Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More Next
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2020

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2020. Read More Next
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More Next
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture and Design
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    • Travel Guides
    • Flight Deals
    • Travel Deals
    • Ways to Save
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Attractions
    • Amusement Parks
    • Disney Vacations
    • Festivals + Events
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Buses + Trains
    • Ground Transportation
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow us

  1. Home
  2. Worlds Best
  3. The Top 10 Cities in Asia in 2018

The Top 10 Cities in Asia in 2018

By Hannah Walhout
July 10, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Getty Images
In this immense region, a city can be many things: the capital of an ancient kingdom, like Siem Reap, Cambodia; a spiritual center for wellness, like Ubud, Bali; or a hub of global culture and finance, like Tokyo. This diversity is what draws travelers to Asia again and again: No two cities are alike, each revealing a new facet of this vast continent. But some, of course, rank higher than others with T+L readers, and once you check out this year’s World’s Best list, it’s easy to see why.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

Related: The 2018 World's Best Awards

Thimphu, Bhutan’s high-altitude capital, comes in at No. 10 for the second year — indicating that a nascent tourism trend, sparked in part by the announcement of a new circuit of Six Senses lodges, is now on solid ground. Says one reader: “Thimphu has everything to offer — beautiful sights, monuments, national parks, great food, and great people. It’s a must visit for everyone.”

Another one to watch: Ubud, an artists’ town marked by rice paddies and Hindu temples in the highlands of Bali, which climbed from No. 7 in 2016 to No. 4 in 2017 and now takes second place on this year’s list. One respondent called it “the cultural center of Bali,” noting its great museums and spa hotels. (Amandari, which is located in Ubud, placed on this year’s list of readers’ favorite hotels in Indonesia. The nearby Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan placed at No. 1 in the world.) Ubud is one of six Southeast Asian cities on the list, reflecting the region’s outsize role in tourism. Cities in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand made our Top 10, proving that this fascinating region continues to be popular with American travelers.

But our readers’ favorite city in Asia this year is a little farther west — read on for the full list, and to see how each destination scored.
Start Slideshow

1 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

10. Thimphu, Bhutan

Credit: Sabine Hortebusch/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 86.23

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

9. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Credit: Rafael Vilches Rey/Getty Images

Score: 86.54

2 of 10

3 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

8. Bangkok

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 86.71

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

7. Tokyo

Credit: Sean Pavone Photo/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 86.96

4 of 10

5 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Credit: Getty Images

Score: 87.93

5 of 10

6 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

5. Hoi An, Vietnam

Credit: Getty Images

Score: 88.09

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

4. Luang Prabang, Laos

Credit: Craig Hastings/Getty Images

Score: 88.20

7 of 10

8 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

3. Kyoto, Japan

Credit: Getty Images

Score: 88.42

8 of 10

9 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

2. Ubud, Indonesia

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 88.74

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

1. Udaipur, India

Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 89.31

The Best City in Asia this year jumped six spots from its 2017 position to take gold. Known as the “City of Lakes,” Udaipur is the historic home of the Rajasthani royal families, with elaborate palaces and forts at every turn. One reader notes its reputation as a “Venice of the East,” saying, “for me, Udaipur is the land of history, with beautiful venues such as Jag Mandir and the City Palace.” Another draw is its world-class hotel properties. One of the best is the Taj Lake Palace, housed in an 18th-century castle in the middle of Lake Pichola — the property ranked as one of our readers’ favorite resort hotels in India this year.

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2018.

10 of 10

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Hannah Walhout

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 10 10. Thimphu, Bhutan
2 of 10 9. Siem Reap, Cambodia
3 of 10 8. Bangkok
4 of 10 7. Tokyo
5 of 10 6. Chiang Mai, Thailand
6 of 10 5. Hoi An, Vietnam
7 of 10 4. Luang Prabang, Laos
8 of 10 3. Kyoto, Japan
9 of 10 2. Ubud, Indonesia
10 of 10 1. Udaipur, India

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
  • Sitemap
  • Travel Guide Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
Travel + Leisure is part of the Travel + Leisure Group. Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation Travel + Leisure Group All Rights Reserved, registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

View image

The Top 10 Cities in Asia in 2018
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.