Guides.

Two days sees the Old Quarter and the icons; three is comfortable. But Hanoi is really a base — Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh are the day trips that decide how long you stay.

Two full days sees the city itself — it's compact and walkable. The real question is how many day trips you bolt on, because the Cu Chi tunnels and the Mekong Delta each want a whole day.

A week is the honest minimum — Bali is really three trips in one, and the move that makes it work is splitting your stay between two bases. Here's the shape, and how the number changes with what you're after.

Three days is right for a first visit — the Marina Bay icons, the ethnic quarters, and one day for Sentosa or nature. Here's a zone-a-day shape that leaves room for the food and the evening light shows.

Two days sees KL's towers, temples and food without a rush. Here's the shape — and why the city's compactness makes it a great short stay and a base for day trips.

The handful of Kyoto sights that actually land with children, the gentle version for slower legs, and how to pace a day three generations can finish.

Three days sees the temples, the river, the markets and the food without a sprint. Here's the shape — and why Bangkok's size and traffic mean you plan it by zone, not by list.

The park is a whole day on its own — here's how to shape the day before and the day after so the rest of your Tokyo trip survives it.

Four days covers the palaces, the markets and one proper night out — if you group the days right. Here's the shape that works, with the closed-day traps flagged.

Two days sees the city — but Osaka's real trick is as a base for Kansai. Here's the math, and why "how long in Osaka" is really "how many day trips?"

Three days sees the icons without rushing. Here's the shape — and why Hong Kong's compactness means the real question is how many days OUT to add.

Three days sees the icons and a couple of night markets without rushing. Here's the shape — and why Taipei's compactness means the real question is how many days OUT to add.

The parks, the robots, the one museum you must book a month early — and how to build a day that survives contact with a tired four-year-old.

Three days covers the big temples without the 6am alarm clock. Here's the math — and when Kyoto should be a day trip instead.

Four days covers the icons without sprinting. Here's the math — and what changes if you're a first-timer, a foodie, or travelling with kids.

The classic first-timer question. Splits that work for 7, 10 and 14 days — and the one-night mistake almost everyone makes.