Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2026: World’s best city for a long weekend
Welcome to the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards. Our annual awards celebrate the very best in travel, dining and lifestyle – as voted by you, our global community of tastemakers.
How do we define the best city for a long weekend?
Long weekends are a luxury, offering just enough time to steal away and recharge without falling too far out of your routine. With an extra day or two, travellers can settle into a city’s rhythm, soaking up its sights, flavours and energy at a more relaxed pace.
As part of this year’s Cathay Members’ Choice Awards, we’re spotlighting the destinations our readers return to for long weekend escapes from Hong Kong. From vibrant food scenes and late-night haunts to culture, shopping and easy day trips, these cities make a few days feel full and rejuvenating.
With input from our expert panel, this year’s nominees have officially been shortlisted. Voting is open to Cathay members from 1 to 21 June. In the meantime, learn more about the nominees below.
The nominees
Shenzhen
Shenzhen has seen visitor numbers skyrocket in the last year, and for excellent reason. From Nantou Ancient City – a 1,700-year-old settlement housing galleries, cafés and indie shops – to the studios, exhibitions and design shops in former factories at OCT-Loft, the city’s art scene is flourishing. Then there are attractions like fellow awards nominees Shenzhen Qianhai Huafa Ice and Snow World and UpperHills, and shopping parter destinations like MixC – not to mention the city’s lush green spaces, quirky theme parks, amazing Hakka and Cantonese food, and superb connectivity across the Greater Bay Area. In Shenzhen, you can cover a lot of ground in a short trip.
Hanoi
For a getaway that can take you in any direction, it’s hard to top Hanoi. Intense city life meets pockets of calm in Vietnam’s capital, especially in the Old Quarter, where cyclos roll past shrines, antique shops and pho stalls. The food is the main draw, but there’s plenty to fill the days, from lakeside walks and historic landmarks to museums and markets. Beyond the city, easy day trips to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh serve as a scenic addition to your itinerary – or inspiration for return visits.
Seoul
The South Korean capital moves fast, but Seoul’s 24-hour energy is tempered by centuries-old traditions and an abundance of relaxing green spaces. Royal palaces and hanok villages sit alongside morning markets, while riverfront parks, contemporary galleries, chic boutiques and incredible food lure you from one neighbourhood to the next. Start the day at Gwangjang Market, then keep things going late with fried chicken or noodles in Itaewon or Myeongdong. Add lively bars, K-pop culture and the occasional baseball game, and you’ve got the perfect place to choose your own adventure.
Credit: tawatchaiprakobkit/Getty Images
Taipei
With its myriad night markets, cafés, design stores, art and nature, Taipei packs in a lot. Thankfully, efficient transport makes it all easy to reach. Offering pepper buns, beef noodles, and stinky tofu in abundance, Raohe and Shilin – two of Asia’s best night markets – are essential stops, as is Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2025 winner Bar Pine. Walk off the nightly feasts at Elephant Mountain for views of Taipei 101, then visit the teahouse village of Jiufen or explore the island’s dramatic east coast for unforgettable day trips.
Credit: fazon1/Getty Images
More inspiration