These are the 15 best cities in Asia for 2025, according to nearly 180,000 travellers
Almost 180,000 T+L readers rated cities worldwide on their sights and landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and value on a five-point scale from Poor to Excellent. The result? 15 standout Asian cities, hailing from Indonesia and Cambodia to Japan and South Korea.
The absolute best city in Asia for T+L readers may be surprising (simply because it's more low-key than its ever-popular capital). It's none other than Chiang Mai, a city in Thailand's relatively cool and mountainous north. Once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is home to cultural relics from that era, alongside intricate and beautiful Buddhist temples. T+L readers also love its night markets, street food, and nature activities – think ethical elephant encounters and mountain hikes. It's also a place for creatives, with beautiful boutique hotels, dynamic coworking spaces, and a lively university scene. Check out our guide for the best things to do in Chiang Mai.
There are nine countries represented on the T+L Best Cities list, and Japan takes the cake with three entries: Tokyo (#2), Kyoto (#6), and Osaka (#11). Tokyo, in particular, stood out for the sheer variety of things to do in its magical maze of a city. At the same time, Kyoto stole hearts with its food, cultural landmarks, and family-friendly nature.
India also makes a strong showing, with the famous Pink City of Jaipur at #4, Bollywood capital Mumbai at #9, and Mughal cultural heart Agra at #10.
Travel + Leisure 's World's Best Awards 2025: Cities in Asia
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Tokyo, Japan
Bangkok, Thailand
Jaipur, India
Hoi An, Vietnam
Kyoto, Japan
Ubud, Indonesia
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Mumbai, India
Agra, India
Osaka, Japan
Hanoi, Vietnam
Taipei, Taiwan
Singapore
Seoul, South Korea
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Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
One of my friends died before a group trip to Dubai - why is it so tricky to sort with the travel firm? SALLY SORTS IT
We had three bookings made with travel company Voyage Prive made last autumn totalling £24,260. These were made for my 60th birthday celebrations in Dubai but it became a nightmare to resolve the final bills following the tragic death of one of my friends who was due to come with us. J.H., Bolton. Sally Hamilton replies: What you planned as a joyous occasion has been clouded in sadness. Your dear friend died of suspected food poisoning while on holiday in the Indian Ocean at the end of last year. You considered cancelling your five-day trip but decided as a group to go ahead and celebrate her memory at the same time. Her widower told you that's what she would have wanted. He had to make a claim on her travel insurance for her £1,200 deposit. But you were astounded that Voyage Prive would not confirm that the member of your party who was due to share a room with your late friend would have her booking altered to single occupancy – and it looked as if she would be charged the full rate for the double room – £6,798. You had been corresponding at length with customer services but not getting any clarity, despite an initial sympathetic response. You had to send the death certificate twice and you chased for weeks. Without a clear resolution you asked me to intervene. When I got in touch, David, a member of the Voyage Prive team simply said 'there's no need to worry… everything is in order' and wished me a lovely day. That wasn't the concrete answer I had hoped for but I felt reassured that at least your case was being looked at. My contact seemed to do the trick, however, as a week or so later you got confirmation that your friend would not face the full double room charge. The holiday firm was probably having to negotiate hard with the hotel on the price. In the end, she was billed just £3,456 – less than you had calculated, with no extra charges for sole occupancy. You feared this meant there might be some nasty additional charges waiting at the destination, but thankfully these did not materialise. When I caught up with you recently, you said the trip had been 'amazing' – and you forwarded me a photo of the group toasting your friend's memory. Straight to the point I took out a single-trip travel insurance policy in April for me and my wife with Insurance 4 Medical, and I declared all our medical conditions. A few days before the cover was meant to start my wife developed swollen ankles, which our doctor said he would investigate if it was still happening after our holiday. I told the insurance provider but they cancelled her cover. She will now have to answer 'yes' when future insurers ask if she has had an insurance policy cancelled. G.R., via email. Sally Hamilton replies: White Horse, Insurance 4 Medical's underwriter, apologises and says the new undiagnosed medical condition meant cover had to be withdrawn. It will refund the premium and it will provide a letter of explanation that cover was cancelled due to a change in risk, rather than fraud or non-disclosure. I bought an oven from Currys which was installed by an electrician, but 30 days later it caught fire. As it was a bank holiday, I reported it the next day but Currys said as I reported it on day 31 after it was installed I had to speak to the manufacturer to get an inspection before they could take it back. But the manufacturer says it won't inspect it, only repair it. I've had to buy a new oven out of my own pocket in the meantime. I.S., via email. Sally Hamilton replies: Currys apologises and says it is refunding you as a goodwill gesture, even though your initial report of the fault fell outside the 30-day return window. Write to Sally Hamilton at Sally Sorts It, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email sally@ — include phone number, address and a note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Sally Hamilton. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
Times
20 minutes ago
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The underrated Portuguese town where a week's stay costs under £350
September is the ideal time to visit Portugal. Summer's crowds have disappeared and temperatures hover in the mid-twenties: warm enough for lazing by the pool but cool enough to ditch the sunlounger and go sightseeing. The central town of Estarreja will suit those looking for more than a fly and flop, with its museums, street art scene and wildlife reserves for hiking and kayaking, plus the historic cities of Porto and Aveiro are nearby for days out. Stay in the suburbs of Estarreja to get the best deal. Seven nights' B&B at Tulip Inn Estarreja Hotel & Spa, including flights from Stansted with Ryanair, costs £323pp. A small under-seat bag is included in the price, and you can check in a 20kg case for an extra £56 return. The hotel is 45 minutes' drive south of Porto airport and taxis cost about £58 each way ( Renting a car can work out cheaper and makes it easier to spend the week exploring (from about £60 a week). From the three-star hotel it's a ten-minute drive to the Bioria nature reserve and the Casa-Museu Egas Moniz, a museum showcasing the art collections of the Nobel prizewinning scientist Egas Moniz, who developed the surgical procedure of lobotomy (£3; The hotel has an indoor and an outdoor pool, a tennis court and a spa with a Turkish bath and sauna. It has a Portuguese restaurant and free bikes to borrow. Simply decorated rooms have countryside views with smartly tiled bathrooms and wooden floors. Some have statement cork-inspired feature walls. Wander around Estarreja to take in its vibrant street-art murals, then head to the nearby Alianca Underground Museum, which showcases art in nearly a mile of wine cellars alongside tastings (£5 entry; The BioRia reserve is just outside Estarreja and is a vast protected area of wetlands and salt marshes with well-marked walking trails, guided birdwatching tours and bikes and kayaks for hire ( For views, visit the open-air geological museum Arouca Geopark, where you can walk the 516m pedestrian suspension bridges, which are among the world's longest (£10; • The most beautiful places in Portugal Known as the Venice of Portugal, the city of Aveiro is less than half an hour's drive south from the hotel and has well-preserved art nouveau architecture and a network of canals that can be enjoyed on a traditional moliceiro boat (£13 for 45 minutes; Call in at the 19th-century Confeitaria Peixinho to sample the region's famous ovos-moles, sweet pastries with a creamy filling ( The best beaches are by Aveiro and include sandy Praia da Barra, home to Portugal's tallest lighthouse, and Costa Nova, with its cute striped beach houses, white dunes and excellent seafood restaurants. Porto is an easy day trip for its Unesco-listed old town, cable car and centuries-old port cellars for guided tastings. • Discover our full guide to Portugal • Return Stansted-Porto flights, departing on September 24• Under-seat cabin bag • Seven nights' B&B at Tulip Inn Estarreja Hotel & Spa ( • The best places to visit in September This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Feeling flush? If you're inspired to visit but have more cash to splash, you could try… The Pousada da Ria is in a beautiful location on a peninsula that runs between the Atlantic and a vast lagoon, about 25 miles north of Aveiro and 35 miles south of Porto. Charming, peaceful and with 20 bright, airy rooms, the hotel has a private beach on the lagoon and its own outdoor pool. The restaurant, Buzios, sits over the lake and specialises in seafood, while the Garça bar is the spot for evening cocktails. Borrow a bike to explore the nearby beach town of Torreira or head a few miles south to the nature reserve at Sao Jacinta, with its miles of ocean-facing sand Seven nights' B&B from £605pp, including flights, departing on September 23 ( • Where's hot in September? 15 places for sun Five-star Pestana Palacio do Freixo is in an 18th-century baroque palace by the Douro River in Freixo, just outside Porto. Classed as a national monument and one of the city's most luxurious hotels, it has a frescoed fine-dining restaurant serving Portuguese dishes, an outdoor infinity pool, an upmarket spa with a sauna, gym and Turkish bath, manicured gardens and a bar with river views. Rooms are more contemporary, with dark wood, warm shades of gold and mosaic tiled bathrooms. There's a complimentary shuttle service to Porto city centre and the Campanha train station is a five-minute drive away for regular trains to Seven nights' B&B from £1,315pp, including flights, departing on September 27 ( • Best hotels in Porto
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
What is the best way to get from Birmingham to Dubai?
Q Do I fly Emirates from Birmingham to Dubai direct for £600 return? Or should I choose Royal Jordanian from Stansted to Dubai, with one stop in Amman, for £341 return? Is it safe to travel that way, and would I still need a visa just passing through? Richard Tolton A Plenty to unpick here. First, the only time I flew between Dubai and Birmingham on Emirates, earlier this year, I was unimpressed. It is fair to say the airline does not put its freshest aircraft on the route – there's a marked difference compared with those used between London Heathrow and Dubai. The plane was around 90 minutes late. So, were I choosing a flight to the UAE, Emirates might not be at the top of my list. I am intrigued, though, that your alternative is Royal Jordanian from Stansted, which is a long way from Birmingham. But it is certainly a good choice. The link from the Essex airport to the Jordanian capital, Amman, is a reasonably recent addition. To help fill seats until it becomes fully established, Royal Jordanian is offering some attractive fares from Stansted to Dubai. The afternoon flight from the UK has a one-hour connection in Amman before the onward departure to the UAE. You need have no worries about this: Amman airport is modern and reasonably compact, and a swift 'airside' transfer should be easy. You will not clear passport control, and no visa is necessary. Royal Jordanian is a good airline. The downside from my point of view would be the 4am touchdown in Dubai. To keep the cost below £400 or so, I suggest Turkish Airlines from Gatwick via Istanbul. Ideally, you could build in a 24-hour stopover in Turkey's largest city, which would cut the air passenger duty (and therefore the fare) by £77. That is probably enough to pay for a hotel stay. Turkish is an excellent carrier. It also flies from Birmingham to Istanbul, with connections to Dubai, but fares are running at about £500 return – at which price point I would be looking at Emirates once again. Q We are heading to Korea in September, spending a lot of the trip in Seoul. What recommendations do you have for the city and for day excursions? Paul C A I salute your choice of destination and timing. South Korea does not yet get the number of tourists it deserves. The nation has many rewarding dimensions: a deep history, considerable natural beauty with impressive mountains, and a welcoming population. But perhaps like you, I am most attracted to the capital. Seoul combines startling modern architecture with tranquil temples and plenty of open space, plus energetic nightlife. Conveniently, the city offers good-value accommodation, even in the centre, and thousands of excellent places to eat and drink. While it has a hyper-efficient and affordable Metro system, walking is an excellent way to see Seoul. I particularly like the hike up to the Seoul Tower, and the linear park created from a former elevated highway running northeast from Seoul railway station. Day trips are easy. The signature excursion is to Panmunjom, the border village where North and South Korea scowl at one another across the DMZ (demilitarised zone). Many tours to the geopolitical scar are on offer, typically providing the chance to visit the hut in the middle of the DMZ where talks are occasionally held, and later, to peer across a valley into North Korea. The cost including transport from Seoul is around 100,000 won (£54). You must register your passport details several days in advance. For something different, spend a day on a triangular excursion. From Seoul station, take the half-hour train journey south to the small city of Suwon. As well as plenty of street art, there is an impressive fortress offering walks along the walls. Walk back to the station along the canal footpath. Suwon is on the southern extreme of the Seoul Metro, and you can skirt around the capital to the city of Incheon – a journey of around 80 minutes. (Incheon is also the name of the airport, but that is in a separate location.) The older parts of the city are scenic and include a substantial Chinatown. Returning to the centre of the city is easy by Metro. Q My wife and I are flying to Malaga on 27 September and not returning to the UK until 5 November. Given the new Schengen area rules taking effect on 12 October, what do you advise? Davey D A No subject in recent memory has caused such confusion and consternation as the introduction of the European Union's much-delayed entry-exit system (EES). As you say, the rollout across the Schengen area (the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, but minus Ireland) will begin on Sunday 12 October. From that date, some British travellers crossing Schengen frontiers will go through a biometric check. On their first encounter with the EES, they will have to provide fingerprints (unless they are under 12) and a facial biometric. For subsequent crossings, only a photo of the face will be required. Yet on day one, most UK travellers crossing a Schengen area frontier – whether entering or leaving – will swerve the formalities. Initially, as few as one in 10 border posts will be running the entry-exit system. Even at those where the EES is in operation, only a modest proportion of travellers may be selected to have their biometric details registered. The last thing the European Union wants to see is long queues building up. It is feasible that some frontier posts will be running the EES from day one for both arriving and departing travellers. In such a case, travellers could be required to have their fingerprints and facial biometrics taken before travelling home. But I think it highly unlikely. By 5 November – several weeks later – it might be that you are called upon to register on the way out. That could prove useful for your next trip to the Schengen area. Again, though, the focus will be on arrivals, not departures. The key point to understand is that you will not need to prepare anything ahead of time; just do what you are told at the airport. It will be another year before you have to enrol for an Etias 'euro visa' ahead of a trip. Q We are currently stuck in Calgary due to the Air Canada strike. The offer from the airline is to fly three days later than we were booked. Can we buy a different ticket ourselves and reclaim the difference from the airline? Pete Dearing A What a Canadian kerfuffle. At the peak of the summer season, Air Canada has announced 'a complete cessation of flying' due to a planned strike by cabin crew. Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees working for the airline voted overwhelmingly to walk out in a long and bitter dispute over what they describe as 'poverty pay'. When Air Canada received the strike notification, airline bosses decided to ground all flights from Saturday 16 August onwards. The move at least provides certainty that your Calgary-London flight will not be departing, rather than keeping you on tenterhooks. In line with Air Canada's promise, you have been 'notified of alternative travel options'. The airline has presumably rebooked you on one of its Star Alliance partners, such as Lufthansa or United. I can see options for this Sunday on Delta (not a Star partner) via Seattle or Minneapolis at around the £700 mark. Were you flying from the UK, you could buy such a ticket in the knowledge that Air Canada would need to reimburse the extra cost – it is required to get you to your destination as soon as possible on any airline with spare seats. But the same does not apply in the opposite direction. Because your flight is on a non-UK, non-EU airline and you are flying from outside Europe, standard air passengers' rights rules do not apply. Air Canada can choose when to assign you an alternative flight. Furthermore, the airline has no obligation to provide accommodation and meals while you wait, because a strike is regarded as being beyond its control. You have the unenviable choice of stumping up for extra hotel nights while you wait for the appointed flight, or buying an earlier ticket knowing that the airline will not pay for it. Travel insurance may help with extra hotel costs, so you might choose to stay put. Finally, if you are flying home via the US, note that you must obtain an Esta permit in advance, even though you merely want to change planes.
