1. Melaka is only 2 to 2.5 hours away from Kuala Lumpur so you can visit as a day trip or a longer weekend trip.

The distance between Melaka and KL is 135 kilometers (84 miles). It’s not too far of a distance to escape KL’s large city atmosphere and go to a smaller town and experience Melaka for a day. 

As you know, we live in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, so we did a weekend trip to Melaka. We flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur and then took the bus to Melaka. 

Although we had two nights, it was enough for us to get a taste of Melaka City and to have fun. 

2. It’s easy to get to Melaka by bus. 

Unfortunately, Melaka City does not have a train station or an airport, yet it’s super convenient and affordable to get there by bus. 

We took the bus from Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA 2) to Melaka Sentral Bus Station. It was straightforward as we bought the bus tickets after we arrived at KL Airport. 

You can also get to Melaka Sentral from other bus stops in Kuala Lumpur such as KL Sentral. 

TIP: We recommend checking out the Red Bus Malaysia site for pricing and bus schedules. We paid around $7.40 USD per way. 

What about the reserve direction? You can get from Melaka Sentral to the KL Airport, Kuala Lumpur, or any other destination in Malaysia by bus easily. 

3. Melaka City is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Melaka applied with Penang’s Georgetown as historical cities of the Straits of Malacca (former spelling of Melaka) for the prestigious UNESCO recognition. 

They were awarded as a World Heritage Site in 2011. Learn more here. 

Melaka had influences from Dutch and Portuguese, while Penang had British influences. 

When visiting both cities, you still see the preserved or ancient ruins of architecture, main squares, government buildings, and attractions with these European influences. 

In Melaka, there is a huge UNESCO signage with street art when entering the Dutch Square area (where the buildings are a red brick color). 

4. The main Melaka UNESCO area is small and very walkable.

As you know, we love walking around and exploring cities by foot and Melaka’s UNESCO area is doable to do by foot. 

While cars and some motorbikes pass through the narrow streets, it’s best to walk around and explore the local attractions. Many attractions are at Dutch Square, Jonker Street Night Market, and within a 10 to 15 minute walking radius. 

If you decide to explore the outer UNESCO area, you can still walk or hire a Grab driver (ride-hailing car). 

But beware of crossing the street as there may not be a designated crosswalk. We noticed that there aren’t any crosswalks at many of the intersections. So, you would need to watch for vehicles and cross across the street when cars are going parallel to the crosswalk.

5. Melaka’s trishaws are incredibly fun to see and ride!

If the weather is too hot and humid and you don’t want to walk to the attractions, consider taking one of the colorful and decorated-themed trishaws, such as Pikachu, Spiderman, Hello Kitty, Doremon, Princess, and other characters. 

The trishaws hang out in the Dutch Square so you can easily hire one at any time of the day. The drivers pedal from Dutch Square to A Formosa Fort area. 

At night, the trishaws are vibrant and super fun as they have the brightest string of lights hanging inside and outside. They also blast local music from their stereo during the pedaling session. 

It’s quite a sight to see them glowing brightly in the Dutch Square at nighttime. 

You can ride these fun trishaws at night

Note: If you take a photo with the trishaw, please consider taking the trishaw as payment. We saw a woman getting yelled at by one of the trishaw owners. Or take the photo from afar.

6. It’s easy to use the Grab app for cheap transportation around town.

Grab is one of the most popular travel apps to use for ride-hailing when you’re in Southeast Asia and Malaysia.

The app is similar to the Uber interface, so you can input your starting and ending location, see the pricing depending on the vehicle, and pay for the ride via credit card. Cash is available as payment but you’ll need exact change. 

The rides are very affordable, especially if the distance is less than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) one-way. The ride can be $2.00 to $4.00 USD. 

Travel Tips Before Starting this Itinerary

• The itinerary starts at 8:00am and assumes that you’ve already traveled to Ipoh the day before and have stayed overnight either in Ipoh Old Town or New Town. 

• You can find accommodation options on Booking.com or Agoda. Depending on your schedule, you can depart Ipoh in the evening or stay another night. 

• Many attractions are free to visit or have a low-cost admission fee. We’ll note the places with an admission fee, otherwise, they’re free! So, there are many budget-friendly activities to do here. 

• If you decide to travel to Ipoh from Penang or Kuala Lumpur as a day trip, then you’ll need to cut back at least 1-2 attractions. Unfortunately, there won’t be enough time to visit all the attractions due to the long travel time from public transportation (ie: bus or train).  

• To travel around Ipoh city, use a ride-hailing app such as Grab. It’s a popular app to use in Southeast Asia. Grab has the same interface as other ride-hailing apps such as Uber. The cost is very affordable from $1-$3 USD per ride within the main Ipoh area and payable with a credit card or exact cash. 

• Meals are not slotted into the itinerary as everyone has a different eating schedule. We either skip breakfast and eat lunch or eat a small breakfast and then have lunch at an off-hour time. Check out our Ipoh restaurant guide on places to eat. We highly recommend trying the squatty bean sprouts and tau fu fa (soft tofu dessert).  

• We recommend reading additional Ipoh travel tips in our blog post here. 

Map

Click on the map to see a larger view of the places to visit in Ipoh in a day. Credit: Map data: Google

What to Do in Ipoh in One Day

Start the Day at Perak Cave.

We’re starting the day visiting Perak Cave, one of Ipoh’s oldest cave temples. The temple opens at 8:00am so you’ll experience fewer crowds. We suggest that you stay at least 1 hour here. 

Built in 1926, this Buddhist temple cave is located 120 meters (394 feet) on a limestone hill. This natural cave has large murals of Buddhas and deities. The center of the cave has a 13-meter (42.6 feet) golden Buddha Statue which you can pray to. 

Perak Cave is a beautiful place to visit during your 1 day in Ipoh

If you have the energy, Perak Cave has a mini hike to the top of the cave. Most of the path is made up of stairs. But the stairs have uneven sizes or are super narrow so you may need to lunge to climb up or turn your foot sideways to step down or up. It’s not recommended for those who have knee issues. 

Just follow the arrow to the top of the cave and you’ll be there in 15 to 20 minutes!  Feel free to take breaks along the way as Ipoh’s weather is super humid. Check out our tips on hiking in hot weather here. 

The top of the cave has an unobstructed 360-degree view of the area. You’ll see the rooftops of houses, tall mountains, and factories. You can also take another rest break here as there are benches.

You’re at the top of the Perak Cave Temple!

Address: Jln. Kuala Kangsar, Kawasan Perindustrian Tasek, 31400 Ipoh

See a Traditional Malay Village at Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village.

Our next stop is visiting Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village to see what life was like in a traditional Malaysian village. 

This place has replicas of traditional houses on stilts overlooking the manmade lake and gorgeous views of the tall limestone caves. These houses have relics of antiques such as old vinyl records, furniture, posters, and more. It’s fun to browse through. 

We suggest staying for 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on what you plan to do afterward (such as going on the Han Chin Pet Soo tour.) 

With limited time, you can walk around the lake and take tons of photos with murals. The photos of the lake and the limestone mountains are absolutely gorgeous. 

Qing Xin Ling Leisure and Cultural Village is worth a quick visit.

You may or may not have time to go through the entrance with the colorful umbrellas to see mini replicas of Ipoh’s famous landmarks and traditional storefronts at “Memory Lane.”

Address: 22A, Persiaran Pinggir Rapat 5a, Taman Saikat, 31350 Ipoh

Admission: 12 RMB ($1.70 USD) for Malaysian citizens, 20 RMB ($2.80) for tourists, Free for kids 6 years and under. Cash only. 

Take a Tour at Ipoh World Han Chin Pet Soo (Hakka Museum).

We’re headed back to Ipoh Old Town to go on a tour at Han Chin Pet Soo, a former gentlemen’s club for wealthy tin mining owners. 

This 1-hour guided tour goes through the history of Ipoh and how the city boomed with the tin mining industry. The tour also discusses the migration of the Hakka Chinese people from China to Malaysia and their hard, laborious work in the tin mining business. 

There are 3 time slots for the tour – 11:00am, 2:00pm,  and 3:30pm. You must reserve a spot online. We suggest the 11:00am time slot as you can still visit other attractions afterward. 

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of the tour. Once the tour starts, the front door will be locked and late arrivals cannot enter. 

Note: Stair climbing is required as it’s an old historic building and there isn’t an elevator. 

This place is free to visit, but donations are requested to continue the building’s operations. The suggested amount is 10 MYR ($2) for adults and 5 MYR ($1) for children. 

TIP: Once the tour is over, visit the neighboring Ho Yan Hor Museum to make a walk-in reservation.

Address: 3, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh

Take a Coffee Break at Old Town White Coffee. 

Ipoh is synonymous with white coffee. This city is the creator of white coffee which is coffee made with beans roasted in margarine and then served with condensed milk. You can have it iced or hot. 

Old Town White Coffee is a popular and highly recommended coffee shop to order white coffee. You can sit down in the air-conditioned restaurant and order food and drinks. 

The iced white coffee is worth the hype and it’s affordable at $2. Plus, you can upsize to a large so you can get more coffee. It’s a win-win situation! 

The iced coffee at Old Town White Coffee is a must try

We suggest staying for 30 minutes to 1 hour, so you can enjoy the air conditioning and cool off from the humidity and heat. 

For those interested in street art, there is one of the “Old Uncle Drinking Coffee” on the side of the building. When exiting the cafe, turn left and then another left around the building to see the large mural. 

TIP: If you’re looking for instant coffee as a souvenir, you can stop by a grocery store anywhere in Malaysia to pick up a bag of Old Town White Coffee. My mother-in-law bought a Penang White Coffee brand and one of the locals we met in Penang said to get the Old Town White Coffee brand instead. The locals know the good stuff!

Address: 3, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, 30000 Ipoh

Visit the Ho Yan Hor Museum. 

This is an optional place to visit as getting a walk-in reservation may challenging, especially on a weekend. 

As noted earlier, we requested a reservation slot after visiting the Han Chin Pet Soo Museum and received one of the last spots of the day at 3:30pm. You’ll need between 30 minutes to 1 hour here. 

This museum focuses on Dr. Ho Kai Cheong, a herbalist and creator of Ho Yan Hor herbal tea brand. This two-story museum has photos and history about his life and how he marketed herbal tea. It’s a self-guided tour.

Hor Yan Hor brand still operates in Ipoh today! 

At the end of the tour, there is a free tasting of the herbal teas. We tried the tea bag brewed original herbal tea, night tea, and gold herbal tea, and canned herbal tea and tea with sour plum. The tea bags and canned teas do not have added sugar. They’re delicious, and you can buy them as souvenirs. There is no pressure to buy anything. 

Address: 1, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh

Wander through Concubine Lane and Go Shopping.

Since it’s late afternoon, spend some time browsing through the narrow side streets. You’ll need at least 15 to 30 minutes in the area. 

Concubine Lane (Panglima Lane) is very busy with souvenir shops and places selling snacks. Grab a cotton candy or sugar syrup covered fruit on a stick. 

Near Concubine Lane is Kong Heng Artisan Market where you can go shopping at boutique shops or grab something to eat. The market area is made of bricks so it has some picturesque spots to take photos. 

Awe at the Street Art on Mural’s Art Lane. 

If you have the time and energy, head to Mural’s Art Lane in New Town to see beautiful street art. Many of the artwork is created by Eric Lai, a local artist. Check out our Ipoh street art guide for details. 

We recommend spending at least 15 minutes to appreciate the murals and taking photos.     

You can easily walk there from the Concubine Lane area in 15 minutes.

Here is a dragon street art to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dragon in 2024.

At the end of the day, either return to your accommodation or return to your original destination (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or another destination). 

How to Get to Ipoh

If visiting Ipoh from Kuala Lumpur or Penang, you can take either the bus or train. 

From Kuala Lumpur

There are buses from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA and KLIA Terminal 2), KL Sentral, or TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan). The ending location is at Ipoh Bus Station (Meru Raya or Ipoh Amanjaya). Expect to take 3 to 3.5 hours one-way. Check out Red Bus Website to see the bus schedule and pricing. 

Trains depart from KL Sentral to Ipoh as well. It’ll take at least 2 hours and 40 minutes. We wrote a post about our train experience from KL Sentral to Ipoh here. 

From Penang

The buses from Penang depart from a few bus stations – Penang Komtar/Prangin Mall, Sungai Nibong, and Penang Sentral (Butterworth on Penang mainland). Expect to take 2.5 hours one-way to arrive in Ipoh. You can use the same Red Bus Website as mentioned above for the schedule. 

As with the train, take it from Penang Sentral at Butterworth (Penang mainland) to Ipoh Station. If you’re at Penang’s GeorgeTown, then take the ferry from GeorgeTown to Penang Sentral and then walk to the connected train station platform. 

We took the ferry and train combo in reverse route from Ipoh to Penang Georgetown, but you can read our experience. 

Final Thoughts

This 1 day Ipoh itinerary covers the best attractions to visit during your limited time and where to go.

We know it’s a short getaway trip, so this itinerary gives you a taste of the city. 

We hope you consider returning for a longer trip such as 3 days and enjoy a more peaceful and quieter side of Malaysia. 

Map of the Melaka Street Art Locations

Click on the map to see the detailed locations of the street art spots in Melaka UNESCO area. Credit: Map data: Google

Melaka World Heritage City Mural

When entering the UNESCO World Heritage area, you can’t miss the large white sign of “Welcome to Melaka World Heritage City – Melaka and George Town Historic cities of the Straits of Malacca (Malaysia) being inscribed on 7 July 2008 Quebec, Canada by UNESCO” sign on the red brick-colored wall. 

Next to the sign are paintings of three Malaysian people – a woman wearing a traditional red outfit and holding an umbrella, a man wearing a light blue and yellow traditional outfit, and another woman wearing a beautiful white dress with jewelry. 

Melaka World Heritage City artwork is a fantastic starting point to your own Melaka street art tour

It’s one of the top photo spots for group tours and visitors as it’s very accessible and near the main attractions. 

Location: Banda Hilir, 75200 Melaka (Across from Bastion Victoria landmark of old ruins)

Melaka 3D Street Art艺术街 / My Kiehl’s Heritage Art

The most famous wall art location is the 3D Street Art located near the Jonker Street Night Market and along the Melaka River. 

The entire wall is covered with colorful geometric shapes and flowers. It’s a fun spot and will brighten up your mood. 

There are a few doorways with steps so you can take photos. The most Instagram-worthy spot is the Kiehl’s doorway (also called My Kiehl’s Heritage). The skincare company collaborated with the artist, Fritilldea, to create this artwork. 

This Kiehl’s doorway is a popular spot to take photos of the vibrant murals

We visited this place twice as our first visit had crowds of people taking photos. On our second visit, we met a local artist, Francis Goh. He was super chatty with us and shared news articles about his work. He sells his artwork at the Sunday flea market. As a thank you for chatting with him, he gave us a gift of one of his watercolored paintings. What a nice gesture! 

Location: Jalan Tukang Besi (next to the Melaka River), 75200 Melaka

The Orangutan House

Across the street from the 3D Street Art/My Kiehl’s Heritage is The Orangutan House. It’s a large orangutan covering the side of the wall. The artwork is a bit faded so hopefully, it gets restored in the future. 

The Orangutan House is easy to find as it’s across the street of the Melaka 3D Art

The Orangutan House was established in 1993 and is an art studio for the artist, Charles Cham. You can stop by to buy oil paintings, silkscreen prints, and more. 

We didn’t have a chance to visit the store, but you can read about Charles Cham’s work on Facebook or Instagram. 

Location: 59, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka

Along the Melaka River

One of the coolest parts about Melaka is walking along the calm river. There is a walkway where you stop and see the river cruise boats pass by, eat at one one of the riverfront restaurants and cafes, and just enjoy the stroll. 

Along the way, you’ll see some cool artwork on the buildings. Here is one that I took a photo of:

If you don’t want to walk, you can take one of the river cruises and see the artwork from the river. 

Location: Along Melaka River

Melaka Street Art – The Well

We saw this pin on Google Maps and had to visit this very quiet side street. You’ll pass by a small breakfast/cafe and then you see an array of artwork. 

Many of the murals depict local Malaysian life such as children playing and pulling each other on dried leaves, a group of men enjoying a cup of coffee, a man fixing a motorbike, and much more. 

Take some time to thoroughly walk through the area and check out each of the artwork. 

Location: 1938, Jalan Kampung Kuli, 75200 Melaka

Map of Where to Eat in Melaka

Click on the map to see the exact locations of the food places we’re recommending. Credit: Map data: Google

The Bus Route from KLIA 2 to Melaka

First Stop: KLIA 2 (Terminal 2), Kuala Lumpur Airport 

Second Stop: KLIA (Terminal 1), Kuala Lumpur Airport

Third Stop: Melaka Sentral, Melaka 

How many hours does it take? It takes about 2.5 hours one way from the KL airport to Melaka.

The Easy Process to Buy Bus Tickets at KL Airport

1. After Immigration and Customs, head to the lower level of the terminal of KLIA or KLIA 2. Follow the signs to the Bus Terminal. 

2. Buy your tickets either at the electronic kiosk or in person. 

Note: It’s not necessary to buy tickets ahead of time, but you can if you’re worried about bookings during the peak travel season or holidays. You can check departure times on RedBus Malaysia or BusOnlineTicket. 

Unfortunately, the electronic kiosk is only available at KLIA 2, not at KLIA Terminal. But KLIA has an in person counter so you can buy tickets. 

If using the kiosk at KLIA 2, input your ending location, which will be Melaka Sentral, and choose your time of departure, number of tickets, and preferred seat (s). 

Here is a bus schedule from KLIA 2 to Melaka Station Here is the next screen of the kiosk.

Credit cards are accepted as payment for the kiosk and in-person. We saw a sign at KLIA 2 Bus Terminal that as of April 2024, payments are done through credit cards only. So, if you don’t have cash on hand, then you don’t need to worry.

The cost is between 25 to 35 MYR ($5.30 to $7.40 USD) for the bus ticket, depending on the time of departure and bus company. We used the Starmart Express Bus. 

3. Scan the QR code on your ticket to enter the Waiting Area (for KLIA 2). 

There are two waiting areas – one to the left side of the ticket booth and one to the right side of the ticket booth. 

The waiting area on the left side requires you to scan your QR code on the ticket to enter. This side is the only way to enter the Bus Terminal area. 

KLIA Terminal 2 Bus Waiting Area

TIP: We recommend that you use the toilet before entering the Waiting Area as the QR code has a one-time entry. There is a person near the Waiting Area entrance so you can ask him/her if they have an entry card in case the QR code doesn’t work. Also, the Airport to Melaka route does not have a bathroom break. 

4. Wait for your bus to arrive and head to the appropriate pillar. 

The ticket will have the boarding time and the pillar number to wait. 

Do not lose your bus ticket!

5. Show the ticket to the bus driver or one of the workers for the bus company and then board the bus. 

If you have large luggage, you can store it in the bus undercarriage. You won’t be able to access your stuff until reaching Melaka Sentral.

6. Enjoy the ride to Melaka Sentral!

Our original time to depart was at 12:45pm with Starmart Express Bus company, but it was canceled due to low turnout.

So we were placed on the next bus at 1:45pm. It was fine with us as we grabbed a quick lunch at Oriental Kopi in the KLIA 2 mall beforehand. 

Our Starmart Express Bus ended up as a double-decker bus. Even though we had seats chosen for 12:45pm, the 1:45pm didn’t follow any seat arrangements. So, we could choose any open seats on the lower or upper level. 

We just departed from KLIA 2 and heading to KLIA terminal

The seats were comfortable, just like what we experienced when we went from KL Airport to Ipoh. The AC was on full blast, so it got too chilly at portions of the ride. 

Enjoy the leg room on the bus!

The bus didn’t have any free WiFi, so it was a good amount of time to just relax and nap.  

After our pick up at KLIA 2, we went straight to KLIA Terminal, and then to Melaka Sentral. It took over 2.5 hours to arrive at Melaka. 

7. Hire a Grab car to go to the Melaka UNESCO area. 

Once you’ve arrived at Melaka Sentral, you’ll need to do one more transportation transfer to reach the Melaka UNESCO area. 

Hire a Grab car via the Grab app, one of the top travel apps to use in Malaysia. You can have the car drive you off at your accommodation or somewhere near the UNESCO area. 

We paid 15 MYR ($3.20 USD) from Melaka Sentral to our hotel, Ibis Melaka. It was a 15-minute car ride. The pick-up in front of the Melaka Station was super easy and drop-off was also smooth. 

Now, enjoy your time in Melaka! We recommend checking out the delicious food options and street art.

Final Thoughts

If you’re debating whether or not to take the bus, we highly suggest that you try it. 

It’s an economical transportation option that many locals use to travel around Malaysia. The bus ride cost is approximately $5.30 to $7.40 USD per person per way, so it’s a lot more affordable than hiring a taxi or a private driver. 

If you have any questions about riding the bus or traveling in Melaka, ask a question in the Comment section below.

For those who want to know about the bus from Melaka Sentral to the airport, we have a post on that topic. Read more about the Melaka to KL Airport bus route here.

Like this post? Save it to your Malaysia Travel Board on Pinterest.

Things to Consider Before Taking the Bus from Melaka Sentral Station to KLIA

What time is your flight at KLIA or KLIA2? 

Once you have this information, you can work backward on what time you’ll need to leave Melaka. 

You’ll need at least 2.5 hours one-way to get from Melaka to KLIA without traffic. And then you’ll need to be at the airport at least 2-3 hours ahead of time of your flight for International Departures. So, you’ll need at least 5.5+ hours of travel and airport waiting time before your flight. 

Note: Since we encountered rain on our journey, it took us almost 3.5 hours one way to get from Melaka to KLIA 2. We still had enough time to arrive at the airport, check-in for our flight, and hang out at the Travel Club Lounge. 

Do you have a lot of luggage? 

You can store large luggage in the lower bus carriage area. Many bus companies allow one large piece of luggage per person. So, if you have multiple luggage, then you may consider hiring a taxi or a private car. 

How large is your group? 

If you have 4+ people in your travel group, you will need to determine the price of a bus ticket versus hiring a private car. 

Do you need to buy tickets ahead of time? 

No, it’s not necessary. But if you’re traveling during a peak travel time or holiday, you may consider buying tickets ahead of time to guarantee your seat. 

Step 1: Check the bus schedule ahead of time.

We recommend that you check out the RedBus Malaysia or BusOnlineTicket for the bus schedule. 

Input Melaka Sentral as the starting location and KLIA or KLIA 2 as the ending location. Then you’ll see the list of buses and the times and can create your schedule. 

Note: It’s not necessary to buy tickets online. You can buy tickets at the Bus Station.  

Step 2: Take a ride-hailing car or taxi from Melaka’s UNESCO area and head to Melaka Sentral Station.

We recommend that you download the Grab app and use it to book a car ride from your accommodation in Melaka to Melaka Station. We paid 16 MYR ($3.35 USD) via credit card through the app.

This app can be used in many Malaysian cities and is a budget-friendly way to travel short distances around town. We also use it in other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

Step 3: At Melaka Sentral Station, head to the Interstate Bus Ticket Area of the Bus Station.

Do not go to the domestic bus ticket area as the bus routes do not go to Kuala Lumpur.

You’re at the correct spot to buy tickets if you see this sign

Step 4: Buy tickets at the ticket vending machine or in-person ticket counter.

You can visit the bus ticket counter or use the ticket vending machine.

Here is a photo of the bus ticket counter as reference.

If you need help with buying tickets at Melaka Sentral Station, visit the ticket counter

Using the ticket vending machine is easy as you input your final destination – either to KLIA or KLIA 2 terminal, date of departure, and number of tickets needed. You’ll see a list of bus companies and the times of departures. 

TIP: If you need to head to KLIA 2, we recommend that you choose the bus route that goes directly to KLIA 2, instead of going to first KLIA and then to KLIA 2. It’ll be a more direct route. 

After you choose the bus company and time of departure, you will need to input your name and passport information into the system. 

Then, pay for the ticket. 

Note: There is an additional 1.10 MYR ($.23 USD) added to each ticket as an “insurance.” It’s unavoidable even if paying for the ticket in person. 

We paid 53 MYR + 1.10 MYR (insurance) = 54.10 MYR ($7.70 USD) per person for the Starmart Express Bus Company. It’s an affordable price even with the added insurance cost. 

If you buy bus tickets at the ticket counter, double check your order before paying

Cash or e-banking with Malaysian banks is available only. Credit cards are not accepted at the ticket vending machine or in person, so you’ll need cash. 

If you have questions or prefer to buy tickets in person, you can visit the bus ticket counter and talk to a customer service member. Passport information will also be required for ticket purchase.

Step 5: Scan your ticket to enter the waiting area.

There are two sides to enter the waiting area/departure lobby – 1) Gate A, B, C, or 2)  Gate D, E, F. It doesn’t matter which side you enter as they both end up at the same waiting area. 

There are a few seats in the waiting area but it can get crowded. 

TIP: We suggest that you use the toilet before entering the waiting area. We’re not sure if there is unlimited entry and exit to the waiting area if you have your ticket. Also, on our ride, we did not have a toilet break. 

Quick Summary of Ipoh to Penang Train and Ferry Route

Here is a quick summary of the process, time duration, and cost required for this one-way transportation route to help with your planning. We’ll go into more detail in the next section. 

Public Transportation Process

Georgetown, located on Penang Island, does not have a train station. The closest train station to Georgetown is Butterworth Station on Malaysia’s mainland so you’ll need to transfer. But luckily, the train and ferry stations connect so it’s convenient. 

First, take the train from Ipoh to Butterworth. Then, take a short walk from the train station to the local ferry terminal. Afterward, take the local ferry from Butterworth‘s Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal to Georgetown’s Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal. 

Amount of Travel Time Needed

• Train Waiting Time: 30 minutes

• Train Ride: 1 hour 41 minutes

• Ferry Waiting Time: 30 minutes

• Ferry Ride: 10 minutes

• Total: 2 hours 51 minutes (The waiting time is approximate as it will vary depending on scheduling)

Cost for 1 Adult

• Train: 45 MYR 

• Ferry: 2 MYR

• Total: 47 MYR ($9.90)

Step 1: Buy Ipoh to Penang Butterworth Train Tickets Before Departure Date

It’s recommended to buy your train tickets a few weeks before your departure date. Trains can be full during the peak holiday season. 

You can buy the tickets directly from the official KTM website, reserve your preferred seat, and use your credit card for payment. 

We’ve used the KTM website before to buy train tickets from Kuala Lumpur Sentral to Ipoh and it was super easy! 

If your plans are more flexible, you can buy tickets based on availability on the day of departure. But if you have a larger group, you may not be able to sit together. 

Ipoh to Butterworth Train Schedule

To find the train schedule, access the website. Input your departure (origin – Ipoh) and arrival (destination – Butterworth), departure date, return date (if it’s a round trip or click on “I am traveling one way” for one-way travel), and the number of people. 

There are at least 6 trains that depart from Ipoh to Butterworth each day. The train takes 1 hour and 41 minutes. 

The first train departs at 10:34am from Ipoh and arrives at 12:15pm at Butterworth. The last scheduled train is at 10:41pm from Ipoh and arrives at 12:22am at Butterworth.

Train Cost 

The cost is 32 to 45 MYR ($6.75 to $9.50 USD) per person depending on the day of the week and the time of departure. Weekends cost a little more than the weekdays. 

Purchase Tickets

After choosing your seats (either forward or backward facing) and inputting your contact information, you’re now at the payment screen. 

You can use your international credit card to buy the tickets. We used our U.S. Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the transaction went smoothly. 

After the purchase, you’ll receive an e-copy of the ticket via your email. 

Print a copy of the ticket before your scheduled ride or save the e-copy to your phone. You will need to scan the ticket’s QR code to enter the train station. 

Step 2: Take the Train from Ipoh Station

Ipoh Station is the main train station. It’s located conveniently next to the Old Town area, so you can either walk or hire a Grab ride-hailing car via the Grab app (one of the most used travel apps in Malaysia). 

About 10 to 15 minutes before the train’s arrival, there is an announcement on the PA system to enter the train station platform. The entrance will list the train time and which platform number you’ll need to go. 

Scan your ticket’s QR code to enter the train station platform area and wait for the train at the specified platform number. 

Before your train arrives, look at your ticket for the car number. Find the car number on the platform and wait there. 

Once the train arrives, board the train and find your seat. On our train, each row had 4 seats (2 seats on the left side and 2 seats on the right side). 

There are designated areas to place large luggage. Backpacks and purses can be placed in the overhead compartments above your seat. 

The train leaves on time, so don’t be late! 

Now you can relax, listen to music, read a book, or take a nap during the train ride. The seats were very comfortable, so feel free to stretch out your legs and recline your seat. 

The train had free WiFi, but it was very spotty. Most of the time, the WiFi didn’t work.

Step 3: Depart the Train from Butterworth and Follow the Signs to the Ferry Terminal

You’ve finally arrived at Penang’s Butterworth Station. Gather your luggage and belongings and head to the exit. 

We just arrived at Butterworth Station and are exiting the station

To exit, you’ll need your train ticket to scan the QR code at the gate. Therefore, do not lose your ticket!

Afterward, turn left from the gate and follow the signs to the Ferry Terminal (Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal). It takes less than 10 minutes to walk to the Ferry Terminal.  

We are on our way to the Ferry Terminal!

You will pass by Penang Sentral, a shopping mall. If you need a toilet break or to eat something, feel free to stop by. 

We saw a KFC advertisement for potato wedges, so we had to try them. Wedges have been discontinued in the U.S. since 2020 so we did a quick detour to try them. Our verdict with the wedges – they didn’t have the same spices as what we’re used to but still crispy and worth trying!

Step 4: Buy Ferry Tickets from the Ticket Booth

Everyone taking the public ferry to Georgetown’s Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal needs to buy tickets. The ferry ride is 10 minutes one-way. 

Schedule

The ferry departs from Butterworth to Penang every 30 minutes from 6:30am to 11:00pm. Check out the current schedule here. 

Here is the ferry schedule for your reference as of March 2024

Ferry Ticket Cost (One-way)

• Children 5-12 years: 1 MYR ($.20)

• Adults: 2 MYR ($.40)

• Bicycle: 2 MYR ($.40)

• Motorcycle: 2.50 MYR ($.53) 

As you can see, it’s very affordable to take the ferry.  

You can buy tickets online here.  

We recommend buying tickets at the Ferry’s Information Center just in case something happens with the train schedule. Just wait in line and tell the ticket agent how many adult or children tickets you need. 

The line to buy the ferry tickets goes quickly

NOTE: Credit card is only accepted as payment. 

But, if you only have cash, it won’t be a problem. We saw a local help a group of foreigners by paying for the group’s tickets via a credit card. In exchange, the group leader paid the local cash and thanked her for helping.

Step 5: Take the Ferry

Once you have your ticket, scan it at the ticket gate and wait in the waiting room. There is free WiFi if you need access to data. Since Malaysia can get hot and humid, the air conditioning works well here. 

When it’s time to board, line up and board the ferry. The ferry is only one level and has indoor seats. But they’re taken quickly during the high travel time. 

It’s time to board the ferry from Butterworth to Penang Georgetown

There are a few seats outside so you’ll feel the breeze. 

Otherwise, you can stand towards the front of the ferry and hang out with the other travelers and those traveling by motorbike or bicycle. We did this route as the boat ride was only 10 minutes and stood outside with others. Luckily there was some shade, but we felt the warm breeze. 

The ferry was a smooth ride and didn’t have any choppy waves. Since we’ve been to Georgetown a few times, we usually see the view of Malaysia mainland from the jetty area. It was nice to see a different view of Georgetown from the ferry. 

Map of Where to Eat in Penang

Click on the map to see a larger view of restaurants to eat when you’re in Penang’s Georgetown area. Credit: Map data: Google

1. Hwa Ting

Hwa Ting is a hidden gem to try Malaysian food. We found this restaurant via a quick search on Google Maps and this place didn’t disappoint. 

When entering the restaurant, we noticed the gorgeous decor of the beautiful European tiled flooring, the natural sunlight coming through the ceiling roof, and the indoor plants along the walls. 

The menu has traditional Malaysian cuisine. It’s not a halal restaurant as pork is used here. If you’re a vegetarian, there aren’t any main entree options, so you may need to consider another place. 

We’ve been here a few times and have tried a few dishes. The chef puts care into each of the dishes which is why there is so much flavor in each dish. 

Here are a few outstanding dishes to try:

• The roasted pork with egg noodles is a winner as the noodles are cooked al dente.  

• The duck egg char koay teow is delicious with the amount of wok hey (stir-frying firepower). Normally, the dish is cooked with chicken egg, but this one uses duck egg. The scrambled duck egg didn’t taste any different than the chicken egg. 

• The nasi lemak is also recommended. While I didn’t eat the chicken, Justin said that it was one of the best fried chicken that he had eaten. The butterfly pea and turmeric made the dish a vibrant blue and yellow. 

• If you like salted egg, try the salted egg chicken wings. 

Hwa Ting is one of our favorite places to eat in Penang Georgetown and we’ve been here twice!

Prices are affordable for U.S. standards yet would be considered mid-level pricing in Malaysia. It’s not as cheap as a hawker stall yet the food quality and ingredients used are well worth the extra cost. For example, the duck egg char koay teow is 15.90 MYR ($3.40 USD). 

Address: 37, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10100

Payment Accepted: Cash and credit card

Additional Information: Facebook | Instagram

2. Fu Er Dai

Looking for a Cantonese dim sum place in Penang? Head to Fu Er Dai. 

This outdoor dim sum restaurant is one of our favorite places to eat in Penang. Compared to other dim sum places that we’ve eaten in Penang, this place has the normal, larger size dumplings, so it’s worth the visit. 

The setup is different than what you may be used to at a dim sum restaurant. There aren’t any pushcarts or trays delivering dim sum to your table. 

Instead, you walk to the dim sum section and pick your favorite items – steamed, baos (buns), fried stuff, and dessert. Don’t forget to bring your dim sum tally sheet with you when ordering. 

We’ve eaten here a couple of times and have tried the ha gow (steamed shrimp dumplings), steamed shrimp and chive dumplings, shu mai (steamed pork and shrimp dumplings), salted egg custard buns, ha cheung (steamed shrimp rice noodle rolls), crispy shrimp in beancurd, egg tarts, and much more. 

Fu Er Dai is worth the visit to eat dim sum in Penang

Ha gow and shu mai are the gold standard dim sum items. The ha gow has a delicious filling with chunks of whole shrimp. Yet, the wrapper is a tad too thick for our liking. The shu mai has a piece of shrimp on the bottom and top of the dumpling.

The ha cheung is also delicious with a scoop of spicy chili sauce and fried onions. We’ve only seen fried onions as a topping in Malaysia and it’s a nice addition for the extra crunchy texture. 

One dessert that you have to get is the sesame ball with peanuts. It’s oh so good with the salty and sweet peanut filling in the crispy sesame ball. We usually eat the sesame ball with lotus paste or red bean paste. But the peanut ones are quite addicting, so you may grab a few plates!

Hot water for tea refill is self-serve. 

Note: Since this place gets extremely busy, everyone gets a 1-hour time limit to eat. The sit-down time is written on your dim sum tally sheet. 

The cost of the dim sum varies – between 6.50 to 8.90 MYR ($1.40 to $1.90). Ha gow is 8.90 MYR ($1.90) for 3 pieces. 

Address: 7, Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, George Town, 10050

Payment Accepted: Cash and credit card

Additional Information: Facebook | Instagram

3. Hygge Dining & Bar

Located next to the busy Kimberley Street, Hygge Dining & Bar is a casual restaurant serving delicious Asian fusion cuisine. The restaurant does not serve pork. 

After having 3 mini lunches earlier in the day, we wanted a change from Malaysian and Chinese flavors, and Hygge was the perfect place!

On our visit, you can order a la carte or a tasting menu with appetizers, a main entree, and dessert. 

The tasting menu was tempting with cured salmon and roasted cauliflower as small dishes and a choice of pan-seared fish, duck breast, and Angus striploin as the main entree, but we were too full from our lunches. 

The menu had smaller plates (tapas) and you can order 3 dishes for 55 MYR or 5 for 90 MYR. We opted for the 5 dishes as it was a better value.

We ate the following: 

• Mushroom croquettes – These were lovely with the crispy batter and the super creamy filling.

• Truffle fries – We have a soft spot for truffle fries and these were crispy. We saw speckles of truffle and enjoyed the shredded cheese on top. 

• Tako with flatbread – The chopped octopus was delicious. It tasted like a sweet octopus salsa that you place on a piece of flatbread

• Fried oysters – These were also nicely fried. 

• Shrimp gyoza – I was excited to try these but the gyoza (dumpling) filling wasn’t strong enough. I didn’t taste the shrimp. But the spicy sauce was yummy with the charred chili pepper. Out of the small dishes that we tried, this would be one to skip. 

The small dishes at Hygge Dining are delicious and worth trying

We could have just eaten the small plates as there was plenty of food. 

We also ordered off the main entree section – a market fish of the day which was snapper. This was in case someone was still hungry. The side dish of the fluffy turmeric cream and roasted potatoes was delicious. The fish skin was super crispy and the fish itself was not overcooked. We loved the bean-shaped bowl the dish came in. 

The market fish of the day is a delicious main entree option at Hygge

While reservations can be made through the website, we just walked in for a table as this place was not busy.

Address: 58, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, George Town, 10450

Payment Accepted: Cash and credit card

Additional Information: Facebook | Instagram

Don’t have time to read the rest of the post? Save this pin to your Pinterest board!

4. Hon Kei Food Corner 汉记小食店

Hon Kei Food Corner is a local rice noodle shop with some of the longest lines. Crowds of people constantly flow into the shop even close to the closing time of 9:00pm. But don’t let that deter you as the line goes quickly. It’s a good sign that people enjoy the food here. 

The menu has two main noodle soup options, pork and innards, or fish, and some side items. Unfortunately, this place is not vegetarian or halal as pork is used here. 

You choose noodle soup with your choice of pork innards such as kidney, tripe, intestine, liver, heart, and brain. 

Then, you choose your base – porridge or rice noodles such as vermicelli, a mix of thick and thin noodles, thick noodles, thin noodles, or instant noodles. 

The fish option has fried fish, fish, fried fish head, fish head, or fish ball, and your choice of noodles. 

Justin and my mother-in-law tried the noodle soup with the pork innards. They liked the soup flavor. 

I had the fried fish head noodle with a mix of thick and thin noodles. There was a decent amount of fish meat and bones so it took some time to eat between the nooks and crannies of the fish bone. The soup was milkier than the pork one that Justin had and still delicious. 

This is my bowl of fish head noodle soup with thin and thick rice noodle mix

The drink menu has a variety of coffee, juice, teas, and nut-based milks. We tried the iced almond milk and it was rich and creamy. If you’ve had almond jello at a party, then the almond milk tastes just like the liquid version of the almond jello.  

You can sit in the air conditioning room or outside with the ceiling fans.  

The noodle cost between 14.60 to 22.40 MYR ($3.10 to $4.75). 

Address: 43, Kampong Malabar, George Town, 10200

Payment Accepted: Cash only

Additional Information: Facebook

5. Durian Baby and Friends

Love durian desserts? Head to Durian Baby and Friends for some amazing durian desserts, pastries, and gelato. We always visit to get our durian fix. Plus the store’s durian mascot is adorable.  

We’ve tried the cheese durian tart, durian bubble waffle (egg waffle), Muscat King gelato, and durian milkshake. 

We like the bubble waffle as there are chunks of durian fruit in each bubble. The Muscat King gelato is also a winner with the intense durian flavor. Durian Baby and Friends makes the gelato in-house.  

The desserts are reasonably priced. The Muscat King gelato is 14.50 MYR ($3.10).  

Durian Baby and Friends is the place to visit for durian desserts and gelato

Address: Lebuh Acheh, George Town, 10300

Payment Accepted: Cash and credit card

Additional Information: Facebook

Step 1: Figure out the Bus Schedule from KLIA to Ipoh

Before your flight to Kuala Lumpur, get an idea of the bus schedule by checking aggregators such as RedBus Malaysia. 

Add the date of arrival, departure from KLIA or KLIA 2 Bus Station, arrival location at Ipoh Amanjaya Bus Station, and number of people, and you’ll see the schedule, bus companies, and number of tickets available. Click on additional filters on the sidebar to narrow your search. 

At the time of our research, we saw Yoyo Express and StarMart Express bus companies doing this route and leaving almost every hour or 1.5 hours. 

If you’re leaving from KLIA (Terminal 1), buses leave the airport first and then arrive at KLIA 2 about 10 to 15 minutes later. 

To verify the aggregator’s information, visit the bus company’s website for more information and check the exact cost, bus schedule, etc.  

Step 2: Determine If You Need to Buy Bus Tickets Ahead of Time

After seeing the aggregator information from the previous step of the number of tickets left, don’t have FOMO (fear of missing out). 

As someone who loves planning and booking transportation and hotels in advance, I’m here to say that it is not necessary to book your bus tickets ahead of time.  

There are buses at least once an hour heading to Ipoh from the airport, even after midnight.

While you can buy bus tickets online before your arrival, you run the risk of the unknowns – a delayed flight, long queues at Immigration and Customs check, and waiting a long time for your checked in luggage. 

If you miss your original booking time, you’ll need to forfeit the ride and spend more money to buy another set of tickets. 

The only reason to consider buying tickets ahead of time is if you’re traveling during a popular holiday time. But you’ll need to have ample buffer time to catch the bus.

Step 3: After Arriving at KL Airport and Exiting Arrivals, Head to the Bus Terminal to Buy Tickets

After exiting the Arrivals Gate, follow the signs to the Bus Terminals. Take the escalators and head to the first level of KLIA and KLIA 2 Terminal to the Bus Ticket Office area. 

If you’re at KLIA 2, the ticket office is next to Door #3.

Step 4: Buy Tickets at the Ticket Booth or Kiosk

There are two options to buy tickets – either in person at the ticket booth or the electronic ticket kiosks.

This is the Bus Ticket Office at KLIA Terminal 2 (KLIA 2)

What is the Difference Between the Two Options?

The ticket booth has a Customer Service representative and he/she can arrange the booking. You can ask the representative any questions that you have. English is spoken here. The payment is credit card only as of April 2024.

The electronic ticket is the do-it-yourself approach and it’s located to the right of the ticket booths. It’s similar to looking at the online bus aggregator where you can pick and choose which bus time you want to go on, your seats, and pay for your tickets with a credit card. 

What Did We Do? 

Since we landed at KLIA 2, we talked with the Customer Service representative and told the representative that we wanted to go to Ipoh. She asked us how many people and confirmed that we were going to Ipoh. 

Since we arrived at 1:30pm, she automatically put us on the next bus route at 2:00pm route with the Yoyo Express Bus. There wasn’t a choice for the bus operator, which was fine with us. 

We didn’t see the electronic kiosk until after our transaction. Otherwise, we would have used these to pay for our tickets with a credit card. 

How Much is the Bus Ticket? 

The cost of the ride from KLIA to Ipoh will vary between 44 to 49 MYR ($9.35 to $10.40 USD) per person depending on the bus company. 

We paid 49 MYR per person for Yoyo Express Bus. We think it’s an affordable cost for the budget-friendly transportation option. 

Here are our tickets from KLIA 2 to Ipoh on Yoyo Express Bus

Step 5: Enter Waiting Area & Wait for the Bus by the Pillar Number Located on the Ticket

Enter the waiting area by scanning your QR code on your ticket. Then you can exit and head to the pillar number.

Your ticket will have the pillar number, boarding time, and departure time. 

But make sure that you are boarding the correct bus. There are multiple buses from the same bus operators arriving around the same time, so it’s best to check where the bus is heading. 

This happened to us when we waited for our Yoyo Express Bus at Pillar B4 (KLIA 2). There was another Yoyo bus waiting at the pillar at 1:45pm (our boarding time), but it was going to another destination. 

Step 6: Get on the Bus and Enjoy the Ride!

Since you may have had a long travel to Kuala Lumpur, you can now sit back and relax on the bus. 

Map

Below is a map of the places mentioned in this itinerary, so you can see where everything is located.

Click on the image to see a detailed view of this map. Credit: Map data: Google

What To Do In Melaka in a Day

Snap Photos Around The Dutch Square

You have reached the city of Melaka when you come across red-painted buildings. These buildings are part of The Dutch Square where you’ll see many tourists snapping photos throughout the day.

Notable attractions around this area are Christ Church, Queen Victoria Fountain, and the Red Clock Tower, surrounded by vibrant flower bushes. 

The Dutch Square is a fantastic starting point for your one day in Melaka. Photo credit: The Amateur Climber

As you walk towards the left, there are a few more attractions you can check out:

• St. Paul’s Church: An old historic building that displays old Portuguese tombstones

• A Famosa: The remains of a fortress used during the Dutch occupation in the 1500s 

• Multiple museums: It’s hard to fit all of them within a day, but the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum is worth checking out if you enjoy learning about the Melaka dynasty.

TIP: You can also get a nice view of the city from St Paul’s Hill if you don’t want to pay for the rotating view at Taming Sari Tower which is located nearby.

Savor Local Delicacies At Jonker Street

Melaka is a food paradise and there is no better place to discover its unique flavors than Jonker Street. Crowds flock to the weekend night market for the delectable street food.

You can find a food store on every corner, from delicious desserts such as cendol to affordable satay stalls selling RM 1 ($0.20 USD) a stick! 

I’ll share my recommendations on what to eat in Melaka in the section below. 

Connect With Culture At The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum 

Go on a self-guided tour in this historic residence preserved for four generations taking you back to the late 19th century. You will be given a booklet to explore each section at your own pace. 

Baba and Nyonya refer to Straits-born Chinese males and females respectively, carrying a unique Peranakan culture that is commonly found in Melaka.

The same family still manages the museum and has kept it in pristine condition.

Click here for more information about the museum. 

Address: 48-50, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka

Admission Cost: RM 18 ($3.80)

Tour The Historic City On A Melaka River Cruise 

Explore Melaka from a different angle by taking the scenic river cruise!  

It’s a great way to take a break from walking on this 45-minute ride viewing historic bridges, quaint shophouses, and ancient ruins. 

Do check out the evening cruise where you can see pretty lights decorating the town. You can purchase your tickets either at the Spice Garden Jetty or Melaka River Square Jetty. 

Address: Jalan Graha Maju Aras 8, Graha Maju Building, 75300 Melaka 

Admission Cost: RM 30 ($6.40)

Burn Calories At The Only Indoor Climbing Gym In Melaka 

If you are feeling slightly sluggish and need some adrenaline on your trip, PAMPA Rock Climbing is the place to be!

Located next to Swan Garden Resort Hotel, it’s a cozy semi-open-aired establishment with plenty of rock climbing routes at varying difficulty levels. 

You have the option to either climb the top rope or bouldering section (or both if you have the energy!) to burn those food calories from Jonker Street!

Note: All first-time climbers are required to take a one-time introductory course for RM 55 ($11.60)

Add a visit to PAMPA Rock Climbing to practice your climbing skills. Photo credit: The Amateur Climber

Address: 2, Jalan KSB 2, Taman Kota Syahbandar Kota Syahbandar, 75200 Malacca

Admission Cost: RM 30 ($6.40)

Wander Around and See Street Art

Another cool thing to do in Melaka is to see the free street art and wall murals around town. There are plenty of murals to check out near the Jonker Street Night Market such as the Melaka 3D Art, My Kiehl’s Heritage, and along the riverside.

Check out this street art guide for more information.

Where To Eat In Melaka

It’s impossible to not go on a food hopping tour at Melaka when it is home to many authentic Malaysian dishes.

Below are my top recommended places to eat in Melaka. Also, check out this post by Life Of Doing for their food recommendations.

Ee Ji Ban Chicken Rice Ball

While there are many chicken rice ball stores lurking around Jonker Street, Ee Ji Ban has been a consistent favorite with the right texture and flavor. 

The roasted chicken and side vegetable dishes are also a great complement to the delicious rice balls. 

The queue moves pretty fast with plenty of street parking so you can save time to visit other attractions! 

Ee Ji Ban Chicken Rice Ball is a popular place to eat in Melaka. Photo credit: The Amateur Climber

Address: 275, Jalan Melaka Raya 3, Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia

More Information: Facebook Page

Jonker 88

Get a combination of fire and ice by ordering its popular assam laksa and cendol. 

Both are rich in flavor – the assam laksa with its rich spicy and sour soup and the Cendol drizzled with a fragrant gula Melaka (Melaka sugar) syrup. 

Be prepared for long queues under the hot sun as this is literally, the hottest dessert store in town!

Address: 88, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka

More Information: Instagram

Ban Lee Siang 

Here is another dish you don’t often see: the satay celup, a variety of meat and vegetable skewers dipped into a hot pot of boiling peanut sauce. 

You have the choice of dipping it into a shared pot (where the good flavor is at) or ordering a new hot pot of sauce to dip to your heart’s content. 

Address: 45-E, Jalan Ong Kim Wee, 75300 Malacca

More Information: Facebook Page

The Daily Fix Cafe

Get your cafe fix at The Daily Fix Cafe for some authentic pandan pancakes and refreshing coffee. 

It also provides a more comprehensive food selection compared to the other restaurants on this list with some hearty sandwiches such as the smoked duck sandwich and pastas. 

One of the highlights of this cafe is that it retains its historic architecture where you can snap lots of photos around the shop. 

Address: 55, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka

More Information: Facebook Page | Instagram

Christina EE Pineapple Tarts & Nyonya Cendol

If there is one food souvenir you must take home after your day trip to Melaka, it’s these homemade pineapple tarts that are to die for!

This place is also less touristy than the other spots whether it’s for the tarts or cendol. Give the durian cendol a shot!

Photo credit: The Amateur Climber

Address: 29, Jalan Hang Lekir, 75200 Melaka

For More Information: Website | Facebook Page

How To Get To Melaka from Kuala Lumpur

You can either take a long-distance bus to Melaka from Kuala Lumpur or a car ride to Melaka, and do the same route when returning to KL. 

By Bus

Board the bus from Kuala Lumpur’s Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Melaka Sentral. 

Buses can depart as early as 2:50 am and as late as 11 pm, with 30-minute intervals. A return ticket costs RM 20 to RM 40 ($4 to $8), so it’s affordable for those on a budget.  

If you’re arriving directly to KL by flight, you can also ride a bus directly from KL Airport (KLIA and KLIA 2) to Melaka Sentral. Head to the Bus Terminal on the 1st floor of each terminal to buy tickets. 

The last bus to catch from Melaka is around 10 pm. You can also head from Melaka to KLIA airport as well.

By Car

Most locals head to Melaka by car as it’s an easy drive with plenty of public and private parking spots around the city center. You’ll want to be there as early as 7 am to get the best spots. 

To make payment for your public parking spot, you will need to download the SVP Melaka parking app.

Download the app for Android | Download the app for iOS

Public parking is free on Mondays, Tuesdays, and public holidays. Private parking spots range are more expensive and range from RM 2 to RM 10 ($0.50 to $2) per entry.

By Taxi/e-Hailing

Malaysia is blessed with multiple e-hailing services including Grab, AirAsia Ride, and Maxim. Just download the app and you can book your ride right away. 

Read a related post on other travel apps to use in Malaysia here. 

This is the most expensive option and can be inconvenient as most drivers may not want to do a long-distance travel out of Kuala Lumpur. 

By Private Transfer

If you have a large travel group, consider a private transfer on a minibus. It’s a direct way to get from KL to Melaka. 

While this route is considered an expensive option, there are comfortable seats and a chance to chat with others in your group easily. 

Click here for more details and to reserve one.

By Train

If you want to take a train, there is one heading to Tampin, a town in Melaka state. 

But it’s not recommended as it’s located 39 kilometers (24 miles) from Melaka city center. Afterward, you must take a bus from the train station to get to the city.

How To Travel Around Melaka

As Melaka is a compact city, traveling around the city is easy and convenient. Here are the numerous modes of transportation you have available:

• Cycling/E-Scooter: Melaka is rather flat and it is pretty easy to get around with a Beam e-scooter or renting a bike. There are no cycling lanes, so ride at your own risk.

• Walking: Jonker Street is pedestrian-friendly with wide pavements. This is the best mode to get around the city if you’re only planning to visit the main attractions of the town. 

• Trishaw: What was once a common mode of transport before taxis, these trishaws have been revamped with decorative designs and popping music to accompany your ride. Like the Thailand tuk-tuk, it’s a fun experience to move around town!

• Car: Cars are now the most common transport to travel around Melaka. However, parking spaces are limited. Most drivers arrive as early as 7 am to find a strategic street parking spot. 

Final Thoughts

A one-day trip in Melaka is just right for a quick getaway from KL as you get to tour the best local attractions, eat some delicious tarts, and go on a river cruise.

While it can get pretty warm and sunny here, there is so much to do around this compact city that heat is just secondary.

Make Melaka your next travel destination when you are here in Malaysia!

Follow my adventures at The Amateur Climber.

Like this post? Save it to your Malaysia Travel Pinterest Board.

Featured photo & pin #1 photo credit: frenta via Depositphotos.com