Sightseeing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong packs a lot into a small place. Beyond the famous skyline, there are historic neighbourhoods, museums, beaches, markets, islands and some excellent food.

For a first visit, I’d start with the classics, then add a few places that suit your own interests.

Classic Attractions

These are the sights I’d consider the essentials on a first visit.

• Victoria Peak — Hong Kong’s most famous viewpoint, with sweeping views across the harbour, Kowloon and the surrounding hills. The journey up is part of the experience, whether you take the Peak Tram or Bus 15. (I recommend the bus if you have time).
• Star Ferry — Cheap, easy and still one of my favourite Hong Kong experiences. It’s also one of the best ways to see the skyline.
• Tian Tan Buddha — The enormous bronze Buddha on Lantau Island, usually visited with the Ngong Ping 360 cable car and the lovely Po Lin Monastery.
• Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade — The best place for classic harbour views, the Avenue of Stars and the skyline after dark.
• Temple Street Night Market — A fun and lively evening market with food stalls and other market goods.
• Hong Kong Tram — One of my favourite ways to see Hong Kong Island. It’s cheap, slow and much more interesting than travelling underground.

Neighbourhoods

Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods are as important as its attractions. Each one feels slightly different, so it’s worth spending time walking around rather than rushing from sight-to-sight.

• Central — Historic lanes, temples, colonial buildings, skyscrapers, restaurants and bars.
• Wan Chai — A mix of older Hong Kong, local markets and modern restaurants.
• Causeway Bay — Busy, bright and one of the city’s main shopping areas.
• Tsim Sha Tsui — Waterfront views, museums, hotels and easy access to the Star Ferry.
• Mong Kok — Crowded streets, markets, local food and plenty of atmosphere.
• Sham Shui Po — One of the best areas for street life, traditional shops and inexpensive local food. I love this area.
• Stanley — A relaxed seaside neighbourhood with a popular market, waterfront restaurants, beaches and a very different feel from central Hong Kong.

Museums & Cultural Attractions

Hong Kong has a much stronger museum scene than many first-time visitors expect.

• Hong Kong Museum of Art — I highly recommend this one. It’s modern, very interesting and a lovely place to spend a couple of hours, with a fantastic waterfront location in Tsim Sha Tsui.
• M+ — A major gallery/museum of contemporary visual culture, in the West Kowloon Cultural District. It has an amazing gift shop.
• Hong Kong Palace Museum — Chinese art and imperial objects, including exhibitions linked to Beijing’s Palace Museum. Not my cup of tea, but you’ll like it if you’re into archaeology.
• Hong Kong Museum of History — A great place to get a better understanding of Hong Kong’s past and connections to China. A must for political science fans.
• Tai Kwun — One of my favourite heritage sites, combining the former police station, courthouse and prison with art, restaurants and bars.
• Man Mo Temple — One of the city’s most atmospheric temples and an easy stop while exploring Central and Sheung Wan.

Food Experiences

Food is a huge part of the Hong Kong experience for me, and I’d plan at least a few meals just as carefully as the sightseeing.

• Dim sum — One of the classic Hong Kong experiences and still one of my favourite ways to eat, with lots of small dishes to share.
• Cha chaan tengs — Local cafés serving proper Hong Kong comfort food, from milk tea and toast to noodles and rice dishes.
• Food tours — I really recommend doing one, especially on a first visit. They’re a great way to understand the food culture and discover places you’d probably walk straight past.
• Afternoon tea — A long-standing Hong Kong tradition and something the city does particularly well, especially in the big hotels.
• International hotel buffets — Hong Kong takes buffets to another level. Expect seafood, Asian and Western dishes, live cooking stations and enormous dessert sections.

Nature & Outdoors

Hong Kong is far greener than most first-time visitors expect. One of the things I love about the city is how quickly you can leave the skyscrapers behind and find beaches, reservoirs, country parks and walking trails.

• Victoria Peak walks — Easy walks with some fantastic views over the city and harbour.
• Country parks — Forests, reservoirs, ridgelines and well-marked trails, often surprisingly close to the city.
• Beaches — Hong Kong has some lovely beaches on Hong Kong Island, Lantau and the outlying islands.
• Parks and gardens — Great places to slow down for a while between the busier sights.
• Hiking — There’s everything from short scenic walks to serious full-day hikes, so you don’t need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy Hong Kong’s outdoors.

Shopping

Hong Kong still offers a decent range of shopping, from luxury malls to small local businesses.

• Shopping malls — Air-conditioned, easy to navigate and often home to excellent restaurants as well as shops.
• Street markets — Ladies’ Market, Temple Street and Stanley Market are the best-known, although I’d go as much for the atmosphere as the shopping.
• Souvenirs — Tea, food products, Chinese crafts, chopsticks and Hong Kong-themed gifts are easy to find.

Paid Activities

Hong Kong is easy to explore independently, but there are several paid experiences I think are worth considering.

• Ngong Ping 360 — The scenic cable car to Ngong Ping and the Big Buddha. I’d book this in advance, as ticket queues can be very long.
• Food tours — One of the best paid experiences for visitors who want more than a list of dishes.
• TramOramic Tour — A sightseeing ride on a heritage-style tram with commentary.
• Big Bus Hong Kong — Useful for an easy overview of the city, particularly if you’re short on time.
• Dark Side of Hong Kong Tour — A thought-provoking look at housing and social inequality in Sham Shui Po.
• Harbour cruises — A chance to see the skyline from the water, particularly after dark.

Day Trips

Hong Kong has several very easy day trips (or half day), and they all show a different side of the region.

• Lantau Island — Home to the Big Buddha, Ngong Ping, Po Lin Monastery and Tai O fishing village.
• Macau — A separate special administrative region with Portuguese architecture, Chinese temples, casinos and a UNESCO-listed historic centre. You’ll need your passport.
• Cheung Chau — A compact island with seafood restaurants, beaches, walking tracks and a much slower pace.
• Lamma Island — Popular for coastal walks, beaches and waterfront seafood restaurants.
• Sai Kung — Known for hiking, beaches, seafood and access to the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark.

Planning Your Time

With one or two days, focus on the classic sights and one or two neighbourhoods.

With three or four days, you can add a museum, a food experience and one paid activity.

With five days or more, it’s worth including a day trip and spending more time beyond the main tourist areas.