This is part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024 – find more travel inspiration here.
It’s official, Asia is back – brighter, bolder and more ambitious than ever. The region took longer than others to shake off pandemic-related travel restrictions and border closures, but has returned in full force, eager to remind international travellers what they’ve been missing.
The continent’s titanic expanse of territories has always offered a diverse tapestry of to-dos – but across the region, new experiences, events and accommodation options await. Sri Lanka is emerging phoenix-like from economic crisis and responding with a new food festival, wellness-oriented retreats and a hiking trail that snakes through 300 kilometres of hill country and centuries of history. Mongolia is relaxing visa restrictions to give more people the opportunity to experience its vast, rugged landscapes, and Kochi is setting the bar when it comes to city-wide sustainability initiatives. In the UAE, a lesser-known emirate is vying for attention, while a Japanese port city is flexing its design muscles.
Expanded green spaces, intriguing boutique resorts, luxury sleeper trains and the ancient Silk Road: our list of the 11 best places to visit in Asia in 2024, entirely informed by contributing writers spread across the world, is packed full of reasons to head east next year.
Don’t forget to also visit our global list of international destinations to visit in 2023, vetted by Condé Nast Traveller editors based in the U.S., U.K., Spain and India. – Selina Denman & Julian Manning
The best places to go in Asia in 2024
Singapore
Go for: Forest trails; new luxury stays; and Taylor Swift devotees