Season guide · Hong Kong · China
Hong Kong in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Cool, dry and sometimes grey, with festive lights in December and Lunar New Year celebrations in January or February. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 19 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 15°C (59°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 19
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C (66°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 6 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| February | 20°C (68°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 9 | 11.4 h | 4/5 |
| December | 20°C (68°F) | 16°C (61°F) | 4 | 10.8 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 19 of the year's roughly 135 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Hong Kong Marathon (usually January or February)
- January: Lunar New Year flower fairs, parade and celebrations (January or February)
- February: Lunar New Year night parade in Tsim Sha Tsui (around Lunar New Year)
- February: Lantern displays for the Lantern Festival (15th day of the lunar new year)
- December: Christmas lights along the harbourfront and in malls (December)
- December: New Year's Eve countdown fireworks over Victoria Harbour (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Historic site · Central
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
Museum · West Kowloon
M+
M+ is a museum of visual culture that opened in 2021 in the West Kowloon Cultural District, covering 20th- and 21st-century art, design, architecture and moving image with a focus on Asia.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Views
Museum · West Kowloon
Hong Kong Palace Museum
Special exhibitions can need separate timed tickets; check what is showing before you go.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Sai Kung and the Geopark (About 1 hour by MTR and minibus) — From Sai Kung town, boats run to hexagonal volcanic rock columns in the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark and to quiet beaches; hikers can tackle the MacLehose Trail's coastal section to Tai Long Wan.
- Shenzhen (About 20 minutes by high-speed rail) — Mainland China's tech city across the border has huge electronics markets in Huaqiangbei, the OCT art district and modern malls.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Hong Kong?
Yes: December is among the best months. Cool, dry and sometimes grey, with festive lights in December and Lunar New Year celebrations in January or February.
+What is the weather like in Hong Kong in winter?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), with about 19 rainy days over the season.