Kampung Morten

Kampung Morten is a Malay village that has stayed put while the city grew around it, occupying a loop of the Malacca river a few minutes from the centre; it was established in the 1920s on land arranged by J F Morten, a British district officer, when Malay families were moved from elsewhere in the town. The houses are traditional Melaka Malay: raised on posts, with the distinctive front stair of glazed tiles, wide verandahs, carved fascia boards and painted timber in strong colours. Villa Sentosa, one of the older houses, is opened by the family as a small living museum with heirlooms and photographs, shown by whichever family member is about. The riverside walk and the river cruise both pass along the edge, and the village is a short and pleasant walk from the tourist centre.

What to look for

• Traditional stilt houses - raised timber, wide verandahs, carved fascias.
• Tiled front stairways - the glazed-tile steps characteristic of Melaka Malay houses.
• Villa Sentosa - a family home opened as a small living museum.
• The river loop - the bend the village sits inside, walked or cruised.

When to go

All year; mornings and late afternoon. Two hours.

What to expect

People live here - this is not an open-air museum, so stay on the lanes and ask before photographing houses or residents. Villa Sentosa's hours depend on the family being in.

Nearby

The Malacca river walk, Jonker Street and the old town are minutes away.

Key facts