Melaka River Cruise stands out as the most popular must-do activity in Melaka, along with visiting the Jonker Street night market. We did not want to miss it and hopped on the boat last week twice, both during the day and at night.
As we did not want to miss the opportunity to marvel at the scenery of the cruise during the day, with a clear view of all the historical buildings and the magnificent interplay of lights displayed on various structures and along the river, we purchase a day ticket, allowing us to return for another ride at night.
Purchase your ticket
This one-day pass also allowed us to enjoy unlimited rides and the flexibility to embark and disembark at any jetty we liked. Below are the ticket prices for your reference (April 2025). You can also purchase tickets online through their website.
They also offer other river cruises besides the standard one, including the Tun Khalil VIP Cruise, Dine-in Melaka River Cruise, and Evelasting Love Cruise. Please contact +6 06-286 1530 at Taman Rempah for details, as reservations must be made beforehand.
We boarded the boat at the Taman Rempah Jetty (Spice Garden Jetty), where tickets can be purchased. (Another favorite jetty is the Muara Sungai Jetty.) It has a large car park, which was convenient since we drove from Kuala Lumpur in the morning. The opening hours are from 9:00 AM to 10:15 PM, and the ticket counter closes at 10:00 PM.
The boat is open-style with a covered roof. There are two rows of plastic chairs on the left and right. It sailed slowly and was very comfortable.
Melaka River Cruise (in the morning)
The cruise started from the Taman Rempah Jetty, sailing towards the Jonker/Red House area, and then it returned to Taman Rempah.
The captivating journey lasted for about 35 minutes. Along the way, we passed by many different attractions in the historic city of Melaka. There are 17 jetties along the route, and if you get the one-day ticket, you can disembark at any jetty you like.
Melaka River Cruise (at night)
We rode twice—once in the morning and once at night. The reason for doing so was that the scenery is entirely different at night when all the lights are lit up.
Along the way, the boat passes by historic buildings, traditional shop lots, colorful murals, and many bridges. First, we passed Kampung Morten, which is a traditional Malay village by the river. Then, we passed by a stretch of mangrove swamp and some modern buildings of Malacca City. We also passed the old Cathay Cinema and some heritage shop lots decorated with vibrant murals.
Near the end, before turning back, we passed the Tan Kim Seng bridge and the iconic red building of Malacca with its spectacular Dutch colonial architecture and the Bastion Middleburg.
There is recorded Malay and English commentary explaining the buildings and scenery along the way.
According to the brochure, a second phase of the river cruise will be operating soon. An additional five kilometers of river route has been added to the original Malacca River Cruise.
Would you like to try some of the best food and restaurants in Malacca during your stay? We’ve prepared a list of places we’ve personally visited, along with honest reviews and plenty of photos.
Check out our article “Where to Eat in Melaka – 16 Best Restaurants and Food Stalls” for all the delicious details!
🎞️ Watch the video we shot
Please watch the video shot during the Melaka River Cruise.
