Malacca Old Town

Malacca (Melaka) was one of Asia’s great trading ports, ruled in turn by a Malay sultanate, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British, and its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At its heart is Dutch Square, where the red-painted Christ Church and the Stadthuys look onto a small fountain and clock tower.

From there you can climb St Paul’s Hill past the ruined gate of the Portuguese fort, A Famosa, take a river cruise past murals and old warehouses, and wander Jonker Street with its antique shops, Peranakan shophouses and, on weekend evenings, a lively night market.

Malacca is about two hours’ drive from Kuala Lumpur, so it works as a long day trip or an overnight stop on the way to Singapore. Trishaws decorated with flowers and music are a fun way for families to get around.