In a region with so many destinations, it’ll be hard to pick which is best for you — especially if you only have a few days for a weekend getaway in Southeast Asia. In its cities, ancient temples glow gold beneath glittering skyscrapers. In the more rural areas, dense jungles lead to virgin white-sand beaches.
Whether you travel for relaxation or adventure, history or culture, we’ve rounded up six Southeast Asia weekend getaway spots you won’t want to miss.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
If Bangkok is the face of Thailand’s future, then cooler, calmer Chiang Mai is the face of its past.
This laid-back city in the northern hills is the nation’s second-largest city, but it still has the walls and moats of its past as a cultural and religious center, with stunning temples and intricate sculptures.
While it’s emerged as a hub for digital nomads, that just means you’ll find more funky coffee shops than you once may have.
The sprawling traditional markets, including the Night Bazaar and Gate Market, aren’t going anywhere, and they make Chiang Mai a fantastic place to shop for authentic souvenirs, including Thai silks and intricately painted rice boxes.
Singapore
For a fast-paced urban weekend getaway in Southeast Asia, there’s nowhere as tuned into global trends and traditions as Singapore.
Start your weekend with some shopping at the boutiques on Orchard Road; then stop for lunch in Little India or Chinatown, depending on your mood. In the afternoon, discover the city’s greener side at Gardens by the Bay nature park, or along the beaches of Sentosa.
The futuristic skyscrapers of Marina Bay light up like Christmas trees come nightfall, making the neighborhood an iconic destination for an evening stroll.
Gunung Mulu National Park, Malaysia
This protected rainforest in Sarawak is known for its spindly karst features and boundless caverns, including the world’s largest known cave chamber: the 2,000-foot-long, 1,425-foot-wide Sarawak Chamber.
Visitors also flock to Gunung Mulu for hikes in verdant old-growth rainforests, swims through waterfalls, and a canopy walk in the trees where you can search for gibbons and hornbills.
Is it remote? Yes, and incredibly peaceful. But the park is easily reached via Mulu Airport, and Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa offers an exceptionally comfortable base for resting before the next day’s adventure.
Guimaras Island, Philippines
Guimaras Island is the definition of paradise, with pure white-sand beaches, prismatic coral reefs, and aquamarine seas.
Located in the Panay Gulf, this largely undeveloped island is renowned in the Philippines for its mangoes, reputed to be the sweetest in the world. Judge for yourself as you sip on a mango smoothie on Guisi Beach, kicking back under the swaying palms. Or take a smoothie with you on a boat tour to pristine islets just offshore.
Many visitors base themselves in Iloilo City (a 15-minute ferry ride away) for a little more buzz, including excellent eateries at La Paz Public Market.
Da Nang, Vietnam
Da Nang is the perfect Southeast Asia weekend getaway for those who seek city buzz alongside easy access to nature. It’s one of Vietnam’s largest cities, but you can also find yourself lazing on a pristine beach one day and hiking into the Marble Mountains the next.
Visitors light up their camera rolls with images of Da Nang’s 500-foot-long (walkable) Golden Bridge, which is held up by two giant fiberglass hands.
The city is also within easy day-trip distance of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites:: Hoi An, with its port town architecture and romantic sidewalk cafés, and Hué, with its ornate gardens, temples and Nguyen Dynasty palaces.
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Yogyakarta, on the island of Java, is Indonesia’s artiest city and an important hub for classical Javanese crafts, including batik and silversmithing.
The cultural heart of the city is Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat (the Kraton), the city’s walled palace complex still run by a sultan. This complex houses museums with royal artifacts, as well as open-air pavilions where you can listen to percussive gamelan music, watch a wayang shadow-puppet show, or enjoy songlike macapat poetry.
Most visitors pass through Yogyakarta en route to the World Heritage Site of Borobudur, which lies about an hour north of town. The largest Buddhist temple in the world, it holds 72 openwork stupas and more than 500 Buddhas.
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