Malacca

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Just a few hours drive and an easy day-trip from Singapore lies the birthplace of the region – Malacca.

Sitting about three hours drive up the western coast of Malaysia is one of South East Asia’s most historical cities – Malacca. In Singapore you just need to mention the name to evoke a flurry of superlatives describing the food.

Getting to Malacca
Of course you can take guided tours from Singapore to Malacca, but we suggest you rent a car and drive yourself for a bit of adventure.

Make sure before you go that your rental car company has included the clause in your contract that allows you to leave Singapore. Getting out will then be no problem – just head for the 2nd Link at Tuas and follow the signs on the expressway to Malacca.

Also make sure you have changed enough Singaporean money into Malaysian Ringgit as you’ll have to pass through a few toll booths on the Malaysian side before you find a money changer. Malaysia is very cheap and affordable so don’t stress too much about how much you need.

One last hint as well – make sure your fuel tank is full when you leave Singapore as there are hefty fines aimed at stopping Singaporeans taking advantage of lower Malaysian fuel prices.

The drive to Malacca should take you about three to four hours and while there are plenty of places to stop for a bite on the way, you should probably wait until you arrive so you can sample the Malaccan cuisine and finally find out what all those Singaporeans are raving about.

Malacca is Malaysia’s oldest town and the capital of the state of the same name. It also has the distinction of being the staging point of all the major phases of Malaysia’s history – the establishment of the Malay Sultanate in 1396, the Portuguese, Dutch and English colonial eras, the Japanese occupation during the Second World War and finally independence in 1957.

Today the old part of town still retains its colourful history with buildings of Malay, Chinese and European influences dominating. From The Stadhuys building which was the Dutch headquarters during their period of colonisation, to the St Pauls Chapel on top of the hill looking over the township, to the elegance of the Malay Sultanate Palace, you are sure to get a great insight into the history and culture of the Malay peninsular.

Malacca's best sights
The A Famosa is the most photographed subject next to the Stadhuys. It is indeed the hallmark of Malacca. It was built by the Portugese as a fortress in the year 1511. During the Dutch invasion, it suffered several structural damages. Sir Stamford Raffles was the one who saved the fortress in 1808.

The Stadhuys edifice is a fine example of Dutch architecture as it was built in 1650 as the official residence of Dutch Governors and their officers. It now houses the Historic Museum and Ethnography Museum.

St. Paul's Church was built by a Portuguese Captain, by the name of Duarte Coelho. The Dutch turned it into a burial ground for their nobel dead and renamed it “St. Paul's Church” from the Portuguese’s “Our Lady Of The Hill”.

Jonker Street is an antique collector's and bargain hunter's definite haven. Among a host of interesting collectibles, authentic artifacts and relics, some dating as far back as 300 years can be found, each with its own history and mystery.

Malacca's Sultanate Palace is a replica and was built based on the description and reference to the palace in “Sejarah Melayu” (the Malay Annals). Inside is The Cultural Museum of Malacca. The Palace is the perfect place to learn about Malay history.

For a detailed look at the colourful past of the seas around Malacca, try the Maritime Museum. Housed in a replica Portuguese merchant ship the museum gives an insight into the Malaccan heritage that caused it to become such an influential post in Malysian history.

Renting your car:

To rent a car, call Avis on +65 6737 1668 at the Singapore downtown location, or +65 6542 8855 at the airport. Make sure you mention you are wanting to go to Malaysia.

Alternitively, book online by clicking the "renting your car" link above.