Ah, Merdeka.
A time of patriotic displays, grateful working-class folk and…bored people?
We get it, life can be too busy for holiday planning sometimes.
So, to help you spend a memorable Merdeka weekend, here are a few last-minute ideas for the Merdeka long weekend!
Watch a Parade (For Real!)
Remember those Merdeka parades you watched as a kid on the TV? Well, maybe it’s time to watch one for real!
Taking place at the absolutely massive Dataran Putrajaya, the annual Merdeka parade will begin at 7:15am featuring thousands of performers, guests and visitors.
Arriving early to the event of Merdeka is a must if you want to get the best seats.
Thankfully, all Rapid KL rail services and BRT routes along with selected bus and DRT routes will be operating 24 hours from 30 August (6am) to 31 August (11:30pm). Come early!
KLIA Transit is also offering 50% OFF to and from Putrajaya & Cyberjaya Station, so feel free to take some public transportation to avoid the jams!
If you do dare to brave the traffic horror story, then take heart – there’ll be one of 1,500 parking bays for you to (hopefully) snag.
Chill at a Museum or Gallery
Instead of jostling for a spot among thousands, perhaps you’re attracted more to the quiet and introspective.
And what better place to find both than at a museum?
You could go for the classics like Muzium Negara to get a refresher on our nation’s history.
Or you could browse the National Art Gallery and its peerless collection of local art.
The underrated Bank Negara Museum has also been making waves with its inventive exhibits and gorgeous architecture.
Of course, there’s also the more obscure and underrated locations that contributed to our nation’s independence such as the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial or Melaka’s Proclamation of Independence Memorial, both of which we go into further detail in our guide here.
For those into Japanese anime and manga, there’s also the ongoing Ryoko Kui x Delicious in Dungeon Exhibition happening at Fahrenheit88. Here’s our review of this quirky experience.
Head Back to Nature
However, true fans of solitude might want to look further into the green lungs and spaces that dot our beautiful capital city.
KL-ites have an easy escape in the Perdana Botanical Gardens, which houses vast parks, a pleasant lake and easy access to local landmarks like Dataran Merdeka, Masjid Negara and Tugu Negara.
Further afield you also have the newly-minted UNESCO site of FRIM and its kilometers of hiking trails and waterfall leisure spots. On the opposite end, the wild, winding trails of Bukit Gasing are also a great choice for some great outdoor fun.
Buy or Eat Something Nice
You’ve made it two-thirds of the way through 2025, so why not treat yourself to something yummy or pretty this Merdeka?
Perhaps it’s a pricey restaurant you’ve been eyeing (say, around SS2?), a Merdeka buffet at a classy restaurant or a hipster-foodie paradise like REXKL – whatever your tastebuds, you deserve a good meal!
Along with good eats, there’s also the must-do Malaysian pastime – shopping till you drop around a massive mall!
Almost every mall worth its salt in the Klang Valley is guaranteed to have deals, displays and events to lure shoppers in, so take advantage of the festive mood to get a little something nice for yourself to tide you over until the year-end holidays.
For truly rock-bottom deals, you could even try bundle diving in one of the many bundle stores that have mushroomed up in the Klang Valley lately.
Don’t let your four-day Malaysia Day weekend go to waste either!
If you start planning now you can enjoy the long weekend visiting some of the charming small towns along the KTM ETS rail route, go glamping at some highlands right next door or enjoy a comfy staycation!
