What it's actually here
Merdeka Square is where Malaysia's independence was formally declared in 1957, and the area around it — Jalan Raja, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, St Mary's Cathedral — is the single best-preserved stretch of colonial-era architecture in the city. It's also where the River of Life meets, near Masjid Jamek, one of KL's oldest mosques, sitting right at the confluence of the Klang and Gombak rivers that gave the city its name.
What's actually here
- Merdeka Square itself — a huge open field flanked by Moorish-style colonial buildings, popular for evening strolls
- Masjid Jamek, a photogenic riverside mosque open to respectful visitors outside prayer times
- Merdeka 118, currently the tallest building in Southeast Asia, rising dramatically behind the historic core
- The River of Life walkway, a landscaped riverside path connecting several of these sights
Who it suits
History and architecture fans, photographers wanting the contrast of colonial buildings against a supertall skyscraper, and anyone combining a heritage walk with nearby Chinatown, which is a short walk away.
The square and the river walkway are especially pleasant in the evening once the heat has dropped, with the colonial buildings often lit up after dark.