Bukit Melaka or St. Paul's Hill is the most visited place in the city, surrounded by many sights and attractions.

At the top of the hill stands the ruins of St. Paul's Church, one of the most famous historical sites in all of Malaysia. Then there are plenty of museums, a fortress and shopping malls in the surrounding area.

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Climb to St. Paul's Church

The main landmark of the whole of Malacca stands on top of a hill.

Built during Portuguese rule over Malacca between 1566 and 1590, St. Paul's Church is the oldest European colonial monument east of India.

Only about 15 years younger is the Portuguese St. Paul's Church in Macau.

During Dutch rule in the 17th century, the church was converted from Catholic to Protestant, and during British rule in the 19th century, the church was abandoned and left to its fate.

Today you can only visit its well-preserved ruins. All the outer walls and the beautifully restored bell tower remain standing. The roof and the interior of the church are missing.

From the top of the hill you can enjoy beautiful views of the whole town.

Admission and opening hours

Admission to the hill and the ruins of St Paul's Church is free.

The church is not fenced in any way, so you can visit the whole hill 24/7.

How to get there

There are two routes to the top of Bukit Melaka.

The main staircase connects the church with the A Famosa fortress and leads from the south side.

The secondary staircase from the north side is hidden behind a gate, but it is not locked. This route option is faster if you go from the central Dutch Square.

Museums in the area

You can visit several museums around the perimeter of Bukit Melaka.

• The Independence Proclamation Memorial
  • arkib.gov.my/proclamation-of-independence-memorial
• Rakyat Museum - focusing on technology and science
  • perzim.gov.my
• Muzium Seni Bina Malaysia - a small museum of architecture
  • jmm.gov.my/muzium-seni-bina-malaysia
• Muzium Islam Melaka - Islamic Art
• Muzium Yang di-Pertua Negeri - former residence of the Governor
  • jmm.gov.my/muzium-yang-di-pertua-negeri-melaka
• UMNO Museum - dedicated to the history of the UMNO Malaysian political party
• Historic Vehicle Park with one aircraft and 2 railway carriages (free to enter)

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Malacca.