Top 10 Things To Do in Hong Kong
From neck-tilting skyscrapers to the bright glare of neon signs, Hong Kong is never short of visual distractions. One glimpse at the ever-rushing crowds and you’ll soon realise there’s no shortage in things to do either. To help you filter through the constant noise and sights, here are the top 10 things to do in Hong Kong, to build your itinerary around.
Hit up The Peak
Call it a tourist cliché but Victoria Peak is iconic for a reason. It’s the highest hill on Hong Kong Island and offers stunning panoramic views of Central, Victoria Harbour, Lamma Island, and the surrounding islands.
To get to the top of the peak you can either walk one of the several routes available which will take you about 45 mins. It’s a great way to really take time to take in the beautiful views while being active, and better yet, it’s free. Alternatively you can opt for the iconic peak tram, which is for 7:00am to midnight everyday and only take 7 mins to reach the peak, if you’re pushed for time.
Budget: £5 for a return tram ticket OR £10 including a ticket to the Sky Terrace observation deck
Discounted Tickets for the peak tram
2. Shop at street markets
Bargaining at a street market is a classic Hong Kong experience! Mong Kok’s Ladies Market is great for cheap brand knock-offs and there’s also Monk Kok Sneaker Street where you’ll find lall the newest high end trainers. Temple Street offers a nightly street market are single lanes lined with vendors selling antiques, keychains, remote-controlled toys, print t-shirts, random accessories and Hong Kong-themed items. Wan Chai Market tends towards more brassy handicrafts, hanging charms and local decorative items while Stanley Market embraces the laid-back aura of its ex-pat crowds.
Temple street night market
3. Spend a day at Ocean Park
Ocean Park is Hong Kong’s second largest theme park (after Disneyland), and one of the most fun things to do in Hong Kong. This epic park had dug its roots long before Disneyland arrived in Hong Kong and has only continued to add to its experiences. It has plenty of choice for all the family, with animals, rides, and shows. The park is so large (>900k Sqm) that it is divided into two main attraction areas connected by a cable car and The Ocean Express Funicular Train.
If you fancy staying for a couple of days to ensure you can enjoy everything Ocean Park ahs to offer, then you can choose to stay in the Marriot Hotel on site. The hotel has themed rooms and a huge tropical fish tank to make the whole trip magical.
Budget: £50 day ticket (Marriot = £150-200 per room/night)
Discounted Tickets
4. Hike in Sai Kung Country Park
Did you know that Hong Kong is actually three-quarters nature? Enjoy the locals’ favourite weekend thing-to-do with a hike in Sai Kung Country Park. You can challenge the MacLehose Trail for sweeping bay views and beach picnics. Lion’s Rock and Lantau Island are two other popular hikes.
Believe it or not, Hong Kong actually consists of 75% green space. One of the best parks in Hong Kong, and a locals favourite weekend thing to do is to hike Sai Kung Country Park. The park consists of some beautiful hiking trails, where you can take in some incredible views of Hong Kong and it’s surrounding islands. A couple of popular trails in Sai Kung Country Park include: MacLehose Trail which offerings sweeping bay views and some great beach picnic spots. There’s also, the High Junk Peak Country Trail and Tai Long Wan Hiking Trai, which are both highly rated.
Other popular Hong Kong hikes to choose from, include:
Lantau South Country Park
Tai Mo Shan Country Park
Tai Tam Country Park
Hong Kong Geo Park
Budget: Free
5. Party it up at LKF
Lan Kwai Fong is known a the centre of Hong Kong’s party scene. If you’re looking for things to do in Hong Kong at night, here is where you’ll find them. With a huge number of bars, club and eateries to choose from you’ll easily be entertained until the early hours. There are also some great speakeasies hidden around, if you want a quieter vibe. If you are looking for one with live music Foxglove is a top choice.
Lan Kwai Fong is pretty expensive and you can expect to spend anywhere from £6-£10 for a beer in this area. To help keep things cheap, remember drinking in the streets is legal, and lots of bars have happy hours until 9 pm. So it’s easy to save your pennies until later into the evening.
Budget: £100
6. Ferry over to Cheung Chau
Cheung Chau Island is one of Hong Kong’s most popular islands to visits and is 30 minute ferry ride from the mainland. It is home to Hong Kong’s fishing route and is one of the longest inhabited places in Hon Kong.
The island is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in a day of nature. With no cars on the island, and a population of only 20,000 inhabitants it’ll be a breath of fresh air from the busy mainland. Spend half a day touring its tranquil streets and small shops, and indulge in fresh seafood by local fishermen.
Budget:
7. Swing by a park
Mix up your city exploration with relaxing picnics at Tamar Park or Victoria Park. For a glimpse of Hong Kong’s unique history however, visit Kowloon Walled City Park to learn about its past as a grimy, lawless zone.
Budget:
8. Hunt down street art
Hong Kong is a huge and constantly growing hub for street art. If you are a lover of Instagram, you won’t be short on fresh and inspiring art to post. There are plenty of art galleries and exhibitions to attend but for the best murals and street art head to the alleys of Sai Ying Pun and Kwun Tong.
Budget: Free
9. Big Buddha
Tian Tan Buddha , more commonly known as The Big Buddha, is a 34m tall bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni This bronze statue symbolises compassion, blessings and courage and is a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong. The Buddha took 3 years to build and is so large it can be seen from across the bay on a cloudy day. Climb the 268 steps to reach the top, and take in this statues incredible size.
Budget: Free
10. Eat, eat and eat!
Hong Kong is home to some of the best cuisines in the world, so be sure to try out a range of restaurants and local dishes on your trip, from high end restaurants to small street stalls.
Below are a few areas of Hong Kong and what they have to offer on the food front:
SOHO - for exotic international cuisine
Yau Ma Tei - for curry fishballs and bubble tea.
Wan Chai - for a mish-mash of refurbished brunching spots, hardwood pubs and authentic Hong Kong eats.
For a list of Hong Kong’s top restaurants.
For a guide to local, must try Hong Kong dishes.
Budget: £10-50
If you are going to Hong Kong consider getting the Hong Kong pass, that covers all of these paid attractions and much more for a cheaper price. Hong Kong isn’t cheap, and the pass also gets you discounts at some of the restaurants on the ‘Best restaurants in Hong Kong’ list.
Hong Kong FAQs
Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?
Most countries don’t require a visa to enter Hong Kong, and UK citizens definitely don’t.
What’s the best time of year to visit Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s climate is mild from September to February. This is often considered the best time to visit, and the weather isn’t too hot and much dryer. Below chart shows you Hong Kong’s weather averages by month.
What’s the best way to travel around Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s public transport network is considered one of the best in the world. With plenty of trains, trams, ferries, buses and undergrounds to choose from. Hong Kong’s public transport is considered very clean, and they do public announcements in English making it easy for tourists to navigate the city. Check out the Hong Kong tourist pass for unlimited travel around Hong Kong.
Is Hong Kong Safe?
The level of violent crime is ranks very low in Hong Kong and is considered one of the safest countries in the world. Even at night it is considered safe for people to walk the streets.
It’s so safe my partner once got drunk and slept in the doorway to the apartment block for 2 hours, (later to discover the front door has always been open).
The main thing to be wary of are pickpockets. As you’d expect with any tourist areas its considered a pickpockets hotspot, so be careful with your valuables and keep hold of your bag at all times.
Do the locals speak English?
English is the language of choice in Hong Kong. It is the most common language spoken in both tourist areas and the business districts, so you should have no trouble communicating on your Hong Kong travels.
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