Location is everything. Below are our recommended areas to stay in each city, plus general booking advice. Read the 12 hotel booking tips for Asia before you reserve.
Apartments, resorts & deals across Asia Holiday rentals, villas and last-minute offers.
Thailand Area Why stay here Sukhumvit Skytrain access, endless restaurants and nightlife Riverside / Silom Grand hotels on the Chao Phraya and easy boats to the temples Old Town / Banglamphu Walking distance to the Grand Palace and Khao San Road on a budget
Area Why stay here Old City Temples on every corner, inside the moat Nimmanhaemin Cafés, boutiques and modern condos Riverside Quieter boutique hotels near the night bazaar
Area Why stay here Kata & Karon Family-friendly beaches with good surf in season Patong Nightlife central, busy and loud Phuket Old Town Sino-Portuguese shophouses and cafés, away from the beach
Vietnam Area Why stay here Old Quarter Atmospheric, central and full of street food Hoan Kiem Lake / French Quarter Grand colonial hotels and wide boulevards Tay Ho (West Lake) Calmer, expat cafés and lake views
Area Why stay here Old Town edge Walk to the lanterns but sleep in quiet An Bang Beach Beach bungalows a short bike ride away Cam Thanh Rice paddies and coconut palms for villas
Area Why stay here District 1 Central for sights, rooftop bars and dining District 3 Leafy, local and great for food Thao Dien (District 2) Riverside villas and international cafés
Indonesia Area Why stay here Ubud Jungle, rice terraces, yoga and culture Seminyak & Canggu Beach clubs, surf and cafés Nusa Dua & Uluwatu Resorts, cliffs and calm water
Area Why stay here Malioboro Central, lively and close to the Kraton Prawirotaman Boutique hotels and cafés Borobudur area Rural stays for a sunrise visit
Area Why stay here Central Jakarta / Menteng Leafy, upmarket and central SCBD / Sudirman Business hotels and malls Kota Tua Colonial heritage for curious travellers
Malaysia Area Why stay here KLCC Views of the Petronas Towers and the park Bukit Bintang Shopping, Jalan Alor food street and nightlife Chinatown Budget-friendly and full of character
Area Why stay here George Town heritage zone Restored shophouse hotels Gurney Drive Sea views and hawker centres Batu Ferringhi Beach resorts in the north
Singapore Area Why stay here Marina Bay Iconic views, top-end hotels Chinatown & Tanjong Pagar Heritage shophouses and food Bugis & Little India Better value, great transport
Philippines Area Why stay here Makati Business district with the best dining BGC (Taguig) Modern, walkable and safe Ermita / Intramuros Close to the old Spanish city
Area Why stay here El Nido town Cheap and central for boat tours Corong-Corong Sunset beach a short ride from town Nacpan Beach Remote, long golden sand
Area Why stay here Cebu City / IT Park Restaurants and nightlife Mactan Island Beach resorts near the airport Moalboal Sardine run and backpacker vibe
Cambodia Area Why stay here Old Market area Restaurants and Pub Street on foot Wat Bo Quieter boutique hotels Road to Angkor Resorts closest to the temples
Area Why stay here Riverside Promenade, bars and Royal Palace views BKK1 Leafy, cafés and boutique hotels Daun Penh Central and close to the markets
Laos Area Why stay here Peninsula Heritage villas between the Mekong and Nam Khan Night market area Central and convenient Across the Nam Khan Quiet riverside lodges
Area Why stay here Riverside Mekong sunsets and night market Chanthabouly Central temples and cafés Near the railway station Handy for early trains
Japan Area Why stay here Shinjuku Transport hub, nightlife and views Asakusa & Ueno Old Tokyo atmosphere and better value Ginza & Tokyo Station Upmarket, central and Shinkansen access
Area Why stay here Downtown (Kawaramachi) Restaurants and transport Higashiyama / Gion Walk to temples at dawn Kyoto Station Convenient for day trips
Area Why stay here Namba / Dotonbori Food and nightlife on your doorstep Umeda Rail hub and department stores Shin-Osaka Bullet-train convenience
South Korea Area Why stay here Myeongdong Shopping and airport bus links Hongdae Youthful nightlife and indie scene Jongno / Insadong Close to the palaces and hanok
Area Why stay here Haeundae Beachfront hotels Seomyeon Central shopping and food Nampo-dong Near Jagalchi market and the port
Area Why stay here Jeju City Airport and restaurants Seogwipo Waterfalls and the south coast Aewol Seaside cafés
China Area Why stay here Dongcheng / Wangfujing Walk to the Forbidden City Hutongs near Houhai Courtyard hotels with character Sanlitun Modern dining and nightlife
Area Why stay here The Bund / People's Square Historic and central Former French Concession Plane trees, cafés and boutiques Pudong / Lujiazui Skyscraper views
Area Why stay here Inside the City Wall Walk to the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter Big Wild Goose Pagoda Modern and lively at night Near the North Station High-speed rail convenience
Area Why stay here Yangshuo town Restaurants and river cruises Yulong River countryside Rural guesthouses among the peaks Guilin centre Handy for flights and trains
Taiwan Area Why stay here Ximending Youthful, lively and central Zhongshan Boutique hotels and cafés Xinyi Taipei 101 and upmarket
Area Why stay here West Central District Temples and snack streets Anping Forts and the old harbour Near the station Easy rail links
Hong Kong Area Why stay here Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour views and transport Central / Sheung Wan Bars, galleries and trams Causeway Bay Shopping and nightlife
India Area Why stay here Connaught Place Central with metro access South Delhi Leafy, upmarket and calmer Paharganj Budget base near New Delhi station
Area Why stay here Taj Ganj Steps from the Taj for sunrise Fatehabad Road Larger hotels with Taj views Sadar Bazaar Shopping and restaurants
Area Why stay here Old City Close to the Hawa Mahal and bazaars C-Scheme Central, leafy and good restaurants Amer area Heritage hotels near the fort
Area Why stay here North Goa (Anjuna, Vagator) Lively beaches and nightlife South Goa (Palolem, Agonda) Quieter, prettier beaches Panaji (Fontainhas) Colourful Latin quarter
Area Why stay here Fort Kochi Heritage homestays and cafés Mattancherry Jew Town and spice warehouses Ernakulam Transport hub on the mainland
Sri Lanka Area Why stay here Colombo 3 (Kollupitiya) Seafront, Galle Face and dining Colombo 7 (Cinnamon Gardens) Leafy and upmarket Negombo Beach town near the airport
Area Why stay here Lakeside Walk to the Temple of the Tooth Hills above town Views and cooler air Peradeniya Near the Royal Botanic Gardens
Area Why stay here Galle Fort Boutique villas inside the ramparts Unawatuna Beach a short tuk-tuk away Ahangama & Weligama Surf beaches
Nepal Area Why stay here Thamel Backpacker hub, trekking shops Patan Quieter, near Durbar Square Boudha Around the great stupa
Area Why stay here Lakeside Restaurants and lake views Damside Quieter, mountain views Sarangkot Sunrise over the Annapurna range
Maldives Area Why stay here Hulhumalé Handy for early or late flights Maafushi (South Malé Atoll) Budget guesthouses and excursions North Malé Atoll resorts Speedboat transfers, no seaplane needed
United Arab Emirates Area Why stay here Downtown Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall Dubai Marina & JBR Beach and waterfront Deira & Bur Dubai Old souks and better value
Area Why stay here Corniche City beach and skyline Saadiyat Island Museums and beach resorts Yas Island Theme parks and F1 circuit
Turkey Area Why stay here Sultanahmet Walk to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque Beyoğlu / Karaköy Nightlife, galleries and cafés Kadıköy (Asian side) Local food scene and markets
Area Why stay here Göreme Cave hotels in the heart of the action Uçhisar Quieter, castle views Ürgüp Wineries and boutique stays
Uzbekistan Area Why stay here Near the Registan Walk to the main sights Old City Family guesthouses University Boulevard Leafy and central
Area Why stay here Lyabi-Hauz Around the old pool, the heart of town Old town lanes Courtyard guesthouses Near Ark Fortress Quiet and historic
