-known Jonker Street, and Chinatown where tourists throng. The stylish lifestyle-tourism focused shopping mall is a destination in the heart of Melaka City, home to over 100 splendid stores with an area size of 300,000 sq ft.

Built in 1645 and taking pride in being an oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia, this temple is a unique confluence of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. The restoration is done with a lot of craftsmanship. On entering the temple grounds, one drifts into an unexplainable calm. As the smoke from incense and sandalwood lull your being, you are brought back to your senses by the tingle in your smarting eyes. The wall panel, ceiling décor, inimitable shrines urns, temple utensils and artifacts – drugs your senses. The view from the entrance arch is panoramic. You swing your eyes from complete left to right to take in the temple in full. The single storey structure is not an overpowering sight, but is a humbling one. There are joss sticks, joss papers on sale for one to make offerings in prayer. The history behind this modest temple is real, back to the original Chinese settlement in Melaka in the 1500s, and it is well maintained at considerable expense.