Southeast Asia is a popular area for people looking for a road trip. When you start to look into the area you will see why this is obvious. There are a lot of vibrant and distinct cultures in the same neighborhood for you to sink your teeth into, and that’s not to mention all the wonderous nature in between all the cities.
The Best Cities to Visit in Southeast Asia
If you are considering a gap year, or doing some country hopping, we can’t recommend southeast Asia enough. And to prove it, here are our picks for the best cities to visit in southeast Asia.
1. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia is the perfect place for anyone looking for a slower pace of life. The sandy beaches, the rolling hills, the clear waters, all make for a steady drop in blood pressure, until you haven’t a care in the world. But in the center of it is Kuala Lumpur. The colorful and vibrant city is home to museums, galleries, and places of historical relevance, with culture found everywhere from the street markets to the homes.
Kuala Lumpur’s answer to the Empire State Building is the Petronas Twin Towers, which tower over the city as the tallest pair of buildings in the world. They make for an amazing skyline photo when they light up at night and practically dare you to walk across its glass skybridge for views that are 170 meters up.
But for something truly new, you must visit the Batu Caves. At the entrance of a 727-step stairway stands a 100-meter-tall statue of Lord Murugan, entirely in gold, so you can’t miss it. Just a little north of Kuala Lumpur is the 400-million-year-old collection of three large caves and a few extra small ones. Inside the limestone cave you will find the largest colony of fireflies, mysterious bats, and wild monkeys, as well as a collection of Hindu shrines. If you time your visit right you could find yourself in the middle of a lively festival, like Thaipusam, which is an annual Hindu festival held in January that involves a lot of music and dancing.
2. Singapore, Singapore
The city is so good, they named it twice. Singapore is technically a country but it is small enough, and yet grand enough to warrant a place on this list. And it’s apt that it is named twice since Singapore feels like a tale of two cities while you are exploring. There is the bustling business and nightlife of the city and the surrounding nature and coasts that allow for a lot of outdoor activities.
The famed Singapore skyline is decorated with the structures of the Marina Bay Sands buildings, as well as plenty other skyscraping buildings that are famed for pushing the boundaries of architecture, including the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, which stands at 165 meters.
But this fusion of natural and huma-made beauty is never more obvious than in the Gardens by the Bay. The beautiful enormous “supertrees” are colorful structures that provide shade in the day and light up the night sky. You can climb to an observatory in the tallest supertree to be met with a God’s eye view of the garden and its many beautiful flowers and technological advancements, like the cloud forest. If that’s been enough to convince you to move, you can look into season parking HDB in Singapore here.
3. Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand offers something new wherever you go. In the north you can find history and heritage in the temples, and in the south, there is a lively beach and party scene. But in the middle of it all is the gem that is Bangkok. The food, the lights, the energy: Bangkok has it all. It’s already a famous lad holiday destination thanks to its thriving nightlife, but it has so much more to offer.
Visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market for a colorful shopping experience. Browse the indoor and outdoor stalls that offer traditional and modern crafts, clothing, gifts, souvenirs and more. You can also treat yourself to some street food, like the coconut ice cream at Coco JJ or the honey roast pork at Moo Yang Nam Peung. To take it to the next level, head to the Damnoen Floating Market, which features a train ride through a collection of riverside stalls on the canals. Float through stalls of produce and street food for a shopping experience you will never forget.
For a religious site that will make you catch your breath, head to the Wat Phra Chetuphon. It is one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok and features a 150-meter-long gold sculpture of a reclining Buddha inside. The exterior is extremely detailed, covered in patterns and colors of traditional Thai architecture and inside you can find over 1,000 images of Buddha, plus a collection of statues and stupas.
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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