Every city has its bright spots, but Asian cities have some of the best. With a little pre-planning, you can find a mix of favorites for fuss-free family holidays, each of which are kid-tested and parent-approved. Whether you stick to a strict checklist or play it by ear, add these activities to your itinerary, and let the family holiday fun begin!
1. Fuss-free family holidays | Explore one of the most exciting cities in the world – SHANGHAI, China
The sky is the limit for family entertainment in Shanghai. With epic skyline views and the fastest train in the world, thrills abound in China’s most populated city. Waterfront activities on The Bund can entertain the entire family, or go your separate ways to tour gardens, aquariums, markets and theme parks.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
Take in views of the city together from the 88th floor of Jin Mao Tower or along the Huangpu River during an afternoon cruise. Arrive at The Bund via a psychedelic sightseeing tunnel, and spend hours watching performers, shopping and eating family-style on the coast.
PARENTS ONLY:
Wander along The Bund at sunset to watch locals perform Tai Chi, and let the acrobats at ERA-Intersection of Time blow your mind. A day trip to Zhujiajiao ancient water town also lends parents some time to relax and enjoy the view.
TEEN OUTINGS:
Teens who love dance and art have come to the right city. Take a hip-hop class at Souldancing Studio, or attend a sports camp or cooking class at Shanghai Stadium. Clubbing in the Luwan and Xuhui districts is also popular – and reported to be safe – among older teenagers and young adults.
FUN FOR KIDS:
Kids can pick up their own souvenirs and have a blast at Yu Yuan Garden. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium and Century Park also are must-sees for the little ones.
Check In to Wanda Reign On The Bund, Step Out to Yu Yuan Garden
Discover more historic hotels on The Bund
2. Fuss-free family holidays | Go on an outdoor adventure in PHUKET, Thailand
With a rainforest, endless beaches and even a mountain, what family could get bored on this resort island in the middle of the Andaman Sea? Family holidays in Phuket must include a trip to Baan Teelanka – The UpsideDown House of Phuket and Phuket Bird Paradise.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
Create some family-friendly competition with a game of miniature golf at Dino Park Mini Golf & Restaurant; watch the Phuket FantaSea acrobat show, or visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP) at Bang Pae Waterfall. For a true adventure, canoe to nearby James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan).
PARENTS ONLY:
Take a Muay Thai or deep-sea diving class, and then hit a spa or get a foot massage by the beach. Shopping is always an option, of course, and adults love a date night at the Phuket Simon Cabaret show.
TEEN OUTINGS:
Teens can venture out on their own for an afternoon of riding waves at Surf House Phuket or solving riddles at popular escape rooms. Patong Go-Kart Speedway and Flying Hanuman are awesome for adrenaline junkies, and an evening at a nightclub geared toward a younger crew also is an option.
FUN FOR KIDS:
For a totally parent-free and safe day out, younger children should check out The Kids Club Phuket and the Mid-Air Circus Arts Company. Splash Jungle Water Park, Phuket Bird Paradise, Baan Teelanka – The UpsideDown House of Phuket and Phuket Trickeye Museum are some other options that give kids their space, but do require supervision.
Check In to Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort, Step Out to Phuket FantaSea
Discover family accommodations near Kamala Beach
3. Fuss-free family holidays | Experience one of the most interesting cultures in the world in TOKYO, Japan
High-energy families who like to mix fun with learning never have a dull moment in Tokyo. Between museums, an imperial palace, ancient shrines, and of course, Tokyo Disneyland, Japan’s capital city offers a perfect combination of attractions for the whole gang.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
A trip to Japan wouldn’t be complete without watching a sumo match and visiting Miraikan (The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation). Get the crew up before the sun and head to Toyosu Market (formerly Tsukiji Fish Market) for an outing you’ll reminisce about for years!
PARENTS ONLY:
A Tokyo Bay night cruise is the perfect way to spend a romantic evening. Adults also love the many locations of Kurand Sake Market, and any time of year is perfect for a cup of tea and colorful stroll at Hamarikyu Gardens.
TEEN OUTINGS:
Go extreme at Asakusa Samurai Kart, or spend the day playing games behind the scenes at Tokyo One Piece Tower, where characters from the popular One Piece anime series come to life.
FUN FOR KIDS:
Introduce young children to new tastes with a walking food tour. If they give sushi a try, reward them with a trip to Ueno Zoo and Railway Museum, or make all their dreams come true at Tokyo Disneyland and Sanrio Puroland (Hello Kitty amusement park).
Check In to HOTEL MYSTAYS Maihama, Step Out to Tokyo Disneyland
Find more apartments and hotels in Chiba Prefecture
4. Fuss-free family holidays | Catch a family movie at the world’s largest movie screen in SEOUL, South Korea
All aboard the Seoul train! Discover K-pop in a land famous for its beauty secrets, or plan a family photo shoot in traditional costume. Futuristic landmarks, buzzing street markets, rooftop parks, Buddhist temples and spicy kimchi are just the beginning to family fun days in Seoul.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
Ride a cable car to Namsan Park, and wear everyone out at Lotte World! Literally everything is there, including an indoor theme park. For movie night, hit Times Square, where you’ll find CGV Starium, the world’s largest permanent 35mm cinema screen.
PARENTS ONLY:
Museums and rooftop bars rule in Seoul. Romance also rates right up there. Couples can take photos in traditional Korean costume at Bukchon Hanok Village or plunge into one of the jjimjilbangs (hot spring facilities) located throughout the city.
TEEN OUTINGS:
Hipster cafés and cosmetics galore equal fun times for teenagers. Other activities they can do on their own include shopping in Myeong-dong fashion district and at Dongdaemun Market. Send your kids to Everland theme park for a day, or dare them to eat live octopus at Noyrangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market for a buzz-worthy FB post.
FUN FOR KIDS:
Youngsters love to feed deer in Seoul Forest and have a run at the playground at Children’s Grand Park, Seoul, where there’s everything from a small zoo to an amusement park. If the weather is not so kind, spend time indoors at Children Museum or Teddy Bear Museum.
Check In to Hotel 28 Myeongdong, Step Out to Lotte World
Discover more guest houses in Myeong-dong
5. Fuss-free family holidays | Hike a dragon’s back and watch pink dolphins in HONG KONG
Tell the kids you’re hiking across a dragon’s back and watching pink dolphins this holiday, and you won’t even need to help them pack! Hong Kong makes family time easy with one of the world’s busiest sea ports, iconic observation towers, night markets and the hippest nightlife in Asia!
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
Hike Dragon’s Back along the coast, and ride the glass-bottomed Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to Po Lin Monastery. If you do nothing else with the family, book a tour to see endangered pink dolphins in the South China Sea, and end the evening with a family dinner at any of Yum Cha’s three locations.
PARENTS ONLY:
Take the tram up Victoria Peak for a gorgeous view of Victoria Harbour and Kowloon. Spend the day exploring Lantau Island and taking selfies with the massive bronze Tian Tan Buddha, and then make a date for dining in one the many Michelin Star restaurants in the city.
TEEN OUTINGS:
Hong Kong teens love their games. That’s apparent by the dozens of gaming cafés and escape rooms across the city. Teens who aren’t into board games might want to jump off some energy at Ryze Hong Kong indoor trampoline park, or battle it out in a game of laser tag. Like hot music beats? Sign up for a DJ lesson at Sol Passion Music Limited.
FUN FOR KIDS:
Kids have the run of the land at Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Science Museum, where youngsters get hands-on access to dozens of activities.
Check In to Nathan Hotel, Step Out to Victoria Harbour
Find more hotels and resorts in Kowloon
6. Fuss-free family holidays | Entertain the family with endless options in SINGAPORE
You don’t really need a plan to find things to do in Singapore, but a heads up helps when you have an entire family to entertain. We suggest a little old and a little new: view an ancient tooth at a temple, and catch a cricket match on a 19th-century field. Then hit the science centers, theme parks and major market areas. That won’t cover all of Singapore, but it definitely will get you started!
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
Families don’t even have to look for entertainment in Singapore. Options are endless with classic landmarks like Gardens by the Bay and Sentosa island resort. Wild Wild Wet water park provides hours of fun in the sun, and a ride on the Singapore Flyer is a must.
PARENTS ONLY:
Take one night out at Marina Bay Sands Casino, and then spend the following evening strolling through Supertree Grove. Parents also love museum tours, a choice of quality spas and shopping in some of the finest malls in Asia.
TEEN OUTINGS:
Get a head start on a good time at The Karting Arena, or plot out a show-stopper at K Box karaoke. Teenagers go crazy for gaming cafés and skate parks in Singapore, and Singapore Discovery Centre, as well as Universal Studios Singapore, are hot spots for kids who can do a few things on their own.
FUN FOR KIDS:
Little ones love the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari as well as Jurong Bird Park. Check out a few of Singapore’s “secret” fun spots, like Viknesh Dairy Farm, World of Birdnest Museum or the Japan Creative Centre.
Check In to Hotel Fort Canning, Step Out to Clarke Quay
Discover more apartments and hotels near Changi International Airport and Wild Wild Wet
7. Fuss-free family holidays | Explore the great outdoors in TAIPEI, Taiwan
Taipei is everyone’s playground, especially when it comes to outdoor attractions! You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy activities at the zoo, gondola rides through the mountains and the city’s hopping nightlife. Family holidays in Taipei always include a trip to Ximending and Daan Forest Park.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:
Zip to the top of Taipei 101 for a bird’s-eye view of the city, and hop of the Maokong Gondola after visiting Taipei Zoo. Shilin Night Market is an excellent way to cap off an evening. Find everything from souvenirs to scrumptious street food.
PARENTS ONLY:
Romance is always in the air at beautiful Yangmingshan National Park, and a snapshot with Lovers’ Bridge at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf will preserve this memory forever! Adults might like a tour of National Palace Museum, too. It’s the perfect place to hide from the kids for a couple hours!
TEEN OUTINGS:
Set in a former winery, Huashan 1914 Creative Park is a great place for older teenagers to get a feel for local art as well as hang out with locals in trendy coffee shops and restaurants. When they’re finished browsing, take them to the city’s social hub of Ximending, home to the Taipei’s best clubs, bars and shopping malls.
FUN FOR KIDS:
Taipei Zoo is a must-do activity for children visiting Taipei. Kids can spend all day exploring 90 acres filled with wildlife. If they still have some energy left, head to Daan Forest Park. It’s Taipei’s largest park. It’s stroller friendly. And no matter the season, it’s always gorgeous! Kids who prefer roller coasters to walking trails may opt for the indoor and outdoor playgrounds at Taipei Children’s Amusement Park.
Check In to HF和平, Step Out to Xinyi District
Discover more family hotels near Taipei Zoo & Maokong Gondola
This post is also available in: ไทย Norwegian Bokmål
