Malacca without the crowds: come for historic Malaysian town’s spicy Peranakan cuisine and stay for its rich mix of cultures and architecture
- Malacca in Malaysia, bestowed Unesco World Heritage status in 2008, is a favourite getaway for both Singaporeans and residents of Kuala Lumpur
- Heaving with tourists at the weekend, the town is a delight on weekdays – a melting pot of cultures with delicious food and centuries-old architecture
Halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Malacca was once one of the richest ports on the East-West spice routes.
Today its small historic centre presents a kaleidoscope of 600 years of culture and architecture, courtesy of Malay sultans, Chinese settlers, Indian traders and colonial rulers from Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain.
Unsurprisingly, the Malaysian town, also called Melaka, came to the attention of Unesco, which bestowed World Heritage status on it in 2008, tripling its number of annual visitors to 18 million.
Today, Malacca is inexpensive to visit thanks to a weak Malaysian currency, the ringgit; serves some of the most varied and delicious food anywhere in Southeast Asia; offers rare antiques, offbeat art and fashion in its shops and markets; and possesses heritage buildings that double as wonderful Instagram backdrops.
At times – particularly on weekends – tourists overwhelm the town centre, but the crowds can be avoided.
