Have you ever wanted to visit a city aglow with neon lights? If so, now is a great time to start planning for your next adventure. After all, the world has turned its page onto a new year, and neon seems to be disappearing faster than you can say, “Happy New Year.” While this is an exaggeration, these signages have dropped dramatically due to the widespread usage of cheaper LED lights. Fortunately, many cities still feature these colorful lights from a bygone era. Here are just 10 of the world’s best cities for you to see neon lights or at least a faux version.
Best Cities for Neon Lights
Bangkok, Thailand
As Thailand’s capital and largest city, there are many spots to see dazzling neon lights. However, some places are far more family-friendly than others. For example, shopping centers like Asiatique, ICONSIAM, and MBK Center are great spots to see these if you’re with children. In addition, there are family-friendly spots like Chinatown and Talad Neon, a famous night market. That’s not to mention the colorful lights at the Royal Grand Palace and Wat Arun. On the other hand, the lights in the entertainment districts are more suited for adults, like in Soi Cowboy and Patpong.
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Hong Kong, China
Not nearly as impressive as it once was, neon lights still glimmer in magical Hong Kong. At one time, Hong Kong was home to one of the world’s largest collections of these gas-discharge light signs. However, due to cost and other factors, you won’t see nearly as many of these as from its peak in the 1980s. It’s said that 90 percent of these illuminated displays have disappeared. Nevertheless, Hong Kong still ranks among the world’s best cities for neon. As for suggestions, you should visit the Ladies Market, along Nathan Road and in Mong Kok. Of course, you must see the dazzling Symphony of Lights, held nightly over Victoria Harbor.
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Can you imagine the electric bill for casinos along the Las Vegas Strip? While the lights you see on the strip are provided by renewable energy, you can still see vintage neon elsewhere. Indeed, visit Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. After all, there’s a reason why it’s called Glitter Gulch. Almost all historic casinos feature neon lights, including Binion’s Horseshoe, Four Queens, and Golden Nugget. If that’s not enough, there’s the iconic Vegas Vic sign outside the Pioneer Club and the Golden Gate Hotel. That’s not to mention the Fremont East entertainment district and the must-see Neon Museum. Of course, there is much more to see, like the incomparable Fremont Street Experience and the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign.
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Los Angeles
You might not see Los Angeles on every list of the world’s best cities for neon lights. Yet, at the same time, the City of Angeles does have its share of colorful lights. For instance, an excellent place to start is in Hollywood, particularly along Hollywood Boulevard. Pantages Theatre and the El Capitan near the Chinese Theatre are among the must-see spots. In addition, Universal City Walk has plenty of colorful lighting, as does the many historic theaters and Central Market in downtown LA. That’s not to mention the glitter at Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys and the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale.
New York, New York, USA
There are good reasons why New York is called the City that Never Sleeps. Among the most obvious are the 24-hour subway service and Times Square’s overwhelming neon jungle. Not necessarily a favorite spot for locals, Times Square is awash with lights 24 hours a day. Even though LED lights power Times Square displays, it still appears nostalgic. For example, the lights on Broadway are bright with dazzling neon or at least faux. They are the advertising billboards that many will describe as the real thing. Above all, Times Square is a spectacle to behold and well worth experiencing.
Osaka, Japan
When you think of neon in Japan, your first choice is Tokyo. However, Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city, is not that far behind. Despite the notion that you might see LED neon, Osaka is internationally famous for its assemblage of neon colors. At the center of your attention is the lively Dotonbori entertainment district, featuring among Japan’s brightest city lights. Even though all of its neon is stunning, one sign is among the most famous. That would be the Glico Running Man, a neon sign that dates back nearly 90 years. Arguably Osaka’s most famous landmark, no visit would be complete without seeing the Glico Man.
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Seoul, South Korea
If you Google search photos for Seoul, what comes up most often are neon cityscapes. Moreover, some of Seoul’s most famous neighborhoods feature these vintage lights. Among the most notable spots for you to consider are the Myeong-dong and Gangnam-gu, known as Psy’s K-pop songs. In addition, as South Korea’s largest city, you’ll have many more opportunities to see colorful signs and billboards in Seoul. As an illustration, you can further visit places like Sincheon and Jongno-gu, the city’s historic center. After visiting these spots, you won’t argue that Seoul is among the world’s best cities for neon lights.
Shanghai, China
While Hong Kong is broadly known as China’s best for neon lights, don’t overlook Shanghai. In fact, as China’s most populous city, Shanghai surpasses Hong Kong in terms of colorful city lights. If you go, the most important place to see neon is Nanjing Road. In the city’s premier shopping district, you will be nearly overwhelmed with the enormous array of neon lights. Of course, there are other prominent spots for lights, particularly along the famous Bund waterway. In some detail, the Bund is one of the finest spots for sightseeing and taking photographs.
Taipei, Taiwan
Like Hong Kong, Taipei is well known not only for its lively night markets but also for its towering skyscrapers. Moreover, Taipei is also known for its neon signboards, although, like Hong Kong, they have been replaced by LED. Nevertheless, colorful billboards and business signs are found throughout the city’s most popular neighborhoods. Your first neighborhood to explore is Xinyi, featuring Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest building. Even though you won’t see neon, its LED light system is spectacular. You will enjoy dazzling lights in Ximending and Yongkang Street, Asia’s most incredible street. As for night markets, put Shilin, Raohe, and Ningxia at the top of your list of must-see attractions.
Tokyo, Japan – Neon Capital of the World
Last on this list, but certainly not the last, is Tokyo, the world’s largest city. After all, like Las Vegas, it’s known as the Neon Capital of the World. On the other hand, as the world’s largest city, there are far more spots in Tokyo where you can see neon than in Vegas. Of your many choices, the first places you must see neon skyscrapers are in the Shinjuku and Shibuya districts, in that order. That’s not to mention other city districts, like Akihabara, Ikebukuro, and the world-famous Ginza. When visiting Shibuya, you might want to walk across Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. If you take pictures of this crossing, you’ll be sure to get many likes on your Instagram page.
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About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University.
