Museums and landmarks to explore across Melaka

This guide covers six museums and landmarks in Melaka where families can look at local history, from house museums to a navy collection. To choose, think about what holds your children's attention: things to make, objects to look at, or buildings to walk through. Each section below sets out what the place has, so you can pick the ones that fit your day.

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum Melaka

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum Melaka is in Melaka's old town. It occupies restored historic buildings, including a former residence that was converted along with the buildings around it.

The exhibition halls cover:

• the historic voyages of Zheng He
• trade in his era
• his religious traditions
• his links with Islam in Southeast Asia
• Nanyang dragon jar artefacts

Pick this one if you want a museum built around sea voyages and trade.

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum is a house museum, and it is indoors. It tells the story of a real Peranakan, or Baba Nyonya, family who lived in the house.

The building is a townhouse made from three terrace lots joined together, which the Chan family acquired. The family's origins trace to Tong'An county in Fujian province, China, and its descendants are now in their seventh generation.

Because the museum is the family's own house, the story and the setting are the same place. The museum is in Melaka, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Royal Malaysian Navy Museum

Royal Malaysian Navy Museum is in Banda Hilir. Its exhibits include:

• photographs of admirals
• medals of honour
• the ranks in the naval command
• naval uniforms and how they have changed
• naval weapons
• communication equipment
• navigation symbols
• training programmes

The museum used to be at the Royal Malaysian Naval Base at Lumut in Perak and was moved to Melaka. It stands in front of the Maritime Museum (Flora de La Mar), which is a useful marker when you are looking for it.

Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia

Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia is also in Banda Hilir and is indoors. It is a museum of architecture set out across seven galleries:

• an introduction
• the history and development of architecture in Malaysia
• architecture and belief
• types of architecture in Malaysia
• carvings and motifs
• tools and technology
• materials

The building is part of the visit. It is a heritage structure from the Dutch colonial period, built by the Dutch administration to house its officers. It was later used as English administrative offices and then as the Melaka Water Board offices before it became a museum.

The museum has a library, a video screening room and public toilets. Guided tours are available if you arrange one with the museum's officers in advance. There are restaurants and a hotel nearby.

Malaysia Heritage Studios

Malaysia Heritage Studios has 13 traditional state houses to explore. There are also cultural dances and performances to watch, and visitors can meet mythical characters on site.

It is about 2 km from the Ayer Keroh exit of the PLUS Highway, so it is close to the highway if you are driving.

MAMEE Jonker House

MAMEE Jonker House is the place on this list for making something to take home. It is part of the Mamee-Double Decker Group, and the activities are built around the brand's noodles and snacks.

• Visitors can doodle on their own noodle cup and mix and match seasoning and condiments, then keep it as a souvenir.
• The Lil Monster Kitchen shows how Mamee Monster snacks are made.
• The cafe serves dishes that use the brand's noodle cakes as a base.
• The merchandise store sells Mamee Monster items and goodie bags.

Practical points

• The Royal Malaysian Navy Museum and Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia are both in Banda Hilir.
• Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum and Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia are indoors.
• For food, MAMEE Jonker House has a cafe, and there are restaurants near Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia.
• Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia has public toilets.
• Guided tours at Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia must be requested ahead of your visit.
• Malaysia Heritage Studios stops entry and ticket sales ahead of closing time, so do not leave it until the end of the day.
• MAMEE Jonker House and the Royal Malaysian Navy Museum each close one day a week, and Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum has closed for several days for maintenance work. Check that each place is open before you travel.