There’s no place like Hong Kong: a city of contrasts, where neon-lit skyscrapers and stylish rooftop bars tower over traditional storefronts and local food markets. It’s both picturesque and sometimes a little dirty, making it uniquely charming! We had no idea there was so much amazing nature here, with plenty of viewpoint hikes, luscious islands, and tranquil mountain temples. Follow our Hong Kong itinerary to see the perfect mix of everything; we’ve also included our favorite restaurants, hotels, and budget tips!
As it’s such a big place to discover, we found a 5-day Hong Kong itinerary a great length to fit all the top things to do. However, if you’re staying for less time, simply adjust the itinerary to fit your schedule.
Note: Hong Kong is often a layover city between Europe, Australia, and major Asian destinations with Cathay Pacific Airlines, so it’s easy to add a few days between flights to discover Hong Kong.
Day 1: Central & Sheung Wan
Discover the heart of the metropolis on day 1 of your Hong Kong itinerary. Today, you’ll explore the key parts of Hong Kong’s main island, which mixes culture, shopping, and nightlife. You’ll also try your first dim sum!
Early Morning Light at Man Mo Temple
Wake up early and head for Man Mo Temple, a small but magical temple close to Sheung Wan MTR (10 minutes walk). Plan your route here.
Although the temple is open from 8 AM, we recommend arriving around 9:30 AM, when the incense coils have just been lit and are at their biggest. You’ll see people praying among the magical incense smoke as the sun streams through the ceiling. Entrance is free!
Note: Make sure to bring clothes you don’t mind smelling of incense, as the smoke will get into the fibres.
Dried Seafood in Traditional Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan is one of the oldest and most interesting areas in Hong Kong, most famous for ‘Des Voeux Road West’, a timeworn street lined with dried seafood stores. You’ll see locals shopping for weird and wonderful fish hanging from the shop ceilings, purchasing colorful cans, and browsing jars of ingredients for Chinese medicine.
Cafe Recommendation: Although it used to be one of the most traditional places in Hong Kong, you’ll also find lots of trendy cafes here. We recommend ‘Two-and-a-half Street’ for a delicious iced coffee!
Tip: While in this area, you’ll also notice Hong Kong’s famous old trams; jump on board for an unusual way to see the city! Plan your journey here.
Lunch: Dim Sum Square or New Hing Fat Dim Sum
It’s time for your first dim sum lunch! Dim sum is a variety of small dishes, usually steamed, fried, or baked dumplings with different fillings. Choose what you want from the menu and wait for the server to come round with the trolley piled high with bamboo steamers.
We recommend choosing one of the ‘four heavenly kings’ of dim sum, which are Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Siu Mai (pork, shrimp, and mushroom dumplings), Char Siu Bao (barbecued pork buns), and Dan Taat (sweet egg tarts)
Love food or want to learn more about dim sum? If you have time on your Hong Kong itinerary, join this popular street food tour! It’s a great way to learn about local dishes.
Afternoon: Shopping in Soho and Central
Now you’re full and happy from your lunch, head to Central, one of Hong Kong’s busiest areas. It’s also the best place to shop, home to luxury malls like the IFC, fine-dining restaurants, and high-end gift stores.
If you want to find more creative treasures, browse the SoHo area on the western side of Central. This is where you’ll find all the best art galleries, homeware shops (we were in heaven!), and one-of-a-kind clothing boutiques.
Customise your itinerary on this private walking tour of Hong Kong. Book your spot here.
Evening: Go Out in Lan Kwai Fong (LKF)
For the Hong Kong nightlife experience, head to Lan Kwai Fong (LKF). Here you’ll find over 100 international bars spilling down the hillside, with live music, cocktails, and club nights. Most bars offer deals at happy hour, so it’s worth timing your visit between 4 PM and 10 PM. See the complete event calendar here
If you want a more luxurious experience, you’ll also find the famous rooftop bar Sugar in Central (book your table in advance). The drinks are much more expensive, but you pay for the incredible views!
Tip: To reach LKF, take the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator!
Day 2: Green Hong Kong & Street Art
Rise bright and early on day 2 of your Hong Kong itinerary (5 days). Today, you’ll see a different side to Hong Kong: green parks, epic viewpoints, and colorful street art.
Join this private walking tour of Hong Kong (fully customizable!)
At the top, you can pay for the 360-degree viewing platform, Sky Terrace 428. The price is HKD 52/7 USD. However, if you’re traveling on a budget, don’t worry; there are plenty of other great spots on the peak to get some beautiful snaps of Hong Kong. For example, we loved Lugard Rd for unbeatable, free views. Here is the exact location.
Tip: Check the live cameras before you visit. On our visit, we didn’t check and had to turn back because it was so cloudy. Luckily, we had better weather another day!
Getting to Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a real highlight of your Hong Kong itinerary. You can get there in a few ways, but the most popular is the famous Peak Tram. The route is so steep that it’s said you’ll experience an optical illusion (the skyscrapers look as if they’re falling on their side!).
Tickets: Return ticket HKD 108/14 USD. It’s a 7-minute journey and we recommend sitting on the right side of the tram for the best views. There are often queues, so book tickets in advance!
Alternatively, you can buy a combined ticket for both the tram and the Sky Terrace. Book your ticket here
Tip: Looking for a cheaper alternative? You can also take bus 15 from the Central Bus Terminus (HKD 9.80/1.50 USD). Pay with your Octopus Card by simply scanning the card as you board the bus. For the more adventurous, consider hiking the hour-long uphill trail to the top of the peak.
Lunch: HK Botanical Gardens or Hong Kong Park
Grab snacks from 7/11 or bring a picnic for your relaxed outdoor lunch in Hong Kong’s beautiful parks. We particularly loved HK Botanical Gardens, which is conveniently located near Victoria Peak and has excellent views. Hong Kong Park is also lovely; it’s located in the central district and a great place to see locals practicing sports in this green oasis among the skyscrapers.
Afternoon: Street Art + Photo Spots
Hong Kong has a vibrant street art scene community, and you can find many incredible murals; save them on your Google Maps or join a private walking tour to learn more. Along the way, you’ll find some unique photo spots showcasing the best of local life. Here’s some of our favorites:
- Choi Hung Estate: Colorfully painted buildings surround a vibrant basketball court in the middle of a massive apartment complex. People live here, so make sure to respect the locals. Here is the location (it’s at the top of the car park, so you must climb the side stairs first).
- ARTLANE: Head to Sai Ying Pun, where you’ll find lots of colorful murals painted by local artists.
- Monster Building: Five mammoth buildings fuse to create this mind-blowing Monster Building in Hong Kong! The best view is from one of the internal courtyards. Just go through the small tunnel, and you’ll reach it. (Here is the location)
Discover the dark side of Hong Kong (and its capitalist system) on this fascinating tour. See tickets and availability here.
Dinner: Yat Lok Restaurant or Tim Ho Wan
For dinner, head to Yat Lok Restaurant (Central), a Michelin-star establishment that’s famous for its roast goose. Tim Ho Wan (the cheapest Michelin-star restaurant in the world!) is another excellent option in the area, serving some of the best dim sum in the city.
Day 3: Kowloon
Kowloon is part of Hong Kong’s mainland, but the peninsula is just across the water from most of the central things to do. This means you can get there using the Star Ferry, which is a great way to travel! (Check the schedule)
Morning: Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden
After taking the ferry to Kowloon, head for the fantastic free gardens of Nan Lian. You’ll see plenty of locals enjoying the pretty scenery, walking, and exercising. Within these gardens, you’ll also find a beautiful Buddhist temple called Chi Linn Nunnery, with a charming landscaped garden and a traditional Chinese tea house.
Take the MTR to: Yaumatei Tin Hau Temple
Explore another beautiful temple on day 3 of your Hong Kong itinerary! Yaumatei Tin Hau Temple is quite similar to Man Mo Temple, but we preferred it because it’s much quieter. It also has incense coils, carvings, and lanterns, and you can offer some incense yourself if you’d like more of an interactive experience.
Did you know? Tin Hau is the goddess who protects sailors, fishermen, and mariners. You’ll usually find these temples in coastal areas or near the water.
Walk to: Bustling Markets
Spend a part of the morning exploring some of Kowloon’s most exciting markets! Here are some of our favorites to visit on your trip:
- Flower Market: Flower shops spill down this colorful and fragrant street — it’s beautiful! During the holiday season (when we visited), the market gets even busier when locals buy flowers as temple offerings. The market was smaller than we thought, but we still found it a great demonstration of local life.
- Ladies’ Market: This is the most famous market in Hong Kong, located in Mong Kok, our favorite neighborhood in the city. It’s a big, crowded market selling loads of treasures; it’s the perfect place to buy souvenirs. At the North end of the market, after the bus terminal, there’s a metro overpass with a fantastic view of the hundreds of vendors.
- (Optional) Yaumatei Fruit Market: This market is nothing special, but it’s a fun stop on your market hop if you have extra time. Try the strawberries!
Lunch: Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan Fried Buns (Kowloon)
Stop for lunch for pan-fried buns, delicious springy buns made with various fillings. If you don’t get a chance to get buns on this day, there are other branches in other parts of Hong Kong. Here is the Kowloon location.
Afternoon: High Tea or Cocktails at The Peninsula
The Peninsula Hotel is iconic to Hong Kong, hosting some of the world’s richest and famous for 100 years. For a bit of luxury on your Hong Kong itinerary, book English afternoon tea at the hotel, while marveling at the colonial-inspired decor and the fleet of green Rolls-Royces parked out front. There’s even a helipad on the hotel roof to transport guests to the airport!
Note: The prices for afternoon tea are high, but it’s worth it for a unique experience on your itinerary. (Book your table in advance here)
Sunset: Avenue of Stars
As the sun goes down, head to one of the most entertaining spots in Kowloon, the Avenue of Stars – Hong Kong’s version of the ‘Walk of Fame’. Stars are set into the promenade to honour the city’s most famous actors.
Note: Located in Tsim Sha Tsui, and looking right over the harbor, the Avenue of Stars is one of the best places to watch the sunset over Hong Kong!
Watch Symphony of Lights (8 PM)
One of the best free things to do on your 5-day Hong Kong itinerary is to see the Symphony of Lights, an incredible multimedia show that takes place every night on the water by the Avenue of Stars. Music (recorded by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra) echoes across the city as neon lights and dancing lasers illuminate the harbor and skyscrapers.
What time? The show takes place at 8 PM every night. It usually lasts just under 15 minutes, and it’s free!
Although the best place to watch the show is the Avenue of Stars, another great option is to watch it from the water. We recommend booking this boat tour across Victoria Harbor (includes unlimited drinks).
Dinner: Temple Street Night Market
Just a 30-minute walk from the Avenue of Stars, discover the hustle and bustle of Temple Street Night Market. We have to admit we were a little disappointed with this market compared to the others we visited. However, it does have a great food area with loads of options, so it’s a great option for dinner if you want to try some local delicacies.
Day 4: Shopping and Viewpoints
On your penultimate day of your days in Hong Kong, keep things relaxed with a morning of shopping before an afternoon on the peak of Braemer Hill.
Morning: Shopping at Causeway Bay
Welcome to Causeway Bay: a shopper’s paradise and the epicentre of the Hong Kong fashion scene! You’ll find mammoth shopping malls here, with all the biggest brands, so it’s the perfect place to get your retail therapy fix. I also loved the small streets and cute shops woven in between, where you can find some unique treasures.
Afternoon: Hike to Braemar Hill for Sunset
After your morning in the city, escape to another famous peak among the clouds! Braemer Hill is one of the easiest and most beautiful hikes in Hong Kong, and it only takes 30 minutes. We recommend timing your hike for the early evening, so you can catch sunset at the top and see all the neon lights of the city after dark.
Getting there: From Causeway Bay, it’s really easy to get to Braemer Hill: you just need to take bus 25 or the MTR (check schedules here). Once you get off the bus, a small path with stairs next to the big building will take you straight to the top. The main route up to Braemer Hill/Red Incense Burner Summit is the most visible.
Our Dinner Recommendations
Head back to the city for a delicious dinner at Sing Kee, Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan Fried Buns (the Wan Chai branch is closest), or New Hing Fat Dim Sum. We loved all of these spots!
Day 5: Lantau Island
Lantau Island is the largest of the islands in Hong Kong and is known for its beautiful green mountainous terrain. Today you’ll visit the island to see the famous Big Buddha!
Did you know? Hong Kong Airport is situated on Lantau Island, so you may have already visited it without realizing it! (Book your flight to Hong Kong)
Morning: Cable Car and Big Buddha
Which MTR you take will depend on where you’re leaving from. However, from the most popular spots in the city (including Hong Kong Central), you’ll want to take the Tung Chung line to Tung Chung. Check MTR schedules here.
From here, walk for a few minutes to the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, which will take you to Tian Tan Buddha.
This isn’t just any ordinary cable car; it’s glass-bottomed, so you can have a bird’s eye view of the remarkable landscapes below you as you travel to the top.
Visit Tian Tan Buddha
Lantau is most famous for being the home of the Big Buddha, Tian Tan sitting at the top of 268 steps.
After, if you have time, you can do a few short hikes in the area, with the Ngong Ping 360 Rescue Trail being the most popular. This one leads you from Tung Chung to the Big Buddha, and it’s a challenging uphill climb. For that reason, if you want to do it, we recommend taking the cable car up and doing the hike downhill (2-3 hours).
Our Top Tip: The Big Buddha is high up, so it can get really cold. Because of this, we always recommend bringing a jacket. The clouds can also roll in quickly up here, so check the weather before you leave your hotel to see if the trip is worth it.
Sunset/Evening: Rooftop Drinks on Your Final Night
The Hong Kong landscape is an endless sea of dazzling skyscrapers. Many are home to luxury hotels, which have rooftop bars/restaurants you can enjoy. Enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the cool clouds above the city for your last night. Up here, you’ll experience some of Hong Kong’s best city views — perfect at sunset as a goodbye to this magical city.
Tip: Most rooftop bars will have a minimum spend and a dress code, so read the small print before you book. Cocktails usually cost upwards of 20 EUR; it is worth it for the views, but definitely not cheap! Here are some of our favorites:
- Ozone: Hosted in the Ritz-Carlton, this is the highest bar in Hong Kong! Reserve your table here.
- Aqua: Stunning skyline views with an Italian and Japanese menu. Book here
- Sugar: This rooftop has some of the best water and mountain views in the city. Book your table in advance.
- SKYE: French brasserie located at Park Lane, Hong Kong. Reserve your spot in advance.
Optional: Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
Got a bit more time on your Hong Kong trip? Ten Thousand Buddhas is a beautiful monastery on the outskirts of the city. If you’d really like to visit (or you’re an early riser with more time), you can swap it out with other activities on your 5-day Hong Kong itinerary.
The monastery is home to thousands of gold Buddha statues that border both sides of the road as you meander up the hillside. There’s far more than 10,000 now! We loved looking at each of their faces; each one has a different expression, and some are really funny.
Getting there: Exit the subway at Sha Ti Station and walk to this alleyway. At the end of this little street is a small path on the left, where signs begin pointing to the temple.
Central
Stay in Central if you want to be close to the best things to do in Hong Kong. This area also has many luxury hotels if you’re looking for something special on your trip.
Tsim Sha Tsui
On the other side of the water, discover hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui, which are usually a great option for something more authentic.
Mong Kok
Staying in Mong Kok is our top choice, as you’re still located close to Tsim Sha Tsui (with excellent connections to central), but there are fewer tourists, making it feel more like the ‘true’ Hong Kong.
Tip: If you’re traveling on a budget, consider booking an apartment with a kitchen so you can cook or prepare picnics for your sightseeing days.
How Many Days in Hong Kong?
A Hong Kong itinerary of 5 days is the sweet spot to see everything! However, you can easily tailor this itinerary to suit your timeframe. You might want to extend it slightly if you’d like extra days to explore the nearby islands.
How to Visit Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a major airport hub, so flights arrive from all over the world. We flew with Cathay Pacific from the Netherlands. Since they’re Hong Kong’s home airline, we felt like our trip had started the moment we stepped on board.
You can also visit overland/by boat from mainland China (crossing the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge!).
Most countries will not need a visa to visit Hong Kong for a vacation. Check the list of eligible countries here.
To stay connected and navigate the city, we recommend buying your eSIM online or at the airport before exiting the departure hall. We noticed that, contrary to other destinations, prices are actually lower if you buy your card at the airport. We paid 10€ for 80Gb (30days).
From the Airport
It’s really easy to get into the city from the airport; the express train to the center takes just 30 minutes and costs 65-110 HKD (8.50-14 USD), depending on the station. We chose the slightly cheaper option of the bus from the airport to the city center, and it was super quick and easy. The ticket costs 4€.
Tickets: We recommend buying an Octopus Card for your Hong Kong itinerary. It’s a rechargeable card that works on the subway, bus, and airport train. You can buy one at the 7-Eleven in the arrivals hall at the airport (the complete list of stores selling the card is here).
Getting Around Hong Kong
The best way to get around during your time in Hong Kong is by subway; it’s really easy to use! We used Google Maps all the time to find out the line, train times, and which exit to use at the stations.
Tip: You can walk to some activities on the itinerary, especially in Central.
Alternatively, join a walking tour to learn more about the city as you travel!
How Much Does it Cost?
There’s no denying that Hong Kong is definitely one of the most expensive cities we’ve traveled in. Especially if you’re fresh off the flight from cheaper Asian cities like Bangkok, it can feel a bit of a shock. That said, there are so many amazing free things to do in Hong Kong that you can make it budget-friendly.
Our Favorite Restaurants
Hong Kong is a very international city, home to a melting pot of nationalities, cultures, and religions, which has a great influence on the food! We enjoyed a British afternoon tea, Korean hot pot, and Indian street food all in one day.
Tip: The traditional Hong Kong bites you should try are waffles (we never found a bad one!), wantons, dumplings, egg tart, and the famous milk tea.
Here are some of our favorite restaurants:
Best Time to Visit Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate, which means warm weather year-round! However, during the summer, humidity is at its peak, making it more challenging to enjoy exploring. Therefore, we recommend the winter months, when the skies are clear (great for exploring viewpoints and temples) and temperatures drop.
Tip: Traveling in late January/early February? You might be lucky enough to celebrate Chinese New Year with the locals, when Hong Kong comes alive with parades and fireworks.
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