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Dim sum-one say it’s time to visit Hong Kong? It’s high time you did, it’s a country that is unlike anywhere else in the world. It’s where grassy peaks jut through dystopian-looking skyscrapers, where double-decker trams can be heard rattling between streets wrapped in neon signs, with the smells of sizzling duck and star anise drift out from the alleyways.
It’s a city whose history spans older than empires, and yet it has modernity and sophistication that are ahead of the times. Hong Kong is a city where you can find beaches, mountains, tai chi in parks in the morning, silky milk bubble tea in the afternoon, and rooftop cocktails by nightfall.
If you’re wondering what things to do in Hong Kong, then you’re in luck, as we’ve shared our most unmissable attractions and activities for any visitor, whether it’s your first time or your fifth, don’t leave until you’ve crossed these off…
Cruise on a junk boat in Victoria Harbour
Junk Boat in the Harbor
Arguably one of the most unique features of Hong Kong is its skyline. There are few countries in the world where towering mountains jut behind skyscrapers.
One of the best ways to experience the skyline is from a 360 degree viewpoint, i.e. from the centre of Victoria Habour. Don’t just pick any boat, choose to sail in historical fashion on a junk boat.
Now I know what you’re thinking – junk doesn’t exactly spell luxury, but in Hong Kong, a junk boat is a type of Chinese sailing ship that is characterized by its crimson sails and a central rudder.
The Dukling boat, which was built in 1955, is the Built in 1955, oldest Chinese junk left in Hong Kong and was once used as a fishing boat that was also the firshermen’s home.
Side note: junk boats in Hong Kong can also mean another thing. It’s quite common for large groups to rent yachts to have boat parties on, which are called junk parties. Typically, you will find expats and large families holding junk parties which are BYOB and DJ. If you ever get asked “do you want to go on a junk?” it is usually referring to the party boat rather than the historical one.
Watch the Symphony of Lights from Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Hong Kong city at night
One of the most popular and free things to do in Hong Kong is watch The Symphony of Lights, a light and music show that takes place every day at 8pm.
The light show lasts for about 10-15 minutes and is best viewed from the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, overlooking the buildings on Hong Kong Island. As the music starts, the skyline is lit up with neon lights and lasers that dance to the sound of the music.
After watching the show, make sure to wander along to Avenue of Stars to see statues of Hong Kong’s most famous people, including Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Take in the views from Victoria Peak
View from Victoria Peak at dusk
Victoria Peak is located on Hong Kong Island and is the best place to go for views, especially at sunset. The views are the main reason to visit Victoria Peak, as aside from that, you’ll find a shopping mall with Madame Tussauds and a couple other gimmicky museums.
One thing that is certainly not a gimmick though, is the Peak Tram. This is the best way to get up and down from The Peak.
It’s a funicular railway that was built in 1888 and connects Central to Victoria Peak. It was the first funicular in Asia and covers a distance of 1.4km. Known locally as Tai Ping Shan, or simply “The Peak,” this viewpoint welcomes millions of visitors per year so expect it to be crowded any day you visit.
Eat some Dim Sum
Hong Kong is a foodie’s haven. You can find delicious food from any cuisine in Hong Kong, and it’s reasonably affordable too. For the locals, they love dim sum. A form of dining where small dishes are shared around a table. You can have anything from steamed buns to sui mai (a meaty dumpling) and soup dumplings.
Each dish is pretty cheap, so be careful not to order too much as it can rack up the bill. A great place to try dim sum as a tourist is Man Mo Dim Sum in Central. The staff here speak English and can help you order.
There are dim sum restaurants all over the city, but they are generally quite local and most of the time the menu isn’t in English.
Tour Idea: Organic Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumpling) Class+ Market walk: Join a private cooking class and market visit that teaches you the ancient art of making Xiao Long Bao—steamed dumpling typically filled with pork. See how to book a class here.
Ride the Ding Ding (Hong Kong Tram)
Colorful Ding Dings!
The Ding Ding is what the locals call its iconic tram that rides from one side of Hong Kong Island to the other (named after the dinging sound it makes). The tram is the cheapest, and slowest, form of transport in Hong Kong.
We don’t recommend it if you’re in a hurry trying to get from A to B, but if you have time to kill and your legs are tired from exploring, it’s a fun way to take in the views of Hong Kong from ground level.
The ding ding passes through Hong Kong’s most impressive skyscrapers and modern buildings. It’s been operating since 1901, when Hong Kong was much smaller in size (and shorter). It’s a little piece of history and tradition that rides through the modern and emerging.
The ding ding operates all across Hong Kong Island and starts from 6am and runs until midnight. Get a seat on the upper deck for better views.
Take the cable car to the Big Buddha
Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha
If you need a classic example of how Hong Kong has seamlessly paired modernity with ancient history, this is it. From Tung Chung on Lantau Island, you can ride the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to the Tian Tan Buddha, more famously known as The Big Buddha.
The cable car stops in a touristy village called Ngong Ping, which isn’t anything interesting. They’ve built a few souvenir shops, a VR experience, and a Starbucks, but it provides easy access to the Buddha, which is considered Hong Kong’s most iconic landmark.
Sitting pretty at the top of 236 steps, the site where this 32-meter bronze statue of the Buddha rests offers one of the best views of Hong Kong. You can see across Lantau Island and towards the South China Sea.
Be sure to check out the nearby Po Lin Monastery and its hall of 10,000 golden buddha statues.
It’s free to visit The Big Buddha statue and monastery, but you do need to pay for the cable car. If you’re not scared of heights, consider getting the crystal car, which has a glass floor, allowing you to see the ocean and jungle below.
Check out Tai O Fishing Village
Tai o Fishing Village
Tai O is a unique fishing village on the South West side of Lantau Island. It’s most famous for its wooden houses built on stilts, as well as being a place to get boat tours out to see the indigenous pink dolphin. Though they are allusive, so sightings are not guaranteed (I’ve actually never seen one, despite doing this tour a few times).
The streets of Tai O are lined with shops, restaurants and market stalls selling dried seafood and handicrafts. A popular souvenir to take back from Tai O is shrimp paste, or fish maw soap (it’s apparently very good for your skin).
Top Tip: You can get a bus to Tai O from Ngong Ping, so we recommend visiting here after seeing the Big Buddha.
Full Day Lantau Island Small Group Tour in Hong Kong: Visit some of Lantau Island’s most well-known and intriguing spots: Cable car to Big Buddha, village of Tai O, lunch at a UNESCO site, and a boat ride by stilt houses built right on the water. Click here to learn more and reserve your tour.
Go on a hike!
Mini Great Wall Trail, Cheung Chau
Hong Kong is probably not the first place you think of as a hiking destination, but it actually has hundreds of hiking trails.
The most famous hike in Hong Kong is the Lion Rock hike, which offers views over Kowloon, Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island. It’s a moderate hike with some difficult parts, but is by no means the hardest hike in Hong Kong. You can start this hike form Diamond Hill Station, making it one of the most accessible trails.
Another popular hike is the Dragon’s Back trail, which is more family-friendly. This is located on Hong Kong Island and is considered the easiest hike. Its gradual incline and ending spot at Big Wave Bay means it’s a great hike to do with kids.
If you want a challenging hike, consider hiking Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong’s highest peak, or hike to Sharp Peak in Sai Kung.
You can find lots of information about hikes in Hong Kong, including starting points and time frames by browsing through AllTrails. We also have a complete guide on the best hiking trails in Hong Kong.
If you’re not comfortable hiking on your own, you might like to join one of the following hiking tours.
Visit the Wong Tai Sin Temple
Wong Tai Sin Temple
The Wong Tai Sin Temple is a working Buddhist temple and shrine. It is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong, God of Immortality. The locals believe that “What you request is what you get” when praying at the Wong Tai Sin temple, and you’ll likely always see locals praying with incense.
The temple also has a stunning classical Chinese garden with koi fish ponds and bridges. Be sure to check this out when you visit.
Remember that this is not just a tourist attraction but a place of worship for the locals, so dress respectfully, don’t photograph people praying and make sure your kids don’t run around causing a ruckus.
See the Nan Lian Garden and the Chi Lin Nunnery
Chi Lin Nunnery Garden
Just down the road from the Wong Tai Sin Temple is the Chi Lin Nunnery, a large Buddhist temple and garden in Diamond Hill. It was built in 1934 as a retreat for Buddhist nuns, and then rebuilt in 1998 to resemble traditional Tang Dynasty architecture.
Today it’s a popular place to visit and see traditional Chinese manicured gardens. The garden is surrounded by bonsai, ponds and a waterfall. In the center of the pond is a golden shrine.
As you walk around the garden, you feel disconnected from the hustle and bustle of the city, and yet can still see the towering mountains to the North, and skyscrapers to the south.
Walk past 10,000 Buddha Statues
So many different kinds of Buddhas
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a monastery located at the top of a hill, but to get there you must pass by 10,000 golden Buddha statues. See laughing Buddhas, smiling Buddhas, angry Buddhas and more.
The monastery is a bit misleading, as it’s not really a monastery as no monks live here, but it is a Buddhist shrine and complex with incredible views of Sha Tin.
The main attraction of this monastery though is definitely the walkway lined with Buddhas. And also, the restaurant which has delicious vegetarian food. Try the tofu dessert with ginger – yum!
Take the kids to Ocean Park
The beach side roller coaster in Ocean Park Hong Kong.
If you ask any child in Hong Kong what is their favorite theme park, I would bet $10 Hong Kong Dollars they will say Ocean Park over Hong Kong Disneyland.
Ocean Park is part theme park and part aquarium and zoo. At the bottom of the park, you’ll find the zoo animals. Here is where you will see the rare Giant Panda, the park’s most famous guests, as well as an aquarium housing a whale shark.
Take the train or cable car to the top of the mountain and you’ll be met with roller coasters and theme park rides. There’s also a stadium where there used to be a dolphin and sealion show, but it’s now called “Dolphin Explorations” and is where you can observe and learn about dolphins up close.
Kids will love it if you take them here, and you also get free entry on your birthday.
Spend a day on the beach in Sai Kung
Long Ke Beach
What many people don’t know about Hong Kong is that it has some absolutely stunning beaches. The most beautiful (in my opinion) are located in the Sai Kung Country Park.
It’s a bit of a distance out of the city center and requires hiking to get to them, but it will 100% be worth the effort when you see the unspoiled nature of Tai Long Wan or Long Ke Wan Beach.
If you don’t have long to spend, you can visit one of the beaches on Hong Kong Island, which are also really nice beaches, they are just a little busier because of their proximity. Most people head to Repulse Bay, Big Wave Bay or Shek O Beach for a quick day out at the beach.
Visit one of the outlying islands
Cheung Chau
Hong Kong is actually an archipelago of islands. Most people think of Hong Kong as just Hong Kong Island, but it’s actually made up of several islands connected by bridges and ferries.
If you have more time in Hong Kong, I highly recommend you catch a ferry over to some of the outlying islands to do a bit of hiking and exploring the rural villages.
Lamma Island is a popular island to visit for hiking and beaches. The town has become a bit of an expat haven, so if you want somewhere more authentic, then Cheung Chau is another great shout.
Cheung Chau also has beaches, but because of its location on the South China Sea, it’s not always clean. However, what I love about Cheung Chau is its only a couple of streets filled with houses that locals still live in and no cars.
This island is a popular place to visit during the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. It’s by far one of the most unique events in Hong Kong (aside from the Dragon Boat Festival), where you can see people climbing up towers of steamed buns.
The festival is held on the 8th day of the 4th Full Moon and celebrates the Buddha’s birthday.
Shop for souvenirs in Ladies Market, Mong Kok
People at flea market in Mong Kok
Ladies Market is what I would call authentically touristy. It’s where two sides of Hong Kong collide – the chaotic, loud and honking side with locals screaming conversations at each other, and the touristy side with a market full of random souvenirs and bric-a-brac you never knew you needed.
Want to know where you can buy a kareoke machine to take home with you? Ladies Market. Need a new handheld portable fan? Ladies Market. How about a massaging neck pillow? Ladies Market. Or a bumper plate fridge magnet of Hong Kong? Yep, you can find it there too.
You won’t see anything else like it. Located in the bustling Kowloon district, in the bustling neighborhood of Mong Kok, this market sells everything from souvenirs to knock-off designer handbags to phone cases. It’s also a great place to find some street food, if you walk around the corner.
You can also do other shopping. If you need new sneakers there’s the aptly named “sneaker street” nearby, and there’s also a Computer Center which has all your technology needs.
The area around Ladies Market is truly local, and is how the locals live. Make sure to look up as you walk through the market to see the small apartments with washing lines strung across them between flashing neon lights. It’s truly a spectacle.
You may like the following shopping and food tours
Get your fortune told at Temple Street Night Market
Temple Street night market in Hong Kong.
If you’re keen to try some street food in Hong Kong, then Temple Street Night Market has some excellent local restaurants where you can try street food delicacies such as fish balls, skewered meats, and dumplings, and sit on a little wooden seat on the street to eat it.
Temple Street Market is similar to Ladies Market in that it has market stalls selling bric-a-brac and souvenirs, but it’s smaller and has another unique feature – you will find stall after stall of fortune tellers.
You can get your face or hands read, have your tarot cards read, or simply get told your fortune based on your date of birth. The fortune tellers usually occupy the street near the Tin Hau Temple at the top of Temple Street Market. If you’re unsure where to go, listen for the sounds of old people singing karaoke.
Experience the nightlife of Lang Kwai Fong (LKF)
Hong Kong is also a wonderful destination for nightlife. You can find a vibe to suit any style, from swanky rooftop cocktail bars to speakesies to dive bars.
The district to find it all in is Lan Kwai Fong, in the Central region of Hong Kong Island. Affectionately known as LKF to the locals, this area comes alive after dark as it’s packed with bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and live music venues.
Everyone mingles together to revel in the energetic atmosphere and party until dawn – quite literally, time seems to run away with you here. One minute it’s 10pm and the next the run is rising. Only in LKF.
Ride the star ferry
The Star Ferry is one of the cheapest forms of transport aside from the Ding Ding. It’s a historic ferry that connects Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.
Operating since 1888, the ferry connects Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui and allows you to sail across Victoria Harbour.
For just a few Hong Kong dollars, you can enjoy panoramic views of the skyline, without breaking the bank. If you don’t want to fork out for the aforementioned junk boat, this is the best alternative.
Admire the Man Mo Temple
One of my favorite places in Hong Kong is the Man Mo Temple, which is located in the Sheung Wan district of Hong Kong Island.
Set under skyscrapers, this peaceful temple on Hollywood Road is one of the oldest and most historically significant temples in Hong Kong, dedicated to Man Cheong, the God of Literature, and Mo Tai, the God of War.
Bother deities are traditionally worshipped by scholars and students seeking success in examinations.
The temple was built in the mid-19th century (around 1847) during the Qing Dynasty by wealthy Chinese merchants and is known for its ornate carvings, ceramic figurines, and hanging coils of incense that fill the air with a mystical aroma. It’s one of my favorite places for photography, as you can truly capture the spiritual essence of the place and forget about the chaos on the bustling streets outside.
If you find the crowds getting a bit much, don’t miss this off your Hong Kong itinerary.
Relax in Victoria Park
Speaking of relaxation and escaping the crowds. If you want to get away from the throngs of people for a minute, head to Victoria Park, the largest urban park in Hong Kong. It has a few sprawling lawns to relax on, a playground for kids, and running tracks.
Avoid Sundays, as this becomes one of the most packed places in the city. Sundays are when the domestic helpers have off work, and Hong Kong has an estimated 300,000 of them.
Sundays are usually filled with workers gathering in public spaces like Victoria Park and the streets of Central to socialize and relax with friends. Thousands of workers use their one day off to connect with their community in public areas and are usually seen picnicking, playing music, dancing, or doing hobbies together. It’s a cultural experience to see, but it does mean the peace goes from parks on this day of the week.
Where to stay in Hong Kong
Shopping Street in Central HK
When choosing where to stay in Hong Kong, I recommend you stay in either the Central, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) or Mong Kok neighborhoods as it puts you close to the attractions.
Ultimately, as long as you are near the MTR (the transport system in Hong Kong) then it doesn’t matter where you are, as the MTR connects most places.
Central is located on Hong Kong Island and is the major business district, and where the Airport Express train ends. Central puts you close to Victoria Peak and also the nightlife district. It’s ideal for first-timers, luxury stays, and backpackers looking to explore the nightlife.
Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon is more local, and therefore more affordable. It’s surrounded by shopping malls and shopping streets, has lots of great restaurants, and is packed with hotels. It has convenient access to major sights, good value hotels, and dramatic views of the skyline. Just avoid the Chungking Mansion when choosing a hotel – you can read all about why here.
Mong Kok has a real urban energy, neon signs, street food, bustling markets and a slightly more local-gritty vibe. It’s ideal for budget-savvy travellers, and those who don’t mind the crowds.
You can view hotels in the following interactive map:
We have hand picked a selection of the best Hong Kong accommodation options in our complete guide to Hong Kong accommodation.
Final thoughts
Hong Kong is one of those cities that always surprises you. It’s a sprawling, urban metropolis nestled between mountains and white sand beaches with a famous skyline! Its ability to embrace new technologies, whilst keeping true to its heritage and traditions, is amazing.
While many people visit Hong Kong on a stop over between the West and Australia, it’s worth sticking around for a few days (or even longer!) There are so many things to do in Hong Kong beyond the skyscrapers, you might even be surprised by what you find.
Side note: While you don’t need a VPN to use social media and Google in Hong Kong, if you cross the border into mainland China, you will need one as access to many Western sites are typically blocked by China. Grab your VPN with NordVPN for China here.
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