Travel itinerary and things to do in Hong Kong in 3-5 Days
Having lived in Hong Kong for six years now, we can't do a travel blog without giving away what to do in Hong Kong and a strategic itinerary that will allow a thorough coverage of Hong Kong.
People tend to see this place as an international city but what we can say is this: a) Despite being ruled by Britain for more than 150 years, Hong Kong (and the people) remains very "Chinese", most people speak poor to medium level of English, b) outside of the concrete jungle, there is more countryside than most people realize.
Basic tips:
- Best time to visit Hong Kong: September to February + May- June (Hong Kong is at its worst in July to August when it's so humid and hot it's impossible to truly enjoy anything; March - April, on the hand, are the wet season and humidity reach 100%.)
- As soon as you arrive, buy an Octopus card at your nearby MTR station. A HK$50 deposit is required but this is almost essential in Hong Kong as you can use it on all transportation in Hong Kong (other than the cab) as well as all convenience stores and supermarkets. Some fast-food restaurants also accept it.
- While transportation is easy in Hong Kong, there are some places that are inaccessible by the MTR, like Happy Valley. Cabs in Hong Kong are relatively easy to catch and inexpensive compared to US and Europe so take advantage of it as you see fit (for tourists, I personally think it makes sense to sometimes take the taxi to save valuable time). For your reference, a 20-minute cab ride within Hong Kong island costs a bit below US$10.
Read more on my related article: 13 things to know about Hong Kong before visiting
The itinerary below is written based on importance of visiting. Do shuffle them according to your schedule, weather, etc.
Day 1: Hong Kong Island (Central, Mid-levels, Peak, Causeway Bay)
Enjoy a walk in the mid-levels area of Hong Kong while getting to know some history by taking a stroll along the Dr. Sun Yat Sen heritage trail in the Central and Western District.
Head down to Central to experience the downtown area of the city. Places of interest in the Central area include the Stone Slabs Street (Pottinger Street), IFC Mall, Queens Garden and Statue Square and all the tall buildings in between.
Then, hop over to Admiralty (you can walk from Central or take the tram), take the Peak Tram and go up the peak. There's a combo ticket that allows you to enjoy the Sky Terrace as well. The peak gives a panoramic view of the city. If timing allows, it might be a good idea to get there at around 4-5 pm so you can catch the view of the city both during the daytime when you arrive and after sunset on your way out. The night view of the city is breathtaking.
Head back to the downtown area of the city to Causeway Bay, where there are plenty of shopping, dining and street food options available. This area feels a lot like Shibuya in Tokyo and the Times Square area in New York City.
Day 2: Wanchai (Hong Kong Island) + Star Ferry, Kwoloon Park, Hong Kong Museum of History, Chung King Mansion, Mongkok, Temple Street Night Market
Day
Start your day with the Wan Chai Heritage Trail. If you take the MTR to Wanchai, get out from Exit A3 on Johnston Road and walk toward the Admiralty direction to visit the various sites featured on the trail . The highlights include the Wanchai market, various old style building (tong lou) including the Pawn, OVOlogue, Blue House (photogenic spot alert), Ship Street, Star Street, etc.
After you are done, you may want to have lunch here. Star Street and Ship Street and the little streets around all offer many nice food options. Then, head over to the direction of the harbor to the Wanchai pier and take the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. If you are into luxury, high-end shopping, visit the Harbor City mall right next to the Star Ferry pier. Otherwise, take a walk along various points of interest in the area including Kowloon Park, Chung King mansion, the Kowloon mosque and if time permits and if you're into history, the Hong Kong Museum of History. The Avenue of Stars near the Star Ferry Pier, located a stone's throw to the Hong Kong Cultural Center, is an attraction but this is closed for maintenance until further notice.
Evening
Enjoy the Symphony of Lights at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, which starts at 8pm and enjoy the fantastic night view of Hong Kong.
After that, your choice of going over to the Mong Kok area and the Yau Ma Tei night market via MTR, or go to Central for some drinks and/or clubbing fun at Lan Kwai Fong.
Day 3: Lantau Island (Ngong Ping, Po Lin Monastery, Big Buddha, ICC)
Day
Experience the cultural side of the city and visit some temples. Take the MTR Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung station and take the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to the Po Lin Monastery and Big Buddha. As of the time of writing, the 360 cable car is closed for maintenance till earliest end of June so you will have to take the bus no. 23 from the Tung Chung New Town Center until then. Both the bus and the cable car starts around exit B of Tung Chung station and takes around 40 minutes to reach Ngong Ping. Once you get up to Ngong Ping, take a walk around the Ngong Ping village, visit the Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha.
After this, your choice - if you enjoy a good hike, you can hike up the Lantau Peak, the second highest mountain in Hong Kong at 934m). If you are into shopping, check out the Tung Chung outlet mall on your way back to the city (directly accessible through the Tung Chung Station).
If you start your day early and you still have ample time at the end of the Big Buddha visit, another option is to continue on to Tai Wai.
Evening
Visit the International Commercial Center, right on top of the Tung Chung MTR line Kowloon Station. This is the tallest building in Hong Kong at 108-storey high. Enjoy a night view of Hong Kong either at the Sky 100 deck, or a drink + night view at the Ozone bar on the 108th floor of the ICC.
Day 4: Ocean Park/ Hong Kong Disneyland or Macau
Price of Ocean Park: HK$438 for adults and HK$219 for children aged 3-11 Price of Hong Kong Disneyland: HK$589 for adults and HK$419 for children aged 3-11
In general, I'd say Ocean Park is more impressive of the two and more bang for the buck. Ocean Park has aquarium (shark aquarium, jellyfish), polar animals (penguins and arctic fox), giant pandas, dolphin show as well as a number of thrill rides. The Hong Kong Disneyland, on the other hand, is the smallest in the world BUT if you love Disney characters and have no plans to visit the one in Tokyo/California/Orlando/ Paris in the near future, take your opportunity in Hong Kong by all means!
Substitute with: A day in Macau.
If theme park is not your thing, hopping over to Macau is a nice option. The ferry leaves to Macau every hour from the Sheung Wan Shun Tak Center (Sheung Wan MTR Station Exit D). The ferry over to Macau takes a little over an hour.
Once you are in Macau, visit the Ruins of St. Paul (ruins of St Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul). After this, take a walk along the nearby streets where you will find international brands in addition to many shops selling Macau snacks. Being the "Vegas of China", your visit is not complete without going to a casino. We really enjoy the Venetian Macao. Consider staying a night at this luxurious hotel if you have the time.
Day 5: Outlying island
Day
Visit an outlying island in Hong Kong to enjoy some fresh air and traditional culture. Although I personally like Lamma Island better, go for Cheung Chau since you have limited time in Hong Kong and this island seems to have more to see. Both islands can be accessed by taking a ferry via the Central ferry pier. The ferry pier to these outlying islands is just next to the Star Ferry pier.
Evening
If your trip to Hong Kong involves a Wednesday, take the tram or cab to the Happy Valley Racecourse for a horse-racing game (only takes place on Wednesday evening in Happy Valley). Feel free to place a bet on a horse and immerse yourself in the local excitement.
