Our 2D1N Weekend Melaka Itinerary For The Entire Family
You don’t need to burn your precious leave days for this short getaway.
By Kendra Tan -
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While many Singaporeans head to Johor Bahru for a quick escape, Melaka (or Malacca) holds a special place in my family's heart. It’s like a home away from home for us, partly also because we have family there.
The close proximity to Singapore and, more importantly, the delicious food, makes Melaka an irresistible destination for Singaporeans. From exploring ancient forts to indulging in local delicacies, this charming Malaysian city promises a memorable trip for the entire family. Here's a tried-and-tested 2D1N itinerary to get you started.
Note: The itinerary and timings recommended in this article are based on the writer’s personal experience. Timings and traffic conditions may vary, especially during peak seasons.
DAY 1 (Saturday) — 7am: Depart Singapore for Melaka
Once the sun rises, it’s your cue to leave the house. Depart from Singapore early at 7am at the latest. Not only will you beat the jam at the Causeway, you’ll also have more time to enjoy Melaka!
There are three main ways to get to Melaka from Singapore: driving, taking a bus, or chartering a private bus or minivan.
By car
The most convenient way to get to Malacca, Malaysia from Singapore is by driving. The journey takes around three to four hours, depending on traffic conditions.
By bus
There are various bus companies offering affordable rides from Singapore to Melaka. You can check out RedBus, Bus Online Ticket, and Easybook for bookings in advance. Prices range from $25 to $40 per person per trip.
If you’re on an extreme budget, you can also consider crossing the Causeway via public transport, taking a 15-minute taxi ride to Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal, and getting on a bus to Melaka there.
You can expect to pay only around $5 to $6 for a bus ride from JB to Melaka with this method, and it’s great for impromptu trips as booking in advance is not necessary.
But if you’re travelling with young kids or old folks, it’s best to have a car, pre-book your bus tickets from Singapore in advance, or hire a private charter vehicle.
By chartered bus/minivan
If you don’t drive and don’t want to squeeze in with other travellers at the customs, chartering a private bus or minivan is a great option for groups or families travelling together. Several companies in Singapore offer chartered bus services to Melaka. This option provides more flexibility and can be more comfortable than taking a public bus.
Another perk is that you won’t have to get down at the customs to queue to get your passport physically stamped. This is great for seniors or children in your group who cannot queue for extended periods.
For the purposes of this article, let's assume that you and your family drive yourselves from Singapore to Melaka.
Driving from Singapore to Melaka is a breeze, and it should take about three to four hours without any breaks via the Asian Highway 2 (AH2).
For a more detailed route, you can always check Google Maps.
11am: Brunch/Breakfast in Melaka
Once you reach Melaka, it’s time to grab some food.
First stop: Klebang Coconut Shake, a legendary spot famous for its cafeteria-style lunch and refreshing coconut shakes!
This is my family’s must-visit stop every time we come to Melaka. There’s free parking (albeit in the hot sun), and the place sells many other dishes such as nasi lemak (simple yet so good), fried bee boon, and an assortment of kuihs.
The queue system here to get your food is rather unique — grab a plate, join the line, and pile on whatever food captures your eye from various containers. As you move through the queue, you'll reach the cashier to pay and order your coconut shakes. Then, find a seat and enjoy your meal!
1pm: Muzium Kapal Selam (Submarine Museum)
After lunch, take a short six-minute drive to the Muzium Kapal Selam, also known as the Submarine Museum. This hidden gem, located on reclaimed land in Klebang Besar, is a must-visit for anyone fascinated by military history, particularly submarines and airplanes (though the museum itself focuses on submarines).
What truly sets this museum apart is the chance to explore a real, decommissioned submarine. There are also two decommissioned fighter jets available for viewing.
Parents on Google reviews praised the museum as a "new experience for toddlers" and mentioned how their kids were impressed by the submarine's structure.
There are also clean facilities and air conditioning inside the sub, which add to a comfortable exploration experience. Ticket prices are at RM10 (S$2.86) for adults, RM5 (S$1.43) for kids and senior citizens.
Things to consider: This attraction is not suitable for elderly people and pregnant mothers as you’ll need to climb up the staircase to enter the sub.
3pm: Head to your hotel, check in and freshen up
Source: Hattan Hotel Malacca
After exploring the submarine museum, it’s time to head back into the main Melaka town to check in to your hotel and freshen up. For utmost convenience, you can consider staying near the Jonker Street area, Dataran Pahlawan Shopping Mall/Mahkota Parade, or Melaka Raya.
Here are some affordable hotel recommendations in Melaka that are conveniently situated in the town area:
4pm - 5.30pm: Mamee Jonker House
After checking into your hotel, head to the Mamee Jonker House, conveniently located in the heart of Jonker Street.
Here, you and your family can create your own personalised cup of Mamee instant noodles (RM15, S$4.31), choose your favourite flavours and add toppings of your choice. It's a fun activity for both kids and adults, leaving you with a delicious and unique souvenir of your trip.
Not into designing your own cup noodles? You can go shopping for snacks, biscuits, bags, toys, shirts and all things Mamee-related. Prices start from as low as RM2 (S$0.57).
Having been there myself, I can guarantee that the Mamee Jonker House is a fun experience that you should not miss. There are many cute photo ops in the store too!
After you are done going ham on shopping and DIY workshops, relax at the Mamee Cafe which serves up local favourites and delicious cendol.
Dinner and rest of the night: Jonker Street Night Market
By the time you've finished exploring Mamee Jonker House and and perhaps enjoyed a bite at its cafe, Jonker Street will likely be coming to life!
This is where your strategic daytime visit pays off — you've secured your parking spot and can now fully immerse yourself in the vibrant night market atmosphere.
If you don’t want to fuss yourselves with parking, I’d recommend choosing a hotel within walking distance from Jonker Street instead.
In any case, no trip to Melaka is complete without a visit to the weekend Jonker Street night market, which opens only on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Here, you can find all sorts of street food, souvenirs, clothes, toys and everything you’d expect a Malaysian street market to sell.
My family’s favourite purchases at Jonker Street night market include vintage Peranakan-inspired magnets and traditional snacks such as pineapple tarts and tau sar piah.
Must-eats at Jonker Street Night Market include:
- Gula Melaka Cendol
- Nyonya Assam Laksa
- Satay Celup
- Satay Fish Ball
- Pineapple Tart
- Dim Sum
Now, I don’t have any specific stall recommendations because we like to try out random, different stalls that we chance upon all the time. We always welcome the element of surprise and we do not limit ourselves to the “best-rated” stores or flock to only famous places.
Also, don't forget to check out hole-in-the-wall pubs and street entertainment. Bonus if you happen to chance upon a large stage adorned with Chinese lanterns — there are almost, always random old folks karaoke-ing their hearts out on stage.
DAY 2 (Sunday) — 9am: Check out of the hotel, breakfast at One Dollar Shop
If there’s anything Singaporeans love more than queueing and pumping petrol in JB, it’s cheap and good food.
Wake up in the morning, check out of your hotel and grab breakfast at One Dollar Shop, a 15-minute drive from the Melaka town centre.
This eatery opens at 7am to 2pm daily except on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
From noodles, kuihs and fried food items, you can expect a wide spread of breakfast food. Just like the shop’s name suggests, everything here is RM1 (S$0.29).
10.30am - 1pm: The Stadthuys, A Famosa, Church of Saint Paul
If this is your family’s first time visiting Melaka, consider hitting up all the famous spots for photo ops. You and your kiddos can also learn more about the city's history at these places.
A Famosa
A Famosa means ‘The Famous’ in Portuguese. Here, you can take pictures of the last surviving gate of the Portuguese fort in Melaka.
Church of St. Paul
Source: Holiday Inn Melaka
One of the oldest Catholic churches in Malaysia, St. Paul’s Church stands at the peak of St. Paul’s Hill.
The Stadthuys
Head to The Stadthuys, the famous red Dutch colonial building that once served as the town hall.
Step back in time as you explore its grand halls and learn about Melaka's Dutch heritage through informative exhibits. This is a great spot for history buffs and families alike.
1pm - 2.30pm: Peranakan lunch at Lin Neo Delight
If you did not have Peranakan food, did you really go to Melaka?
Lin Neo Delight, a restaurant serving authentic Peranakan dishes, is located along Taman Kota Laksamana. It is a short three-minute drive from The Stadthuys.
This restaurant, open on Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am to 3pm, is the one stop my family never fails to visit for one last hearty meal before heading back to Singapore. Click here for the full menu.
You can expect to spend around RM20 to RM40 (S$5.75 to S$11.49) per person, which is really affordable for Nyonya food!
After lunch: Head back to Singapore
After a filling meal, it's another four-hour drive back to Singapore. Factoring in some buffer time for potential traffic, you can expect to reach the customs before 7pm and avoid the evening rush.