Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2024: Asia’s have-it-all city break

Welcome to the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards: our flagship awards which celebrate everything that makes the world so amazing – as voted for by you, our global community of members. Discover the winner that captured your hearts – and your votes – as well as the contenders that made it to the shortlist. 

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Winner: Tokyo

Shopping in Shibuya, people-watching in Harajuku, cheering ringside at a sumo wrestling match in Asakusa – Tokyo will keep you on your toes for a long weekend and then some. This sprawling megacity boasts an eclectic mosaic of unique neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct personality. Hidden within them, you’ll discover quirky theme cafes, world-class fish markets and serene onsens, all easily accessible thanks to a metro system ranked among the world’s best.

Bangkok

Shopaholics flock to Bangkok for its famous markets, from floating bazaars and bustling night markets to one of the world’s largest weekend markets, Chatuchak. But there’s so much more to Bangkok than great deals and good-natured bartering. Five-star hotels and spas, awe-inspiring Buddhist temples, trendy neighbourhoods with chic boutiques, Michelin-starred street food, legendary nightlife performers and panoramic rooftop bars – Bangkok is a feast for the senses. 

Hong Kong SAR

In Hong Kong, travellers can cover a lot of ground on an extended weekend escape, thanks to the seamless airport experience and famously efficient public transit. In town, city-dwellers will gravitate towards the museums, art galleries and breathtaking harbourfront promenades, while nature lovers hit the hiking trails, secluded beaches and charming island communities. And let’s not forget the city’s famous culinary scene, where Michelin-starred restaurants sit beside hole-in-the-wall dim sum joints and nofrills dai pai dongs.

Seoul

A weekend break in Seoul is the perfect opportunity for travellers to indulge in their K-obsessions. The capital’s rich history shines through at attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace and traditional temples. Return to the present with a shopping spree in hyper-modern Gangnam or Myeong-dong, where style mavens can score the latest K-beauty and K-fashion finds. For some relaxation, wellness-seekers can recharge at one of the city’s many spas, ranging from public jjimjilbang (bathhouses) to high-end spa resorts.

Osaka

Japan’s second-largest city has a well-deserved reputation as “the nation’s kitchen”, a foodie’s paradise with street food stalls and unfussy eateries serving Kansai staples like takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Beyond the delicious food and buzzing nightlife in Dotonbori, however, there’s also Osaka Castle, ancient Shinto shrines, family-friendly theme parks and the world’s largest aquarium – all highlights of a long weekend trip in this dynamic city.