Top 12 Things to Do in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a perfect destination for travelers of all ages- blessed with shopping, hiking, beaches, islands, and nightlife. There are so many places to explore in Hong Kong, and it is unlikely to be able to do everything in a short time. But you can grasp some of its essence through the following things.
1. Savor the World's Cheapest Michelin-Starred Dim Sum
Yum cha, AKA going for dim sum, represents Hong Kong's most authentic dining culture. Dim sum is all varieties of bite-sized food served in small steamer baskets or on a small plate and usually served with tea.
Must-try dim sums include shrimp dumplings, chicken feet, barbecued pork buns, rice noodle rolls, lotus leaf rice, preserved eggs, and pork porridge.
Tim Ho Wan is a highly recommended restaurant if you want to chow down on Michelin-starred dim sum at a budget-friendly price.
It has several branches in Hong Kong, but make sure you hit the Sham Shui Po one, which is its head store, winning a Michelin star.
How to Get to Tim Ho Wan (IFC Mall Branch): Take the Airport Express or the Tung Chung Line to Hong Kong Station, take Exit F, then walk 200 meters.
Related Reading: Must-try Hong Kong Dishes
2. Take the Tram up to Victoria Peak and Get a Bird's-Eye View of Hong Kong
Victoria Peak is one of Hong Kong's landmarks as well as its highest point, providing a spectacular aerial view of the whole city. The stylish architectural icon on the peak, the Peak Tower, features a 360-degree viewing rooftop, Sky Terrace 428. Standing at 428 meters above sea level, the platform offers a marvelous panoramic view of Hong Kong.
Getting to the Peak by the Peak Tram is considered to be the best way to truly experience the beauty of Hong Kong's natural wonders. This 1350-meter-long tram is over 130 years old and has a gradient of between 4 and 27 degrees!
The boarding point for the Peak Tram is at the Garden Road Peak Tram Terminal. You can take the Island Line or the Tsuen Wan Line to Central Station, take Exit J2, and then walk about 1.5 kilometers to reach the terminal.
| Operation Time | Departure Time | Duration | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 to 23:00 every day | every 10 to 15 minutes | 7 minutes | HK$116 for a round trip HK$82 for a single trip |
3. Ride Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to Admire the Big Buddha on Lantau Island
Lantau Island, Hong Kong's largest outlying island, has all kinds of attractions for travelers to explore. You can spend some happy family time in Disneyland, stroll around the traditional Tai O fishing village, or admire the world's tallest outdoor bronze sitting Buddha – the Tian Tan Big Buddha. The Tian Tan Big Buddha can be visited on a land, sea, and sky adventure via the Ngong Ping 360 cable car.
Getting to the Big Buddha by Ngong Ping 360 cable car is a not-to-be-missed experience when visiting Hong Kong. The ride takes about 25 minutes and boasts 360-degree views of overlooking Lantau Island and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
The boarding point for the Ngong Ping Cable Car is at Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal, located at 11 Tat Tung Road. You can take the Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung Station, take Exit C, and then walk about 400 meters to reach the terminal.
| Opening Hours | Monday to Friday | Saturday to Sunday | Public Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 to 18:00 | 9:00 to 18:30 | 9:00 to 18:30 | |
| Ticket Price | Standard Cabin | Crystal cabin | Panoramic cabin |
| HK$205 | HK$240 | HK$395 |
4. Ride the Star Ferry and View the Hong Kong Skyline along Victoria Harbor
Victoria Harbor, the largest seaport in Asia, was named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Every night at 8 o'clock, the buildings along the two sides of the harbor will be lit up, and every visitor should walk along the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade to watch the large light-and-sound show, Symphony of Lights, which highlights the Hong Kong skyline at night.
The best way to enjoy the night scenes of both sides is to travel through Victoria Harbor by the Iconic Star Ferry, a shuttle ferry running between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island since 1888. It can be a memorable experience to float on the calm Victoria Harbor and get insightful views of a skyscraper-studded skyline.
| Route | Opening Hour | Ticket Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Runs between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central | 6:30 to 23:30 | Monday to Friday: HK$5 for adults, HK$2.9 for children. Weekends and public holidays: HK$6.5 for adults, HK$3.9 for children. |
| Runs from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui | 7:30 to 23:00 | |
| Runs from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai | 7:20 to 22:50 |
5. Hop on Lamma Island to Escape the Hustle and Bustle
As Hong Kong's third-largest island, Lamma Island is a small fishing village totally different from the city crowds. Many travelers like it because of its beautiful vistas, great seafood, small but clean beach, and lovely people.
Don't miss it if you want a break from the city crowds. Taking a laid-back walk from Sok Kwu Wan to Yung Shue Wan (or vice versa), you can see Lamma's blend of Western and Chinese island life.
How to Get to Lamma Island: take a ferry from Central Pier 4 to Sok Kwu Wan Pier, then walk 1 kilometer after getting off the boat. The journey takes 70 minutes and costs HK$23.
6. Eat and Shop at the Temple Street Night Market
When night falls, the stallholders in the Jordan area begin their business. Temple Street is a nightly street market where you can peruse handmade knick-knacks and local street food in Hong Kong. Try to haggle with the vendors, and you may get things for brilliant prices.
How to Get to Temple Street: Take the Tsuen Wan Line to Jordan Station, take Exit A, then walk 400 meters.
Related Reading: What to Buy and Where to Buy in Hong Kong
7. Sightseeing the City on the Top of the Hong Kong Tramways
Hong Kong people call the tramways Ding Ding because they make a sound like ding ding all day. Ding-Ding is the world's largest double-decker tram fleet, and its track has run through the north of Hong Kong Island (Shau Kei Wan - Kennedy Town) going east-west since 1904.
With only HK$3 per ride, travelers can experience this hop-on hop-off bus and tour Hong Kong most economically and comfortably.
- Blue Line: Kennedy Town (west) to Happy Valley (east)
- Purple Line: Kennedy Town (west) to Shau Kei Wan (east)
- Orange Line: Shek Tong Tsui (west) to Causeway Bay (east)
- Dark Green Line: Shek Tong Tsui (west) to North Point (east)
- Light Green Line: Sheung Wan (west) to Shau Kei Wan (east)
- Red Line: Happy Valley (west) to Shau Kei Wan (east)
8. Go to the Racecourse to Watch Horse Racing
Horse racing is a unique culture in Hong Kong. Thousands of people from different nations come to Happy Valley Racecourse and Sha Tin Racecourse on race time for the thrilling excitement of races and mouth-watering food. You may not win any money, but you will absolutely have fun!
Want to buy a horse race ticket and test your luck? There are many ways to place a bet. The easiest way is to go to a betting counter inside the racecourse, where the staff will help you fill out a ticket. You can also easily place a bet using the Jockey Club's mobile app, Racing Touch.
| Site | Race Month | Race Time | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Valley Racecourse | On weekends during the day and on Wednesday evenings, from September to July each year. | Day racing: 12:15
Night racing: 19:15 |
Free for visitors to Hong Kong |
| Sha Tin Racecourse | Every Wednesday from September to July of the following year. | Night racing: 19:15 | Free for visitors to Hong Kong |
How to Get to Happy Valley Racecourse: Take Citybus N170, KMB N170, Citybus 113, KMB 113, KMB 102R, or KMB 603A, get off at Happy Valley Racecourse Bus Stop, then walk 200 meters.
How to Get to Sha Tin Racecourse: Take the East Rail Line to Fo Tan Station, take Exit A, then walk 2 kilometers.
9. Take the Mid-Levels Escalator to Conduit Road
The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator is over 800 meters, with a vertical rise of 135 meters. It was once the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. Opened in 1993 and originally built to relieve traffic in the Mid‑Levels, it has now become one of Hong Kong's iconic urban experiences.
The system consists of 16 reversible single-direction escalators and 3 reversible single-direction moving walkways. It starts on Queen's Road Central and passes through stations such as Wellington Street, Hollywood Road, and Elgin Street, eventually reaching Conduit Road.
The escalator is completely free to use and allows you to easily reach the mid-slope of Victoria Peak with minimal physical effort in a short amount of time.
How to Get Mid-Levels Escalator: Take the Island Line or the Tsuen Wan Line to Central Station, take Exit C, then walk 800 meters.
10. Enjoy a Full Day at Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is the second Disneyland in Asia. The park is now divided into 8 themed areas: Main Street U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Point, Toy Story Land, and World of Frozen.
During the parade, you can interact with Mickey and his friends. You can also ride Hyperspace Mountain and leave all your worries behind. Whether you are a child or an adult, you can rediscover your sense of wonder.
How to Get Hong Kong Disneyland: Take the Tung Chung Line to Sunny Bay Station, then transfer to the Disneyland Line and get off at Disneyland Resort Station. Finally, walk 800 meters.
11. Go Hiking Outdoors and get Close to Nature
Hong Kong's hiking trails are famous for their unique landscapes where mountains meet the sea. Among them, the Dragon's Back is one of the most representative routes. This ridge trail in Shek O is about 8.5 kilometers long and was named by Time magazine as the best urban hiking trail in Asia. Walking along the undulating dragonback ridge, you can enjoy panoramic views of Big Wave Bay, Shek O Beach, and Tathong Channel.
Another classic route is Section 2 of the MacLehose Trail. It crosses the Sai Kung East Country Park, passing two hidden beaches-Sai Wan and Ham Tin Wan-with the sharp peak of Sharp Peak in the background. Both trails have clear signs and viewing platforms, and along the way, you can often see butterflies, wild boars, and subtropical plants.
How to Get to the Dragon's Back: Take the Island Line to Shau Kei Wan Station, take Exit A2, then take the NWFB Bus 9 to To Tei Wan Stop. Finally, walk 1 kilometer.
How to Get to Section 2 of the MacLehose Trail: Take KMB 289R, KMB 94, or KMB 96R to Pak Tam Chung Stop. Then transfer to Minibus 9A to High Island Reservoir East Dam. (Minibus 9A only runs on weekends and public holidays.)
12. Enjoy a Side Trip to Macau
Macau has been known as the Las Vegas of Asia for years, but there's more than casinos. As a former Portuguese colony, Macau is an extravagant fusion of East and West in lifestyles, architecture, and food.
There are numerous cultural heritage sites such as the Ruins of St. Paul's, Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Monte Fort, A-Ma Temple, and more. Only one hour away by ferry or coach, Macau is a great excursion during a Hong Kong tour.
How to Get to Macau: You can take a ferry from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal to Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal.
| Departure Time | Monday to Friday Ticket Price | Weekends and Public Holidays Ticket Price | Night Ferry Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30, 8:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 12:00, 13:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:30, 18:30, 20:30, 21:30, 22:30 | HK$192 for a Standard Cabin HK$330 for a First Class Cabin HK$2640 for a Private room |
HK$209 for standard cabin HK$348 for a First Class Cabin HK$2784 for a Private room |
HK$242 for standard cabin HK$380 for a First Class Cabin HK$3040 for a Private room |
Booking Your Hong Kong Tour
Ride the world's longest escalator, spend a party night in Lan Kwai Fong, enjoy a foot massage, a bargain at Ladies Market, try snake soup, hike Dragon's Back, and more… there are so many things you should not miss in Hong Kong. Travel to Hong Kong with China Travel, and we will make your trip an insider experience.