11 Best Things to Do in Hong Kong – Perfect Guide for First Time Visitors

1. Enjoy Some English High Tea

One of the most fun things to do in Hong Kong is to enjoy a quaint English high tea. Most of the city’s hotels and top restaurants offer daily afternoon tea service. Book a tea spot at the lobby of The Peninsula hotel, where tea service begins at 2 p.m. It costs $81 for two people, but it’s worth it at that. You can try out another popular spot, the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel, where you can enjoy high tea along with fabulous views of Hong Kong Island via the floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

Few other Hong Kong High Tea elegant Locations

• The Verandah, Repulse Bay
• Café Gray Deluxe, The Upper House  – daily 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm
• The Lounge, Four Seasons
• Cobo House
• Gough’s on Gough
• Café 103 on the 103rd floor of The Ritz-Carlton
• Sky Lounge, Sheraton, Hong Kong
• Café on the 1st, The Excelsior

Hong Kong High Tea Timings

Usually from 3.30 pm till 5.30 pm. Days vary from venue to venue.

2. Enjoy A Michelin-starred Meal

Did you know that 58 of Hong Kong’s restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars? In fact, a meal at one of these restaurants is bound to cost much less than a similar restaurant in another top city. Get yourself a Michelin-starred meal at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Haute French), Bo Innovation (molecular gastronomy), and Lung King Heen (top Cantonese restaurant).

Hong Kong Michelin- star Restaurant Locations

• L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Cuisine: French Contemporary) – Shop 401, 4F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central Hong  Kong
• Bo Innovation (Modern gastronomy) – Shop 8, Podium 1F, J Senses, 60 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
• Caprice (Cuisine: French) – 6F, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
• Sushi Shikon (Cuisine: Japanese) – Citadines Mercer, 29 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island
• Ta Vie (Cuisine: French) – 2F, The Pottinger Hotel, 21 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
• Écriture (Cuisine: French contemporary) – 26F, H Queen’s, 80 Queens Road Central, Hong Kong Island
• Lung King Heen (Cuisine: Cantonese) – 4F, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
• 8½ Otto e Mezzo – Bombana (Cuisine: Italian) – Shop 202, 2F, Alexandra House, 18 Charter Road, Central, Hong Kong Island.

3. Be Part Of The Vibrant Art Scene!

Hong Kong’s art scene is thriving. Visit any good hotel or restaurant and you’ll see the importance they pay to art. The city hosts an Art Basel show during spring, which is very well attended. There are several galleries you can visit in Hong Kong, which host art by Gagosian and White Cube among others. Visit areas like Sai Ying Pun, Aberdeen and Chai Wan, to check out galleries where local artists display their art. To view some historical Chinese art, visit the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Visiting the art scene is one of the popular Hong Kong activities of locals and visitors alike.

Art Scene Locations

• Hong Kong Museum of Art – 10 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
• Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts – 10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
• Wong Chuk Hang – Southern District, Hong Kong Island
• H Queen’s – Pottinger Street, Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
• Duddell’s – Level 3, Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong

4. Beach Ahoy!

Hong Kong being an island, there’s no dearth of beaches. Just less than an hour from the city center are some exotic beaches. We recommend a lazy holiday on the Tai Long Wan beach on the eastern coast of Sai Kung Peninsula. It is one of the most beaches in all of Hong Kong. Next, we recommend Shek O beach, with lovely stretches of golden sand in Stanley and surrounding Repulse Bay.

Other top Hong Kong Beach Locations

• Repulse Bay Beach – Beach Road, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Island
• Turtle Cove Beach – Tai Tam Rd, Stanley, Hong Kong
• Big Wave Bay Beach – Big Wave Bay Road, Shek O, Hong Kong Island
• Golden Beach – Castle Peak Road, So Kwun Wat, New Territories, Hong Kong

Average Temperatures of Hong Kong

5. Go Crazy Shopping!

Hong Kong is all about shopping, and you’ll understand why when you see the mazelike malls of Causeway Bay to the street markets and the shops of Chungking Mansions on Nathan Road. Times Square is a gargantuan twelve-story mall with thematically organized stores. Shopping is part of Hong Kong’s popular culture, so popular that people from mainland China pour into Hong Kong to shop during sales.

Hong Kong Shopping Locations

• Times Square – 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island
• LANDMARK Mall – 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong Island
• IFC Mall – 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong Island
• Harbour City – 3 -27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
• Pacific Place – 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island

6. Breakfast At A Dai Pai Dong

Find one of Hong Kong’s open-air stalls (called A Dai Pai Dong) and settle down for a traditional breakfast of congee, French toast, and milk tea. There aren’t many of these old open-air stalls left, only just a couple of dozen. They’re the best places to visit in Hong Kong for a cool meal. Not many are left, so hurry and check them out!

Dai Pai Dong Locations:

• Clay Pot and Dai Pai Dong – 61, Temple St, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
• Oi Man Sang Dai Pai Dong – Sham Shui Po Building, 1A-1C Shek Kip Mei St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
• Keung Kee Dai Pai Dong – Shop 4, Yiu Tung Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong
• Fishermen Seafood Dai Pai Dong – Pak Ling Mansion, 5-11 Miu Tung St, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong

7. Explore Hong Kong’s Islands

Hong Kong is not just a city; it’s actually a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of 260 islands. And one of the best things to do in Hong Kong is to visit the surrounding islands. You can reach several of these islands via ferry from the city center. Do your research first, and then check out each island for their best qualities. Some are known for their beaches, and some for the fine fishing. We recommend Peng Chau, Cheung Chau, and Lamma Island for Hong Kong attraction starters.

Ferry Duration:

• Hong Kong Island to Lamma Island –  Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
• Hong Kong Island to Peng Chau –  Approximately 1 hour 20 minutes
• Hong Kong Island to Cheung Chau –  Approximately 1 hour

8. Try A Hong Kong Special Foot Massage

Tired of traipsing up and down the city on your tootsies? It’s perfectly all right in Hong Kong to take 20 minutes off your day to relax and get a lovely foot massage. Check out the Bastien Gonzalez pedicure at the Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, or the yummy massage at The Peninsula Spa. You can also just duck into any of the 100s of massage parlors on every main street. But be aware – Do not visit a massage foot spa which has a smiley face in their signboards.

9. Ride the Star Ferry

Every year, the Star Ferry carries 20 million riders across Victoria Harbor. Don’t miss riding the ferry from Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. It will be one of the most scenic boat rides you’ve ever taken. You’ll love watching the skylines of Hong Kong and Kowloon on both sides of the water. Do it at night, and enjoy the incredible city skyline all lit up in multicolor.

Star Ferry Location

• At Tsim Sha Tsui: Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
• At Central: Central Pier, Central, Hong Kong Island
• At Wan Chai: Wan Chai Ferry Pier, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island

10. Gaze At The View From Victoria Peak

The peak stands at a height of 1,805 feet above sea level, and standing at the summit gives you the most mindblowing views of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and its eight mountains and the picturesque Victoria Harbor. Ride the world’s steepest funicular railway, the Peak Tram to the top of Victoria Peak. Whether you are there enjoying the day views or the night views – both are spectacular.

Victoria Peak Timings

Daily from 7 am till midnight

Victoria Peak Location

Western Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island.

11. Check Out The Street Markets

Hong Kong’s lively street markets offer everything you’ve ever dreamt of. The Ladies’ Market with over 100 stalls sells clothing and accessories. The Temple Street Night Market sells watches. Cat Street market is famous for its antiques, and Apliu Street Market is the place for electronics. For shoes, head over to Fa Yuen Street (known as Sneakers Street). Hong Kong has several street markets dedicated to flowers, kitchenware, goldfish, birds, jade and more.

Street Market Locations and Timings

• The Ladies’ Market – Fa Yuen St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, open from 11 am till 11.30 pm
• Temple Street Night Market – Temple St, Jordan, Hong Kong, open from 5 pm till 11 pm
• Cat Street Market – Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, open from 11 am till 5 pm
• Apliu Street Market – 121 Kweilin St, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, open from 11 am till 8 pm
• Fa Yuen Street – Fa Yuen St, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, open from 2pm till 11 pm
• Stanley Market – Stanley Municipal Services Building, 6號 Stanley Market Rd, Stanley, Hong Kong, open from 10 am till 7 pm.

Best Time To Visit Hong Kong

The ideal time to visit Hong Kong is from October to mid-December when the weather is sunny and pleasant. For those who wish to enjoy the festivals can plan around January and February. March and April is springtime and is blessed with cool, pleasant evenings. However, do keep an umbrella handy during the months of March and April as there can be drizzling rains.

Tips For Travellers Visiting Hong Kong

• Learn a few Cantonese phrases that can make your visit convenient.
• Carry an umbrella can be handy as Hong Kong is prone to unexpected showers.
• Book accommodation and tours in advance.
• Arrive on time for your onward flight in Hong Kong. The country is very strict about flight delays.
• A little bit of haggling can get you a good deal during street shopping in Hong Kong.
• Don’t limit your travel to just Hong Kong Island. Plan your trip to Lantau Island and other surrounding Islands as well.
• Learn to ride the metro. It is better and much cheaper than taxis.
• Buy local SIM cards for your phones.
• It is best to visit during weekdays as the attractions are less crowded and visitors can have pleasant experiences – be it shopping, recreation or dining. Also, On Wednesdays, visitors can take advantage of free entry to selected museums in Hong Kong.

Conclusion