Avantika Chaturvedi

For years, Colombo has been treated as little more than a gateway to Sri Lanka's beaches, tea country and wildlife parks. But those in the know will tell you that Colombo deserves far more than a stopover. Over the years, the capital has evolved into one of South Asia's most compelling city breaks. Colonial architecture rubs shoulders with gleaming skyscrapers, Buddhist temples sit beside bustling markets, and some of the country's best restaurants, bars and boutiques are concentrated within a few easy-to-navigate neighbourhoods. In just 48 hours, the city reveals itself as a place where history, culture, food, design and ocean adventures come together in ways few capitals can match. Here's how to spend the perfect weekend in Colombo. RECOMMENDED: Could this be Johor Bahru's most exciting waterfront neighbourhood yet?and The ultimate guide to Taipei

Jakarta is a megacity of more than 10 million people – and far more if you count the wider metro – serving as Indonesia’s economic engine and one of Southeast Asia’s most influential capitals. For visitors, that scale doesn’t always translate into obvious appeal. The city doesn’t seduce with postcard landmarks or choreographed charm. But those in the know will tell you that the city’s pleasures rarely sit at street level. A few dozen floors above the gridlock, Jakarta reveals a different personality, rearranging itself into a glittering lattice of towers and headlights. With expansive skyline drama, live music and DJ sets that stretch late into the night, and a sense of calm only possible at this height, Jakarta’s rooftop bars are also welcome pressure valves. If there’s one way to experience Jakarta at its best, it’s from above – glass in hand, city at your feet. RECOMMENDED: Maharashtra is betting big on astro-tourism with 11 new dark-sky sites and UNESCO added 12 new Global Geoparks for 2026, including 5 sites in Asia Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Asia newsletter for the best travel inspiration, straight to your inbox.

If there was ever a year to plan a trip around a concert, this is it. From K-pop stadium spectacles and emo reunions to rock legends and global pop icons, Asia’s 2026 concert calendar is stacked with blockbuster shows. While BTS are back from military service and hitting the stage with an 80-show world tour, John Legend is set to perform in a UNESCO-listed Silk Road era square. Shakira, Def Leppard, My Chemical Romance, and several other major artists are touring across Asia, making 2026 one of the biggest years for live music in the region in recent memory. So, whether you’re plotting a music-fuelled city break or timing a holiday around your favourite artist, these are the biggest shows worth travelling for this year. RECOMMENDED: Brilliant music festivals in Asia in 2025 and The absolute best hotels in Asia right now 

Opened in 2012, SKYE Bar & Restaurant is Jakarta’s first true high-rise rooftop destination. Located on the 56th floor of Menara BCA, it features indoor dining rooms and an open-air terrace with a pool, offering 270-degree views from 230 metres above the city.

BART (Bar at the Rooftop) sits on the seventh floor of ARTOTEL Thamrin, a design-led boutique hotel in central Jakarta. Open since 2013, it offers wide-angle views over the city’s main commercial arteries. The décor is pared-back and monochromatic, a contrast to the bold and colourful street art that defines the hotel below.

Henshin occupies levels 67 to 69 of The Westin Jakarta, making it the city’s highest rooftop dining destination. Opened in 2017, it specialises in Nikkei cuisine – a fusion shaped by the 19th-century Japanese migration to Peru – offered across a bar and lounge, a fine-dining restaurant with an open kitchen, and private dining rooms.

KITA Bar is a rooftop bar on the 36th floor of Park Hyatt Jakarta, offering indoor and outdoor drinking spaces with wide-reaching views over the city centre. The bar focuses on craft cocktails, premium Japanese and international spirits, and Izakaya-inspired small plates.

Awan Lounge is a compact, open-air rooftop bar atop the Kosenda Hotel. Named after the Indonesian word for “cloud,” it takes a casual, unpretentious approach through upcycled décor, mosaic tabletops and mismatched garage-chic seating.

SkyPool Bar & Café is a rooftop pool lounge and restaurant on the 17th floor of the historical Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta. With an infinity swimming pool, an all-day bar menu, and wide skyline views, SkyPool is as much a daytime retreat as an evening destination.

Lucy in the Sky is one of Jakarta’s earliest rooftop bar-restaurants. Known for its relaxed, Brasserie-style setting, it sits somewhere between a casual café and a proper restaurant – delivering good food and drinks without the stiffness of fine dining.