Day 1
Hong Kong Island & the Peak
Start in Central, riding the Mid-Levels escalator up to breakfast in SoHo, then take the Peak Tram up for views over the harbour. In the evening, head down for dim sum and drinks in Sheung Wan.
Hong Kong is one of the most vertical cities on earth: a wall of neon and glass rising straight out of the water, then giving way to green mountains and empty beaches within minutes. Few places pack so much into so little space.
Seven million people live across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the outlying islands, where temples sit beside banking towers and food stalls steam under century-old street signs. Step out of the harbour crush and you're hiking ridgelines or hopping ferries to fishing villages.
Itinerary
Day 2
Kowloon & the harbour
Cross on the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui and stroll the waterfront promenade and its museums. In the evening, dive into the Mong Kok night markets and stay for the Symphony of Lights over the harbour.
Day 3
Lantau or Dragon's Back
Pick nature: cable car to Ngong Ping for the Big Buddha and monastery, or hike the Dragon's Back ridge to the beach at Big Wave Bay. End the day with fresh seafood in a fishing village.
Highlights
🌄Viewpoint
Victoria Peak
The island's highest point, where the whole forest of towers, the harbour and the hills of Kowloon fan out below you. Ride the historic Peak Tram up and walk the level loop trail for the best view, most magical at dusk.
✨Experience
Star Ferry crossing
A green-and-white vintage ferry has chugged across Victoria Harbour between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui for over a century. For a few Hong Kong dollars you get one of the world's great harbour crossings, the whole skyline laid out before you.
🛍️Market
Mong Kok night markets
A tangle of market streets in Hong Kong's densest district, from the Ladies' Market to the Temple Street night market. Haggle for souvenirs, catch street opera and eat curry fish balls at buzzing food stalls.
🏛️Landmark
Big Buddha & Lantau
A 34-metre bronze statue sits above Lantau's green hills beside the Po Lin Monastery. Glide up on the Ngong Ping cable car, climb the 268 steps to the Buddha and breathe in the incense of the monastery halls.
🌿Nature
Dragon's Back
A rolling ridgeline above the island's south-east coast, hailed as one of Asia's best urban hikes. The easy crest serves up views of Shek O, turquoise bays and open sea before dropping down to Big Wave Bay.
🏘️Neighbourhood
Central & SoHo
The city's financial heart, where glass towers, colonial remnants and the world's longest escalator collide. Ride the Mid-Levels escalator up to SoHo's bars and restaurants and the street-art lanes of Sheung Wan.
Neighbourhoods
Central
The island's business district, all glass towers, smart bars and the long Mid-Levels escalator. The best base for the Peak Tram, SoHo and the street art of Sheung Wan.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon's waterfront, home to the city's most famous skyline view, museums and the Avenue of Stars. This is where the Star Ferry docks and the nightly light show kicks off.
Mong Kok
One of the most densely populated districts on earth, a storm of night markets, neon signs and food stalls. Come hungry and ready to haggle.
Sheung Wan
An old trading quarter west of Central, where dried-goods shops and ancestral temples meet indie cafés and galleries. Great for wandering away from the crowds.
Where to eat
Dim sum
Bamboo baskets of shrimp dumplings (har gow), BBQ pork buns and chicken feet, washed down with endless pots of tea. Go in the morning to a bustling teahouse and just point at the trolleys as they roll past.
Char siu & roast goose
Charcoal-crisped goose or duck with lacquered skin, served over rice. Look for a cha chaan teng or a roast-meat shop with birds hanging in the window.
Egg tarts
Warm flaky or shortcrust tarts filled with wobbly egg custard, a Cantonese bakery classic. Eat them fresh from the oven while the filling still trembles.
Milk tea
Strong black tea strained through a cloth sock and made creamy with evaporated milk, nicknamed 'silk-stocking' tea. Order it hot or iced at any cha chaan teng.
Good to know
Best time to visit
Autumn (October–December) is the sweet spot: clear, dry and pleasantly warm. Spring is mild but hazy, summer is hot, humid and typhoon season, while winter is cool and good for hiking.
Getting around
The MTR metro is fast, clean and cheap and reaches almost everywhere — grab an Octopus card for payment right away. Trams, buses and the Star Ferry fill the gaps, and the double-decker ding-ding tram on the island is a ride in itself.
- Currency
- HKD HK$
- Languages
- English, Chinese
How much does Hong Kong cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
BackpackerHK$400per person / day
Mid-rangeHK$800per person / day
ComfortHK$1,500per person / day
Hong Kong is known for its diverse options, catering to various budget levels.
Local tips
- ✓Buy an Octopus card at the airport — it pays for the MTR, buses, ferries and even many food stalls and shops.
- ✓Eat where it's crowded and noisy; the best cha chaan teng and roast-meat shops look unglamorous and have queues.
- ✓Time the Symphony of Lights for 8pm on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, ideally from the Star Ferry or the Avenue of Stars.
