What to expect when visiting Malacca
Dubbed the “Historic State,” Malacca is the oldest town in Malaysia. It was once the home of the earliest Malay sultanates — whose reign was abolished by the Portuguese in the 1500s, and then later on by the Dutch and the British. Their colonial imprints still remain in some of Malacca’s oldest buildings.
Apart from the beautiful architecture, what we love about this old town is its diverse range of people. Its strategic location made Malacca a popular trade centre for centuries. And even now, you will find the descendants of those traders here — people with a mix of Malay, Arabian, Indian, Chinese, and European descent still reside in Malacca.
Crossing the border: What you can’t bring into Malaysia
You don’t have anything to fill out when entering Malaysia. Most nationalities are allowed to travel from Singapore to Malacca without a visa. Seems a bit lax, doesn’t it?
But don’t be too overconfident, especially with what you try to bring in to the country. They are not very forgiving to those who are caught with any of their prohibited items. See the list below:
For more details, visit Malaysia’s Customs Department website.
1 way to get from Singapore to Malacca
The bus is the only suitable way for travellers to cross the distance of 240 km (149 miles) from Singapore to Malacca. The journey takes around 4h and costs start from 20 SGD ($14.50).Singapore to Malacca by Bus
Luxury Coach Service offers one daily trip from Singapore to Malacca daily. This bus departs from Concorde Hotel along Orchard Road in Singapore city centre at 08:00 every morning. It arrives in Malacca after around 4 hours.
They have five drop-off points in the colonial town: Swiss Garden Hotel, Casa del Rio Hotel, Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Hatten Hotel, and The Straits Hotel. You can just choose which one is nearest to your destination.
We highly recommend booking a ticket beforehand via BusOnlineTicket to secure a seat. A ticket costs 20 SGD ($15) for a bus ride from Singapore to Malacca.
Check Bus Tickets with BusOnlineTicket
Immigration Checkpoints
Your bus from Singapore to Malacca makes two stops for customs and immigration checks – first at Woodlands Checkpoint (Singapore) and then at Johor Bahru across the border in Malaysia. You can expect the first stop around 40 minutes into your bus journey.
For both checkpoints, you’ll have to get off your bus and have your passport stamped and your luggage checked. Make sure to go back to your bus as soon as you’re done because they only have a 20-minute waiting time unless it’s busy at the checkpoint.
After the 2nd checkpoint, you can rest easy for around 3.5 hours until your bus arrives in Malacca.
Frequently Asked Questions about Singapore to Malacca
What is the distance from Singapore to Malacca?
The distance from Singapore to Malacca is 240 km (149 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Singapore to Malacca?
The fastest way to get from Singapore to Malacca is by bus and takes 4 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Singapore to Malacca?
The cheapest way to get from Singapore to Malacca is by bus with ticket costs starting from 20 SGD ($14.50).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Singapore to Malacca. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Kate is a writer, (ex)Management Consultant and avid traveller. She recently returned from a 2-year career break exploring the world and decided corporate life wasn’t for her. She’ll soon be testing life as a digital nomad. She’s visited over 40 countries and fell in love with Latin America in particular. Her travelling has inspired a passion for yoga, salsa, hiking and Spanish.
