The city of Malacca is divided into the new and old sections. The older part of the city is fairly compact and has many historical attractions tucked into the nooks and crannies of its narrow streets.

Much of the remnants of Malacca's glorious past lie within the Town Square and waterfront area near the river.

Just above the Town Square is St. Paul's Hill (Bukit St. Paul) which is the site of the original Portuguese fort of A'Famosa and St. Paul's Church.

There is a sign-posted heritage trail which visitors can follow to visit all the historical places in the older section of town. The new section of Malacca lies across the Malacca River and is mostly built on land reclaimed from the sea. It contains modern shopping centres like the Mahkota Parade and is a food and entertainment district.

Outside Malacca town, there are a few beaches, offshore islands and the Air Keroh district. This area is close to the North-South Expressway and has many recreational theme parks.