Vibrant Malacca

In a country where so much is new, Malacca will give you a rare sense of Malaysia's past, says Rhymer Rigby in the Sunday Telegraph. Founded in the 15th century, it was the most important port in southeast Asia until the British began favouring nearby Singapore. As a result of that decline, its beautiful mixture of Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese and Islamic architecture remains largely as it was 100 years ago. The city's Chinatown, in particular, is a "great place to wander" - past traditional shophouses with cool, dark interiors (many now converted into stylish boutiques and cafes), temples, mosques and "the odd museum". The city is equally vivacious in the evenings, with an atmospheric night market, lively bars, and restaurants where you can sample the region's famously spicy Nonya cuisine. Malacca is 90 miles from Kuala Lumpur airport. The Majestic (+60 6289 8000; from £160) is the town's most stylish hotel.

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