Taking the family on holiday is no mean feat. We bet you're wondering where's the best place to take young kids in Asia? Or, what is the best place for families with teenagers in Asia? Maybe you're after the best place for BIG families in Asia? Choosing the right family holiday destination will leave you feeling refreshed and ready for more! 

Follow our guide below to the best family holidays in Asia, to help you decide where is best for your family! Whether you’re after cheap family holidays with more bang for your buck, a chance for the family to experience a new and rich culture, eat delicious street food, relax on the beach, or take a hike in the jungle – there’s something for everyone.

Best known for: 

• Beach

• Food

• Culture

• Shopping

• Nature

• Adventure 

• Kids clubs

Live it up at a kid-friendly beachside resort in Seminyak, Nusa Dua, or Uluwatu, or escape to a private villa nestled in the lush green rice fields of Ubud. Why not do both? Balinese resorts and villas offer excellent value for money and the island is accessible enough to divide your stay between two or more destinations. You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to fun in the sun, catching waves, or exploring fascinating temples and breathtaking landscapes. Plus, the Balinese love kids so the family-friendly vibes are high!

1. Waterbom Bali waterpark

2. Bali Sea Turtle Society 

3. Tanah Lot Temple 

4. Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (just don't get handsy with the monkeys or feed them, even though the sanctuary offers food to buy to feed them it's not a good move)

5. Tegalalang Rice Terrace

6. Tirta Empul Temple

7. Ujung Water Palace

8. Tukad Cepung Waterfall

9. Local market shopping 

10.  Finn’s Beach Club (the Recreation Club has Ten Pin Bowling, Bounce trampolines, and a Kids Club)

• It's not wise to drink the local water, so be sure to keep an eye on toddlers and young children who can’t help themselves from guzzling some at bath time. 

• Hire a private driver to shuttle the family around with ease and arrange hassle-free day trips.

•  If you’re not staying at a hotel resort, many resorts open up their facilities for day guests – provided you purchase food and drinks. Great for relaxed pool hopping with toddlers and young children.

• Travelling with Insta-obbsessed gen Zers? (or Millenials for that matter!) take an 'Instagram tour' with your own professional photographer and hit up all the most Instaworthy spots around the island. Great opportunity for that overdue family photo too! 

• If your young ones are scooped up and entertained by the waitstaff at a cafe or restaurant, rest assured they’re simply giving you an opportunity to enjoy your meal! (Amen!)

• Beach

• Food

• Culture

• History 

• Off the beaten track 

• Nature

• Adventure 

• Budget-friendly 

If a holiday with a healthy dose of bustling city balanced with stunning beaches and iconic landscapes is your thing – Vietnam is the perfect Southeast Asia destination for families who love variety and a little adventure. Start your Vietnam vacay in Ho Chi Minh City for an unforgettable blend of new and old with historical landmarks and museums along with markets and fast, fresh, and cheap street food galore. Experience a slower pace in Hoi An wandering the lantern-filled streets of its World Heritage Listed Old Town. When the water beckons, head to the famed limestone cliffs of Halong Bay, just a day trip away in Hanoi. In Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi, you’re treated to chic cafes and art galleries for a culture fix to remember. In Hue, little history buffs will be impressed by the walled citadel of the Imperial City. Keen to catch some waves? Surfs up in Da Nang. Just wanna beach chill and chase waterfalls? Nha Trang is the place to be. For luxurious resort vibes and pristine beaches, Cam Ranh has it sorted. Options galore is an understatement in Vietnam!

1. Mekong Delta boat trip from Ho Chi Minh 

2. Cu Chi Tunnels (grim to say the least, but fascinating and challenging)

3. Take a bicycle tour and a basket boat ride in Hoi An 

4. If you’re in Hoi An during a full moon you’ll get to enjoy the monthly lantern festival and young ones can even attend a lantern-making workshop 

5. Cruise the emerald waters of Halong Bay 

6. Taking an iconic cyclo-rickshaw ride through Hanoi’s Old Quarter 

7. Surf at My Khe Beach in Da Nang

8. Sun World Ba Na Hills theme park and the Golden Bridge in Da Nang

9. Ba Ho Waterfalls in Nha Trang

10. Explore underground rivers and caves ziplining in Phong Nha Ke National Park 

• Halong Bay is popular for good reason, head to the remote Bai Tu Long Bay if you want the views without the crowds.

• For an opportunity to immerse the family in local culture, you can try a homestay in a traditional village in Pu Luong, learning about hill-tribe life in the mountains of Northern Vietnam.

• While travelling to Vietnam is possible with kids of any age, older kids over 10 years will likely get more out of the adventure elements. 

• Food

• Culture

• Shopping

• Theme parks 

• Nature

Little foodies will rejoice in the plethora of eats to devour in Hong Kong – egg waffles, pineapple buns, Hong Kong toast, wonton noodle soup, and dim sum for days – all of which will help keep those little legs powering as you explore up and down the city's fascinating nooks and crannies. Families beeline for the hours of fun at Disneyland, while the city itself is a playground – between riding the longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world or hopping on a double-decker tram and winding your way through the hustle and bustle. Venture to the Peak for epic views then explore the nature trails on the way back down. Explore the harbour on an iconic Star Ferry or head out on a day trip to explore village life on the chilled-out neighbouring islands. Eat, shop, explore, repeat is the Hong Kong mantra. 

1. Hong Kong Disneyland

2. Hong Kong Science Museum

3. Great shopping at street markets (in particular, Toy Street!)

4. The Peak – a tram ride to the top is a must!

5. The Big Buddha via a Ngong Ping 360 glass-bottom cable car 

6. Hong Kong pink dolphin watching tour*

7. Junk Boat Ride for the Symphony of Lights and ICC Light Show over Victoria Harbour 

8. Ferry ride to the outer islands – take a day trip to Cheung Chau or Lamma Island

9. Hong Kong Park and its six-level outdoor play area

10. Monkey around at Kam Shan Country Park aka ‘Monkey Mountain’ (just remember not to feed or touch the monkeys)

• Skip the lines at Disneyland by booking a VIP Tour. And book in advance for the Disney dim sum and Hong Kong Disneyland character dining at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel. 

• When visiting the Big Buddha on Lantau Island, try to visit Tai O fishing village to see the unique houses built on the water and experience the quaint village life. 

• *Chat to your Flight Centre agent to ensure you book an ethical pink dolphin tour

• Food

• Culture

• Shopping

• History 

• Theme parks 

• Nature

• Adventure

Probably the safest and most kid-friendly destination in Asia (maybe the world) – Japan blends modern metropolises with cultural wonders, varied landscapes, and peaceful escapes in nature – all while being famously quirky and exceptionally polite. Travel by bullet trains makes navigating the island a breeze and means you can easily explore outside of Tokyo for day trips or longer jaunts to other cities and regions. All with a unique claim to fame and regional cuisines to try – from the temples of Kyoto to the street foods in Osaka and the white sandy beaches of Okinawa. Ski, hike, soak in hot springs, and shop til you drop (and lick soft serve ice creams as tall as your head til your heart's content!)

1. Spend the Day at a Japanese Theme Park (Tokyo Disneyland, DisneySea or Universal Studios to name a few!)

2. Nara Park

3. Ghibli Museum 

4. teamLab Planets Tokyo immersive museum

5. Legoland Discovery Center Tokyo

6. Karaoke and video games in Shibuya

7. Shopping spree at the 100 yen shops in Harajuku 

8. Ski season (Nov-May)

9. Naoshima Art Island 

10. Hakone Open-Air Museum

• Visit Tokyo's Yoyogi Park on a Sunday to see live music and entertainment, along with plenty of ‘Harajuku girls’ dressed up. 

• The best time to visit Japan is Spring and Autumn (March to May and September to November) however March can be busy with cherry blossom season, and try to avoid travelling during the Golden Week (usually falls the last weekend in April and the first week of May) as this is a busy week of national holidays for locals and travel and accommodation can be booked out. 

• Strollers aren’t the best when using the public transport subway system, however, you can use Google Maps to filter ‘accessible’ stations with lift access. 

• Hotel rooms in Japan are cosy! Your best bet for space travelling with a family would be to look at family-friendly hotels, apartment rentals, or traditional ryokans (bearing in mind those can be a little more expensive). 

• Beach

• Food

• Shopping

• Theme parks 

• Adventure 

• Kids clubs 

Forget thinking of Singapore as merely a stopover destination – this modern Asian nation is holiday-worthy in its own right – especially when it comes to pleasing the whole family. Boasting the world’s tallest duelling roller coaster, water parks for days, and kid-friendly beach clubs – safe to say the little ones will hit the hay with no complaints at bedtime. But not before tucking into a feast for the eyes and the belly at a local Hawker food market. 

1. Universal Studios

2. Singapore Flyer

3. Adventure Cove Waterpark

4. Sentosa Cable Car

5. Gardens By The Bay 

6. Hawker Centre Food 

7. Fort Canning Park

8. Shopping on Orchard Road 

9. ArtScience Museum

10. KidZania Singapore

• Don’t miss the delightful Children’s Garden at the Botanic Gardens. 

• Even the airport is a tourist attraction – don’t miss seeing the Jewel at Changi Airport – featuring the world’s tallest indoor waterfall! 

• No doubt you’ll be spending time on Sentosa Island (home to Universal Studios, Adventure Cove Waterpark, and more), of the three beaches on the island, Palawan is the best for families with playgrounds, parks, and a lagoon. 

• Got a Lego lover? Take a day trip over the border to LegoLand Malaysia!

• Beach

• Food

• Culture

• Shopping

• Off the beaten path

• Nature

• Adventure 

• Budget-friendly

Thailand oozes a welcoming, chilled-out Asia vibe – plus, it’s also one of the most affordable destinations for families. Get on island time in tropical paradise where every day is beach, eat, play, repeat (and even better at a family-friendly resort to help keep the kids entertained!) Escape to the northern provinces for a cultural experience to remember, seek out ancient ruins, and be sure to embrace the fun and delight the senses at every turn – especially on a tuk-tuk ride through Bangkok! 

1. Bangkok’s floating markets, Chatuchak Weekend Market and temples 

2. Zipline in the jungle in Chiang Mai 

3. Take a dip by the waterfalls in Erawan National Park

4. Eat all the great food at a night market

5. Take a cooking class

6. Camp out on a bamboo raft in Kanchanaburi 

7. Snorkel in paradise off one of the many pristine beaches 

8. Take a longtail boat ride around the islands  

9. Visit an Elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai

10. Kayak Khao Sok National Park 

• For a beach holiday, check the season: the Andaman region (home to Phuket and Krabi and surrounding islands) has its rainy season May to September, but the Gulf Islands of Koh Tao and Koh Samui where weather is ideal from February to September. 

• For an authentic cultural experience visit the Hill Tribe villages of Chiang Rai or organise a homestay in a traditional fishing village in Phang Nga Bay. 

• Make sure to experience a Thai massage – especially for well-deserving parents!

• For responsible elephant tourism, seek out an observation-only elephant nature park (such as ChangChill near Chiang Mai), where you can admire elephants doing what they do best: just being elephants! If you visit Khao Yai National Park a few hours from Bangkok, you might be lucky to spot an elephant in the wild! 

• More tips for how to tackle Thailand with kids.

Our vote is Singapore, Hong Kong or Japan.

Our vote is Vietnam or Thailand.

Our vote is Thailand or Vietnam for the most budget-friendly.

Bali is great for families of all ages – just be extra vigilant with toddlers to not drink the local water.