Hong Kong is a preferred destination for global travelers.

Posted on June 2, 2022October 26, 2022 by Shatabdi

Hong Kong is a combination of traditional and modern cultures.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the Republic of China. The city is located in the eastern Pearl River Delta and is a preferred destination for global travelers. the city is an ideal combination of traditional and modern culture, attracting millions of tourists annually.

Hong Kong has a rich culture which is a combination of Southeastern Chinese and Western culture. The highly populated city is an example of a healthy and wealthy lifestyle, which may surprise you for a while.

The city has some unique places, and a lot to experience. Let’s have a look at some of the most iconic landmarks of the beautiful island nation, which you must consider visiting if you are in Hong Kong.

Things to know

Time zone: Hong Kong (GMT+8)
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), (Current exchange rate)
Languages: Cantonese and English
Country calling code: +852
Police, Medical helpline: 999

How to reach Hong Kong?

Hongkong airport is one of the busiest airports in Asia and is well connected with all international destinations. The city also has sea route connectivity with the neighboring countries. Cathay Pacific Airways is the national carrier and it has its headquarters in Hong Kong.

The city has flight services from all the major destinations around the world. Many international airlines provide their services to Hong Kong. Flight cost depends on the city you are traveling from and the kind of services you are availing of on-flight.

Where to exchange Hong Kong currency?

Hong Kong currency is called the Hong Kong Dollar. There are multiple currency stores available at the Hong Kong airport, but they do not provide the best rate. You can either bring Hong Kong Dollars from your home country or just convert a small amount from the airport. You will find a lot of currency exchange centers in the city, especially in Kowloon. Chungking Mansions, which is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, is one of the most popular places for currency exchange,

There are lots of ATMs available in Hong Kong, which you can use to withdraw money if you have international services active on your debit card. I would advise you to call your bank before leaving your home country and ask them to activate your debit or credit cards.

Currency exchange stores in Hong Kong

Travelex worldwide money
Address: Shop P103, 128 Peak Rd, The Peak, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 10 am – 10 pm
My exchange
Address: Shop 66, G/F, Mirador Mansion, 58 Nathan Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 09 am – 08 pm
City foreign exchange limited
Address: Shop 66, World Wide House, Shop 224,2/F, 19 Des Voeux Rd Central, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 09 am – 06 pm

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Hong Kong is September to December, the weather will be pleasant. Summer in Hong Kong is always hot and humid and you may not feel comfortable during the afternoon. The city gets the highest rainfall during the month of July and January is the coldest month.

Hong Kong weather

Winter: December to February
Spring: March to May
Summer: June to September
Autumn: October and November

How to get around?

Hong Kong has one of the best public transportation systems in the world, I did not use any private taxi or Uber during my entire stay in Hong Kong. The metro system also known as MTR provides hassle-free services from one corner to another in the city. There are also public buses available in Hong Kong, please listen to the announcement and the stop name on the bus to get down to the correct stop. You may get a little confused and to avoid that you can always use Google Maps.

Public Transport System (Trains / Light Rails / Buses)

Hong Kong’s public transportation system is a very efficient and quick way to travel around the city. Mass Transit Railway (MRT) operates heavy rail, light rail, and feeder bus services around Hong Kong Island and Kowloon region. The city’s MRT system is fast, clean, and easy to use. To make the most of it, always use an Octopus card. You can pick up an Octopus Card at Hong Kong’s airport from 7-Eleven, China Travel Service, and MTR Ticket & Octopus Selling Machine. Octopus Cards are easy to use, when you need to use just top them up at any Octopus Card service provider in the city and use it.

Taxi Services

Taxis are easily available round the clock in the city. Apart from app-based taxis like Uber, you will get plenty of local taxis. There are red, green, and blue taxis operating respectively in urban areas, New Territories, and Lantau Island. Taxi fare in Hong Kong is cheaper compared to other big cities and drivers use meters, so you don’t have to worry about being robbed. You can also book a luxury taxi online if you want to travel in a specific luxury car with an English-speaking driver.

15 best places to visit in Hong Kong

1. Victoria Harbour

Victoria harbour in Hong Kong is a natural landform harbor, within walkable distance from the Kowloon peninsula, and one of the most visited tourist spots. This harbor attracts more tourists to watch the bay area, which looks beautiful during golden hours. You can get an amazing view of Hong Kong island with the trademark buildings of Hong Kong from this harbour.

Address: Admiralty, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: Free

2. Avenue of Stars

While walking on the Victoria Harbour waterfront you can also see the Avenue of Stars, it’s one of the most clicked tourist spots in the city. If you are around, do visit the place and click some amazing pictures with Bruce lee and other stars. Avenue of stars is made to give honor to the Hong Kong film industry and has a unique architecture, which attracts many young tourists to this place.

Address: Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: Free

3. Victoria Peak

Victoria Peak is located on the western side of Hongkong and is a hilly area and it’s one of the highest-priced residential areas in Hong Kong. You can enjoy the panoramic view of the Hong Kong skyline from the top including Victoria Harbour, Central, and some other iconic landmarks of the city. There is an observatory deck on the peak from where you can get a spectacular view of Hong Kong’s long coastline. There is no entry fee to go at the peak but you’ll have to pay for other entrances, like the Observation Deck.

Address: Mount Austin (The Peak), 1 Lugard Rd, Hong Kong Island (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: Free

4. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Hong Kong

If you want to see a wax statue museum and want to get some clicks with your favorite actors then you should visit Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Hong Kong while you are in victoria’s peak. The wax museum has almost 100 wax figures of internationally known personalities and was founded by Marie Tussaud of France.

This is Asia’s one of the largest wax statue museums, another one is located in Shanghai and Singapore along with one in Bangkok. They are categorized as actors, Musicians, glamor, and Historical and national heroes. Please check the official website for discounted/group ticket prices.

Address: Shop P101, The Peak Tower, No, 128 Peak Rd, The Peak, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 11 am to 08 pm
Entry fee: HK$140 for adults and HK$70 for children (3 to 11 years)

5. Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha)

The big bronze statue of Tian Tan Buddha is located at Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island. Tian Tan Buddha is a symbol of nature and man and tourists can visit this place from morning 10:00 am to 17:30 Pm. This Monastery is a house of 10,000 Buddhas and you can visit Tian Tan buddha by 360 Ngong Ping cable car gondola lift. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Hong Kong.

It takes approximately 25-30 min to reach Po lin Monastery. To ride the cable car you have to go to Tung Chung MTR station Exit B and from there you can get a ticket for Skyrail. While riding the cable car/Skyrail you can experience the beautiful landscape of Lantau Island, the Hong Kong – Macau underwater bridge and so many spectacular views. The round-trip ticket would cost approx $236 HKD per person.

Address: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Rd, Lantau Island, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 10 am to 05:30 pm
Entry fee: Free

6. Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland is the largest theme park in Hongkong followed by Ocean Park. It is located on Lantau Island. You can get your Disneyland experience over there. Hong Kong international airport is just 35 min away from the place. There is a lot to do in Disneyland, like the dark ride of Mystic Manor and the experience of the Iron Man simulator. Also don’t miss the Festival of the Lion King full of fun events, which will never disappoint to entertain you.

Address: Lantau Island, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 10:30 am to 07:30 pm (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, closed on Tuesday and Thursday.)
Entry fee: HK$639 for adults and HK$475 for children (3 to 11 years)

7. Stanley Market Hong Kong

Stanley is an open market on Hong Kong Island. The road towards Stanley is very scenic with high-rise residential buildings and an open sea. Even if you like to enjoy the sea beach then Stanley Main Beach and Tatlows Beach and Godfrey’s Beach are very clean sandy beaches with shallow water.

You can enjoy the water and these beaches are just 2-3 min away from Stanley market. Even if you want to have some nice pictures of Stanley then you can take the Nut chairlift which is approx 5 min ride to the Nut and where you can get some amazing photos from the top.

Address: Stanley New St, Stanley, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 10 am to 07 pm
Entry fee: Free

8. Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier

Star Ferry ride should be one of your itineraries while you are in Hong Kong. This is the most iconic and historic ferry which gives rides from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong central and Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan chai. Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry is located in the Kowloon peninsula and from there it starts.

When you are in Tsim Sha Tsui you can check the clock tower which is made of red bricks and granite. This represents the former railway station in the Kowloon peninsula. If you want to do some budget shopping while you explore in Hongkong then temple street night market is one of them. Check the details below as to how you can reach the market and how you can bargain.

Address: Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 06:30 am to 11:30 pm
Entry fee: HK$3.6

9. Ocean Park

The ocean theme park is one of the largest theme parks in Asia. It’s a marine mammal park. After Disneyland, if you like to explore some different theme parks then this ocean park is the best option. From kids to old age people can enjoy the beauty of marine mammals.

Address: Aberdeen, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 10 am to 06 pm
Entry fee: HK$438 for adults and HK$219 for children (3 to 11 years)

10. Temple Street Night Market

Temple street night market is the only night market in Hong Kong. It is located in Jordan, Kowloon province. This is a big flea market in Hong Kong that starts after 8:00 pm and closes at 11:00 pm. Some of the stores run a little late. Earlier it was also known as a poor people’s nightclub.

If you want to shop from a flea market and you are good at bargains then this place is yours to shop for. You can get everything starting from clothes, shoes, bags, Jewels, souvenirs, etc. Some of the shops open after 02:00 pm but the crowds start when it gets dark. You can enjoy streetside food while shopping or hopping on this street.

Address: Temple St, Jordan, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 02 pm to 11 pm
Entry fee: Free

11. Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

While you are in Kowloon you can visit this shrine with a great belief in God Wong Tai Sin. You can get your blessing there. This is one of the oldest shrines in Hong Kong which is located on the southern side of Lion Rock in the Kowloon peninsula. For visitors, there is no entry fee for the temple but one can donate, donation boxes are available at the temple.

Address: Chuk Un, Kowloon, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 07:30 am to 04:30 pm
Entry fee: Free

12. Lantau Trail, Ngong Ping Village

When you are on Lantau island, You can also go for a track through the Lantau trail. This is the third biggest trail in Hong Kong. The trail has been made really well with all directions for visitors and it takes around 22 hours to complete the trail. One can feel nature at its best and very closely.

Through this trail, one diversion will take you to 360 Ngong Ping. After visiting Tian tan Big buddha one can also take a tour of Tai o which is the oldest fishing village in Hong kong. This place will give you different vibes from the city rush.

Address: Lantau Island, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: Free

13. Observation Wheel & AIA Vitality Park

This is situated in central Wan chai. This is a 60-meter tall gondola with air conditioning and each gondola has a capacity of 8-9 people. If you are in the central area and probably the day you are planning to ride the star ferry you can catch a ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central and from there you can enjoy this observation wheel ride.

This place is fantastic for evening hangouts filled with lots of bars, restaurants, and music all around the place. This is one of the happening areas in Hong Kong. From this observation wheel, one can get a whole island view including Victoria Harbour. The Cost of the observation wheel is HK $20 per person, which is worth the ride.

Address: 33 Man Kwong St, Central, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 11 am to 11 pm
Entry fee: HK$20 for adults and HK$10 for children (3 to 11 years)

14. Dragon’s Back And Shek O Country Park

Dragon’s Back is a beautiful trail which is located in the southern district. This is an easily accessible trail for trackers and from the peak, you can get a birdseye view of Big wave bay, Shek o beach, and Shek O. The view will make your track more memorable. The serene view of hills and the ocean will give you a soothing experience.

If you walk to the spinal edge of Dragon’s back till Shek O peak you can get exactly the view that people come for, that’s why the place is named after it. If you track approximately 30 meters ahead from Shek O Peak you can reach the dragon’s back viewpoint. From that point, you can get a view of Tai Tam Harbour. This track is an overall 3 to 8-km trail and you can enjoy the trail with multiple breaks.

Address: To Tei Wan bus stop, Shek O Road near To Tei Wan Village, Hong Kong (location)
Opening hours: 24 hours
Entry fee: Free

15. Tsing Ma Bridge

This bridge is a long suspension bridge that is the second-longest span suspension bridge. It connects two cities named Tsing Yi and Ma Wan and so it is called Tsing Ma Bridge. Rail tracks and roads both are available on this bridge and it gives a nice view. It also connects Lantau to Hongkong.