Top 5 Cities to Visit in Asia

Asia is a vast and diverse continent, with a rich cultural heritage and an abundance of unique cities to explore. Whether you're looking for a bustling metropolis, a peaceful retreat, or an off-the-beaten-path adventure, Asia has something for everyone. Here are the top 5 unique cities that you must visit in Asia:

Hong Kong, China 🥗

Hong Kong stands out across Asia - its jagged skyline cuts the sky, streets buzz nonstop, while green hills wrap around a wide, busy port. East meets old Britain here, mixed with modern China vibes; contrasts hit hard, giving travelers a jolt of real urban pulse.

Why Hong Kong belongs on your Asia bucket list

Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour stands out as a standout city scene worldwide, best seen from The Peak - a well-known spot you get to by cable car or winding footpaths. Tall buildings packed tight, boats cutting across the bay, plus lush slopes behind create that real-deal Asian experience. While the skyline grabs your eye, it's the mix of motion and nature that sticks with you. Each piece adds up without feeling crowded.

Central, Sheung Wan, or Wan Chai - each hides bits of the past in old temples, busy markets, and narrow shop buildings. On the Kowloon side, life feels closer to the ground, filled with loud streets, roadside vendors, maybe a sizzling wok here and there. Eating’s what really shapes Hong Kong, whether it’s steaming dim sum spots, gritty outdoor food counters, even fresh twists on classic Cantonese cooking.

Culture meets old traditions with a side of waterfront sights

A walk down the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront opens up wide sights of the city line - especially vivid after dark, with urban glow bouncing on the bay. On the far side, spots such as Mong Kok or Jordan show real Hong Kong life, thanks to bustling stalls, bright signs, yet small local diners run by families.

Temples like Man Mo on Hollywood Road or Wong Tai Sin show deep-rooted spiritual habits, blending Taoism, Buddhism, or local customs within tight city spaces. You’ll find calm spots filled with smoke, quiet gestures, or thoughtfulness while the streets keep buzzing nearby.

Handy hints for trips

Hong Kong’s got solid phone service, plus free Wi-Fi pops up at train stations and plenty of hotels. With an Asia eSIM, your internet works straight off the plane - so hailing cabs, finding subway ways out, or checking food spots live becomes hassle-free.

If you're heading to places like Japan, Thailand, or Singapore, go for a regional Asia eSIM - keeps you connected across borders without swapping actual SIMs. People with older devices - or those who just want something they can hold - can grab a Hong Kong or Asia SIM straight from the airport or big malls instead.

To learn about staying connected while traveling across East Asia, check out our Japan eSIM guide (internal link placeholder).

Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region of China, is a city unlike any other. With its bustling energy, towering skyscrapers, and stunning harbor views, Hong Kong is a city that truly comes to life. The city is a melting pot of cultures, with a rich heritage and an abundance of attractions to explore.

One of the top things to do in Hong Kong is to visit The Peak, the city's highest point and a popular tourist destination. The Peak offers breathtaking views of the city and its surrounding scenery, and is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience Hong Kong's stunning scenery. Another popular destination is the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, a popular walkway that offers stunning views of Victoria Harbour and the city's skyline.

Kyoto, Japan 🍱

Kyoto stands out across Asia for visitors wanting more than just sights - think ancient emperors mixed with wooden temples, quiet tea rituals, or cherry blossoms in spring. It used to be Japan’s capital, holding that role longer than any other city, so it naturally kept the soul of old traditions alive. While time moved on elsewhere, this place held tight to its look, feel, and way of life.

Why Kyoto is a must visit city in Asia

Kyoto holds countless temples plus shrines, a bunch recognized by UNESCO, showing how Japanese Buddhism and Shinto evolved over time. Places such as Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, alongside Kiyomizu-dera display building methods and landscape layouts that shaped artistic tastes nationwide.

The city's neighborhoods keep old-style streets that seem far removed from modern Tokyo’s skyscrapers. Strolling through Higashiyama’s untouched alleys - then seeing Gion’s classic timber fronts - you get a glimpse of how traders, craftsmen, maybe geisha too, built daily life here long ago.

Temples mixed with shrines, also old geisha areas

Fushimi Inari Taisha sits on a slope covered in bright red torii gates - one of Asia’s top spots for photos at sacred places. This place honors Inari, linked to farming, success in trade, or growing rice - showing how faith once shaped daily work life.

Gion’s famous for those ochaya spots - spots tied to geiko and maiko life, where old-school dances, tunes, or polite gestures still thrive. Strolling here after dark feels different: paths glow under paper lights, old wood walls line narrow lanes, silence hangs in smaller roads.

Staying connected in Kyoto and beyond

Japan’s big towns have solid phone signals, while Kyoto enjoys fast internet connections. With an Asia eSIM or a deal covering Japan, you can use travel apps, handy translators, plus online maps to move around via train, bus, or when visiting temples.

Travellers hitting Kyoto plus Tokyo or spots nearby might find one eSIM handy - keeps trains, meals, and sudden route tweaks sorted on the go. Should you lean toward old-school picks, a regular SIM made for Japan or broader Asia works just fine, particularly when staying awhile.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 🍜

Ho Chi Minh City - many folks still say Saigon - is one of Asia’s liveliest spots, mixing old French buildings with tangled backstreets while pushing forward like crazy. This place opens your eyes to today’s Vietnam, where war memories meet hustle culture out on every corner.

Why Ho Chi Minh City stands out

The city centre has spots like the Saigon Central Post Office along with Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, showing old colonial times. Around them stand fresh high-rises together with buzzing coffee shops, pointing to how fast the place is changing economically.

Ho Chi Minh City really comes alive on the streets. You’ll see sidewalk spots where people sip coffee while scooters swarm every corner. Instead of quiet, there’s always noise, movement, energy. Coffee here isn’t just a drink - it’s slow drip brews through metal filters or bold remixes made by young baristas.

Old stories, places with artifacts, or busy stalls where people trade

The War Remnants Museum shows the harsh reality of the Vietnam War - how it hurt people and damaged nature. Displays, old photos, besides official accounts push you to think harder about what happened and what stayed after. That’s why folks into recent history should really check it out.

Ben Thanh Market, known by almost everyone in town, sells fabric, handmade goods, spices, or tasty snacks you can eat on the spot. This spot works well for grabbing keepsakes while also showing how locals buy things, haggle prices, yet enjoy bold tastes every day.

Digital links but city paths

Ho Chi Minh City's expanding setup means better phone service plus lots of people using ride apps. If you’ve got an Asia eSIM covering Vietnam, you’ll have maps, translation help, and digital payments right when you arrive - skip the line at the airport for a SIM.

Visitors heading to spots like Bangkok or Singapore might pick regional plans to stay online across Southeast Asia. People sticking around Vietnam could go for a local SIM - use an eSIM on the side for backup and smoother use.

To check regional data choices, take a look at our Southeast Asia eSIM guide (internal link placeholder).

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 🍲

Ulaanbaatar, the main city of Mongolia, mixes old herding ways with fast-growing modern life - this sets it apart from many Asian destinations. While travelers usually start expeditions to wide grasslands, dry deserts, or high mountains from here, the town holds plenty of cultural depth on its own.

Why Ulaanbaatar is a unique Asia bucket list destination

Ulaanbaatar shows Mongolia's traditional roots meeting today’s world. While old Soviet designs stand next to shiny new towers, yurt neighborhoods spread out beyond the center - each telling a part of the nation’s past. From temples to open plazas, places in the city highlight shifts through conquests, communist rule, then freedom.

The weather, featuring chilly winters plus brief summers, affects how people live in cities - shaping what they wear or eat along with yearly festivities. Lots of visitors plan trips around local holidays or artistic happenings.

Monasteries, museums, and Mongolian heritage

Gandan Monastery stands as a key spiritual hub in Mongolia - functioning not just as a living temple but also as a space where people explore Vajrayana Buddhism rooted deeply across this land. Spinning prayer wheels, carved figures, along with daily monk ceremonies give glimpses into how faith unfolds here.

The National Museum of Mongolia lays out the nation's history in clear chunks - starting with ancient tools, moving through Scythian relics, then into Genghis Khan’s empire and later Soviet times. Old garments, arms, also everyday gear show how herders made life work across tough terrain, year after year.

Links around the city - and farther out

Ulaanbaatar’s phone signal keeps getting better, especially downtown - though things get spotty once you head out to the countryside. An Asia eSIM works well there if you’re hopping around cities or just exploring the main urban zone.

When heading to far-off areas, tourists usually pair a Mongolia SIM or eSIM for city stays with paper bookings, offline navigation, instead of relying only on online tools. Mixing these options offers practical tech use while dealing with life off the grid.

Bhaktapur, Nepal 🍛

Bhaktapur sits close to Kathmandu, tucked in Nepal’s valley basin - a spot saved from time, tagged by UNESCO. This place throws you into old-school Newar building styles, laid out just like centuries ago, so walking through feels like stepping back - perfect for those chasing authentic Asian history vibes without the flashy fluff.

What makes Bhaktapur one of Asia’s standout spots for culture lovers

Bhaktapur’s ancient town still has red-tiled lanes, detailed wood window carvings, yet open plazas showing its past as a kingdom's heart in the region. Its design helps travelers notice how worship spots, public areas, also homes once fit together tightly in everyday settlement patterns.

Bhaktapur’s smaller size makes it easier to get around on foot - perfect for wandering past shrines, open plazas, or craft studios at your own pace. When you visit early in the day or near sunset, the vibe almost seems untouched by time.

Temples sit beside open plazas while handmade crafts carry old ways forward

Nyatapola Temple towers above Taumadhi Square - among Nepal’s most striking religious structures - and highlights the classic multi-tiered design rooted in Newar tradition. Making your way up grants sweeping glimpses across nearby streets, with rows of sloped tile roofs stretching into the distance.

Potters’ Square stays busy - craftsmen mold clay into bowls, jars, or ornaments. While you watch them work, sun-dried pieces line up nearby. This scene ties travelers to old-school skills that still feed families today.

Capture and Share Your Asia Journey With SimCorner eSIM

Staying connected while exploring Asia makes every city break smoother. Mobile signals in key spots around Asia work fine for texts, maps, or organizing your route - though how fast or steady they are depends on where you go. With an eSIM from SimCorner, stay online across different places in Asia; update plans, look up hours, snap pics instead of hunting down stores each time you land.

When visiting several countries, heading out on hikes, or staying far from cities, use both a SimCorner Asia eSIM and a regular Asia SIM Card from SimCorner. That way, if one signal drops or service acts up, you can still reach maps, bookings, or people no matter where you are in Asia.

• Asia eSIMs for instant activation across multiple countries
• Asia SIM cards for reliable coverage and backup
• Affordable data plans for social media, maps, streaming, and travel apps
• Convenient options whether you’re exploring megacities, temples, or remote valleys

FAQs: Top 5 Cities to Visit in Asia

1. Why are these spots ranked among Asia’s best five places to check out?

These places mix bold traditions, old landmarks, also unique local vibes along decent travel setups - like transit or where you can stay. Each one shows another face of Asia, whether it’s port hubs, sacred spots, mountain seats, or preserved villages.

2. Do these places work well for newcomers to Asia?

Folks often pick spots such as Hong Kong, Kyoto, or Bhaktapur at first go - these places have obvious hubs to check out, along with tours and freedom to wander alone. Tougher locations like Ulaanbaatar or Ho Chi Minh City? They’re still doable if you prep early while keeping lines open.

3. Wondering if you should get an eSIM when hopping from one city to another?

You don't actually require an eSIM - though having one from Asia or a local provider helps when hopping between countries. That way, checking reservations, translating signs, or finding your route becomes easier while traveling, since you're not stuck searching for café hotspots or paying steep roaming charges.

4. How much time ought I stay in every one of these places?

Most visitors spend 2 to 4 days in small places like Bhaktapur or Ulaanbaatar, while bigger spots - Hong Kong, Kyoto, or Ho Chi Minh City - usually take 3 to 5 days. How long you should stay really hinges on your plans: just exploring downtown, or branching out with side trips and local adventures?

5. Is it possible to visit a few top Asian cities together on one journey?

Fair enough - smart route planning plus regional deals lets you stack several spots into one trip across Asia, like hitting Hong Kong, then Kyoto, followed by Ho Chi Minh City - or linking Ulaanbaatar with key urban centers nearby. Using a cross-border eSIM or physical SIM keeps your phone running smooth no matter where you roam, whether catching rides from terminals or diving into neighborhood vibes.