Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Travel Guides
  • 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

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Book Now
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

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

    Explore

    • World's Best

      World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

      The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2022. Read More
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More
  • 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 + Design
    • Like a Local
    • Travel To
    • 50 Years of Travel + Leisure
  • Travel Guides

    Travel Guides

    See All Travel Guides
    • Mexico City
    • Maui
    • Charleston
    • Tulum
    • New York City
    • London
    • Paris
    • Iceland
    • Los Cabos
    • See More Travel Guides
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to resume sailing out of the U.S. on or around July 4.
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • Travel + Leisure GO
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals + Events
    • Bus and Train Travel
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • Get Outside
    • Wanderlust
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • See 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
    • A Spirited Occasion
    • 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
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes
Book Now

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. World's 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
Pin
Boats and ancient city of Hoi An, Vietnam
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

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

10. Thimphu, Bhutan

Punakha Dzong, Punakha, Thimphu, Bhutan, Asia
Credit: Sabine Hortebusch/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 86.23

1 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

9. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Lively street in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Credit: Rafael Vilches Rey/Getty Images

Score: 86.54

2 of 10

3 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

8. Bangkok

Modern city in a green environment, Suan Lum, Bangkok, Thailand.
Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 86.71

3 of 10

Advertisement

4 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

7. Tokyo

Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan
Credit: Sean Pavone Photo/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 86.96

4 of 10

5 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

6. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Super fullmoon Loi-Krathong festival
Credit: Getty Images

Score: 87.93

5 of 10

6 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

5. Hoi An, Vietnam

On the river that passes in this beautiful city of Hoi An
Credit: Getty Images

Score: 88.09

6 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

4. Luang Prabang, Laos

View of the Luang Prabang, Laos, skyline
Credit: Craig Hastings/Getty Images

Score: 88.20

7 of 10

8 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

3. Kyoto, Japan

Tourists enjoy fall at Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan
Credit: Getty Images

Score: 88.42

8 of 10

9 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

2. Ubud, Indonesia

Temple in Ubud, Indonesia
Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

Score: 88.74

9 of 10

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 10

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

1. Udaipur, India

Lake Pichola and City Palace in 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 & More

    Facebook Tweet Email 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
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel + Leisure Wine this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    Sign Up
    MeredithTravel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure magazine 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 Travel + Leisure. 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.