Backpacking Melaka Budget Travel Guide (The Best Secrets for 2024)
Backpacking Melaka is a real culture trip – from exploring the city’s colourful colonial buildings, tasting mouth-watering street food and exploring off-beat tourist attractions, you will find it hard not to come back.
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Backpacking Melaka
Backpacking Melaka took me by complete surprise! Initially, I only had it planned for a couple of nights to break up my trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
However, I loved it so much that I ended up extending my stay for a couple more nights.
It’s one of the homes of Nyonya cuisine (Chinese & Malay) and there are things here you won’t see anywhere else in Malaysia.
From the crimson coloured Dutch square to the endless Chinese temples. All the way from the ruins of the oldest church building in South East Asia to the kindness of strangers at a Sikh Temple.
It’s one of the most important port cities in the history of world trade being located right on the Malacca Strait, which gave Europe access to the region and vice-versa.
This resulted in some pretty funky cultural combinations that you will love discovering!
Check out my Backpacking Malaysia Packing List:
Things To Know Before Backpacking Melaka
- The currency in Malaysia is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and at the time of writing, 1 AUD = MYR 3 (64c USD)
- The best way to check bus routes is with Moovit. Sometimes Google Maps gave me incorrect information
- The bus station is a bit out of the city – and getting to the city with another bus is painful. Just get a Grab taxi, I got one for MYR 8
- Keep cash on hand when backpacking Melaka
- You will really struggle to get by in Melaka with only a card. You can pay for some accommodation and buy things at 7/11 with a card, but, you won’t be able to pay for the tasty street food!
- Learn how to say “hello” and “thank you” to be polite! Everyone appreciates manners!
- Hello = “Hello” or “Hai”. Pronounced exactly like it is in English. Easy right?
- Thank you = “Terima Kasih” (tuh-reema ka-seh)
How Much Does Backpacking Melaka Cost?
Backpacking Melaka is really affordable. That’s down to many of the attractions being completely free and easily accessible either by foot, public transport or Grab.
To establish how much backpacking Melaka will cost you, you have to consider the type of traveller you are!
Do you like getting down and dirty, trying to save every last cent, or do you prefer being a little more comfortable? What kind of activities do you like doing? Etc. etc… you get the idea.
I was always able to keep my costs under $20 AUD a day ($13 USD) when backpacking Melaka. And like I said, it’s really not difficult to do so with the abundance of free activities and affordable street food.
If you are to travel like that, you can do it on around $600 AUD a month! ($380 USD).
But obviously, you and I won’t always have the exact same budget – so here’s a simple budget breakdown for all kinds of budget travellers. I fit into Frugal Traveller when backpacking Melaka.
Daily Budget Breakdown
| Type of Traveller | Accommodation | Food | Transport | Activities | Total |
| Skint Traveller | $5-12 | $4 | $0 | $0 | $9-16 |
| Frugal Traveller | $12-16 | $4-8 | $0-5 | $0-10 | $16-39 |
| A Bit More Comfort | $16-30 | $8-15 | $5-10 | $0-20 | $29-75 |
Melaka Budget Travel Tips & Tricks
As we’ve established, backpacking Melaka on a tight budget isn’t all that hard! That being said, there are some things you can do when visiting that can help you keep your daily costs down.
Here’s some tips & tricks for backpacking Melaka:
1. Where To Eat In Melaka On A Budget
Baba Charlie Café is simply the place to go if you’re a newbie to Nyonya cuisine like I was. It gave me the perfect introduction at a really great price! Since leaving Malaysia, I’ve been craving their Nyonya Noodles & Nyonya Laksa.
On the weekend, when the night markets come alive I recommend visiting Restoran Come When Thirsty. I had a Nyonya Laksa one night and then the next I had a Char Kuay Teow. Each dish was only MYR 7 and it filled me up. It’s got bad reviews on Google but I disagree! The food was ready quickly and tasted heavenly.
2. Where To Drink In Melaka On A Budget
Alcohol isn’t all that cheap in Malaysia, certainly compared to Thailand! Since it’s a conservative Muslim country, they whack a lot of taxes on the alcohol so the price isn’t all that different to back home!
It’s always cheapest when travelling to buy alcohol at a supermarket and drinking them at your hostel (in Malaysia it’s illegal to drink in public).
That being said, if you’re keen on having a night out, heading left after Hard Rock Café is perfect for finding a lot of bars that run specials nearly every night.
3. Use The Sharing Economy
In the past, Melaka has been skipped in favour of other places on traveller’s Malaysia itineraries. However, recently it’s started to change! Whilst still a bit off-the-beaten-path in Malaysia, other backpackers are finally visiting so it can be easy to make some new friends!
If you’re visiting places outside of the city that require a Grab taxi, splitting the fare amongst a group of people will help a lot.
Do yourself a favour, and make some friends! Your bank account will appreciate it and you’ll have a fun time.
4. Use Public Transport
Seeing the main sights of Melaka is very easy because it’s all quite walkable.
However, if it’s way too hot and you don’t want to walk or cycle, using public transport is always the cheapest way of getting around Melaka.
It’s easy & convenient to figure out the public transport system in Melaka. Panorama Melaka are the main company that serves the entire city. Expect to pay anywhere from MYR 2 to MYR 10 depending on the distance you travel!
Use Moovit or see here for Melaka bus schedules and routes.
5. Book A Hostel With Free Breakfast & Filtered Water
I always look for places that offer free breakfast when hostel booking. It’s quick, convenient and sometimes you’ll be able to skip lunch because you’re so full! In short, it saves you money.
Drinking the tap water is a bad choice when backpacking Melaka. If your idea of fun travelling is where you’re sat on a toilet, clutching your stomach, go for it!
But, chances are it’s not. So, make sure you book a hostel that offers filtered water. At the beginning of the day, I will fill up my Yeti Bottle and that will sort me out until I get back from exploring.
6. Visit During Shoulder Season
The shoulder season is perfect for backpacking Melaka because it’s more affordable and it’s not crazy busy!
I visited Melaka at the start of October and I had a great time! It didn’t even rain.
Things To Do In Melaka
Backpacking Melaka on a budget is very easy thanks to the abundance of attractions that are completely free.
Here are some great things to do in Melaka:
1. Famous Jonker Street
A trip to Melaka is incomplete without visiting the famous Jonker Street.
Every Friday, Saturday & Sunday, the street lights up and has hundreds of stalls full of mouth-watering street food as well as your standard souvenirs.
In certain parts of the street, there are sometimes people performing music and making the vibes right!
2. Visit Dutch Square & Christ Church
If you search up “Melaka” on Google Images, you’ll be shown hundreds of images of the iconic Dutch Square.
Known for it’s colonial buildings all painted in crimson, it’s a must-see when backpacking Melaka.
3. Go For Lunch at a Sikh Temple (Langar)
You won’t see this on any guide for backpacking Melaka because it’s a really unique thing to do that not many people know about.
In Sikhism, a langar is a tradition where they offer free meals to absolutely anyone, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, gender or financial status.
Going into it, I had no idea what to expect. I suppose I was worried that I wouldn’t be accepted here as a tourist – but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
The group of us were met with warm smiles from everyone! We walked up and were served a vegetarian meal on a silver platter along with some tea.
To this day, it remains one of the best things i’ve done on my travels. It really restored my faith in humanity.
You can visit Gurdwara Sahib Melaka with the location here:
What to do:
Luckily, I had someone with me who had been here before, so they showed me exactly what to do! Otherwise, it would’ve been a bit confusing.
4. Melaka Straits Mosque (Masjid Selat Melaka)
The Melaka Straits Mosque is a must-see free thing when backpacking Melaka! Come here for sunset, and overlook one of the cooler mosques i’ve seen as it hovers over the water.
The hostel I stayed at (link further down) runs a bicycle tour here every night (granted it’s not raining or hailing).
5. Church of Saint Paul Melaka
The Church of Saint Paul isn’t in operation anymore, because it’s very worn down. But it’s very cool!
It was actually built in 1521 making it the oldest church building in all of Southeast Asia!
6. Photogenic Abandoned Building
If you like a bit of urban exploring like me, check out this abandoned building! It was completely open for anyone to wander in when I was there, which was great, because it had lots of great artwork inside!
7. Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese Temple
The Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese Temple is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in all of Malaysia!
It’s very accessible from the main part of Melaka by foot and is free to enter.
When To Visit Melaka
Penang, like most of Malaysia, enjoys a tropical climate year-round. But, there is a best time to be backpacking Melaka! For the most comfortable experience with the weather, mid-November to mid-February is the best time to visit. February being the best month to visit.
Where To Stay In Melaka
When I was backpacking Melaka, I stayed at Ringo’s Foyer Guest House. A small, independent hostel only a stone’s throw away from all the main sights of Melaka, including Jonker Street.
The owner and volunteers are absolute legends. One afternoon in the ridiculous heat of early October, Howard took me and Camille to a friend’s apartment building to use their pool!
There isn’t any free breakfast unfortunately but the rest is brilliant.
How To Get Around Melaka
When backpacking Melaka on a budget, it’s easy and affordable to use the public transport system.
Public Transport
Panorama Melaka are the main company that serves the entire city. Expect to pay anywhere from MYR 2 to MYR 10 depending on the distance you travel!
For an alternative public transport method, use Kumpool! I used this once and it was a unique way to see the city as it’s a bus-on-demand and ride-sharing service that picks you up with others heading in the same direction.
Grab
But above all, if you’re not too strict with your budget – Grab is by far the most convenient way of moving around the city for not too much more expensive than public transport.
Is Melaka Safe?
Backpacking Melaka is very safe for solo travelling. But, here is one thing to be aware of when backpacking Melaka:
Stray Dogs
Unfortunately, like many places in the region – there is a decent amount of stray dogs hanging around. Whilst most are friendly enough to stay out of your way – getting bitten by one runs the risk of rabies. Once symptoms show up, there is no cure.
Whilst you won’t encounter many if you’re in the main area of the city, if you go a bit further out at night in quieter areas you’ll see some more.
How To Get To Melaka
Whilst Melaka does have an international airport, it is quite rare for anyone to come straight here by plane because of its limited connections.
Most people backpacking Melaka come here as part of a larger trip throughout Malaysia & South East Asia – so it’s best to come here after visiting Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
Related article: How To Get Around Malaysia On A Budget
- From Kuala Lumpur: only a 2 hour bus from AU$4-7 (US$2-4)
- From Singapore: there are two ways you can complete this journey.
- The quicker but more pricey way: book a direct bus that will take roughly 3 hours and cost around AU$34 (US$20)
- The longer but budget way: this is what I did. Catch Bus 170 to Johor Bahru in Malaysia and then buy a ticket to Melaka at the bus terminal. All together it cost me about AU$12 (US$7)
Where To Go After Melaka
Depending on which way you’re headed, there’s a couple of places to go after Melaka.
My trip in Malaysia was headed up north after Singapore so naturally, I visited the capital, Kuala Lumpur. After that, you can head up to the Cameron Highlands and Penang.
However, if you’re headed the other way you can cross the border into Singapore.
How Many Days Do You Need In Melaka?
As a solo traveller, I like to spend a bit longer than usual in a city to really get to know the place. I spent 4 nights here over a weekend and that was plenty of time.
Honestly, having an afternoon and two full days over a weekend in Melaka is the perfect amount of time to visit Melaka as it gives you a chance to check out the main sights of the city as well as exploring lesser-known areas on a bicycle.
Travel Insurance For Melaka
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel – end of. I’m a big advocate for using travel insurance when solo travelling as it will save my arse if anything goes wrong. I use Worldnomads, easily the best company out there for long-term travellers. Get insured with these guys when backpacking Melaka.
Final Thoughts On Backpacking Melaka
Backpacking Melaka was a really nice surprise. I got to visit a city in Malaysia that’s popular amongst regional tourists, but not so much by other travellers!
As time goes on, more and more backpackers are coming here which is fantastic! It’s a place that is authentic and has things you won’t see anywhere else in Malaysia.
So if you’re planning on visiting Malaysia, go and visit Melaka! You won’t regret it!
Book Your Trip With My Favourite Resources:
Cheap Flights: I always use Skyscanner to browse for cheap flights. It offers so many options to help you find a good deal! It even allows you to search for “anywhere” if you haven’t decided where to go yet!
Accommodation: I start my hostel search with Hostelworld. Most hostels are now on this platform making it the place to find the best hostel for you.
Travel Insurance: If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. It is so important to have when travelling as it will save you from illness, injury, theft and cancellations! I always use Worldnomads when travelling on a budget as they have the best deals for me.