Visions of skyscrapers, neon street signs, bustling markets and chaos-filled traffic come to mind when we think of Hong Kong. Nonetheless, it is one of the top places to visit for travellers.
A day is not enough to explore all attractions in Hong Kong. But if you have a long flight layover, might as well check out a few sites.
There are a lot of places to visit and things to do in Hong Kong. From simply strolling along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade to sailing across Victoria Harbour on ferries.
One’s heart beats after seeing a wide range of food stalls lined up in the markets. Food plays a huge role in Hong Kong. While fine dining may spruce up one night, drinking the finest wine.
The true winner is savouring up gastronomic Asian street food, one plate at a time.
So, if you plan to sightsee the city in a day, the best way to spend a day in Hong Kong starts something like this –
Note: Based on where you are staying, choose your closest attraction. Else, ditch the city spots and head towards the peak.
Breathe in the morning air at the Victoria Peak
It is the highest point to get the view of the city below. It provides a stunning panoramic city view, from the skyscrapers to the distant mountains and of course the Kowloon Bay.
Catch the Peak Tram from Hong Kong Island and from the station head straight to the Lookout Point past the Victoria Peak Garden.
In the morning, the crowd is less making it easier to cut short the queue and get a beautiful picture without any human interference.
Seek solace at the Man Ho Temple
After admiring the city from above, seek solace by visiting one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong, Man Ho Temple.
Wrap up in some Chinese culture tucked amid the chaos, this temple is a mid-19th century old building. Since it is a Grade I historic building, it is declared a national monument in Hong Kong.
Away from city life, you can slip inside a tiny refuge and stay in silence and spend a few minutes meditating.
Take a picture at the Instagram famous Monster Building
While the name ‘Monster Building’ is just a given name to make it more interesting, it is actually called Yick Cheong Building. Located at Quarry Bay on Hong Kong Island, it has become an Instagram sensation for many.
Ever since it first emerged on the internet, it has taken the gram to storm. You can also make a mark and take a famous picture that every Hong Kong visitors do.
Although this is a residential complex, outsiders can walk in. The famous platform where Instagrammers stood for a pose has been barricaded for safety reasons. But you can still catch the same attractive picture that you’ve probably been rehearsing for.
Walk at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Across Hong Kong Island, head to Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. This is a great place to take a break and admire the harbour with its boat traffic. There are several food joints along the promenade. You can stop for a brunch.
While walking towards the eastern side of the promenade, you’ll reach the Avenue of Stars. It is one of the famous attractions in Hong Kong. Here, you will see the handprints and statues of celebrities such as Jackie Chan.
Explore the Hong Kong Museums
While you may not be able to explore all the museums, there are three museums that are close to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.
Start off by visiting the Hong Kong Museum of Art. This is Hong Kong’s main art museum that displays a wide variety of Chinese paintings, sculptures and drawings. The egg-shaped building next door is the Hong Kong Space Museum. It has a planetarium, Omnimax films and astronomy exhibits.
Hong Kong Science Museum has over 500 exhibits suitable for all age criteria. There are permanent exhibitions that can be visited all year round. And temporary and interactive exhibitions that are often based according to the season.
Take the longest escalator in Hong Kong
While Hong Kong has the best transport system from trams to metros and buses to taxis. Escalators also make great transport here.
Hong Kong has the world’s longest outdoor escalator system stretching from the central district to the relaxed neighbourhoods. It is not a continuous escalator as it breaks between for cars to pass. But climbing the stairs has made it easily accessible to commute.
In total, there are 20 escalators alongside walkways with 14 entrances and exits making it easy to hop on and off the escalator. A complete journey from the start to finish may take approx. 30 minutes. It connects some of the best neighbourhoods in Hong Kong like Soho and Lan Kwai Fong.
Lan Kwai Fong
One of the cultural landmarks is Lan Kwai Fong. It is a historic district filled with narrow streets and alleys lined with bars, restaurants, and nightclubs.
Lan Kwai Fong was a hawkers lane now made a popular tourist attraction to live up to the Hong Kong street life. There is nothing as entertaining as spending an evening savouring dishes and drinking. Here, local performers can be seen singing or dancing to music.
This market is open on all days from 5 PM to 11 PM. To beat the crowd, avoid the weekends but if you enjoy a more merry ambience, the best day of the week is Friday.
FAQ
It depends on where you stay and for how long. Otherwise, Hong Kong is considered a very inexpensive destination. There are many public transport systems and the city has a walking culture with everything near to you.
Yes, in fact, everywhere in Asia, street food plays an important role to boost tourism. They are delicious and affordable. You can expect to pay between HKD 30-120 for snacks and a full meal in Hong Kong.
A week, around 5 days is enough to spend time exploring the tourist attractions in Hong Kong. You will be able to cover major sites and experience the city.
