If you ask us, it's about time for Asia's art and cultural scene to get the global spotlight. We're home to some of the world's oldest civilisations, and to balance that, the region is thrumming with youthful energy, driving an exciting calendar of arts festivals, literary events, and underground parties.
If you're eager to dive into Asia's flourishing cultural landscape, then we've sussed out the cities you can start with. Time Out surveyed 18,500 locals worldwide to get their thoughts on the quality and affordability of their city's cultural scene. Our network of art and culture editors then narrowed the list to 20 of the world's finest cultural hubs. We thought outside the box of museums, galleries, and theatres to consider free-wheeling, community-rooted events like pop-up festivals, museum parties, and even raves in caves.
So, the best city in Asia for a large dose of art and culture? Hanoi (No. 9), Vietnam's charming capital with a history stretching back more than 1,000 years. As local writer Joey Gann puts it, "What's charming about modern, youthful Hanoi is that the past is never far away." One minute, you can be in the Old Quarter watching performers on ancient silk-string instruments; the next, you can rock and roll with upcoming local bands at Hanoi Rock City. The city is a few hours drive from the aforementioned 'rave in a cave' Equation Festival, and home to blistering fashion talent who are bringing ethnic textiles to the global couture stage.
The kicker? Getting cultured in Hanoi is super easy on your wallet. It's the cheapest city for art and culture on our list, with 82 percent of locals ranking it highly for affordability. Case in point: weekend walking streets filled with street performances and traditional showcases you can enjoy for free.
In a bit of a shocker, Japanese cities like Tokyo and Kyoto didn't crack the top 20. Instead, Beijing comes next at No. 11, standing out for its intriguing mix of Chinese tradition and modern life. Locals particularly love the National Centre for the Performing Arts and Tiananmen Square, so make space in your itinerary for those.
We're glad to see Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, at No. 13. This city has long been wildly creative, with "big name museums and galleries, [as well as] many smaller spaces like Dia.Lo.Gue Artspace, Jakarta Art Hub and M Bloc Space becoming popular venues for various creative communities," says local expert Leyla Rose. She also highlights Jakarta's vibrant music scene, which shines with annual fests like Java Jazz Festival, Djakarta Warehouse Project, and We the Fest. It's the most affordable city for the arts after Hanoi, too.
The final Asian city on the list is Delhi at No. 14. 89 percent of locals rated their city's culture scene highly in our survey, which local writer Shuvajit Payne says is becoming "bigger, better, and more inclusive each year." If there's one thing to check out, it's the newly opened Humayun's Tomb museum, a marvel of Mughal architecture.
So, which is the best city in the world for arts and culture in 2025? Take a wild guess – or find out below.
The world's 20 best cities for culture right now, according to Time Out:
- Paris
- Florence
- Edinburgh
- Mexico City
- Sydney
- Barcelona
- Chicago
- Lisbon
- Hanoi
- Cape Town
- Beijing
- Tbilisi
- Jakarta
- Delhi
- Medellin
- Amsterdam
- Marrakech
- Vienna
- Prague
- Abu Dhabi
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