Top 20 must-see places to visit in Asia2026 ranking

I went up to the Doi Suthep temple, perched on the hill above Chiang Mai. You have to climb a staircase of several hundred steps lined with two golden dragons to get to the top (or take the funicular if your legs are tired). Once up there, the golden stupa in the center is impressive, and the view over the entire city of Chiang Mai down below is clearly worth the climb. Lots of people there, especially late in the day, but the vibe stays chill and you can feel it is a real place of worship, not just a tourist trap. One of the best viewpoints in the area.

One of my favorite days in Northern Thailand. The White Temple is massive and super detailed, you have to take the time to stop and gaze at every little detail in every nook. The Blue Temple is smaller but just as meticulous, with a white Buddha inside, gold leaf on every single statue, you honestly do not know where to look anymore. And the grand finale, a coconut and butterfly pea flower ice cream that matches the colors of both temples. You can easily visit both in one day and it is definitely a must-see.

Après la Cité Interdite, je suis allée dans le parc Jingshan juste en face, et franchement très bonne surprise. En basse saison l'entrée coûte 2 yuans, soit l'équivalent de 25 centimes d'euros. Il y a quelques marches à grimper jusqu'au pavillon tout en haut, on a accès à une vue panoramique sur toute la cité impériale, avec Pékin qui s'étend derrière. Pas beaucoup de monde, c'est nettement plus calme qu'en bas ! Super complément pour compléter la visite.

An absolute favorite. I happened to be there for the 30th anniversary of the Lantern Festival, and there were colorful statues on the water absolutely everywhere, it was magical. The garden itself is already gorgeous, between the rockeries and the view of the pavilion in the middle of the lake with the Shanghai Tower right behind it, it is the exact picture of the Chinese garden I had imagined. A bit crowded, but it is well worth it.

The site is huge (180 hectares), and I spent half a day getting lost between the courtyards and pavilions. Careful though, it gets very crowded, especially with Chinese tour groups in organized packs, so you better arm yourself with patience. If you put that little detail aside, it is a magnificent site. What really struck me is the level of detail: the painted ceilings with golden dragons, the gigantic red doors... If you are visiting Beijing, it is clearly not to be missed, just plan on getting there early.

If you’re planning to have day trips from Osaka, maybe you might want to try visit Kobe. It’s just 30 mins ride by train from Osaka and it has beautiful seaside view. Also, you can try the Kobe Beef right in the city! Best time to visit Kobe Port is before the sunset. It has Starbucks nearby and you can enjoy the scenery there. You can also go up to the tower if you want!

I had the incredible luck to visit the Great Wall of China during the off-season. It was 12 degrees below zero, but it was so worth it! Almost no tourists, bright sunshine, and stars in my eyes. Walking alone along the 21,000+ km of ramparts in that almost surreal silence remains one of my strongest travel memories. This Wonder of the World definitely earned its title!

Enoshima is an island near Kamakura with so many things to see and to do. It’s perfect if you look for a day trip from Tokyo. It takes around 2 hours and what I loved the most is you can take the most exciting train rides with Shonan Monorail! The track is on top of the train and I felt like flying with the train. Additionally, if you’re lucky you can see the Mt. Fuji from Enoshima. Walk through to the Iwaya Caves and the scenery is so beautiful you can also see the sunset by the sea🌅

I went to Japan when I was 8 years old, but I have an unforgettable memory of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto. I was observing the garden while following my parents that day, and I remember seeing the Golden Pavilion at the top of a flight of stairs and being captivated by its beauty. I decided to head down the stairs to catch up with my parents, and as I was walking down, I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I turned around to find a made-up maiko in traditional attire looking at me. I was impressed, turned back to my father who pulled out his camera, and... click-click! The picture of me with an apprentice geisha is still displayed in my home, and that memory is forever associated with the…

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