Dataran Merdeka
Dataran Merdeka
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.
Duration: < 1 hour
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Dataran Merdeka
Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.
The area
Address
How to get there
- Masjid Jamek • 5 min walk
- Bandaraya • 9 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3,039 within 5 kms
Attractions
352 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
1,600 reviews
Excellent
403
Very good
758
Average
396
Poor
38
Terrible
5
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
gustova_69
Pereslavl-Zalessky, Russia4,157 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
Merdeka Square has another name - Independence Square. It was here that the Union Jack was lowered and the Malaysian flag was raised for the first time on August 31, 1957, an event that symbolized Malaysia's liberation from British colonial rule. On this day, parades and celebrations are held here in honor of the country's Independence Day. In the middle of the square there is now a hundred-meter flagpole with the flag of Malaysia. Across the road from the square there are very beautiful historical buildings that are a legacy of the colonial past. Particularly impressive is the palace of Sultan Abdul-Samad, made in architecture with an Arabic motif with numerous fairy-tale arches and towers with domed roofs. In the middle of the building rises a 40-meter clock tower, which is also crowned with a dome. The square is very beautiful, I definitely recommend visiting it. There are interesting sights and art objects nearby for photo ops, including the Queen Victoria Fountain and Kilometer Zero.
Written 18 June 2024
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.
YuppieLionheart
Philippines674 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
A historic place in Kuala Lumpur, it's a good place to visit if you want to appreciate the architectural structure of the buildings in the area. There is a gallery which is free of entrance and there are nearby cafes to grab some food. We had a photo op in front of the "I Love KL" then we roamed around the area. It's also walking distance to the river of life.
Written 27 August 2024
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.
Viajera senior
Barcelona, Spain95 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
Huge building with beautiful, interesting and original architecture. They say the first Malaysian flag was made here. Also the building contains the clock tower that they like to call the Asian "big ben"
Automatically translated
Written 8 July 2024
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.
fire-tower
3,533 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
We visited Merdeka Square on a Saturday morning. As it was early, there was not much crowd even though there was an event going on. The grounds is historic in that the Malaysian flag was raised here on 31 Aug 1957 to replace the British flag. The area is also nicely maintained. To appreciate the visit, it is recommended to read up on this place of interest prior visiting.
Written 25 May 2024
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.
spedubec
Bologna, Italy5,855 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
This rectangular square should be the starting point for any visit to Kuala Lumpur given its central location. Part of the square is occupied by a well-kept green lawn. On one of the long sides of the rectangle is a building from the English colonial era. In the middle of the square there is a very high pole (they say it is the highest in the world) on which stands the Malaysian flag. On the north side there is the small Christian church of Santa Maria.
Automatically translated
Written 26 January 2025
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.
Sejin Ahn
Seoul, South Korea10,458 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, this place has been used as a cricket field since the 1880s when the leadership of Slangor was moved from Klang to KL. The history of independence began with the decline of the British flag on 31 August 1957 and the proclamation of the flag of Malaya (now 11 western provinces of Malaysia, the eastern part of which did not constitute a federal state). The view is represented by several old buildings such as Sultan Abdul Samad Building and a 95-meter-high banner, but unfortunately the square was under construction at the time of the visit.
Automatically translated
Written 30 October 2024
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.
Dan L
Bunbury, Australia9,018 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
This was our second visit to Independence Square, a historic area where the Union Jack was lowered and replaced by the Malaysian flag at midnight on 31st August, 1957 and now the venue for the annua Independence Parade. The flagpole rises to a height of 95m and the Square is surrounded by various historic buildings. Still vestiges of the British presence with the Royal Selangor Club and the Victoria Fountain.
Written 2 April 2024
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.
YB1972
Geneva, Switzerland29,415 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
In the hyper center of Kuala Lumpur, this large square is a must. It commemorates the independence of the country in 1959. Large green space surrounded by historic buildings, Sultan Abdul Samad Palace and St. Mary's Cathedral to the north. The flag-carrying post of the square is one of the highest in the world with its 95m.
Automatically translated
Written 19 October 2024
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
United Arab Emirates1,859 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.
Princes of travel
Paris, France7,726 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Independence Square commemorates, as its name suggests, the independence of Malaysia from the United Kingdom on August 31, 1957.
Located in the heart of the city, there is a large garden with a huge pylon with a flag, opposite the Sultan's palace, which cannot be visited.
A highly symbolic place for all Malaysians. A fantastic place to go and spend time.
Located in the heart of the city, there is a large garden with a huge pylon with a flag, opposite the Sultan's palace, which cannot be visited.
A highly symbolic place for all Malaysians. A fantastic place to go and spend time.
Written 9 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.
Ching C
Washington DC, District of Columbia
can you arrange one-day or half-day city tours with a local English speaking operator?
Written 13 May 2015
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.
Written 15 May 2015
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!
Written 1 April 2015
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
Written 21 February 2015
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.
Written 22 February 2015
Showing results 1-3 of 3
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing