Top 21 things to do in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, my favourite city in the world! Hong Kong has so much to offer and so much to do. It is one of the most diverse cities I’ve visited and has something to offer everyone weather you’re a foodie, a beach bum, hiker or city lover. Hong Kong is a compact city with incredible public transport that is incredulously cheap that it makes getting around so quick and easy. The main languages are English and Cantonese and the majority speak English or have some level of pigeon English making it a hot travel destination with very few barriers. If you are smart and plan your days well you can do and see a lot in Hong Kong in just a few days. I stayed on Hong Kong Island and I would recommend staying on that side or near the Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) on the Kowloon side. Most of the expats tend to live on the island side and hang out there, the central area and night clubs and bars are on that side too so best to base yourself there during your stay in Hong Kong. I spent four days in Hong Kong and here are some of the best things to do in the city and my favourite spots to eat. Four days is enough in the city to see the major attractions but if you like hiking and beaches, you definitely won’t be bored adding on another day or two to your stay in Hong Kong.

1. Visit the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lin Gardens. This is the poster child of Hong Kong. The Chi Lin Nunnery is a large complex of old wooden Buddhist temples built in 1934. This amazing wooden and golden tranquil temple surrounded by gardens and and lotus ponds in amidst the high rise apartments of Diamond Hill. The garden is a tranquil escape from the concrete jungle and busy city. There is also a good vegetarian restaurant on site and a tea house. 30- 60 minutes is perfect amount of time to spend here wandering around. Cost: FREE.

2. Ride the star ferry and admire the city from across the water. The Star Ferry is a tourist attraction but also serves as the primary route carrying passengers between Kowloon side and the Island side. It is one of the best ways to see the famous Victoria Harbor sky line. There are a few routes now but the most popular route remains between TST in Kowloon and Central on Hong Kong Island. Ferries leave every 8 minutes and the crossing takes less than 10 minutes. It is ridiculous cheap and runs from 6.30-23.30. Ride the ferry during the day and at night, seeing the sky line at night is particularly special. Cost: HK$2.70/ (€0.30) on weekdays, HK$3.70/(€0.40) on weekends.

3. Man Mo temple. One of Hong Kong’s oldest temples, it’s a ten minute walk from Central and hard to believe this gorgeous temple is smack bang in the middle of the city. Cost: FREE.

4. The Peak. The views from Victoria peak give arguably the best view of the Hong Kong skyline. You can either hike up or take the iconic peak tram up. The incline is pretty steep on the tram, be prepared for your back to be slammed into the back of the chair. It’s a great way to admire the views without battling with the sweaty Hong Kong weather. In my opinion the view of the skyline at night from the Morning Trail is even better than during the day and from the observational deck. If you’ve time, try see the view during the day and at night. The hike takes about an hour and isn’t too strenuous. Like the best things in life, it’s free and the views are unbeatable from the morning trail.

5. Eat egg waffles. This simple but tasty snack is found everywhere in Hong Kong and are their prized possession. The crispy semi hollow egg puffs are a perfect snack best served with ice-cream, fruit or loaded with your favourite toppings.

6. Visit the Ladies Market. Located in the Kowloon side in the overcrowded district of Mongkok. This area is knock-off heaven with over 100 stalls of bargain and fake designer clothing, accessories, shoes and electronics. It stretches for 1 km along Tung Choi street so long enough to practice your bargaining skills. As a general rule knock the price down by 50% and let them push you up from there.

7. Dine in the cheapest Michelin star restaurant in the world. Tim Ho Wan was reported the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world with its most famous dish setting you back a whopping €3. Specialising in dim sum (Chinese tapas) usually eaten for lunch or breakfast. Their most famous dish, the baked BBQ pork buns are a must try. Go hungry and order 3-4 dishes is usually enough for one person. A feast will set you back no more than €10.

8. Hiking. This is one of my favourite things about Hong Kong, amazing trails, nature and views are accessible 10 minutes from Central. Some of the more popular hikes in Hong Kong with the best views and beaches below to cool off in are The Dragon’s Back, The Twins, The Peak and Lion Rock.

• Dragon’s Back: The last leg of the Hong Kong Trail, this winding path on the ridge of the Dragon’s Back is one of Hong Kong’s best urban hikes. Its relatively easy and can be anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours in length depending on where you start and finish. At the end of the trail is the Big Wave Bay. Take a dip here to cool off.

• The Peak. A steeper 3.5 km hike will bring you to the top of Victoria Peak and reward you with the best views of the city and harbor below. There are some great places to eat at the top too including Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant.

• The Twins. If you’re looking for a serious work out and natures stair master, look no further. The Twin Peaks and Violet Hill and have been the terrible twins. This 5 km hike starts from Hong Kong Parkview and finishes on Stanley Gap Road at the Wilson Trail bus stop. The challenging hike takes between 2.5-3 hours and is an easy 20 minute walk to Stanley Bay then to cool off on the beach or browse through the stalls at Stanley Market. The start of the trail is only a 10 minute taxi ride from central.

• Lion Rock. Another challenging 2-3 hour hike and the most distinctive mountain along the Kowloon mountain range. It is fairly close to public transport and easy to reach with great view of Kowloon Peninsula and Victoria Harbour. From the Wong Tai Sin station it is a 20 minute walk up a steep hill to the beginning of the trail. You may see monkeys on this route to the start of the trail. Don’t get too close, they can be quite aggressive, especially if they have young with them.

9. Visit The Big Buddha and take the Ngong Ping cable car. The Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze statue located on Lantau Island. Surrounding the Buddha is the Po Lin Monastery with its beautiful colours and architecture. The easiest and best way to get to the Tian Tan Buddha and the most scenic is by taking the Ngong Ping Cable car. The cable car takes about 25 minutes. Cost: Cable Car: $235 HK/ €28. Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery: FREE.

10. Symphony of Lights. If you thought Victoria Harbour itself was a dazzling display of lights, catch the daily light show at 8 pm everyday when 42 buildings partake in the worlds largest permanent light show. The best views of it are from the TST on the Kowloon side. Get a few cans from 711 and enjoy the show. Cost: FREE.

11. Happy valley races. Watch horse racing in one of the world’s most famous horse racing venues. The races take place every Wednesday from 7-11 pm and is a must see even if you’re not into racing when in Hong Kong. They serve some of the cheapest pints and drinks you’ll find in Hong Kong too. Cost: $10 HK/ €1.10.

12. Party in Lan Kwai Fog. Ground zero for debauchery in Hong Kong, LWF night life is worth checking out, especially on a Friday or Saturday night but Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps so you’ll find something every night of the week.

13. Shop til you drop. Everywhere you look in Hong Kong, you are surrounded by designer shops and high end boutiques. I didn’t come across as many high street brands but with all the shopping centers around Hong Kong, there are shops to suit every budget and they have everything under the sun you could be looking for.

14. Beach day. Another one of my favourite things about Hong Kong, the incredible beaches within 20 minutes on bus from the city center. One of the nicest I visited was Repulse Bay with its clear water and white sandy beaches. The area is surrounded by upmarket residential buildings and lots of nice restaurants in The Pulse, which is along the boardwalk. They can be slightly pricier but have good happy hour deals for those who like to day drink of a Tuesday afternoon. Some of the best are Limewood and Classified. Cost: FREE

15. Stanley bay and wander around Stanley market. Another nice but smaller beach is Stanley Bay. You can hike here via the Wilson Trail or get any of the buses:  6, 6A, 6X, 66 or 260 from Hong Kong station. Stanley market is a nice market to stroll around for fresh fruits, clothes, silver wear, accessories and bags.

16. Avenue of stars. Find tributes to the names that helped make Hong Kong the ‘Hollywood of the East’. Located along the spectacular Victoria Harbour in TST with celebrity hand prints, statues and more. Couple it with viewing of the Symphony of lights or a Star Ferry trip. Cost: FREE.

17. 10,000 Buddhas Monastery. Located in Sha Tin New Territories its a bit out of the way and an effort to go to. The monastery is not one temple but is made up of 5 temples, 4 pavilions and one pagoda. The main hall has over 12,800 mini golden Buddha statues. Beside here you can climb up the 9 floors of the padoga to enjoy some good views. Not a must if you’re tight on time in Hong Kong but an interesting visit if you’ve time. Cost: FREE.

18. Choi Hung estate. The rainbow building in the Ngau Chi Wan area was built in 1964 as the new standard for affordable housing in Hong Kong. Resisdants who lived in the classical terracotta roofed houses were moved to the rainbow estate to make way for the subway. The creation of Choi Hung Estate was an important development in Hong Kong’s efforts to tackle its housing crisis. The building is symbolic of the first steps taken to provide Hong Kong residence with affordable housing. The basketball courts with the rainbow building backdrop is one of the most Instagramed buildings in Hong Kong. Cost: FREE

19. Monster building. Another public housing building, or five interconnected towers in fact, in the Quarry Bay area built in the 1960s during a population boom to offer government-subsidized housing for low-income residents. The colourful individual units are stacked one on top of the other creating a wonderful jigsaw of homes. Cost: FREE

20. Ride the ding dong tram. Hong Kong’s iconic trams are the best way to see the city. This method of public transport retains an old school vibe. They are know as the ding-dong because they have bells that ring instead of horns. At $2.30 (30 cent) per ride regardless of what stop you get off, make it a super affordable way of viewing the city sights between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town. Cost: $2.30 HK/ € 0.30).

21. Ride the Central to Mid levels escalators. Travel on the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system to avoid the steep incline between Central and Mid-Levels. Around this area are plenty of great bars and restaurants that spill onto the streets after work for casual happy hour drinks. You can hop off the escalator at any point. Cost: FREE.

Eating around Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a vibrant food scene, from upmarket western dining to cheap dim sum style Michelin star restaurants. There are so many healthy and vegan alternatives and roof top bars galore to suit every type of customer. Here are some of my favourite tried and tested Hong Kong eateries.

Poke HK. Self explanatory in the name, Poke HK is a chain of casual Poke bars serving affordable Poke bowls and have a vegan option too or create your own. The bowls are surprisingly filling and are a healthy way to keep you going all day or night.

Classified. There are 8 branches around Hong Kong serving European/ Western style all day dining and good cocktails. The have a meatless menu too and aim to serve boutique wines, gourmet breads and homemade artisanal style cuisine. Their range of vegan/ veggie eats was impressive. http://www.classifiedfood.com/

El Born. Lovely tapas restaurant spot that does a great happy hour in the heart of Causeway Bay and seems busy at any time of the day. Good for cocktails and has nice outside seating.

Tim Ho Wongs. Here is where you can dine in the world’s cheapest Michelin star restaurant. There are a few of these dim sum restaurants around Hong Kong. The food is excellent, quick and so cheap. You won’t eat better for cheaper!

Finis. Busy bar for afterwords drinks. They do some great mid week deals on beers and wings. They serve pizza in the bar til late and have a restaurant you wouldn’t even notice at the back. It’s a casual Italian style place with tapas size portions and full meals. The pizzas are huge and enough to line the stomach for a night out. They have prosecco fries and mac n cheese on the menu so naturally I had to get anything prosecco infused (I don’t think the fries actually contained any prosecco).

Bread Street & Kitchen. Gordon Ramsey’s third restaurant at the Peak Galleria with stunning views of Hong Kong. They serve a good range of cuisine from British home comforts of a full English and beef wellington, to artisan flatbread pizzas and delicious salads. It’s quite reasonably priced too. The best bit was the free bread to start. The butter was chorizo infused. I could eat this on its own. https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/bread-street-kitchen-and-bar-hong-kong.

Qi- Nine Dragons. An authentic Michelin recommended Sichuan restaurent that over looks Victoria Harbour. If youre lucky enough to get a window seat you have a clear view over the harbour. The food here is exquisite. They have a great vegetarian and vegan section to the menu too to suit all types of eater. You will need to reserve ahead to get a table. http://ichuan cuisine

Rooftop Bars

Hong Kong knows how to do a rooftop bar or ten. Here or some of the best ones in the city:

• Eye Bar. Located on the Kowloon side in TST, it has one of the best vantages points in Hong Kong with unobscured views of Victoria Harbour. Its a great place to catch the Symphony of Lights show from.

• Ozone. A.K.A the highest bar in the world. Located in West Kowloon in the Ritz- Carlton Hong Kong, Ozone is famed for its perfect views of Western Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It has one of the best wine lists in Hong Kong and a great cocktail menu. But be prepared to pay for it! Views and a menu like this doesn’t come cheap at $160 HK/ €18 for a glass of house wine .
• Picniq. This rooftop venue is located in central and has a very cool alfresco space for enjoying drinks and nibbles. It is decked out with bean bags and colourful art like the iconic polka-dot pumpkins. At the weekends it turns into a late night bar often hosting events and DJs.
• Wooloomooloo. A rooftop bar and restaurant in WanChai serving Australian and USDA beef, Wooloomooloo is known for its decent steak. Although there re probably better steaks in town, the winning feature here are the jaw-dropping views taking in Wan Chai, the harbour and Happy Valley race course.