Melaka River Cruise

Visiting Historical City of Melaka is not complete without spending 45 minutes to cruise down the 9km-long Melaka River or popularly known as ‘Sungai Melaka’ via Melaka River Cruise.

Like a fairy tale, the founding of Melaka started with Parameswara, a young prince, who was on the run from his own kingdom. He was mesmerized by the bravery of a small white deer, which outsmarted his dogs. He decided to establish his new empire here. He named it after the Melaka Tree, which is found mainly by the banks of a river now known as Melaka River. Since then, Melaka City flourished along Melaka River.

Years passed, Melaka witnessed many changes but Melaka River still played an integral part in the formation of Melaka. Only its role had changed. Melaka River is no longer a primary transportation mode for one to travel from a village to another. It is now playing a much bigger and vital role in Melaka’s formation into a prime tourist destination with its new tourism iconic – Melaka River Cruise.

The cruise will take you to Dutch-era ancient buildings, old shop houses, Malay village, China Town, places of worship, museums, riverside cafes and many more sites that can only be treasured and cherished when you experience it personally. There are also a lot of good graffiti art and mural paintings on riverfront buildings, which add to the fascinating scenery.

Melaka River Cruise operates at night as well as during the day. The cruising experience is considerably different. The day cruise allows tourists to appreciate the details of the natural beauty while the night cruise offers opportunity to enjoy the cooling panoramic view with decorative lightings, water fountain show and lighted bridges. The cruise operates from the jetty at Taman Rempah (Spice Garden) and Dataran Sungai Melaka (Melaka River Square) along the river banks.

Apart from the river cruise, Melaka River Cruise also provides onboard riverboat dining with various menu selections and interestingly there were couples that have had their wedding ceremony on the boat to enjoy Melaka’s spectacular views. Tourists may also visit and experience Melaka River Pirate Park which is located near the river bank. It offers a day of fun and entertainment.

Many activities had been held to promote the Melaka River. The biggest and the most important event is the annual Melaka River International Festival, which is held in June for the last ten years. Many exciting events are conducted for the tourists such as the Dragon Boat Race, Power Boat Race, Decorated Boat Parade, Canoe Marathon, Melaka Parade and not forgetting the colourful and joyous opening ceremony during the festival.

Today, the Melaka River Cruise has become one of the popular tourist destinations in Melaka and it has a lot to offer. The cruise is a great way to see the sights of Melaka – once dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’ by European seafarers – at a leisurely pace and in comfort. Your visit to melaka is incomplete if you do not cruise the Melaka River@Sungai Melaka |T: +606 2861533