10 best mountain cities in Asia

Hiking on the weekend, ski lifts in winter, and a backdrop that never gets old.

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

#1
Taipei, Taiwan
100
match
Night markets, world's best dumplings, Asia's most LGBTQ-friendly capital, and a hot springs ride from downtown.
#2
Chiang Mai, Thailand
100
match
Northern Thai temple town in the mountains, beloved for cheap living and tight nomad community.
#3
Da Nang, Vietnam
100
match
Beach city with a mountain monastery overlooking it. Quiet, cheap, and rising fast among nomads.
#4
Ubud, Indonesia
100
match
Rice paddies, Hindu temples, yoga retreats. The spiritual interior of Bali.
#5
Kathmandu, Nepal
100
match
Himalayan basecamp. Temples in the smog, treks at the doorstep, momos on every corner.
#6
Almaty, Kazakhstan
100
match
Mountains rise straight from the southern edge. Soviet skeleton, Asian heart, surprisingly cosmopolitan.
#7
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
100
match
Vertical city where finance towers back onto hiking trails. Dim sum, Star Ferry, and the densest skyline on earth.
#8
Luang Prabang, Laos
100
match
UNESCO Mekong town where saffron-robed monks collect alms at dawn. Slowest pace in Southeast Asia.
#9
Pai, Thailand
100
match
Thai mountain village beloved of long-staying backpackers. Hot springs, hammocks, fire-spinners at sunset.
#10
Rishikesh, India
100
match
Yoga capital of the world on the Ganges, at the foot of the Himalayas. Ashrams, ghats, rafting season.

Taipei, Taiwan