Merdeka Square
Merdeka Square
4
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
This square, surrounded by impressive historical buildings, is the literal heart of downtown Kuala Lumpur as well as the figurative heart of Malaysian nationalism.
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from RM 295.96
All you need to step foot in the door.
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Top ways to experience Merdeka Square
The area
How to get there
- Masjid Jamek • 5 min walk
- Pasar Seni • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,400 within 5 kms
Attractions
334 within 10 kms
See what other travellers are saying
- Shahrzad shIran2,236 contributionsbeautiful squsquareThis is a beautiful square. We got here near sunset and took beautiful photos, but to return you must use an internet taxi because a taxi does not pass through here and there is no cafe around the square. You have to go a long way to reach the cafe and rest. There are only a few private clubs that you must be a member of in order to use them!Visited October 2020Written 12 September 2021
- Laura TMiddlesbrough, United Kingdom6,963 contributionsNot a lot to do here but spend a few minutes walking around and taking photosSultan Abdul Samad Building faces the famous Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square), where the 100 meter-high flagpole was hoisted to signify the country’s independence from British rule. There is a large grass area and at the opposite end of the square is a relaxing park area with fountains, colonnades and colourful flower beds. We visited mid-day on a sunday and the road in front of the building was closed, not sure if this is normal or not? But it did make it a lot easier to take photos without having to battle with the traffic. Located next to Jamek Mosque and River of Life. It is not worthwhile spending a lot of time here, but definitely do detour if in the area to admire the architecture and take a few photos.Visited February 2020Written 12 March 2020
- jwgbusinessThornhill, Canada149 contributionsA great place to visit and just stroll aroundMerdeka Square is in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. There are many buildings of historical interest. Just beside the square is the Sultan Abdul Samad Building which is currently Government-used building. Opposite is the Royal Selangor Club which is a remnant of British colonialism, a meeting place for high ranking British ex-patriates. Another impressive building is the St. Mary’s Anglican Cathedral. There is a cricket field in the centre of these buildings and one can only guess what it was like during British occupation. There are several other notable buildings in the square including the city gallery. Not far off is the Railway station. When we visited, we believe there was a wedding going on and there were tents set up and free food being handed out. We took some for our driver.Visited December 2019Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,576 reviews
Excellent
396
Very good
742
Average
395
Poor
38
Terrible
5
Haytham Abu Firas
Qatar14,343 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Merdeka Square used to be the main area for all offices and government. Tourist Centre, old museums with historical sculptures and drawings, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, The big square with huge flag. Few minutes walk leads to The river of life and Jamek Mosque. Don’t forget to take picture near I ❤️ KL.
Written 27 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raditya A
Jakarta, Indonesia49 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Historical field with several landmarks surrounding it. Here only for photo-stop so no one on tour actually tells me the historical value of this place
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MD Kaiser Hossain
Dhaka City, Bangladesh11 contributions
Sep 2022 • Family
Dataran Merdeka, stands as a symbol of Malaysia's journey to independence and a reminder of the country's rich history. It's a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning about Malaysia's cultural and historical heritage.
Written 23 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DipuKV
Pune, India2,135 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Merdeka Square is huge, beautiful and well-maintained. A must do sightseeing feature of the city. This is where the Malaysian flag was first raised, and the flagpole is amongst the tallest in the world.
Written 18 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bukagirl
New Jersey3,852 contributions
Apr 2023 • Solo
The area is very nice with interesting architecture.
Go to the mosque, and they will rent you hair covers etc.
Walk the river of life to see the murals.
You can see it all in around 1 hour or less.
Go to the mosque, and they will rent you hair covers etc.
Walk the river of life to see the murals.
You can see it all in around 1 hour or less.
Written 4 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leonhkny
Hong Kong, China13,893 contributions
Feb 2023
This is the heart of colonial Kuala Lumpur. While British legacy may not be evident in the Malaysian capital, this lush square and the impressive former colonial administrative building mark the heyday of the Malay Federation. Unfortunately the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is not open to public.
Written 18 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay Z S
2 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
I live not far from this historical location. It's the heart of Kuala Lumpur. This is where the VIP's used to meet in the early 20th century. With the surroundings of other historical land marks , this is really a historical marvel.
Written 6 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
G2Kpauly
Melbourne, Australia1,887 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
I had a look at this square and not sure what the fuss is about. The main worthy spots to look at are around the square but nothing much there just a huge grass square?!
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B T
London, UK1,140 contributions
Aug 2022
The square itself is not that special, it is more that there are nice building around it as the Royal Selangor Club is on one side and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building is on the other. It's worth a look
Written 13 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shahrzad sh
Iran2,236 contributions
Oct 2020
This is a beautiful square. We got here near sunset and took beautiful photos, but to return you must use an internet taxi because a taxi does not pass through here and there is no cafe around the square. You have to go a long way to reach the cafe and rest. There are only a few private clubs that you must be a member of in order to use them!
Written 13 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ching C
Washington DC, DC
can you arrange one-day or half-day city tours with a local English speaking operator?
MichaelLee60
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia395 contributions
I am a resident of KL. Yes, there are many half day and full day tour you can organize with the hotel which will also pick you from hotel. Some of the places you can move around on your own are as below all in the same area but you need a little of walking
and the heat and humidity can be quite testing but its all part of tropical travel.
You can make a loop of these places on your own in your own pace and they are in the same locations just few hundred metres of each others.
Merdeka monument, Lake Garden, Butterfly Farm, Deer sanctuary, Bird Park (probably the biggest in the region with netted ara where birds flies freely - must visit).
If you are staying in downtown KL, this place is just a few Ringgit from your hotel and get the hotel to arrange a taxi which charges by metre. Alternatively, if budget is not an issue, the preferred way would be to hire a chauffer driven care from the hotel to zip you around for a day which probably cost you a few hundred Ringgit, cost of a day's hotel stay.
ohyesyoumae
5 contributions
Hello. I would like to ask if how long will it take me to tour the Merdeka Square? I will just go there to take some pictures and I am on a quick tour. Thank you very much!
tm62
Sydney, Australia50 contributions
Hi I was wondering if anyone knows if the free heritage walking tours run by the Government Tourism Mon, Wed,+ Sat for 2hrs of Merdeka Square are still operating? Any help greatly appreciated
Suratrichard
Surat Thani, Thailand1,580 contributions
I'm not sure about the tours but it's a good part of KL to visit independently. Many attractions are bases around the square including the City Gallery with an amazing model of KL, the cathedral of St Mary, the Sultan Abdul Samed building and apparently the tallest flagpole in the world! Some of the buildings are architecturally superb and one of them houses the national textile museum( if you visit there, we don't recommend the cafe in the museum!)
I would avoid going around mid day due to the heat and if you are using one of the hop on hop off buses, it will stop at Merkeka Square.
I can't include a website in my answer but there is a good one of Kuala Lumpur attractions.
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Claim your listingMERDEKA SQUARE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Merdeka Square
- Merdeka Square is open:
- Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
- Merdeka Square admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost RM 305.81, while a popular guided tour starts around RM 48.27 per person. See all 462 Merdeka Square tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- Merdeka Square can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. See all 462 Merdeka Square tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Merdeka Square:
- Skip the Line: Petronas Twin Tower Ticket & Short City Trip (From RM 305.81)
- Half-Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (From RM 113.86)
- Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Kuala Lumpur Private Tour (From RM 282.43)
- Kuala Lumpur InfoFun Walking Tour Experience (From RM 117.62)
- Private Half-Day Kuala Lumpur City Exploration Tour (From RM 141.15)
- Hotels near Merdeka Square:
- (0.18 km) Avenue J Hotel Central Market KL
- (0.12 km) Heritage Station Hotel
- (0.47 km) BackHome Kuala Lumpur Hostel
- (0.27 km) Pacific Express Hotel Central Market
- (0.25 km) Hotel A-One
- Restaurants near Merdeka Square:
- (0.04 km) Gloria Jean's Coffee
- (0.10 km) The Canteen by Chef Adu
- (0.15 km) TGI Friday
- (0.22 km) Cafe Old Market Square
- (0.25 km) ARCH Cafe