Background
Melaka and George Town developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchange between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. UNESCO says their multicultural heritage is without parallel in East and Southeast Asia: Melaka's government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications show the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods, while George Town's shophouses represent the British era from the end of the 18th century.
George Town was founded in 1786 by Francis Light and became part of the Straits Settlements with Malacca and Singapore. Both towns keep the religious buildings, ethnic quarters, languages and festivals of their Malay, Chinese and Indian communities.
- 15th c.The Malay sultanate rules from Melaka
- 16th c.The Portuguese take Melaka, followed by the Dutch
- 1786Francis Light founds George Town on Penang
- 1957George Town becomes the first city of independent Malaya
- 2008Inscribed as World Heritage
Find Your Way Around
The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them
- 1Dutch Square, MelakaThe red Stadthuys and Christ Church.
- 2St Paul's Hill and A FamosaThe ruined church on the hill and the Portuguese gate.
- 3Jonker and Heeren StreetsPeranakan shophouses and the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum.
- 4Melaka RiverMurals and kampung houses from the cruise boat.
- 5Armenian Street, George TownCrafts shops, temples and Ernest Zacharevic's street art.
- 6Khoo KongsiThe Chinese clan house in the heart of George Town.
Know Before You Go
From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides
A Day in Old Melaka
From the GoGo Malacca guide · Open the Malacca Guide ›
- 09:00Stadthuys and Christ Church75 minDutch Square.
- 10:30St Paul's Church and A Famosa75 minThe hill and the gate.
- 14:00Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum75 minA Peranakan townhouse.
- 15:30Cheng Hoon Teng Temple1 hrMalaysia's oldest Chinese temple.
- 17:00Melaka River Cruise1 hrMurals from the water.
- 19:00Jonker Walk Night Market90 minSatay and cendol at the weekend market.
Best Time to Visit
Best months: Feb. Rainy season Mar–Jan.
Typical highs
Climate: NASA POWER
Pair It With
Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance
