BANGKOK – Smart Travel Asia reports Bangkok city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia for 2025” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travelers and readers worldwide.
The honor comes from Smart Travel Asia’s annual Best in Travel poll, and it is Bangkok’s second win in a row. Hundreds of thousands of readers and frequent travelers voted between June and August, reinforcing a clear point. In a time of crowded hotspots and rising prices, Bangkok offers pure fun at a fair cost.
Why does Bangkok keep winning? The city runs on a 24-hour beat that never fades. Smart Travel Asia calls it “a city full of colour, day and night.” Voters loved the mix of old and new. Gilded temples catch the early light, night markets glow late into the evening, and Thai hospitality feels warm and unforced.
Prices help too. Daily costs stay low next to rivals like Tokyo or Singapore, so a day of treats, from a riverfront massage to a rooftop cocktail, stays within reach. Public transport works well, the BTS Skytrain is quick and simple, Wi-Fi is fast, and culture spans calm Buddhist sites to high-energy bars and clubs. It is both easy and exciting.
Bangkok is All-Encompassing
The poll keeps things open. Anyone with a passion for Asia’s 48 countries can cast a vote. This year, more than 300,000 regular visitors weighed pros and cons, favoring places that balance escape with comfort. Bangkok’s repeat win reflects a strong tourism return for Thailand after the pandemic.
Green tweaks, like cleaner canal tours and less single-use plastic, add appeal without changing the city’s spirit. Many voters said the city feels all-encompassing, a place that draws travelers in and keeps them there.
Close behind, Bali and Tokyo tied for second. Bali’s surf breaks, rice terraces, and café culture continue to attract, with Ubud’s forests and wellness scene adding to the pull. It scored well in other reader polls, too.
Yet crowding remains a challenge, which makes Bangkok’s large-city scale feel more manageable.
Tokyo shines with precision and polish. It offers beauty in motion, from spring blossoms to spotless stations, and a food scene where kaiseki reads like art. Voters praised safety and order, but many chose Bangkok for a looser, more spontaneous feel.
Thailand’s strength did not stop at the top. Chiang Mai placed third with cool mountain air, lantern festivals, and quiet temples.
Fourth place was shared by Seoul, South Korea, buzzing with K-pop style and comfort food, and Luang Prabang, Laos, where UNESCO-listed streets meet serene Mekong mornings.
Fifth was a three-way tie. Hong Kong dazzled with harbor lights, Phuket wooed with soft beaches, and Rajasthan impressed with palaces that rise from the desert.
World Famous Street Food
For first-time visitors, Bangkok’s food scene sets the tone. Street stalls deliver big flavor at small prices, and the city protects culinary heritage with pride. Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, comes alive at dusk. Wok flames leap, prawns hit the pan for pad Thai, and green papaya gets the chili and lime treatment for som tam.
Jay Fai still draws queues, a Michelin-starred legend serving crab omelets that feel decadent without a painful bill. Plastic stools, scooters roaring past, and food cooked to order, it is dinner and theatre in one.
Shopping mirrors that energy. Siam Paragon lines up high fashion in cool air, including Gucci and the world’s largest Sephora. Chatuchak Weekend Market offers the opposite mood, sprawling across a vast maze of more than 15,000 stalls.
Handwoven silk, vintage vinyl, ceramics, pet boutiques, and crafts sit side by side. Haggle with a smile, sip cold coconut water, and leave with bags full of finds. Asiatique by the river adds late-night charm, with indie jewelry, casual fashion, and a Ferris wheel over the water.
Sights are as bold as the food. The Grand Palace gleams with gilt and glass, while the Emerald Buddha watches over the faithful. Wat Arun rewards early risers with views across the Chao Phraya, tiles catching the light in soft pastels.
Visit the Floating Market
The Jim Thompson House offers a pause, a wooden home that tells the story of Thai silk and a life of rare taste. Those after sky-high views can head to the Lebua at State Tower, famous from The Hangover Part II, where infinity pools and skyline bars face the city’s glow.
Long-tail boats carry visitors through narrow khlongs, past stilted homes and floating markets, where fruit boats ferry pineapples and squid to hungry shoppers. Looking to 2025, Bangkok reads like a promise.
It combines price, pace, and personality in a way few cities match. Solo travelers chase flavor, families find activities for all ages, and repeat visitors keep finding new corners.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand points to steady growth in greener tours, with more direct flights from hubs like Jakarta feeding demand.
Pack light, appetite heavy, and prepare to be enchanted. Thailand’s TAT is already buzzing about sustainable surges, with new eco-tours and direct flights from hubs like Jakarta fueling the fire. Who knows? By year’s end, you might just join the chorus voting for a third straight win.
