Things to do in Hong Kong

The 18 best things to do in Hong Kong

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1. 1Hong Kong

   Ride the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak

   The Peak Tram opened in 1888 and is described as Asia's first funicular railway. It rises to 396 m above sea level in about 10 minutes, at gradients between 4 and 25.7 degrees, so the buildings you pass seem to lean. At the top, the Peak Tower holds Sky Terrace 428, the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong, with views over the skyline and the harbor. You can also walk. The circuit around the Peak along Lugard Road and Harlech Road takes 40 to 60 minutes, and the uphill walk along Mount Austin Road to Victoria Peak Garden, 554 m above sea level, takes 30 to 40 minutes.

   Tip: Buy tickets only from the operator's official site, since copycat websites sell fake ones, and note that Sky Terrace 428 stays open until 10 PM if you want the night view.

   HK$[fee] for Sky Terrace 428Know the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: The Peak Tram (thepeak.com.hk); The Peak Tram (thepeak.com.hk); The Peak Tram (thepeak.com.hk); Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com)
2. 2Hong Kong

   Cross Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry

   The Star Ferry has crossed Victoria Harbour since 1888 and still carries commuters between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, which makes it an inexpensive and reliable way to see the skyline from the water. Routes link Tsim Sha Tsui with Central and with Wan Chai, and the boats have an upper and a lower deck. Landing at Tsim Sha Tsui puts you at the start of the waterfront promenade, which begins at the Clock Tower beside the Star Ferry Pier and runs past the Cultural Centre, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and K11 Musea.

   Tip: The operator runs a harbour night tour built around the nightly light show, so check its page for sailing times if you want to see the skyline from the water after dark.

   Pay per ride
   Sources: The Star Ferry Company Limited; Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com); Hong Kong Tourism Board (official)
3. 3Lantau Island

   Ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to Lantau

   The Ngong Ping 360 cable car runs 5.7 km from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island. The ride takes about 25 minutes and passes over mountain slopes with views of the airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and on a clear day you may glimpse Macao. The Tung Chung terminal is next to Tung Chung MTR station. Crystal Cabins have a glass floor and glass walls on all four sides. At the top, Ngong Ping Village is next to the terminal, and Po Lin Monastery is about a 10-minute walk away. Only water may be consumed in the cabin, and left luggage storage is available at both ends.

   Tip: The cable car opens at 10 AM on weekdays and 9 AM on weekends and public holidays, and it can pause in storms or on servicing days, so check the operator's notices before you set out.

   HK$[fee] by ticketKnow the fee?
   Sources: Ngong Ping 360 Limited; Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com); Po Lin Monastery
4. 4Lantau Island

   Climb 268 steps to the Tian Tan Buddha

   The Tian Tan Buddha, usually called the Big Buddha, is a seated bronze statue on Mount Muk Yue, 34 m tall including its base. Po Lin Monastery spent 12 years planning and building it, using 202 bronze pieces, and held its inaugural ceremony on 29 December 1993. Visitors climb 268 steps to the platform at its foot, where the views over the Lantau hills reward the effort. Besides the cable car, bus 23 from Tung Chung takes about 45 minutes, and bus 21 from Tai O takes about 15 minutes. The statue is open from 10 AM to 5:30 PM daily, including public holidays.

   Tip: Arrive in the morning so you have time for the steps, the monastery and a vegetarian lunch before the statue closes at 5:30 PM.

   Open 10 AM to 5:30 PM
   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Po Lin Monastery; Po Lin Monastery; Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com)
5. 5Hong Kong

   Watch A Symphony of Lights from the waterfront

   A Symphony of Lights has lit up the harbor skyline since 2004. Since December 2017 it has run to a score recorded by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, with traditional Chinese flutes and the erhu woven in, and 43 buildings and two attractions take part. The show runs every night at 8 PM and is free, with no ticket needed. The best places to watch are the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Avenue of Stars, the promenade at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, and sightseeing ferries on the harbor. The music is broadcast at the three waterfront spots.

   Tip: The show is cancelled if a Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above, or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning, is issued at or after 3 PM that day, so check the weather before you head out.

   Free, nightly at 8 PM
   Search tours on KlookSources: Tourism Commission, Hong Kong SAR Government; Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com)
6. 6Hong Kong

   Ride a ding ding tram across Hong Kong Island

   Trams have run along the northern coast of Hong Kong Island since 1904, and the double-decker cars still pass through Western District, Wan Chai, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay and North Point. Six main routes run daily between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, making this a breezy way to watch street life go by. Board at the back and pay at the front as you get off, with an Octopus card, a bank card, a mobile payment or exact cash, since no change is given. Every ride costs the same flat fare, however far you go.

   Tip: First trams leave from about 5 AM, and the last ones run between about 7 PM and a little after midnight depending on the route, so check your route before a late ride.

   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Hong Kong Tramways; Hong Kong Tramways (official); Hong Kong Tourism Board (official); Hong Kong Tourism Board (official)
7. 7Hong Kong

   Walk up to Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road

   Man Mo Temple, built between 1847 and 1862 and recognizable by its green tiled roof, is a declared monument and one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong. The complex includes Lit Shing Kung, where all the heavenly gods are worshipped, and Kung Sor, an assembly hall where community disputes were once settled. Inside are a Qing dynasty bronze bell cast in 1847 and a sedan chair built in 1862. Worshippers pray for success and offer incense, joss paper and round fruit such as oranges. The Central to Mid-Levels Escalator, which opened in 1993, links Queen's Road Central with Conduit Road through 16 escalators and 3 travelators, and a footbridge from it reaches Tai Kwun on Hollywood Road.

   Tip: The escalator runs downhill from 6 AM to 10 AM and uphill from 10 AM to midnight, so ride it up after 10 AM and stand on the right to let others pass.

   Open to visitors
   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com); Transport Department, Hong Kong SAR Government; Hong Kong Tourism Board (official)
8. 8Hong Kong

   Explore the old police station at Tai Kwun

   Tai Kwun is the local name for the former Central Police Station, the former Victoria Prison and the Central Magistracy, a group of historic buildings with over 180 years of history. It reopened in 2018 after a decade of conservation, with two contemporary buildings added. First-timers should see the Heritage Exhibitions in the B and D Halls of the former Victoria Prison, and guided tours go deeper into the compound's stories. The site is open from 8 AM to 11 PM, the Heritage Exhibitions from 11 AM to 7 PM, and the compound also has galleries, restaurants and bars.

   Tip: If you are coming up on the Central to Mid-Levels Escalator, use the footbridge gate where Hollywood Road meets Old Bailey Street, and arrive by 10 AM to catch the Main Heritage Gallery when it opens.

   Heritage exhibitions free
   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (official); Tai Kwun
9. 9Hong Kong

   Browse Temple Street Night Market after dark

   Temple Street Night Market in Jordan, Kowloon, is one of the city's most popular street markets, and it comes alive as the sun sets. Stalls sell souvenirs, clothing, accessories, bags and jewelry, and roadside dai pai dongs serve local dishes. Most of the food stalls are near the Temple Street archway, with claypot rice, fish balls and siu mai among the snacks. On many evenings you may hear Cantonese opera and meet fortune tellers. Look out for the archway, the Tin Hau Temple at Yau Ma Tei and the nostalgic Mido Cafe.

   Tip: Go in the evening for the full atmosphere, or later in the night when vendors are closing up if you prefer fewer people on the street.

   Pay as you go
   Sources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com)
10. 10Lantau Island

    Wander the stilt houses of Tai O

    Tai O is a fishing village on Lantau Island, known for waterfront stilt houses called pang uk, built above tidal flats and linked by wooden bridges and boardwalks along its canals. It is home to the Tanka people, traditionally boat people who have lived on Hong Kong's waters for centuries. Dried seafood is a specialty, and local snacks include chargrilled egg puffs, big bowl noodles and shrimp paste. A boat tour takes you around the stilt houses, and the nearby waters are home to rare Chinese white dolphins. Bus 21 connects Tai O to Ngong Ping in about 15 minutes.

    Tip: Give Tai O more than a quick stop, since the coastline around it rewards a full day, and pair it with Ngong Ping by bus 21.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com); Po Lin Monastery; Hong Kong Tourism Board (official)
11. 11Hong Kong

    Hike the Dragon's Back ridge to Big Wave Bay

    Dragon's Back runs along the ridge of Shek O Peak in Shek O Country Park, in the southeast of Hong Kong Island. The route is about 8 km, takes about 4 hours on average and is rated moderate. It starts next to the To Tei Wan bus stop, climbs through forest past the 284 m Shek O Peak and ends near the white sand beach at Big Wave Bay, where there are official barbecue pits. The Dragon's Back Viewing Point offers 360 degree views, weather permitting, toward Stanley, Tai Tam Bay and Lamma Island. It is the eighth and last stage of the 50 km Hong Kong Trail.

    Tip: Choose a cooler month: the Hong Kong Observatory calls November and December pleasant, while May to August is hot and humid with showers.

    Free to hike
    Search tours on KlookSources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com); Hong Kong Observatory; Hong Kong Tourism Board (official)
12. 12Hong Kong

    Stroll Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

    Chi Lin Nunnery in Diamond Hill was established in 1934 as a retreat for Buddhist nuns and redeveloped in the 1990s in the style of the Tang dynasty, using interlocking cypress wood. A footbridge leads to Nan Lian Garden, designed on the same Tang principles, where a circular path follows a lake past the Pavilion Bridge, the Pine Teahouse and the golden Pavilion of Absolute Perfection. The garden also holds a Chinese Timber Architecture Gallery, the Ripples Pavilion, a watermill and a rockery. A vegetarian dim sum restaurant sits discreetly behind a waterfall.

    Tip: Keep quiet inside the nunnery and refrain from taking photographs there; save your camera for the garden.

    Open to visitors
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com); Chi Lin Nunnery
13. 13Hong Kong

    Have your fortune read at Wong Tai Sin Temple

    Wong Tai Sin Temple is a bustling hub of worship. The deity it honors is considered a minor god, yet is reputed to grant any wish. The story began when a pharmacy owner, Leung Yan-am, moved from Guangdong in the early 20th century and set up a small shrine in his shop. A dream then led him to build a temple at Chuk Yuen Village, at the base of Lion Rock. The complex blends Taoist, Buddhist and Confucian elements and has zodiac statues. Stalls inside interpret kau cim, fortune sticks shaken from a bamboo cylinder, and there are face and palm readers.

    Tip: Skip Lunar New Year's Eve unless you want the crowds, because thousands of worshippers queue overnight to be first in.

    Open to visitors
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com)
14. 14Lantau Island

    Visit Po Lin Monastery and eat vegetarian

    Po Lin Monastery sits at about 400 m on the Ngong Ping Plateau and was established in 1906. Highlights include the Main Shrine Hall of Buddha, the Hall of Arhats, the Mountain Gate and the Po Lin (Lotus) Pond. The Vegetarian Kitchen, to the left of the Main Shrine Hall, serves food by the number of people at each table, usually a soup, a deep-fried dish and a vegetable dish with rice, and the menu changes with the season. A snack shop next door sells steamed cakes, noodles and dim sums, and its home-made bean curd dessert is the best known. The monastery is open 9 AM to 6 PM.

    Tip: The kitchen serves from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM, so a late lunch after the Big Buddha steps works well, as long as you sit down before 4:30 PM.

    Open 9 AM to 6 PM
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Po Lin Monastery; Po Lin Monastery; Po Lin Monastery
15. 15Hong Kong

    Spend an evening at M+ in West Kowloon

    M+ is billed as Asia's first global museum of visual culture, in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Some spaces are free: the Mediatheque, the Grand Stair, B1, B2, Found Space and the Roof Garden. The museum is open Tuesday to Thursday and on weekends from 10 AM to 6 PM, Fridays from 10 AM to 10 PM, and is closed on Mondays; last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is nearby at 8 Museum Drive and is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays. The WestK Ferry links Central Pier 9 and WestK Quay in about eight minutes.

    Tip: Friday is the best day for a late visit, since M+ stays open until 10 PM, and the free spaces make a good short stop if you are short on time.

    Ticket needed; some spaces free
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: M+ (West Kowloon Cultural District Authority); Hong Kong Palace Museum
16. 16Hong Kong

    Hike across Lamma Island between two villages

    Lamma Island is reached by ferry from Central Pier 4, and trips to the outlying islands take about 25 to 40 minutes. The classic walk starts at Sok Kwu Wan Ferry Pier, passes the Tin Hau Temple there, which has a history of over 170 years, climbs to a hilltop pavilion on the Lamma Island Family Walk, then drops to Hung Shing Yeh Beach and on to Yung Shue Wan. Allow about 2.5 hours. At Yung Shue Wan, the Tin Hau Temple is about 100 years old and guarded by a pair of stone lions. Longer routes take up to 4 hours.

    Tip: Ferries to Yung Shue Wan run through the day, but Sok Kwu Wan has far fewer sailings, so walk toward Yung Shue Wan and check the timetable for your trip home.

    Free to visit
    Sources: Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Limited; Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Limited; Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Limited; Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry (official); Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com)
17. 17Hong Kong

    Discover the history of Kowloon Walled City Park

    Kowloon Walled City Park sits on the site of a walled garrison city built between November 1846 and May 1847, with stone walls, six watchtowers and four gates. From 1899 the site declined into a semi-lawless enclave, and in 1987 it was decided to clear it, with demolition finished in April 1994. The park, designed in the Jiangnan garden style of the early Qing dynasty, covers 31,000 square meters in eight scenic zones and opened on 22 December 1995. Its centerpiece is the restored Yamen, once the garrison's offices, and relics saved from the site include granite plaques from the South Gate.

    Tip: The park is open daily from 6:30 AM to 11 PM, so an early morning or evening visit avoids the midday heat.

    Free to visit
    Search tours on KlookSources: Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government (official); Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government (official); Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government
18. 18Lantau Island

    Spend a day at Hong Kong Disneyland

    Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island has eight themed lands and three themed hotels, with a castle set against a mountain backdrop. One of the lands is World of Frozen, and visitors can meet Mickey, try a range of rides and see a fireworks show at night. Every guest needs a valid park reservation, and opening hours and show times change by date, so check the official Park Calendar for your day. All taxis can travel to and from the park, whichever color they are,.

    Tip: Reserve your park visit before you go and check the calendar for that day's hours and shows.

    Park reservation needed
    Sources: Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited; Hong Kong Tourism Board (official); Hong Kong Tourism Board (official); Hong Kong Tourism Board (official)

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