Melaka Temples: 13 Temples, Mosques and Churches
Melaka temples, mosques and churches reflect five centuries of trade and colonial rule in the city long spelt Malacca in English. This guide covers 13 places of worship checked for October 2026: 3 Chinese temples, the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia, 5 mosques including the Straits Mosque over the sea, and 4 churches from the Portuguese, Dutch and later periods.
All except the St Paul's ruins are active places of worship. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, remove shoes where asked, stay quiet during prayers and services, and ask before photographing people. We could not confirm set visiting hours for most of them, so go in the morning and check on arrival. Other sights are in the Melaka attractions guide.
Lompat ke tempat (13)
Sepintas lalu
Chinese Temples in Melaka
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
Cheng Hoon Teng, the Temple of Green Cloud, is described as the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia. It follows the three teachings of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, and its front hall is richly carved and painted.
It stands on Jalan Tokong, part of the stretch nicknamed Harmony Street because a temple, a mosque and a Hindu temple sit within a short walk of each other. Worshippers come and go all day; keep to the sides and do not photograph people praying.
Xiang Lin Si Temple
Xiang Lin Si is a two-storey Mahayana Buddhist temple directly opposite Cheng Hoon Teng. It was built as a Buddhist temple, while Cheng Hoon Teng combines three teachings.
Visit the two together; they take about half an hour in total.
Poh San Teng Temple
Poh San Teng was founded in 1795 by the Chinese Kapitan Chua Su Cheong so that prayers could be held for the people buried on Bukit China, sheltered from wind and rain. It is dedicated to Tua Pek Kong and is sometimes wrongly called the Sam Po Kong temple.
Hang Li Poh's Well is right beside it, and paths lead up the hill into the cemetery. See Melaka attractions for Bukit China itself.
Hindu Temple in Melaka
Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple
Built in 1781 by Thaivanayagam Chitty, leader of the Chitty community, on land granted by the Dutch, this is the oldest Hindu temple still standing in Malaysia. It is dedicated to Vinayagar (Ganesha), and a second altar honours Lord Muruga.
The Chitty are Tamil-descended Peranakans, and the temple is one of the few Chitty temples in the country. Look for Dutch-period details in the entrance, columns and roof tiles.
Mosques in Melaka
Kampung Kling Mosque
Kampung Kling Mosque was founded in 1748 by Indian Muslim traders as a timber building and rebuilt in brick in 1872. Its design mixes Sumatran, Chinese, Hindu and Malay elements: a pagoda-like minaret, a tiered roof, English and Portuguese glazed tiles, Ionic columns and a Victorian chandelier.
It is an active mosque. Visitors should come outside prayer times, especially Friday midday, dress modestly and follow the guidance of mosque staff.
Kampung Hulu Mosque
Kampung Hulu Mosque, built around 1720 to 1728 and renovated in 1892, is the oldest mosque in Melaka and among the oldest in Malaysia. Its tiered pyramid roof and pagoda-like minaret reflect Javanese, Malay, Sumatran and Chinese influences.
An old cemetery beside the mosque holds the graves of several preachers. It is a short walk north of Jonker Walk.
Tranquerah Mosque (Masjid Tengkera)
Tranquerah Mosque was built in 1728, originally entirely of timber, and was Melaka's state mosque until Masjid Al-Azim opened in 1990. It has a triple-tiered roof and, unusually, a pagoda-style tower in place of a minaret.
The tomb of Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor lies in the grounds. The mosque is gazetted under the National Heritage Act 2005.
Melaka Straits Mosque (Masjid Selat Melaka)
The Straits Mosque stands on stilts on the man-made Melaka Island and appears to float when the tide is high. It was opened in November 2006 and combines Middle Eastern and Malay craftsmanship, with stained glass filling the space between its two front arches.
Its 30-metre minaret also works as a lighthouse. Many people come for the sunset over the Strait; that visit is in the Melaka night view guide.
Masjid Al-Azim
Al-Azim is Melaka's state mosque, opened on 13 July 1990 to replace Tranquerah Mosque. Its tiered roofs follow the traditional Melaka mosque style, and it can hold about 12,000 worshippers.
It sits beside the state Al-Quran museum and the State Heroes Mausoleum, away from the tourist centre, so you need a car or e-hailing ride.
Churches in Melaka
Christ Church Melaka
Christ Church was built by the Dutch between 1741 and 1753 and is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia. It became Anglican after the British took Melaka and was renamed Christ Church in 1838.
Inside, the ceiling is spanned by wooden beams each cut from a single tree, and the floor is paved with granite blocks that once served as ships' ballast. Old tombstones and memorial plaques line the walls.
St Paul's Church
St Paul's Church was built by the Portuguese between 1566 and 1590 on the summit of St Paul's Hill, and is described as the oldest European building east of India. Under the Dutch it became their main church until Christ Church was finished, and it has been a roofless ruin for a long time.
Large Dutch and Portuguese tombstones stand against its walls, and there are views over the old town and the sea. A Mass is still held here on the first Saturday of December for the feast of St Francis Xavier.
St Peter's Church
St Peter's was built in 1710 on land given by a Dutch convert, after decades in which Catholics in Dutch Melaka were not allowed their own churches. It is the oldest functioning Roman Catholic church in Malaysia and was a Portuguese mission church for almost three centuries.
The facade mixes European and local styles. The church was extensively restored for its 300th anniversary in 2010.
Church of St Francis Xavier
This twin-spired neo-Gothic church was built from 1849 to 1856 by French missionaries on the site of an earlier Portuguese church, and is said to be modelled on St Peter's Cathedral in Montpellier. It is the largest church in Melaka.
Stained glass above the altar shows the life of St Francis Xavier, who preached in Melaka in the 16th century. It is about two minutes on foot from Dutch Square.
How to Visit Melaka Temples in One Morning
Start on Jalan Tokong at Cheng Hoon Teng and Xiang Lin Si, then walk a few steps to Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple on Jalan Tukang Emas. Kampung Hulu Mosque is five minutes further north.
Cross the river to Dutch Square for Christ Church and the Church of St Francis Xavier, then climb the steps to the St Paul's Church ruins. Poh San Teng and Bukit China are about 1 km east; Tranquerah Mosque, Masjid Al-Azim and the Straits Mosque are easier by car.
Avoid mosques at prayer times and on Friday around midday, and do not walk into churches during Mass or Sunday services. Morning visits are cooler and quieter.
Melaka Temples: FAQ
What is the oldest temple in Melaka?
Cheng Hoon Teng on Jalan Tokong is described as the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia. Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple (1781) is the oldest Hindu temple, and Kampung Hulu Mosque (about 1728) is the oldest mosque in Melaka.
What is Harmony Street in Melaka?
It is the nickname for Jalan Tokong and Jalan Tukang Emas in Chinatown, where Cheng Hoon Teng, Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple stand a few steps apart.
Do Melaka temples charge an entrance fee?
No. All 13 places in this guide are free to enter. Temples accept donations.
What should I wear to Melaka temples and mosques?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off where asked. At mosques, women may need to cover their hair; some mosques lend robes. Avoid prayer times, especially Friday midday.
Can I visit the Melaka Straits Mosque at sunset?
Many visitors do, but sunset is close to the Maghrib prayer, so the prayer hall may be busy. Stay outside during prayers, dress modestly, and check visiting hours with the mosque before you go.