Malacca (Melaka) is a historic port city on the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its remarkably layered colonial past — it was successively ruled by the Malacca Sultanate, Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and each left indelible marks on the city's architecture and culture. The iconic red Dutch Stadthuys on the town square, the ruins of the Portuguese A Famosa fort, and the pastel-painted Jonker Street in Chinatown — lined with antique shops, heritage museums, and night-market stalls — are the defining sights. Malacca is also the heartland of Baba-Nyonya (Peranakan) culture, the unique fusion of Chinese and Malay heritage expressed in elaborate embroidered clothing, intricate beaded shoes, and a distinctive cuisine fusing Chinese ingredients with Malay spices. The trishaw (decorated bicycle rickshaw) is the city's most recognisable form of transport. Malacca is easily reached from Kuala Lumpur by express bus (2 hours) and makes an excellent day trip or overnight stop.