Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the blog.
Merdeka 118 is Kuala Lumpur’s newest icon and the second-tallest building in the world, so it’s no surprise that more and more people are asking the same thing: can you go up it yet, and is the view worth it? Here’s the honest, up-to-date answer, because the situation is still evolving and a lot of what’s online is out of date.
The short version: the tower itself is open and its observation deck, The View at 118, is in the process of opening through 2026 after a series of delays. That means the details below are the best current picture, but you should always check the official Merdeka 118 site before you plan a visit around it. Let’s go through what’s open, what’s coming, what it’ll cost, and whether it’s worth it compared with the Petronas Towers and KL Tower.
The status right now, and why it matters
This is the part most guides get wrong, because they were written before opening or copied old press releases. As things stand in 2026:
- The building is open. Merdeka 118 was officially opened in January 2024, and offices and residents have moved in.
- The Park Hyatt hotel is open. It occupies the top 17 floors and welcomed guests from 2025, so its high-floor restaurants and bars are one way to get up the tower right now.
- The View at 118 observation deck is still opening. Public access has been limited and the full opening has slipped more than once, with the deck and the 118 Mall expected through the second half of 2026.
What this means for you: don’t build a trip around going up the deck until you’ve confirmed it’s open and bookable on the official website. If you’re reading this and it’s now fully open, great, the guide below tells you what to expect. If it isn’t yet, skip to the alternatives at the end, which are open today.
What Merdeka 118 is
Merdeka 118, once known as PNB 118 or Warisan Merdeka Tower, stands 678.9 metres tall across 118 floors, which makes it the second-tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and the tallest in Southeast Asia. Its slender, triangular glass facade and needle-like spire draw on traditional Malay patterns, and it’s striking by day and lit up at night.
The name matters. “Merdeka” means independence, and the tower rises right beside the historic Stadium Merdeka, where Malaysia’s independence was proclaimed in 1957. So the newest, tallest thing in the city stands on the very spot where the nation was born, an intentional and rather moving contrast of past and future. It’s a short walk from the colonial Merdeka Square.
The View at 118: what to expect
When fully open, the observation deck, called The View at 118, sits on levels 115 and 116, around 500 metres up, which will make it the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia and one of the highest in the world. What’s planned:
- A high-speed glass lift that reaches the deck in around 65 seconds, with views of the city as you climb.
- 360-degree panoramas of Kuala Lumpur from higher than any other viewpoint in the city, taking in the Petronas Towers, the KL Tower and out to the hills.
- An Edge Walk, a glass floor where, harnessed, you can step outside the building high above the ground, for serious thrill-seekers.
- A Spire Climb for the truly adventurous, up toward the very top of the tower.
On paper, it’s the most spectacular viewing experience in the city. The key words are “on paper” and “when open”, so treat the above as what to expect once it’s fully running, and confirm the details on the day.
Tickets and prices
Here’s where honesty matters most: at the time of writing, official ticket prices for The View at 118 have not been firmly confirmed, and any figure you see online is an estimate. Based on what the Petronas Towers charge, a reasonable guess is somewhere around RM100 to RM150 for a non-Malaysian adult and roughly RM50 for Malaysians, likely with the Edge Walk and Spire Climb as pricier add-ons. Treat those as ballpark only.
What we can say with confidence is how it will probably work, based on every comparable attraction in the city:
- Timed-entry tickets that you book for a specific slot.
- High demand and sell-outs, especially at sunset and in the early months, so booking ahead online will be essential.
- Book through the official site for confirmed pricing, and use platforms like Klook or GetYourGuide as a convenient backup once tickets are widely released.
Before you count on visiting, check the official Merdeka 118 website for the current opening status, hours and prices. Given how new this is, that one step will save you a wasted trip.
So, is it worth it?
Once it’s fully open, on paper this is the most impressive viewpoint in Kuala Lumpur. It’s the newest, it’s by far the highest, and the Edge Walk glass floor is a genuine thrill you can’t get at the older towers. For view-chasers and anyone who wants to stand atop the second-tallest building on Earth, it will be hard to beat.
But a few honest points temper that. It’s likely to be the priciest of the three big viewpoints. The surrounding precinct, with its mall and public spaces, is still maturing, so the whole experience isn’t as polished yet as the long-established Petronas and KL Tower visits. And there’s the same quirk as the Petronas Towers: when you’re standing inside Merdeka 118, you can’t actually see Merdeka 118. For a photo of the tower itself, you need to be somewhere else, like Merdeka Square, the Park Hyatt, or a rooftop bar.
Merdeka 118 vs Petronas Towers vs KL Tower
KL now has three high viewpoints, and they suit different people. Here’s the quick way to choose.
- Merdeka 118 (The View at 118), once open, is the highest and newest, with the glass-floor Edge Walk thrill. Best for view-chasers who want the ultimate height and don’t mind the top price. Check it’s open first.
- Petronas Towers, the iconic experience of being inside the twin towers and walking the Skybridge. Best for a first-time bucket-list visit. See our Petronas Towers guide.
- KL Tower, the best value and the only one with an open-air deck and a view that includes the Petronas Towers themselves. Best all-rounder for the view. See our KL Tower guide.
If you’re weighing up the two established options in detail, our KL Tower vs Petronas Towers comparison breaks them down. In short: for the view of the skyline, the KL Tower still wins today, since from it you can photograph both the Petronas Towers and Merdeka 118 together.
What you can do right now
While the deck opens, you can still experience Merdeka 118 in a few ways that are available today:
- Linear Park at the base is open, free and stroller-friendly, and lets you stand right beneath the tower and look up, a great free photo spot.
- Stadium Merdeka, the historic independence stadium in the same precinct, adds the heritage story.
- The Park Hyatt high in the tower has restaurants and bars, so a drink or high tea is a way to get a lofty view without the deck. It also features in our luxury hotels guide.
- Photograph the tower from Merdeka Square or a rooftop bar for the classic shot.
Getting there
This is one of the easier landmarks to reach. The Merdeka MRT station sits right at the tower, so you can arrive directly by rail, and the Maharajalela monorail station is also close by. A Grab drops you at the precinct, and there’s ample parking beneath the tower if you’re driving. Our rail guide covers the trains. It’s also an easy walk from Chinatown and the old town, so it slots into a city-centre day.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go up Merdeka 118?
The tower’s observation deck, The View at 118, has been opening in stages through 2026 after several delays, and public access has been limited, so you can’t reliably just turn up and go up yet. The Park Hyatt hotel high in the tower is open, so its restaurants and bars are one way to get a high view now. Always check the official Merdeka 118 website for the current status before planning a visit.
How tall is Merdeka 118?
Merdeka 118 stands 678.9 metres tall with 118 floors, making it the second-tallest building in the world after the Burj Khalifa, and the tallest in Southeast Asia. Its observation deck, at around 500 metres, is set to be the highest in the region.
How much are The View at 118 tickets?
Official prices have not been firmly confirmed. Based on the Petronas Towers, a reasonable estimate is around RM100 to RM150 for a non-Malaysian adult and roughly RM50 for Malaysians, likely with the Edge Walk and Spire Climb as extra-cost add-ons. Treat these as ballpark figures and check the official Merdeka 118 website for confirmed pricing before you book.
Is Merdeka 118 or the Petronas Towers better?
Once fully open, Merdeka 118 offers the highest and newest view with a glass-floor Edge Walk, and it will likely be the priciest. The Petronas Towers give you the iconic experience of being inside the twin towers and the Skybridge. The KL Tower is the best value and the only viewpoint from which you can photograph the other towers. For most first-time visitors the Petronas Towers or KL Tower remain the safe picks today, with Merdeka 118 the draw for view-chasers once it’s reliably open.
Is Merdeka 118 worth visiting?
The building is a genuine icon and worth seeing, and admiring it from Linear Park at its base or from Merdeka Square is free and rewarding right now. The observation deck, once fully open, should be spectacular for its record height and thrill features, though likely at a premium price. Until public access is confirmed, plan around the alternatives and treat the deck as a bonus if it’s open when you visit.
