10 best historic cities in Asia

Cities that have been a city for a millennium. The layers show.

Ranked by climate, cost of living, language access, safety, and lifestyle fit. Personalize this →

#1
Chiang Mai, Thailand
100
match
Northern Thai temple town in the mountains, beloved for cheap living and tight nomad community.
#2
Hanoi, Vietnam
100
match
Old Quarter alleys, lakes in the middle of the city, and the most painterly winter in Southeast Asia.
#3
Kathmandu, Nepal
100
match
Himalayan basecamp. Temples in the smog, treks at the doorstep, momos on every corner.
#4
Penang, Malaysia
100
match
Malaysian island of street art murals, hawker food legend, and a UNESCO-listed colonial old town.
#5
Hoi An, Vietnam
100
match
Lantern-lit Vietnamese trading port, frozen in time. Tailors, banh mi stalls, an ocean ten minutes away.
#6
Luang Prabang, Laos
100
match
UNESCO Mekong town where saffron-robed monks collect alms at dawn. Slowest pace in Southeast Asia.
#7
Pondicherry, India
100
match
Former French colony on the Bay of Bengal. Yellow-walled lanes, croissants, an ashram in town.
#8
Kyoto, Japan
75
match
Old capital. Bamboo groves, raked-gravel gardens, and a thousand temples to wander.
#9
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
75
match
Silk Road capital. Wide boulevards, melon stalls, mosaics, and a quietly opening economy.

Chiang Mai, Thailand