Singapore Trip Overview
Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just hours away from Singapore, but visiting on a regular tour can mean standing-in-line for an extended time at the notoriously busy Singapore-Malaysia border. This day tour includes the usage of the drive-through lane at the border, round-trip transport between Singapore and Malacca, a fully-guided tour of historical Malacca, admission tickets to the scenic Malacca River Cruise, free sampling of the Malacca-famous Durian Cendol dessert, plus plenty of free time to take in the sights that interest you most.
Additional Info
Duration: 12 hours
Starts: Singapore, Singapore
Trip Category: Day Trips & Excursions >> Day Trips
Explore Singapore Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Singapore
Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just hours away from Singapore, but visiting on a regular tour can mean standing-in-line for an extended time at the notoriously busy Singapore-Malaysia border. This day tour includes the usage of the drive-through lane at the border, round-trip transport between Singapore and Malacca, a fully-guided tour of historical Malacca, admission tickets to the scenic Malacca River Cruise, free sampling of the Malacca-famous Durian Cendol dessert, plus plenty of free time to take in the sights that interest you most.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Bugis MRT Exit A, Victoria St &, Rochor Rd, Singapore
Make your own way to Bugis MRT Station (exit A) at 6:30am, please arrive 5-10 minutes prior for formalities.
If you are taking the MRT/subway, alight at Bugis MRT Station, and follow signs to Exit A. Upon arrival at Exit A, you will see a bus stop where our staff will be waiting for you with a signboard.
After a short introduction, our staff will escort you to a waiting vehicle nearby to start your day tour.
Relax in cool air-conditioned comfort as you are chauffeured across the busy Singapore/Malaysia border (no standing-in-line).
Stop At: Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru District, Johor
After being chauffeured across the Singapore/Malaysia border, you will make a brief stop at a rest area for guests to use the bathroom or to purchase take-away breakfast/coffee at own expense.
Thereafter, please follow your guide to a waiting vehicle nearby to proceed on to the historical city of Malacca. Bathroom stops can be requested anytime during the journey.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Melaka Sentral, Lebuh AMJ, Plaza Melaka Sentral, 75400 Malacca, Malaysia
Shortly before noon depending on traffic conditions, you will make a 30-min stop at Melaka Sentral food court for guests to use the bathroom or to have lunch at own expense, before proceeding on to the historical centre of Malacca.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Malacca River, Melaka Malaysia
Upon arrival at the historical centre of Malacca, hop onboard a scenic river cruise that will sail you into the heart of UNESCO Malacca. Spanning 10km with many beautiful bridges, Malacca river was once dubbed the “Venice of the East” by European seafarers as it was a prominent port of entry for traders from Europe and Asia during the late 16th century.
During the river cruise, you will see this historical village which is named after a British land revenue collector during the British Malaya, Frederick Joseph Morten. It houses more than 100 traditional Malay houses, many of them built without the use of any nails.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: St. Francis Xavier Church, 12 Jalan Banda Kaba, Melaka 75000 Malaysia
During the river cruise, you will see this twin-spired neo-gothic structure that was built in 1849, in honour of St. Francis Xavier, a prominent 16th-century Catholic missionary also known as “Apostle of the East”.
Stop At: Red Square (Dutch Square), Melaka Malaysia
Disembarking the river cruise, you will set foot upon Dutch Square. Dutch Square is distinguished by a group of bright, terracotta-red colonial Dutch buildings, built between 1650 and 1750, with louvered windows and chunky doors with wrought iron hinges.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Queen Victoria’s Fountain, Jalan Gereja Bandar Hilir, Melaka 75000 Malaysia
In the midst of the Dutch Square is a beautiful fountain – Queen Victoria’s Fountain. It is an ornate Victorian marble addition, erected in 1904 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Christ Church, Jalan Kota, Melaka 75000 Malaysia
Facing the fountain is Christ Church, it was built as a place of worship by the Dutch in 1753 about a century after they took over Malacca from the Portuguese. When the British occupied Malacca, it was turned into an Anglican church with a weathercock and bell added to show the direction of the wind.
Stop At: Melaka Clock Tower, Jalan Gereja, Melaka 75000 Malaysia
Also in the midst of Dutch Square is the Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower. Even though the structure looks Dutch, it was actually built by a wealthy Straits Chinese family in 1886 in honour of Tan Beng Swee, a rich Chinese merchant.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Middleburg Bastion, Jalan Merdeka, Melaka Malaysia
While ascending to St. Paul’s Hill, from a vantage point, you can see the Middleburg Bastion. After conquering Malacca in 1641, the Dutch constructed the bastion which is strategically located at the mouth of Malacca River to strengthen the existing city defence left behind by the Portuguese.
Pass By: Flora de la Mar Maritime Museum, Jalan Quayside, Melaka 75000 Malaysia
While ascending to St. Paul’s Hill, from a vantage point, you can see the famous Flora De La Mar which is translated as Flower Of The Sea in English. Situated near the mouth of the Malacca River, this is the site of a replica of the Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Malacca on its return trip to Portugal in 1512, carrying with it treasures from Malacca.
Stop At: St. Paul’s Hill & Church (Bukit St. Paul), Jalan Kota, Melaka 75000 Malaysia
At the top of St. Paul’s Hill sits the armless statue of St. Francis Xavier next to the famous St. Paul’s Church. Plenty of engraved tombstones are laid against the walls of this roofless church, originally built in 1521. From the church, you can take in breathtaking views of the Straits Of Malacca.
Duration: 15 minutes
Pass By: British Graveyard, Batu Linggi, Melaka Malaysia
A short walk down from St. Paul’s Church leads to the overgrown remains of the Dutch Graveyard. It was originally used as a Dutch graveyard in the late 17th-century when the VOC (Dutch East India Company) was still in control. The graveyard was also used by British while they were in Malacca.
Stop At: A Famosa Fort, Jalan Parameswara Bandar Hilir, 2 Min Walk from St Paul’s Church, Melaka 78000 Malaysia
Walking down from the Dutch graveyard, you will arrive at A Famosa Fort, which is the oldest surviving structure in South East Asia. It was built in 1511 using laterite stones by Alfonso de Albuquerque, the man who led the Portuguese invasion into Malacca. The remains of the fort is now just a gate.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Jonker Street, Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka Malaysia
Next, your guide will bring you to the famous Jonker Street nearby to sample a refreshing bowl of Durian Cendol. Cendol is a Malacca-famous iced sweet dessert that contains green rice flour jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup with durian puree toppings.
After duly refreshed, you will be given 1.5-hour of free time for further self-exploration of Jonker Street at own expense.
You may also walk to see the famous Flora De La Mar which is translated as Flower Of The Sea in English. Situated near the mouth of the Malacca River, this is the site of a replica of the Portuguese ship that sank off the coast of Malacca on its return trip to Portugal in 1512, carrying with it treasures from Malacca.
After 1.5-hour of self-exploration, please meet your guide back at Jonker Street, and you will be escorted to a carpark nearby to board a waiting vehicle to depart Malacca.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Pass By: Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru, Johor Bahru District, Johor
Located 30 minutes from the Singapore-Malaysia border is Johor Bahru, the state capital of Johor in southern Malaysia. Johor Bahru is a bustling modern city with little interest for the casual tourist.
You will make a brief stop at a rest area for guests to use the bathroom or to purchase take-away dinner at own expense, before being escroted to a waiting vehicle nearby to be chauffeur through the drive-through border (no standing-in-line).
Subject to actual border conditions, you should be back at Bugis MRT Station (exit A) in the evening.
