Outdoors · Hong Kong · China
5 best outdoor things to do in Hong Kong
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, Dragon's Back hike and Ocean Park. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 14–19 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 14–19 hours
- Areas
- Lantau Island, Shek O Country Park and Aberdeen
Outdoors in Hong Kong
Religious site · Lantau Island
1.Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
Start early to beat the cable car queues, and check that it is running; it closes for maintenance and in strong winds.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Shek O Country Park
2.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
Theme park · Aberdeen
3.Ocean Park
Take the MTR South Island line to Ocean Park station and ride the cable car early, before queues build.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
Park · Kowloon City
4.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
5.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
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lantau Island | Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery | Half a day |
| Shek O Country Park | Dragon's Back hike | 3–4 hours |
| Aberdeen | Ocean Park | Full day |
| Kowloon City | Kowloon Walled City Park | 1 hour |
| Admiralty | Hong Kong Park | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 1 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. The longest visit is Ocean Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery: Book cable car tickets online for weekends and holidays; a crystal (glass-floored) cabin costs more.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Lantau Island): Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Shek O Country Park): Dragon's Back hike, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Aberdeen): Ocean Park, at least 6 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Kowloon City and Admiralty): Kowloon Walled City Park → Hong Kong Park, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- November: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 5 rainy days, busy crowds. Sunny, dry and pleasant — many residents' favourite month for walking and outdoor dining.
- December: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Cool, dry and clear with festive lights; hotel prices rise around Christmas and New Year.
- January: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool, dry and often clear; one of the best months for hiking, though nights can feel chilly in unheated buildings.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Wan Chai — Old markets, local diners and harbourfront convention halls
More of Hong Kong
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Hong Kong?
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.
+Which of these are free in Hong Kong?
Dragon's Back hike, Kowloon Walled City Park and Hong Kong Park.