Best Highlights Destinations in Asia

99 city guides · 3-day highlights itineraries

3-day city guides covering the essential highlights every visitor should experience.

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Agra

Home of the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and the greatest Mughal architecture on earth…

Asia
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan

Ashgabat

The city of white marble (Guinness World Record for highest density of marble-clad buildings): manda…

Asia
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan

Astana

The extraordinary planned capital of the steppe: the Khan Shatyr (the world's largest tent, −40°C ou…

Asia
🇧🇳 Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan

The oil-wealthy sultanate where everything is free: the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Italian Carrara …

Asia
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Bandung

The Art Deco "Paris of Java" (the most complete Dutch colonial architectural streetscape in Indonesi…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Bangalore

India's Silicon Valley with a permanent spring climate: filter coffee at MTR since 1924, the world's…

Asia
🇹🇭 Thailand

Bangkok

Grand Palace at dawn, street food by the UN-endorsed bowl and the world's highest open-air bar…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Beijing

The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Peking Duck since 1864 and the world's longest painted corridor…

Asia
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Bukhara

The Kalon Minaret (1127 CE — spared by Genghis Khan in 1220), the Samanid Mausoleum (892 CE — the ol…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Busan

A Buddhist temple on the sea cliff, the largest fish market in Korea and a hillside of 4,000 pastel-…

Asia
🇵🇭 Philippines

Cebu City

The oldest city in the Philippines (founded 1565 — the first Spanish colonial city in Southeast Asia…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Chengdu

Giant pandas, Sichuan hotpot with numbing-and-spicy broth, the world's largest stone Buddha and a te…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Chennai

The cultural capital of Dravidian India: Marina Beach (13km — the second-longest urban beach in the …

Asia
🇹🇭 Thailand

Chiang Mai

The Lanna Kingdom capital (founded 1296 — the most important medieval city in northern Thailand): 30…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Chiba

Tokyo's eastern gateway — Narita Temple, Tokyo Disneyland, and Japan's soy sauce coast…

Asia
🇧🇩 Bangladesh

Chittagong

Bangladesh's commercial capital and most important port city: the Sitakunda ship-breaking yards (whe…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Chongqing

The world's most dramatic megacity: built on cliffs at the Yangtze-Jialing confluence, the most heav…

Asia
🇻🇳 Vietnam

Da Nang

Central Vietnam's most exciting city: My Khe Beach (29km white sand — one of the most beautiful urba…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Daegu

South Korea's most underrated major city: the Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Market (350+ years — 70…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Daejeon

Korea's Science City: the Daedeok Innopolis (1,500+ research institutes — the most concentrated scie…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Dalian

Northern China's most European-flavored city: Zhongshan Square (the most impressive colonial square …

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Delhi

Eight successive capitals in one city, butter chicken invented at its source, and a cycle rickshaw t…

Asia
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Denpasar

Bali's capital and the real Bali: the Puputan Square (1906 royal mass suicide — the most heroic sing…

Asia
🇧🇩 Bangladesh

Dhaka

The most densely populated city in the world (44,000 people/km² — the most persons-per-km² single me…

Asia
🇵🇰 Pakistan

Faisalabad

The Manchester of Pakistan and the most important textile hub in South Asia: the Ghanta Ghar Clock T…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Fukuoka

The birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, Japan's last surviving yatai culture and the shrine of the god of …

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Fuzhou

The capital of Fujian Province and gateway of the Maritime Silk Road: the Three Lanes and Seven Alle…

Asia
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka

Galle

The most completely preserved Dutch colonial city in Asia and UNESCO World Heritage gateway to Sri L…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Gwangju

South Korea's democracy city — the 1980 Uprising sites, Gwangju Biennale, and the bamboo forests of …

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Hangzhou

Marco Polo's finest city — West Lake UNESCO, Dragon Well tea, and China's ancient silk road…

Asia
🇻🇳 Vietnam

Hanoi

Pho bo at dawn, Halong Bay's limestone karsts, the Obama bun cha and egg coffee for €1.50…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Harbin

China's Russian ice city — the world's largest ice festival, Manchurian Orthodox cathedrals, and Sib…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Hiroshima

Peace, rebirth, and beauty — the A-Bomb Dome, Miyajima's floating torii, and Hiroshima okonomiyaki…

Asia
🇻🇳 Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City

The tunnels where the Vietnam War was fought underground, Guernica-level photojournalism and the wor…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Hong Kong

Victoria Peak at dawn, dim sum, the Star Ferry, Temple Street Night Market and Lantau Big Buddha…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Hyderabad

City of Nizams — Charminar, acoustic Golconda Fort, dum biryani, and India's silicon corridor…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Incheon

Seoul's gateway city — jajangmyeon's birthplace, Korea's oldest Buddhist temple, and the world's bes…

Asia
🇵🇰 Pakistan

Islamabad

Pakistan's Himalayan-foothills capital — the tent-shaped Faisal Mosque, Taxila's Gandharan Buddhas, …

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Jaipur

Rajasthan's Pink City — Amber Fort's Sheesh Mahal, Jantar Mantar UNESCO observatory, and block-print…

Asia
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Jakarta

The world's 2nd-largest urban area: Dutch colonial Batavia, the world's longest BRT network, nasi go…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Jeju City

Korea's volcanic island — Hallasan volcano, Seongsan sunrise UNESCO crater, Manjanggul lava tube, an…

Asia
🇦🇫 Afghanistan

Kabul

Afghanistan's Hindu Kush capital — Babur's garden tomb, the Bactrian Gold, and Silk Road bazaars…

Asia
🇹🇼 Taiwan

Kaohsiung

Taiwan's port city reborn — Dragon Pagoda Lotus Pond, Pier-2 arts warehouses, and Fo Guang Shan Budd…

Asia
🇵🇰 Pakistan

Karachi

Pakistan's Arabian Sea megacity — Jinnah's white marble mausoleum, Burns Road biryani, and Manora Is…

Asia
🇳🇵 Nepal

Kathmandu

Nepal's Himalayan valley capital — seven UNESCO sites, living goddess, and the gateway to Everest…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Kobe

Japan's cosmopolitan port — Kobe Beef Wagyu, Rokko Mountain views, and the 1995 earthquake memorial…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Kolkata

India's cultural capital — Victoria Memorial, Tagore's birthplace, the last hand-pulled rickshaws, a…

Asia
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

Petronas Towers at dusk, Batu Caves at dawn, nasi kandar for MYR 10 and the finest street food in Ma…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Kyoto

Fushimi Inari at dawn, Arashiyama bamboo, Kinkaku-ji and kaiseki dinner…

Asia
🇵🇰 Pakistan

Lahore

Pakistan's Mughal capital — Fort with Mirror Palace, Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar Gardens, and the Waga…

Asia
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Langkawi

Malaysia's UNESCO Geopark island — Kilim mangrove Brahminy Kites, Sky Bridge rainforest, duty-free A…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Lhasa

The Roof of the World — Potala Palace, Jokhang pilgrims, Sera monk debates, and Namtso sacred turquo…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Lucknow

Nawab's city — Bara Imambara labyrinth, British Residency siege ruins, Kathak court dance, tunde keb…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Macau

World's gambling capital — UNESCO Portuguese ruins, African Chicken fusion, baccarat 7x Vegas revenu…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Madurai

Tamil cultural capital — Meenakshi Temple 33,000 sculptures, 2,500-year Sangam poetry, Thirumalai Na…

Asia
🇲🇻 Maldives

Male

Most densely populated island capital — overwater villa resort, tuna fish market, coral reef sharks,…

Asia
🇲🇲 Myanmar

Mandalay

Last Royal Capital of Burma…

Asia
🇵🇭 Philippines

Manila

Spanish Walled City & Pacific Megacity…

Asia
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Medan

Gateway to Orangutans & Lake Toba…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Mumbai

The world's most elaborate railway station, Bollywood in its home city, Dharavi's ₹700M economy and …

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Nagoya

Toyota, Samurai Castles & Nagoya-Meshi…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Naha

Ryukyu Kingdom, Tropical Coral & Longevity Island…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Nanning

Gateway to Guangxi Karst & Zhuang Culture…

Asia
🇲🇲 Myanmar

Naypyidaw

The World's Strangest New Capital City…

Asia
🇹🇼 Taiwan

New Taipei City

Spirited Away Lanterns & Pacific Cliffs…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Okayama

Japan's Sunshine Country: Black Castle & Top Garden…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Osaka

Dotonbori neon, Osaka Castle, takoyaki and the Nara deer…

Asia
🇧🇹 Bhutan

Paro

Bhutan's Tiger's Nest: Happiness Kingdom & Cliff Monastery…

Asia
🇹🇭 Thailand

Pattaya

Thailand's Wild Beach City: 100-Year Wood Temple & Coral Island…

Asia
🇰🇭 Cambodia

Phnom Penh

Cambodia's Capital: Royal Silver Pagoda & Genocide Memory…

Asia
🇹🇭 Thailand

Phuket

Thailand's Island: James Bond Bay, Phi Phi Maya Beach & 45m Buddha…

Asia
🇵🇭 Philippines

Puerto Princesa

Palawan: Underground River, El Nido Lagoons & World's Best Island…

Asia
🇲🇾 Malaysia

Putrajaya

Malaysia's Purpose-Built Capital: Pink Granite Mosque, Lake Reflections & Petronas Day Trip…

Asia
🇰🇵 North Korea

Pyongyang

The World's Most Closed Capital: Bronze Kims, 100,000-Person Mass Games & DMZ…

Asia
🇵🇭 Philippines

Quezon City

Manila's Largest City: UP Diliman, Maginhawa Art Hub & Corregidor WWII Island…

Asia
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Samarkand

The Silk Road's Greatest City: Timurid Tile Mosaics, Timur's Tomb & 2,750 Years of Civilisation…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Sapporo

Japan's Snow Capital: World's Largest Snow Festival, Niseko Powder Skiing & Hokkaido Seafood…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Sendai

One-Eyed Dragon's Castle Town, Three Views of Japan Bay & Tōhoku Grilled Beef Tongue…

Asia
🇰🇷 South Korea

Seoul

Joseon dynasty palaces beside Samsung towers, Korean BBQ at midnight and the world's most fortified …

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Shanghai

The most dramatic waterfront on earth, xiaolongbao soup dumplings and the world's fastest train at 4…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Shenyang

Where the Qing Dynasty Was Founded Before It Conquered China — Imperial Palace, Manchu Tombs & North…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Shenzhen

China's Silicon Valley: The City That Grew from 30,000 to 18 Million in 40 Years, Drone Capital & Wo…

Asia
🇰🇭 Cambodia

Siem Reap

Gateway to Angkor: World's Largest Religious Building, 216 Stone Faces & Jungle-Swallowed Temples…

Asia
🇸🇬 Singapore

Singapore

SGD$5.50 chicken rice, the Supertrees at night for free and the infinity pool above Southeast Asia…

Asia
🇮🇳 India

Surat

Diamond Polishing Capital of the World, Mughal Port Heritage & Locho Street Food Invented Here…

Asia
🇹🇼 Taiwan

Taichung

Toyo Ito's Curvilinear Theater, Sun Moon Lake Indigenous Heritage, Largest Night Market in Taiwan & …

Asia
🇹🇼 Taiwan

Taipei

National Palace Museum's 700,000 Chinese Imperial Objects, Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market & Jiufen …

Asia
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

Tashkent

Central Asia's Gateway City: World's Oldest Quran, Soviet Metro Art Stations, Plov Culture & Samarka…

Asia
🇧🇹 Bhutan

Thimphu

The World's Only Carbon-Negative Capital, the 51m Gold Buddha, Tiger's Nest at 3,120m & The Country …

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Tianjin

2,000 European Villas from 9 Colonial Concessions, Goubuli Baozi from 1858, the Tianjin Eye Ferris W…

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Tokyo

230 Michelin stars, the world's busiest crossing (2,500 people per light cycle) and a ¥980 bowl of p…

Asia
🇲🇳 Mongolia

Ulaanbaatar

Gateway to the Last Nomadic Culture, Chinggis Khan Empire, Gandan Monastery, Naadam Festival & Mongo…

Asia
🇱🇦 Laos

Vientiane

Pha That Luang Golden Stupa, COPE UXO Visitor Centre, Buddha Park Concrete Sculptures, Morning Alms …

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Wuhan

Yellow Crane Tower (Tang Dynasty Poem "Exhausting All Words"), Hubei Museum 2,400-Year Bianzhong Bro…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Xiamen

Gulangyu Island UNESCO (Car-Free Piano Island, Minnan Villas), Nanputuo Buddhist Temple, Xiamen Univ…

Asia
🇨🇳 China

Xian

Terracotta Army (8,000 Warriors, Each Face Unique, 221 BCE), Ming City Wall Cycling (13.7km), Muslim…

Asia
🇲🇲 Myanmar

Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda at Dawn (60 Tonnes of Gold, 5,451 Diamonds in the Crown), British Colonial Heritage…

Asia
🇮🇩 Indonesia

Yogyakarta

Borobudur Sunrise (Largest Buddhist Monument, 2,672 Bas-Relief Panels), Prambanan (9th Century, 47m …

Asia
🇯🇵 Japan

Yokohama

Japan's 1859 Treaty Port (First Railway, First Beer, First Ramen), Largest Chinatown in Japan, Sanke…