Call us biased, but we think Singapore’s a pretty neat spot for a holiday. The ever-growing tourist crowds at attractions like Singapore Oceanarium and Mandai’s new Rainforest Wild Asia can certainly attest to that. Earlier in the year, we were crowned Asia-Pacific’s best city, and we’re now also part of a new list of best holiday destinations in Asia for 2025, as ranked by Smart Travel Asia.
The ranking was made based on open-ended reader votes, sans any nomination or pre-selection, which means that the entire list is purely reader-driven – no marketing budget bribery at work. Votes were then tabulated accordingly, and Singapore scores seventh in a tie with Siem Reap in Cambodia, together with Penang in Malaysia.
At top place is Bangkok, followed by Tokyo and Bali both tied at second. We’re not surprised – all three cities are hot favourites for Singaporean holidayseekers as well as wanderlusters from around the world. Other cities that beat us include Seoul (#4), Phuket (#5), and Kyoto (#6).
But here’s our case for Singapore: we’re the most peaceful country in Asia, as well as the top Asian destination for solo female travellers, which automatically gives travellers greater peace of mind. And despite playing it safe with strict laws, we’re certainly not devoid of fun, having recently ranked as one of the world’s best cities to explore after dark, thanks to a buzzing party scene and night attractions. During the day, there’s an even greater pool of city gems to dive into, from hidden cafés to thrift shops and art galleries.
We could go on and on, but we’d sound like we’re bragging, so we’ll just leave you with our list of 101 best things to do in Singapore.
Best Asian holiday destinations in 2025, according to Smart Travel Asia
- Bangkok, Thailand
- Tokyo, Japan
Bali, Indonesia
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Seoul, South Korea
Luang Prabang, Laos
- Hong Kong
Phuket, Thailand
Rajasthan, India
- Taipei, Taiwan
Kyoto, Japan
Da Nang / Hoi An, Vietnam
- Singapore
Siem Reap / Angkor, Cambodia
Penang, Malaysia
- Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Maldives
- Macau
Kerala, India
Hangzhou, China
- Bhutan
Palawan, The Philippines
Sabah, Malaysia
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