Travel guide · China
Hong Kong travel guide
Harbour skyline, dim sum and mountain trails minutes from the towers
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Hong Kong wraps one of the world's densest skylines around Victoria Harbour, with Hong Kong Island's Central and Wan Chai facing Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui across a ten-minute Star Ferry crossing. Behind the towers, about three-quarters of the territory is countryside, with country parks, ridge hikes, outlying islands and beaches reachable by MTR, bus or ferry. Days run on dim sum, cha chaan teng milk tea and street markets that stay busy late into the night. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are October–December.
Key facts
- Country
- China
- Best time to visit
- October–December
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- HKG
- Mid-range daily budget
- $160–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Victoria Harbour skyline, Dim sum, Star Ferry and Victoria Peak
Why visit Hong Kong
- The Star Ferry, Victoria Peak and the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade give some of Asia's great skyline views for very little money.
- Cantonese food runs from morning dim sum and roast goose to wonton noodles, egg tarts and late-night dai pai dong stalls.
- Hikes such as the Dragon's Back and Lantau's trails start within an hour of Central, and some end on a surf beach.
- Temple Street, the Mong Kok markets and Sham Shui Po keep an older, street-level Hong Kong alive beside the luxury malls.
- M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon have made the city a serious stop for art and Chinese heritage.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Viewpoint · The Peak
Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram
The Peak Tram has hauled passengers up a steep track from Garden Road since 1888, arriving at the Peak Tower about 400 metres above the harbour.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Experience · Victoria Harbour
Star Ferry
Green-and-white Star Ferry boats have crossed Victoria Harbour since the 19th century, linking Tsim Sha Tsui with Central in under ten minutes for a few Hong Kong dollars.
- Time needed
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Waterfront · Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars
The harbourfront walk from the Clock Tower to the Avenue of Stars, with its Bruce Lee statue and film-star handprints, faces the full sweep of the Hong Kong Island skyline.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Religious site · Lantau Island
Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
The 34-metre bronze Big Buddha sits on a hilltop at Ngong Ping on Lantau, reached by 268 steps beside the colourful Po Lin Monastery.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Street · Sheung Wan
Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple
One of Hong Kong's oldest roads, Hollywood Road is lined with antique and art shops and leads to Man Mo Temple, built in the 1840s and dedicated to the gods of literature and war.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Historic site · Central
Tai Kwun
The restored Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison form a heritage and arts complex of colonial buildings around two courtyards, with free contemporary-art galleries, heritage displays in old cells, restaurants and bars.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Where to stay
Central is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, nightlife and food lovers
Central
Bank towers, the Mid-Levels escalator, SoHo restaurants and Lan Kwai Fong bars
$$$ · Best for culture, couples, food lovers and solo travellers
Sheung Wan
Dried-seafood shops, Hollywood Road antiques and Man Mo Temple
$$ · Best for budget, food lovers, nightlife and solo travellers
Wan Chai
Old markets, local diners and harbourfront convention halls
$$$ · Best for shopping, families and food lovers
Causeway Bay
Department stores, Times Square and Victoria Park
What to eat
- Dim sum — Steamed and fried small plates eaten with tea from morning to mid-afternoon: har gow (prawn dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao, cheung fun rice rolls and chicken feet.
- Roast goose and char siu — Cantonese roast meats hang in shop windows: crisp-skinned goose, sweet-glazed char siu barbecue pork and roast pork belly, served over rice with greens.
- Wonton noodles — Thin, springy egg noodles with prawn wontons in a clear broth flavoured with dried flounder, served in a small bowl with chives.
- Egg tart — Custard tarts in either buttery shortcrust or flaky puff pastry, best eaten warm from the oven.
- Hong Kong-style milk tea — Strong black tea strained through a fabric 'silk stocking' and mixed with evaporated milk; yuenyeung blends it with coffee.
- Pineapple bun — A soft sweet bun with a crackly sugar topping that looks like pineapple skin (there is no pineapple); the bo lo yau version comes with a thick slab of cold butter.
When to go
The best time to visit Hong Kong is October to December, when the air is drier, skies are clearer and hiking is comfortable; January and February are cool and also good outside Lunar New Year crowds. March and April can be foggy and humid. June to September is hot, wet and typhoon-prone, so build flexibility into plans.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Warm and humid with fog, drizzle and increasing showers; views from the Peak can disappear in mist. |
| Summer | June–September | Hot, humid and the wettest season, with thunderstorms and typhoons that can close the city for a day; beaches and air-conditioning are the escape. |
| Autumn | October–November | Dry, sunny and comfortable — the best time for hikes, island trips and outdoor dining, with crowds around Golden Week. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, dry and sometimes grey, with festive lights in December and Lunar New Year celebrations in January or February. |
Getting there and around
Hong Kong International Airport is on Chek Lap Kok off Lantau. The Airport Express reaches Kowloon in about 20 minutes and Hong Kong Station in Central in about 24 minutes; Cityflyer buses are slower but cheaper, and a taxi to Central takes about 30–40 minutes.
Hong Kong has superb public transport: the MTR rail network covers the urban areas and the airport, while trams, buses, minibuses and ferries fill the gaps. One Octopus card pays for nearly everything, and many routes also accept contactless bank cards or mobile wallets.
Plan your days
Three days covers the Peak, the Star Ferry, Central and Sheung Wan, Kowloon's markets and Lantau's Big Buddha. A fourth day adds a hike or an outlying island; a week lets you add Macau, Sai Kung and a theme park.
Practical information
- Currency
- HKD
- Language
- Cantonese, English and Mandarin
- Plugs
- Type G (three square pins), 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water meets international standards, but many locals boil or filter it because of older pipes in some buildings.
- Emergency number
- 999 (police, fire and ambulance)
- Tipping
- A 10% service charge is added in most sit-down restaurants, so further tips are optional.
Hong Kong has low street crime, though pickpocketing happens in crowded markets and on the MTR. Watch for typhoon and rainstorm warnings in summer, and take heat seriously on hikes.
Flights to Hong Kong
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Hong Kong?
Three days covers the Peak, the Star Ferry, Central and Sheung Wan, Kowloon's markets and Lantau's Big Buddha. A fourth day adds a hike or an outlying island; a week lets you add Macau, Sai Kung and a theme park. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Hong Kong?
The best time to visit Hong Kong is October to December, when the air is drier, skies are clearer and hiking is comfortable; January and February are cool and also good outside Lunar New Year crowds. March and April can be foggy and humid. June to September is hot, wet and typhoon-prone, so build flexibility into plans.
+What is Hong Kong known for?
Victoria Harbour skyline, Dim sum, Star Ferry, Victoria Peak, Night markets, Hiking trails and Shopping. The Star Ferry, Victoria Peak and the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade give some of Asia's great skyline views for very little money.
+Is Hong Kong expensive?
Hong Kong is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $160–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Hong Kong?
No. Public transport reaches almost everywhere, roads are congested and parking is very expensive.