Hong Kong Travel guide
A truly modern city, beautiful and exciting with its skylines, massive and crowdy cosmopolitan. Hong Kong is one of the world's safest cities for tourists. It is relatively expensive and well connected to many other nearby cities and islands to visit.
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What to know about China, Hong Kong before you go
Do not expect English
Do not have to tip
Do not point with your index finger, use your palm to point
4 is an unlucky number, there are no four floor buildings for example
How much time do you need in Hong Kong
2-3 days is minimum to see the major attractions, 5 days is recommended
Where should you stay in Hong Kong
If you are visiting for the first time, best place is Tsim Sha Tsui
For Families - Causeway Bay is recommended
If you are on a budget - Mong Kok Neighborhood will work for you the best
For busy night life stay in Lan Kwai Fong area
Where to shop
Hong Kong is well known for its bargains and large number of street markets.
Electronics: Golden Computer Center in Sham Shui Po
Street fashion for budget: GU, Japanese retailer in Tsim Sha Tsui
Second-hand store and street markets: Mee&Gee in Mong Kok
For latest design: Citygate outlets in Tung Chung
Japanese supermarket: 759 Store for all kinds of snacks
When to go to Hong Kong
From April to September there is a lot of rain, top typhoon season is from July to September, when there is a 50% chance and more for a typhoon in a month.
How to travel around
Best is to get a prepaid Octopus Card and use the MTR system. The fare is calculated based on the distance of your ride.
This is the cheapest and most efficient way to travel around, use its train lines, running underneath the city. Trains are air-conditioned and run every few minutes, while the traffic taking a taxi can be pretty pricey and horrible.
For sim and data you can buy a prepaid card that is valid 30 days here
It is interesting that the city does not wake up before 8 a.m. and mostly even 9 a.m., so it is pretty difficult to find anything open for breakfast at that time.
Hong Kong is all about skyscrapers. This is the city which has the most 100m high or higher skyscrapers on earth. The city is divided visibly into two, the sea separating Hong Kong island from mainland, Kowloon.. In many buildings there are holes, which is for practice of Feng Shui, they are known as "dragon gates", let dragons fly from the mountains across the city to the ocean, allowing the positive energy flow through the buildings.
Most famous places to see in Hong Kong
Causeway Bay, located on the Hong Kong island. When you are here, check out the Victoria Park, visit the Tin Hau Temple
Star Ferry - it is a ferry service and tourist attraction. Its routes are Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon
Kowloon island, less expensive than Hong Kong Island, if you do not mind taking the MTR, this is a better value. The buildings here are older and the streets are less swanky, and with less night life. You find residential buildings with dozens of floors, built as skyscrapers, and very close to each other, you can basically talk to the neighbor across the street from your balcony. Amazing views, probably nowhere else in the world buildings are built like this.
Victoria Harbour is a natural landform harbour separating Hong Kong Island in the south from the Kowloon Peninsula to the north. The harbour's deep, sheltered waters and strategic location on the South China Sea were instrumental in Hong Kong's establishment as a British colony and its subsequent development as a trading centre. The first reference to what is now called Victoria Harbour is found in Zheng He's sailing maps of the China coast
Photo by Jeremy Bezanger
Lantau Island, you can get here with the MTR, can go dolphin watching, Disneyland, take a ride with Ngong Ping cable car, see the Big Buddha
Photo by Kokaze production
Big Buddha- Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze statue built in 1993. It symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and faith. It is a 34 meter statue, with a long path to get to it, but you can see it from far away already due to its size.
Hong Kong Disneyland - kids under age of two are completely free at Disneyland. To buy the cheapest ticket, book it in advance. Smoking and vaping is not allowed in the territory of Disneyland, the designated smoking areas are outside, off-property.
Temple Street Night market, Temple Street is known for its night market.
The night market is one of the most popular flea market at night in this area, very crowed. It is located in the Yau Ma Tei. You can find cheap merchandise and food items here.
Peak Tram : You can experience fabulous view of Victoria Harbour, it is served by the iconic Peak Tram, very steep railway. It runs every 8 minutes, buy a return ticket for it, which is about 50 $HK for an adult. The highest viewing point is from the Peak Tower over 400 meters.
From here you can see Victoria Harbour and the surrounding islands.
Photo by Florian Wehde
Victoria Peak Garden, firstly you can enjoy the enormous panorama of Hong Kong from here and enjoy the Victory Garden.
The Mountain Lodge was the summer home for the Governors of Hong Kong, demolished in 1946 and it was eventually replaced by Victoria Peak Garden. There are excellent views of the South Side of Hong Kong Island and looking South and South West, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau Island and Lantau Island. Spectacular views at Sunset.
The road to Victoria Peak Gardens is very steep, if you are fit enough, walk it but be warned that it can take from half an hour to an hour. If you are not that big of a walker, it is better to take a taxi up and walk down!
Photo by Joen Patrick Caagbay
Nathan Road: This is the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, Hong Kong that goes in a south-north direction from Tsim Sha Tsui to Sham Shui Po. It is lined with shops and restaurants, lots of tourists, and was known in the post-World War II years as the Golden Mile, not really used today anymore.
Mong Kok district: Mong Kok is home to street markets, fancy dining places. Hundreds of restaurants, many large shopping malls and such. Old style local streets + buildings from the 1960's. It is a very safe district, walking around at any hour.
Hong Kong Museum of Art - The first public art museum in the city, now it is home to an art collection of over 17000 items, presenting thematic exhibitions from China as well as from other countries around the world. There is no admission fee on Wednesdays.
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade- one of the most beautiful seafront walks along the coast of Hong Kong. It begins at the Clock Tower and goes all the way to Hung Hom.
Photo by Thomas Goh
Here you find the most popular tours in Hong Kong
Other tour options for Hong Kong
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Enjoy your trip and let us know how it went if you have any comments to share, tips and hints.
Travel insurance
To be safe when traveling, check out medical insurance before your trip
International Sim card
If you are a frequent traveler, check out the global sim card, no more hassle to get internet when you land in another country.
Contact us to plan you travel
To assist you with itinerary for your travel destination or to plan your vacation, contact us at info@lucky2fly.com
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