3 days in Hong Kong

Day by day

1. Day 1: Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram and Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars

   Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars and Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then Star Ferry in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars

      Combine the light show with a Star Ferry ride back to Central to see the lights from the water.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dim sum

      Traditional dim sum halls across the city and Michelin-listed budget dim sum chains in Sham Shui Po and Central.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      Star Ferry

      Sit on the upper deck on the side facing the skyline; the Tsim Sha Tsui-bound trip has the best view of Hong Kong Island.

2. Day 2: Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple and Tai Kwun

   Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple, Tai Kwun and Temple Street Night Market, then Hong Kong Disneyland in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple

      Ride the Mid-Levels Escalator up from Central, walk west along Hollywood Road, and finish with coffee on Tai Ping Shan Street.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Roast goose and char siu

      Siu mei shops in every district; Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po have well-known names.

   4. Afternoon

      Temple Street Night Market

      Come after dark for a claypot rice or seafood dinner and haggle politely for anything you buy.

   5. Evening

      Hong Kong Disneyland

      Visit on a weekday outside mainland and local school holidays, when queues are noticeably shorter.

3. Day 3: Ladies' Market and Mong Kok street markets and Wong Tai Sin Temple

   Ladies' Market and Mong Kok street markets, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden, then Lan Kwai Fong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ladies' Market and Mong Kok street markets

      Tung Choi Street's Ladies' Market sells clothes, bags and souvenirs from about a hundred stalls, while the streets nearby specialise: the Goldfish Market with fish in hanging bags, the Flower Market on Flower Market Road and the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden where elderly men bring caged songbirds.

   2. Late morning

      Wong Tai Sin Temple

      Combine with Chi Lin Nunnery, two MTR stops away, for a half-day of temples and gardens.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Wonton noodles

      Noodle shops in Central, Sheung Wan and Mong Kok.

   4. Afternoon

      Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

      Chi Lin is a Buddhist nunnery rebuilt in Tang dynasty style from interlocking timber without nails, set around lotus ponds.

   5. Evening

      Lan Kwai Fong

      A steep L-shaped lane in Central packed with bars and clubs; crowds spill onto the street on weekends.

Before you go

• Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram: Buy Peak Tram tickets online or with an Octopus card to skip the ticket queue, though the boarding queue remains at busy times.
• Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery: Book cable car tickets online for weekends and holidays; a crystal (glass-floored) cabin costs more.
• Hong Kong Disneyland: Buy dated tickets online in advance; busy dates can sell out.

If it rains

• Swap in M+ (West Kowloon): Walk out to the Art Park lawn afterwards for one of the widest skyline views in Kowloon.
• Swap in Hong Kong Palace Museum (West Kowloon): Special exhibitions can need separate timed tickets; check what is showing before you go.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Central keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Sheung Wan ($$$) suits culture, couples, food lovers and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 20–28 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.8 hours in December to 13.5 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Hong Kong
• 2 days in Hong Kong
• 4 days in Hong Kong
• 5 days in Hong Kong
• 7 days in Hong Kong

Questions travellers ask