Free things to do · Hong Kong · China
11 free things to do in Hong Kong
Hong Kong without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wpcpey, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Hong Kong without paying an entry fee: Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars, Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple, Tai Kwun and Temple Street Night Market are all free. Use the Star Ferry, trams and buses for sightseeing; they cost a few dollars and show the city well.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 3
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January, April–June and September
Free sights and experiences
Waterfront · Tsim Sha Tsui
1.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Street · Sheung Wan
2.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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Historic site · Central
3.Tai Kwun
Enter from the Mid-Levels Escalator on Hollywood Road and finish with a drink in one of the courtyard bars.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Market · Yau Ma Tei
4.Temple Street Night Market
Come after dark for a claypot rice or seafood dinner and haggle politely for anything you buy.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Market · Mong Kok
5.Ladies' Market and Mong Kok street markets
Visit the Flower Market and Bird Garden in the morning, then work south to the Ladies' Market as stalls open in the afternoon.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- Photo spot
Religious site · Wong Tai Sin
6.Wong Tai Sin Temple
Combine with Chi Lin Nunnery, two MTR stops away, for a half-day of temples and gardens.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Garden · Diamond Hill
7.Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden
Walk the garden's loop towards the golden Pavilion of Absolute Perfection for the classic photo with skyscrapers behind.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Nature · Shek O Country Park
8.Dragon's Back hike
Take bus 9 from Shau Kei Wan MTR to To Tei Wan, finish at Big Wave Bay beach, and avoid the midday heat in summer.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Nature
Historic site · Lantau Island
9.Tai O fishing village
Pair it with the Big Buddha: bus 21 links Ngong Ping and Tai O in about 20 minutes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
- Food
Park · Kowloon City
10.Kowloon Walled City Park
Eat afterwards in Kowloon City's Thai restaurants nearby, a long-established local food quarter.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Park · Admiralty
11.Hong Kong Park
Visit the aviary in the morning when the birds are most active, then walk up to the Peak Tram terminus.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Tsim Sha Tsui | Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars | 1 hour |
| Sheung Wan | Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple | 2 hours |
| Central | Tai Kwun | 1–2 hours |
| Yau Ma Tei | Temple Street Night Market | 1–2 hours |
| Mong Kok | Ladies' Market and Mong Kok street markets | 2–3 hours |
| Wong Tai Sin | Wong Tai Sin Temple | 1 hour |
| Diamond Hill | Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden | 1–1.5 hours |
| Shek O Country Park | Dragon's Back hike | 3–4 hours |
| Lantau Island | Tai O fishing village | 2–3 hours |
| Kowloon City | Kowloon Walled City Park | 1 hour |
| Admiralty | Hong Kong Park | 1–1.5 hours |
Worth a small ticket
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Viewpoint · The Peak
Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram
Go up an hour before sunset, walk Lugard Road as the lights come on, and return by bus 15 or taxi if the tram queue is long.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Experience · Victoria Harbour
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.
- Time needed
- 10 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Experience · Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Tramways
Board at the back, grab a front seat upstairs and pay with Octopus when you get off at the front.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
More ways to save
- Use the Star Ferry, trams and buses for sightseeing; they cost a few dollars and show the city well.
- Walk Lugard Road at the Peak for free views instead of paying for the rooftop terrace.
- Cha chaan teng set meals and Michelin-listed budget dim sum keep food costs low.
- Bar happy hours in Lan Kwai Fong, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui can halve drink prices.
- Hotel rooms are small and pricey; Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and North Point often give better value.
- Avoid Lunar New Year, Golden Week in early October and Christmas, when room prices rise sharply.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hong Kong expensive to visit?
Hong Kong is expensive for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Hong Kong?
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.