Asia attractions

Savor 360-degree views of Singapore while sipping a classic cocktail and listening to a local band or DJ. At 925 feet (282 meters) above sea level, 1-Altitude Gallery & Bar is the highest rooftop bar in Singapore and one of the highest alfresco bars in the world.

Go back more than 900 years on a visit to Bang An Tower, outside Hoi An. This Cham tower has a unique style with eight sides—unlike other Cham ruins from that period. It’s also known for resembling a Hindu lingam, which represents Shiva. There’s no mistaking this brick phallus shape for what it depicts.

Ahmed Shah’s Mosque—also known as Shahi Jam-e-Masjid Bhadra and Juni Juma Masjid—is one of Ahmedabad’s oldest mosques, built in the early 15th century in the city’s original walled area. It reflects a Gujarati Islamic style of architecture that developed independently of the dominant strands in Mughal Delhi, with Hindu and Jain influences, too.

The nine-story Pavilion of Prince Teng was originally built in the Tang dynasty, so it’s seen its fair share of history. Set in Nanchang, the structure is famous for its height, large size, and architectural style, which is actually related to the Song Dynasty. Inside there are bronzes, musical instruments, and other extravagant gifts given to Prince Teng.

Located on Mt. Hokusei in Nakafurano, this small flower farm offers a hillside of lavender, marigold, sunflower, and salvia in the summer. The farm also features a chairlift—since it serves as a ski slope in the winter—that visitors can take to the top of the hill for views of the flower fields and the nearby mountains.

Visitors to Tokyo are spoiled for choice when it comes to fine art museums, but the Japanese Folk Crafts Museum is the place to come to learn about the ordinary crafts that have been interwoven with Japanese daily life for centuries. The museum holds around 17,000 craft artifacts from all around Japan, as well as the Korean Peninsula, China, and Taiwan.

Nestled at the foot of the mighty Mt. Burangrang, Dusun Bambu (which translates from Indonesian as Bamboo Village) is a leisure complex with plenty of activities. Along with enjoying the lush natural surroundings of the resort, you can fill your day with go-karts, a water coaster, a playground, and electric scooter rides.

The Cathedral Diocese of Can Tho (Nha Tho Chinh Toa Can Tho) in the city in the Mekong Delta is an active place of worship that serves local Catholics, but anyone can pay a visit to admire the architecture and peaceful ambience.

Home to a wealth of trompe l’oeil art, many with a distinctive Penang flavor, the Penang 3D Trick Art Museum offers the chance to photograph quirky poses at 30-plus illusions. You can simulate skydiving, pose with painted pandas or in the jaws of a giant python, or travel back in Penang time by bullock cart, trolley bus, or rowing boat.

Waduk Bajul Mati, or the Bajulmati Reservoir, is a popular photography and sunset spot. With headlands overlooking meandering blue waterways dotted with islands, the reservoir is sometimes likened to the Raja Ampat Islands in West Papua. But at about an hour’s drive from Banyuwangi, where ferries travel between East Java and Bali, Waduk Bajul Mati is somewhat more accessible.

Also known as the Shri Gyanodaya Tirth Kshetra, the Nareli Jain Temple is an important pilgrimage site for members of the Digambar Jain community. As it’s located near the tourist destinations of Ajmer and Pushkar, it’s a popular sight for travelers from all different backgrounds as well.

One of Bikaner's most recognizable landmarks, Kote Gate is considered the gateway to the Old City and acts as the de facto border between the old and new parts of town. While many visitors simply pass through, it's worth taking your time to check out the architecture of this massive entryway.

Many rivers near Sapporo on Hokkaido Island are popular for day trips in the summer. While the Barato, a relatively short river on the northern outskirts of Sapporo, offers canoeing, kayaking, and cycling paths along the banks, the best action happens in winter when the river freezes and becomes an ideal spot for a popular local pastime, ice fishing.

Built by a Gujarat Sultan to unify rival states through a marriage pact, Delhi Darwaja (Delhi Gate) is the oldest and longest of the gates marking the boundaries of the walled old city of Ahmedabad. It is one of Ahmedabad’s most historic landmarks, which is today typically lined with traffic, street food vendors, and market stalls.

Four uninhabited islands in the Seto Inland Sea, collectively known as the Tomogashima Islands, boast a colorful past and an atmospheric setting for exploring off the beaten path. Visitors can wander back in time along hiking trails that lead past old military fortifications backdropped by lush nature.

Lush jungle backdrops the gold-topped mausoleum honoring a 15th-century sultan, Sharif Ali, which draws respectful crowds of locals as well as a few travelers. While there’s not all that much to do here, it’s a peaceful site and monkeys can often be spotted playing on the verdant grounds. Another handful of sultans are interred with their families in the nearby Royal Brunei Mausoleum.

East Java’s Green Bay (Teluk Hijau) is located on the coast of Meru Betiri National Park and while local Indonesian travelers tend to know about it, fewer international visitors come this way. It’s rather isolated—you can only access the beach on foot or by boat from another nearby beach—so it’s a nice place to relax, swim, and visit a waterfall.

The Hindu Patalpuri Temple stands within—or, rather, beneath—the grounds of the 16th-century Mughal Allahabad Fort, and is one of the only parts of the fort that’s always accessible, as the rest is controlled by the Indian Army. Prayagraj (Allahabad) is a major Hindu pilgrimage destination and the Patalpuri Temple is one of the holiest places in the city.

A landmark since 1901, the Strand Yangon has been called one of the finest hotels East of the Suez. Housed in a restored historic Victorian mansion, the elegant hotel has been updated for modern times but has kept its authentic period furnishings.

Tokyo’s Unko Museum has pulled off the near-impossible: it’s made poop cute. Kawaii culture is a big deal in Japan, and the Unko Museum is a whole space dedicated to the more delightful aspects of poop. Less an educational museum and more an Instagrammable delight, you’ll find photogenic spaces, interactive and arcade games, and more, all in inoffensive pastel hues.

On the eastern side of Havelock Island, Govind Nagar Beach draws in a good number of visitors, owing partly to its proximity to the Havelock Jetty. There are lots of restaurants and hotels nearby, as well as dive centers, and the beach’s convenience adds to its appeal.

In Aomori Prefecture’s chilly climate, the steaming waters of volcanic Jigokunuma Pond are quite a contrast, especially when surrounded by fiery red and orange fall leaves. “Jigoku” means hell in Japanese, and travelers with a sensitive nose might agree the sulfur fumes make this an unappealing place. However, it’s naturally beautiful, and you can take a dip in the warm waters.

Overlooking Jait Sagar Lake in the northern reaches of Bundi, the Sukh Mahal is an elegant 18th-century palace that was commissioned as a summer home for the royal family. It’s characterized by beautiful Rajput architectural features, including domes known as chhatris and arched windows, plus lovely views across the water.

Located in the heart of Tashkent’s Old City, this centuries-old mosque is part of the Hazrati Imam Islamic complex. The Uzbek capital is better known for its Soviet high-rises than traditional architecture, but at Teleshayakh Mosque, visitors can admire the turquoise domes, tilework, and geometric patterns that the Timurid style is known for. Plus, the complex houses one of the world’s oldest Quran copies.

Across the bay from Kansai Airport, Rinku Park is a lovely waterfront park in the city of Izumisano. It’s a popular place to watch the sunset and see planes taking off and landing, and also offers a marble beach, seaside gardens, flower paths, a traditional arched wooden bridge, an inner sea area, and several sculptures.

Set in Odaesan National Park in Pyeongchang, Woljeongsa Temple is one of the most important temples of Korean Buddhism. Surrounded by a forest of fir trees and featuring several national treasures and a museum of Buddhist artifacts, the site also offers different Buddhist programs and temple-stay experiences.

Sitting just north of the imperial city of Hue, the Quang Dien District is where locals and travelers go to get a simple slice of rural life. Defined by water—the Sia and Bo rivers, the Tam Giang Lagoon, and the South China Sea—Quang Dien is an excellent spot for slow adventures, like bike rides along the riverbanks and through the rice paddies.

Though many travelers in the Mekong Delta like to visit floating markets, the land-based Vinh Long Market is also worth some time—and is an easier place to simply stroll around at your own pace. There’s a wide range of fresh produce, prepared food, dried goods, and other specialties, so check it out for local snacks and souvenirs.

Home to Mt. Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon and third highest in the Philippines, this national park rolls across the Philippine Cordilleras. On a clear day, sunrise from the mountaintop offers glorious views of peaks nestled amid a cotton-candy sea of clouds. Mossy forests, complete with streams and waterfalls, fill your senses as you make the climb.

Temples climb terraced hillsides at Vat Phou (Wat Phu), a Khmer Hindu sanctuary and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some ruins wrapping the central shrine are more than 1,000 years old, and all have sweeping views of the surrounding plains. Within the sanctuary itself are elegant carvings of Hindu gods, semi-divine animals, and dancers.