Best time to visit
The best time to visit Hong Kong is in September or October. This is a good time because the weather is still warm, but much cooler than the summer months. The itinerary in this post is also based on these months. June to August are very hot with higher chances of typhoons, so we don’t recommend visiting Hong Kong then.
Where to stay in Hong Kong
We think the best place to stay is on Hong Kong island rather than Hong Kong mainland, preferable in Central, Wan Chai or somewhere in between. We loved both these places and they have great connections with other parts of Hong Kong. Accommodation is unfortunately not as affordable as other places in Asia, so expect to pay at least €50 for a room.
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How to get around
The easiest and cheapest way to get around when in Hong Kong is by public transport. The train and bus systems are well connected and run frequently. Make sure you get a pre-paid travel card, called an ‘Octopus Card’.
Tip: it is actually possible to overspend a card up to 30HKD without any issues when leaving the country.
Language and currency
In Hong Kong the main language is Cantonese, a Chinese dialect. Some locals don’t like to hear/speak Mandarin because of the tension and history with mainland China. But almost everywhere you’ll find things written in both Cantonese and English.
Getting to the city from the airport
The airport is located quite far out, but there are several ways to travel to the city. There is a direct connection by train, which is very convenient and costs around 115HKD. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, there are airport buses that run all around the city. These take much longer but only cost around 30HKD, depending where you go.
If all else fails, taxis are always an option for a quick backup, but they are more expensive. There’s is also not an app (like Grab or Gojek) for taxis in Hong Kong. You can just wave one down and tell (or show on a map) where you need to go.
Itinerary overview
This itinerary is based on 3 full days in Hong Kong. You can adjust and change according to your interests and time. It is good to know that the itinerary is based on staying in Wan Chai.
Day 1 - Hong Kong Island
Take the ding ding!
The ding ding is our favourite mode of transport in Hong Kong! The old fashion double-decker tram is quite comical, but it is honestly such a great way to see the city (mainly because it goes so slow and you can sit high up).
It can only be found on Hong Kong island and there are only a few lines that run from east to west and around across the island. They come in all shapes and colours, and since they only go in 2 directions it is pretty hard to mess up. From Wan Chai, hop on the ding ding in the direction of Central for the next stop on your Hong Kong 3-day itinerary.
Explore Central
Central, also located on Hong Kong island, is a vibrant area that you must check out. It is far more modern and built up than Wan Chai and has some great shopping and food options available. It is a great place to just wonder around and get lost. Some places we do recommend checking out though are the Central Market, Parade Ground and Pottinger St.
Ride the escalators
The central mid-level escalators are the worlds longest escalator system and they start from near the Central Market. There is only one, and it runs down the mountain from 6-10am (to bring people down for work) and goes up the mountain after until midnight. You’ll want to go up, so make sure to get there after 10am.
Enjoy the artsy vibes in Soho
Soho is right next to Central and is located along the escalators, so you can easily hop off and on to check it out. It is a more alternative and artsy area with lots of boutiques, thrift stores and exotic restaurants. The narrow streets are covered in street art and it is well worth cruising around. This is also a great spot for a typical local lunch!
Hike to Victoria Peak
At the end of the escalators you can start the hike to Victoria peak. This is one of the most famous viewpoints of Hong Kong, it offers great views of the city and a nice workout. There are a few different paths you could go up, but we recommend starting from the back of “Hillsborough Court” as this is closest to the Soho district.
If you have the flexibility, make sure to pick a clear day when you go up. Unfortunately when we were here it was slightly cloudy so we couldn’t see as far. Still very impressive nonetheless. If you’re not feeling up for a hike, then there is also a tram to the top, but it is quite expensive.
Tip: Don’t pay for the observation deck, you can see the same view for free on the right side.
Hike to the Red Incense Burner summit
This is one of our most memorable lookouts in Hong Kong. Up into the mountains lie a series of rocks that perch above the trees and offer stunning views over the island, river and mainland. It is ideal for sunset with a few beers so we recommend starting to head an hour before the sun sets.
Getting here from Hong Kong Island is easy, get on the tram to Tin Hau station and get on bus 49M or 25 to the final stop (Upper Braemar Hill Bus Terminus). From there it is only a 15min hike up. It is a little confusing because there is no set path there, but this is how we got there. Follow the road behind the school and it’ll come to a dead end. On the left should be a break in the fence, so go through there and follow the aquaduct up. Then there is a path off to the right which will lead you to the viewpoint.
Day 2 - Kowloon mainland
Cruise the river by ferry
To get over to Hong Kong mainland, you can get on the train or ferry. We prefer taking the ferry, as it is more fun. There are ferry ports in Wan Chai and Central on Hong Kong Island, that both go to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) on the mainland. We recommend taking this ferry (the Star ferry) at least once during your stay! A ticket is only 5HKD one way.
The paying method is a bit strange, you have to buy a small plastic token at the port which is your ticket. 1 token = 1 one-way ticket. So if you’re planning on coming back with the ferry then its easier to just buy 2.
Walk along the Avenue of Stars
The avenue of stars is a boardwalk along the river in TST. On the handrailing there are a range of handprints left from “stars”, which isn’t all that exciting, but the views are. From here you can look back to Hong Kong island and get a broader image of where you went the day before.
Have dim sums for lunch
A trip to Hong Kong is not complete without trying some dim sum. The traditional dim sum are iconic in the area, and it is not hard to see (or taste) why! These are steamed buns with all sorts of fillings, but the most traditional contains a barbeque pork mixture (called cha siu bao).
You can find dim sum on every street. We recommend to try the resturant called “Dim Sum Here” which is also in TST. Some of our favourite dim sum were the egg yolk, shrimp and barbeque pork.
Check out Ladies Market
Further inland from TST is an area called Mong Kok. Here there is a very big street market called the Ladies Market, which is well worth a look. It is on Tung Choi Street and is over a kilometer long! It opens around 11am and closes between 10 and 11pm each night. They sell everything here, from souvenirs to appliances, but it is quite well known for women’s clothing (hence the name).
Watch the Symphony of Lights
On your way back to Hong Kong island make sure to watch the symphony of lights. Every night there is a big lightshow over the river, on both the island and mainland sides. It can best be seen from the boardwalk in TST or the promenade at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. This show starts at 8pm and goes for around 10 minutes. It is also just nice to see the Hong Kong skyline here at night. After that, you can take the ferry back to Wan Chai to conclude another great day in Hong Kong.
Day 3 - hike and beach
Observe the Monster Building
The Monster building is on the eastern side of Hong Kong island and is quite a remarkable place. In the center of this living complex is a courtyard which gives you a glimpse of how dense Hong Kong is. Resembling more of a prison, the 19 storey high building is actually featured in the movie Transformers.
This is a great spot for photos and looks really cool when you look up into the sky. The densely packed building is actually still used as housing so do be respectful to the people living there. It is located right near the Tai Koo train stop, exit B.
Hike the Dragon’s Back
After observing the Monster building, you can get ready for an afternoon hike. This was our favourite hike in Hong Kong. It is relatively easy and straight forward but has great views over the eastern coast. The hike gets it’s name because the path is along a jaggerd ridge which resembles the spikes on the back of a dragon. It shows a totally different side of Hong Kong.
To get here, get on bus 9 from Shau Kei Wan (only 8 stops away on the tram from Wan Chai) and start the hike from the bus stop called Cape Collision (at the start of Shek O road). Follow the path all the way south in the direction of Shek O and it should take around 3 hours.
Relax on Shek O beach
Shek O Beach is right near the end of Dragons Back and is a good spot to cool off and chill for the rest of the afternoon. The beach itself is really nice but also the little town is quite cute, with some stalls for food and drinks and small coastal houses.
Additional places to visit
Hong Kong is a great place to discover, the more days you can spend in Hong Kong the better. We were here for a week and didn’t run out of things to do! We compressed all the highlights into the Hong Kong 3 day itinerary above, but if you’ve got more time we definitely recommend checking out these extras!
Happy Valley
If you happen to be in Hong Kong on a Wednesday night, you’ve got to check out the Hong Kong night races at Happy Valley racecourse! Every Wednesday the gates are open from 5:15pm and first jump is around 7:15. The atmosphere is very festive, make sure to dress neat-casual and enjoy the night!
Going out
There is a vibrant nightlife in Hong Kong. If you’re keen, make sure to go to Central to check out the many bars and clubs. Cafe Claudel at Tai Kwun Central is on a little square great atmosphere, Bobby’s rabble is always busy, and Insomnia and Shuffle are good for a dance later at night.
For hiking lovers
Hong Kong is full of beautiful hikes, sadly 3 days isn’t enough to see and do them all. There are a lot of hikes north of Kowloon. So if you have more time we would recommend checking out Lion Rock and Suicide cliff for some more stunning views of Hong Kong!
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