Melaka is only a two hours drive from KL… Charming and quirky, there are surprisingly many things to do in Melaka for kids. Check it out!
Things to do in Melaka with kids
These are some of the best things to do with kids in Melaka, from sightseeing to kids activities. This time my kids discovered the joys of palm sugar infused cendol and were more than happy to do cendol breaks at anytime of the day.
Jonker Street
The place to be in Melaka! Read a dad’s humorous take on Jonker Street here. Jonker will also lead you straight to some of the historical ruins of Melaka, including St Paul’s Cathedral, A’ Famosa and the Stadhuys.
Jonker Street is absolutely buzzing on weekends with the Jonker night market, one the most popular things to do in Melaka. Best to go early though; we don’t quite enjoy it with the heaving crowds.
Kampung Morten Cultural & Heritage Guided Walk
If you are a history buff, it is worth doing the free walks through some of the historical quarters. Tours last an hour and a half. We felt that our kids were a bit too small for a group tour, so passed on this but friends who have gone enjoyed it. The tours are organised by Sahabat Muzium Melaka and we understand that there are limited numbers, so it is necessary to pre-book. More info here.
River cruise
The river cruise is a languid ride through the city, and especially great for younger kids. It’s a nice way to end the day before dinner with tired legs. The colourful houses of Kampung Morten are just the thing that adds to Melaka’s quirkiness. The cruise starts at Muara Jetty, close to the Maritime Museum.
You can buy tickets at the jetty, or from one of the kiosks nearby. The ride lasts about 40 minutes, please insist on life-jackets – they are not always offered unless you ask.
Trishaw ride
Save those poor little feet a few miles and hire one of the loud and bright trishaws to take you around the main sights of Melaka! You can get off for photos or to have a closer look, just negotiate with your driver.
Masjid Kapitan Keling
This mosque is part of the historical enclave, it’s worth a trek if you are nearby. My kids yawned their way here, though. “Sounds as bad as a museum“, they said. There is also a church and temple nearby.
Upside down house
To be honest, I find upside down houses to be completely pointless, but my children think they are hilarious and love the experience. On the weekend that we went, it looked like many children thought this way too, because it was full of families laughing away. Details here.
More things to do in Melaka for kids
There are loads more things to do in Melaka, if you are staying longer or have covered the main attractions before. We haven’t tried out all the things on the list, but it’s good to have the research handy for the next trip. Please leave a comment if you can recommend an activity or a place to visit in Melaka!
Museums
- The Stadhuys (Dutch for ‘town hall’) is one of the most recognisable landmarks of Melaka. Inside you can find etnographic exhibits about the history of Melaka.
- Maritime Museum is a replica of a Portuguese big ship from the olden days – sure to be a hit amongst young pirates.
- Baba Nyonya Museum offers a self-guided tour for families.
- The Submarine Museum is an actual, decommissioned submarine. It also houses two fighter jets! According to the reviews, the cramped space and wax figurines can be a bit scary for more sensitive kids. More info here.
- Cheng Ho Cultural Museum exhibits the life of Zheng He and the world voyage of his fleets.
- Kite Museum located at the People’s Museum, that houses a few other curious exhibitions. Read reviews here.
Sightseeing with kids in Malacca
- Taming Sari Tower (Menara Taming Sari) offers a panoramic view over the city from a height of 80 metres. The duration of the ride is seven minutes. Check out their website for more available activities. The newest one is Comos Electric Car, that can be rented for RM20 for 15 minutes.
- Melaka Duck Tour kiosk is located at Menara Taming Sari on Bandar Hilir. More info on their website here.
- Panaroma Melaka operates city tours with a double-decker London bus with affordable ticket prices. More info here.
- The Shore is a new high rise building with a viewing deck with a glass floor (read more here). It also houses a toy museum and a 3D exhibition. Full details here.
- Mamee Jonker House is a tiny exhibition dedicated to the snack all kids seem to love, with two hands-on experiments.
- Melaka Alive offers a pirate experience for kids inside a real ship.
- Malacca Botanical Gardens(Taman Botanikal Melaka) located at Lebuh Ayer Keroh. More info here.
- Encore Melaka is a brand new grand show in a purpose-built building. We are yet to try it, but looks like a fab thing to do with kids old enough to sit through a 70-minute show. More here.
Extreme experiences in Melaka
- Skytrex Ayer Keroh is run by the same franchisor as the one in Shah Alam. It’s in Ayer Keroh, so about a half hour drive. On our list for the next time we are there! Details here.
- Indoor go-karting and paintball are now possible at AK Extreme Go Kart and Paintball in the heart of town at Menara Hang Tuah. Don’t worry about the word ‘extreme’. It is run by a very friendly family and the dad really helped both my first time go-karters get the hang of their machines.
Bowling
- Melaka International Bowling Centre(MIBC) is located at Jalan Hang Tuah Jaya, Ayer Keroh, Melaka and has 52 lanes. More info here.
- Ampang Superbowl at Mahkota Parade has 40 lanes. Details here.
- Stars Archery at Mahkota Parade. More info on their website.
Watersports
- Gold Coast Malacca International Resort located at Bukit Kati has a small water theme park.
- Boat Explorer offers various activities like river cruises, island hopping and kayaking near their restaurant, Seafarer. More info here.
- Melaka Wonderland water theme park in Ayer Keroh. Check the website here.
Bike tours
- Melaka Bike Share has many locations to grab a bike, payment through a mobile app. 12 hours rental costs RM10. Website here.
- MelakaOn Bike, more informations on their Website.
Indoor playgrounds in Melaka
- Jumpers Land at the Elements mall is a brand new, huge indoor playground with trampolines and all! Contact details here.
- Kodomo Playground is another indoor playground at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, Jalan Merdeka, Bandar Hilir. Open daily from 10am to 10pm. More info here.
- Melaka Thousand Tales of Adventures promises to be a kid-friendly escape-room type of an adventure. You join Sinbad on a 7D interactive adventure as he sails through the Seven Seas. More info on their Facebook page.
Arts & crafts
- Golden Egg Craft on Jalan Melaka Raya is an art and craft supply store, that also offers workshops and demos. Click here for more info.
- G.M. Choo art gallery on Jalan Tokong has art exhibitions and batik painting classes. Details here.
- Common Waves board game café.
Animals
- Malacca Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary on Lebuh Ayer Keroh is home to bugs and butterflies. More info here.
- Melaka Zoo & Night Safari in Ayer Keroh. Day zoo 9am to 6pm & Night Safari from 8pm to 11pm. Website here.
- Shore Oceanarium in Kampung Dua – check their website here.
Science & technology
- Magic Art 3D Museum at Bayou Square, Bukit Katil. More info here.
- Melaka Planetarium Adventure Science Centre (MPASC) in Ayer Keroh. According to Tripadvisor reviews it is in need of a bit of refurbishment.
Cooking schools
- Nancy’s Kitchen teaches Nyonya cooking. More info here.
- Food Tourism House homestay offers classes in Malaysian Cuisine and dishes from Middle East, check out the site for details here.
Also check out our complete list of things to do in Kuala Lumpur and list of things to do in Penang. If you live in KL, join our Facebook group for more tips from other parents on all aspects of family life in KL!
Where to stay
We stayed at the new Doubletree Hilton Melaka and truly appreciated the peaceful location, the rooftop swimming pool and the kids club. You can read our DoubleTree Melaka review here. We have visited the city a number of times and a list of all our favourite hotels for when visiting Melacca with kids can be found here!
