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Best music destinations in Asia

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Saint Petersburg
Where history and elegance meet
8.4
The Mariinsky Theatre opened on October 2, 1860 and later carried the Kirov name from 1935 to 1992. Tchaikovsky premiered The Queen of Spades there in 1890. Valery Gergiev has led it since 1988. The Concert Hall opened in 2007 and Mariinsky II was completed in 2013.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
  • ⛴️ Cruise the canals and admire St. Petersburg’s pastel architecture
  • 🖼️ Marvel at the grand art collections inside the Hermitage Museum
Bali
Tropical beaches, vibrant culture and adventure
8.2
Gamelan here is louder and swifter than Javanese gamelan and keeps more archaic instrumentation. Kecak singing imitates the sound of monkeys. Energetic gong kebyar is played by village clubs that usually compose their own pieces. Bronze and bamboo xylophones, gongs and drums fill the island's ceremonies.
Highlights:
  • ⛪ Visit Uluwatu Temple perched high on a seaside cliff
  • 💦 Swim beneath the cascading Tegenungan Waterfall
  • 🌋 Watch the sunrise over Mount Batur volcano
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
9.7
Suntory Hall opened on 12 October 1986 inside the Ark Hills complex in Akasaka. Its main hall holds 2,006 people in a vineyard layout that Herbert von Karajan recommended. He called it a jewel box of sound. A Rieger pipe organ with 5,898 pipes stands at the rear.
Highlights:
  • 🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
  • 🍣 Savour sushi at a local eatery
Seoul
Where Tradition Meets High-Tech Marvels
8.6
K-pop idol groups blend dance, R and B, funk, hip hop and electronic styles. They drive the Korean Wave. Lotte Concert Hall crowns the Lotte World Mall with more than 2,000 seats in vineyard style terraces. Traditional gugak also thrives, including pansori and the folk song Arirang.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Admire Seoul’s skyline from N Seoul Tower at sunset
  • 🛍️ Shop and eat street food in bustling Myeongdong
  • 🏯 Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace and watch the royal guard ceremony
Mumbai
India's bustling coastal metropolis
7.7
Bollywood film music is the sound heard in the city's shops and taxis. The Bombay Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1962, plays regularly at concert standard. The Symphony Orchestra of India began in 2006 and often performs at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Zubin Mehta considers Mumbai his hometown.
Highlights:
  • ⛴️ Explore the ancient Elephanta Caves by ferry
  • 🌅 Stroll along Marine Drive at sunset
  • 🗽 Visit the historic Gateway of India monument
Chennai
Culture, beaches and incredible South Indian food
7.0
Carnatic music takes over every winter during the Madras Music Season. A group began it in 1927 and the Music Academy held it each December from 1928. One season in 2004 and 2005 brought over 1,200 performances by about 600 artists. Sabhas such as Narada Gana Sabha host the concerts.
Highlights:
  • 🏰 Explore colonial landmarks and art at Fort St. George
  • ⛩️ Admire Dravidian architecture at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple
  • 🌅 Watch sunrise over the Bay of Bengal at Marina Beach
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