Top Hostels in Melaka, Malaysia
The living history museum known as Melaka in Malaysia provides plenty of budget accommodations for travelers. The hostels listed here are mostly within walking distance to Melaka's interesting historical sites (most of them are handily arranged in our historic Melaka walking tour; for a visual tour of Melaka's attractions, check out our gallery of Images of Melaka).
For other accommodations in the area, read our list of Melaka hotels. For other budget digs in the rest of the country, check out this list of top Malaysia hostels.
One of Melaka's handful of hostels set in pre-World War I buildings, the Troka Prewar Residence & Coffee Bar manages to evoke a modern feel nonetheless, with a 24-hour front desk and seven rooms with room enough for a total of 21 guests at one time. Rooms are basic: desk, personal safe, access to shared bathroom/shower with hot water, and free WiFi. Bicycle rentals available upon request. The hostel does not permit pets or children below 10 years of age.
The Eastern Heritage hostel is set in a building first erected in 1918, and the management has preserved the structure's neo-classical European façade and much of the original detailing. The corridors and rooms bear some of the original structure's tiling, carved paneling, and other ornamentation, with some elements freshly painted over with gold leaf. The rooms bear a "pseudo-art-deco" look, while the exterior is decorated with floral motifs.
The rooms come with wooden floors and high ceilings, but not all of them have outside windows. Dorms come with access to shared toilet and shower, with basic amenities. Guests can take a dip in the tiny plunge pool after a day of exploring.
The hostel's location places its guests right in the center of town - within Little India, right next to Chinatown, and a five-minute walk from Melaka's most historical sites.
The Travelers Planet hostel features 13 guestrooms with direct access to Melaka's most interesting tourist sites, near a night market and many restaurants. The capacious common area allows guests to socialize; a mini-library is available for book-loving guests.
The Kota Lodge has 20 guestrooms with free WiFi. The hostel's public areas are newly refurbished, with a spanking new lobby and coffee room with 32-inch LCD TV. Other hostel amenities include a mini-library with book exchange service and mountain bike rental.
Kota Lodge's ideal location in Chinatown - only five minutes' walk to Jonker Street, near the Malacca River, and within ten minutes' walk to Melaka's most interesting tourist sites - puts guests in the middle of the action. Other nearby places of interest include a 24-hour convenience store practically next door; food court center; Pakistani restaurant; and shopping mall.
21 air-conditioned guestrooms at the Yellow Mansion Hotel include several dorm rooms with 13 beds; private rooms have cable TV, ironing facilities, and bathroom en suite with hot showers. Onsite restaurant serves Malay and international meals; if that doesn't float your boat, a wide range of food options are just a few minutes' walk away.
The front desk is open 24 hours a day, and can help guests out with travel arrangements like an airport shuttle. An internet café at the ground floor lets guests check their email even if traveling without their laptops.
The owner of the Backpacker's Freak, Sean, is perhaps the hostel's biggest draw: he does all the work on the place himself, but is a great resource for all things to do or see in Melaka. Sean keeps pets on the premises, so this may be good/bad depending on your tastes.
Accommodations in the Backpacker's Freak are mainly 4-bed dorms, with a smattering of private rooms. The third-floor rooms are the best in the place, although none of the rooms have windows facing out to the street. A basic coffee/toast-and-spread breakfast is included in the stay, and is served in the communal kitchen in the mornings.
The "Balinese-style" common lounge has a large TV and DVD collection, where you can socialize with the hostel's other guests. Smoking is allowed in the communal areas, though.
Located just a few minutes' walk away from Jonker Street, the Ringo's Foyer Guest House benefits from the owner's personal touch: Howard serves as Ringo's one man show, mingling with the guests and dispensing travel advice as needed. Room options range from fan-cooled dorms to air-conditioned private rooms. Other amenities include a rooftop deck, kitchen facilities, and common area with TV and free WiFi.
Bike rentals are available upon request; Howard runs bike tours almost every night from 8pm onward, providing every attendee with a helmet, safety jacket, and bike light.
The 13-room Sayang-Sayang includes a number of dormitory rooms, ranging from 2-bed shared dorms to the largest 8-bed dorm; air conditioning is present in dorm rooms, but activated only on Friday and Saturday nights. Guests get access to shared bathrooms; all beds in dorm rooms have privacy curtains and lockers.
The rear of the guesthouse faces the Malacca River, allowing guests to have a relaxing riverside drink with other guests, or enjoy a barbecue with newfound friends. From either entrance, guests can walk to nearby Jonker Street and many other attractions nearby. Bicycle rental/tours available upon request.
For other accommodations in the area, read our list of Melaka hotels. For other budget digs in the rest of the country, check out this list of top Malaysia hostels.
Troka Prewar Residence
One of Melaka's handful of hostels set in pre-World War I buildings, the Troka Prewar Residence & Coffee Bar manages to evoke a modern feel nonetheless, with a 24-hour front desk and seven rooms with room enough for a total of 21 guests at one time. Rooms are basic: desk, personal safe, access to shared bathroom/shower with hot water, and free WiFi. Bicycle rentals available upon request. The hostel does not permit pets or children below 10 years of age.
- Star rating: ★★☆☆☆
- Address: 7 Lorong Bukit Cina, Jalan Temenggong, Bandaraya Melaka
- Phone: +60 123 887 369
Eastern Heritage
The Eastern Heritage hostel is set in a building first erected in 1918, and the management has preserved the structure's neo-classical European façade and much of the original detailing. The corridors and rooms bear some of the original structure's tiling, carved paneling, and other ornamentation, with some elements freshly painted over with gold leaf. The rooms bear a "pseudo-art-deco" look, while the exterior is decorated with floral motifs.
The rooms come with wooden floors and high ceilings, but not all of them have outside windows. Dorms come with access to shared toilet and shower, with basic amenities. Guests can take a dip in the tiny plunge pool after a day of exploring.
The hostel's location places its guests right in the center of town - within Little India, right next to Chinatown, and a five-minute walk from Melaka's most historical sites.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: 8 Jalan Bukit Cina, Melaka
- Phone: +60 4283 3026
Travelers Planet
The Travelers Planet hostel features 13 guestrooms with direct access to Melaka's most interesting tourist sites, near a night market and many restaurants. The capacious common area allows guests to socialize; a mini-library is available for book-loving guests.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: 1-19 Jalan PM3, Plaza Mahkota, Melaka
- Phone: +60 162 426 699
Kota Lodge
The Kota Lodge has 20 guestrooms with free WiFi. The hostel's public areas are newly refurbished, with a spanking new lobby and coffee room with 32-inch LCD TV. Other hostel amenities include a mini-library with book exchange service and mountain bike rental.
Kota Lodge's ideal location in Chinatown - only five minutes' walk to Jonker Street, near the Malacca River, and within ten minutes' walk to Melaka's most interesting tourist sites - puts guests in the middle of the action. Other nearby places of interest include a 24-hour convenience store practically next door; food court center; Pakistani restaurant; and shopping mall.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: No.26A Jalan Kota Laksamana 3,Taman Kota Laksaman, Melaka
- Phone: +60 6281 6512
Yellow Mansion
21 air-conditioned guestrooms at the Yellow Mansion Hotel include several dorm rooms with 13 beds; private rooms have cable TV, ironing facilities, and bathroom en suite with hot showers. Onsite restaurant serves Malay and international meals; if that doesn't float your boat, a wide range of food options are just a few minutes' walk away.
The front desk is open 24 hours a day, and can help guests out with travel arrangements like an airport shuttle. An internet café at the ground floor lets guests check their email even if traveling without their laptops.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: 45 Jalan Banda Kaba, Melaka
- Phone: +60 6283 8885
Backpacker's Freak Hostel
The owner of the Backpacker's Freak, Sean, is perhaps the hostel's biggest draw: he does all the work on the place himself, but is a great resource for all things to do or see in Melaka. Sean keeps pets on the premises, so this may be good/bad depending on your tastes.
Accommodations in the Backpacker's Freak are mainly 4-bed dorms, with a smattering of private rooms. The third-floor rooms are the best in the place, although none of the rooms have windows facing out to the street. A basic coffee/toast-and-spread breakfast is included in the stay, and is served in the communal kitchen in the mornings.
The "Balinese-style" common lounge has a large TV and DVD collection, where you can socialize with the hostel's other guests. Smoking is allowed in the communal areas, though.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: 1-25/3-25 Jalan PM2, Plaza Mahkota, Melaka
- Phone: +60 62 426 699
Ringo's Foyer Guest House
Located just a few minutes' walk away from Jonker Street, the Ringo's Foyer Guest House benefits from the owner's personal touch: Howard serves as Ringo's one man show, mingling with the guests and dispensing travel advice as needed. Room options range from fan-cooled dorms to air-conditioned private rooms. Other amenities include a rooftop deck, kitchen facilities, and common area with TV and free WiFi.
Bike rentals are available upon request; Howard runs bike tours almost every night from 8pm onward, providing every attendee with a helmet, safety jacket, and bike light.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: 46-A Jln Portugis, Melaka
- Phone: +60 6 281 6393
Sayang - Sayang Guest House
The 13-room Sayang-Sayang includes a number of dormitory rooms, ranging from 2-bed shared dorms to the largest 8-bed dorm; air conditioning is present in dorm rooms, but activated only on Friday and Saturday nights. Guests get access to shared bathrooms; all beds in dorm rooms have privacy curtains and lockers.
The rear of the guesthouse faces the Malacca River, allowing guests to have a relaxing riverside drink with other guests, or enjoy a barbecue with newfound friends. From either entrance, guests can walk to nearby Jonker Street and many other attractions nearby. Bicycle rental/tours available upon request.
- Star rating: ★☆☆☆☆
- Address: No.16 Jalan Kampung Hulu, Melaka
- Phone: +60 122 505 138