Flor De La Mar – the Melaka Maritime Museum

Visiting the Melaka Maritime Museum is one of the top activities to do for history lovers as well as families with kids while exploring Melaka. It is fantastic for all young and old to know a little bit more about the glorious contributions of Melaka in the historic Straits of Melaka. The younger ones may enjoy going up the big galleon for an eye-opening experience even though the contents inside the gallery may not interest them much.

Foreigner’s adult ticket price to enter the museum is MYR10, and it includes entrance to the full-sized replica of Flor De La Mar, Muzium Samudera and the Royal Malaysian Navy Museum.

Flor De La Mar

The Flor De La Mar was a Portuguese trading ship of 400 tons that sailed the seas during the early 1500s. This ship was carrying a significant amount of treasure when it sank near Sumatra, possibly in the Strait of Malacca. It was on the way back to Portugal and was unfortunately caught in a storm.

The construction of the museum started in February 1992 and was completed in October 1993. It was officially declared open by June 1994. The museum features the history of Melaka from its four eras – the Golden Era of the Melaka Malay Sultanate (1400 – 1511), the Portuguese Era (1511 – 1641), the Dutch Era (1641 – 1795) and the British Era (1824 – 1957).

The interior of the ship was dim and serene. Unfortunately, my children did not quite like the surrounding darkness and preferred to rush through the tour. For me, I find the numerous gorgeous oil paintings displayed in the museum very informative. The paintings told the story of Malacca, its Golden Era, its colonial days and the dark years. When the colonisers were no longer interested in Melaka, they allowed its trading activities to decline slowly. The once vibrant city became the “Sleepy Hollow” under British rule.

Muzium Samudera

After getting off the Flor De La Mar, we turned left towards Muzium Samudera which is formerly godown. This museum displays fishing boats, some replicates of marine creatures and birds and lots of posters. 

I did not find the displays and the posters interesting. It was a quick tour and we left the place.

Royal Malaysian Navy Museum.

As for the Royal Malaysian Navy Museum, we totally missed it. The counter staff didn’t tell us that we could enter the third museum.

The Royal Malaysian Navy Museum is right across the street from the Melaka Maritime Museum. It displays the salvaged remains of 19th-century ships that foundered or sank in the Melaka Straits. Click here to read more about it.

Find the Melaka Maritime Museum – Flor De La Mar

Location: Jalan Merdeka, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia

Click here for the location on the google map.

Best Time to Visit

The museum opens from 9 am to 6 pm daily. However, the ticketing counter closes at 5 pm. Going there right after lunch to avoid the hot afternoon sun before venturing to Jonker Street may be one of the best bets.

A word for families with strollers or wheelchairs. The museum is not pram nor wheelchair-friendly. Bring along your baby carrier to give you the maximum freedom!

You may also be interested in the following posts:

2019 – 3D2N Melaka with Kids – Itinerary and Food

Visit the Melaka Submarine Museum

Melaka Thousands Tales of Adventures – Review

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