Hong Kong

Asia's World City—where East meets West in a vertical jungle of skyscrapers, dim sum, and electric energy.

7.5M Population
HK$850 Daily Budget
3-5 Days Needed
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Must-Visit
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Best Time
Oct-Dec, Mar-May
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Airport
HKG (world-class)
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Transport
Excellent MTR
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Language
Cantonese (English OK)

🏙️ Top Attractions

Hong Kong packs incredible diversity into a small space. From Victoria Peak views to temple street markets.

Victoria Peak

Hong Kong's highest point with breathtaking 360° harbor views. Take the historic Peak Tram (funicular) up. Best at sunset or night for skyline lights.

⏰ 2 hours 💰 HK$99 round-trip 🌅 Sunset views
Book Tickets →

Star Ferry

Iconic ferry crossing Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Cheapest sightseeing tour in the world at HK$3.70!

⏰ 10 minutes 💰 HK$3.70 ⭐ Must-do
Book Experience →

Tian Tan Buddha

Giant bronze Buddha statue (34m tall) on Lantau Island. Climb 268 steps for views. Take the scenic Ngong Ping 360 cable car up.

⏰ Half day 💰 Free (cable car extra) 🙏 Spiritual
Book Tour →

Temple Street Night Market

Bustling night market in Kowloon. Street food, fortune tellers, cheap souvenirs, knockoff goods. Most atmospheric after 8 PM.

⏰ 2 hours 💰 Free entry 🌙 Night market
Book Tour →

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

Waterfront promenade with the best skyline views of Hong Kong Island. Free and spectacular, especially for the Symphony of Lights show (8 PM).

⏰ 1 hour 💰 FREE 📸 Photo spot
Book Experience →

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Colorful Taoist temple where locals come for fortune telling. Stunning traditional Chinese architecture. Free entry, very photogenic.

⏰ 1 hour 💰 FREE 🏯 Traditional
Book Tour →

Dragon's Back Trail

Best urban hiking trail in Asia (National Geographic). Stunning coastal views, moderate difficulty, takes 2-3 hours. Great escape from the city.

⏰ 3 hours 💰 FREE 🥾 Hiking
Book Hiking Tour →

Ladies Market

Bustling street market in Mong Kok. Bargain for clothes, accessories, souvenirs, electronics. Practice your haggling skills—start at 30% asking price!

⏰ 1-2 hours 💰 Free entry 🛍️ Shopping
Book Tour →

🏘️ Best Neighborhoods

Hong Kong is divided between Hong Kong Island (south) and Kowloon Peninsula (north), separated by Victoria Harbour.

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Central

Hong Kong Island's business district. Luxury shopping (IFC Mall), Mid-Levels Escalator (world's longest outdoor covered escalator), SoHo dining and bars.

💼 Business 🛍️ Luxury 🍽️ Dining
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Tsim Sha Tsui

Kowloon's tourist hub. Best skyline views, waterfront promenade, museums, luxury hotels, shopping (Harbour City), and Nathan Road.

🏨 Hotels 📸 Views 🛍️ Shopping
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Mong Kok

Densely packed, authentic Hong Kong. Ladies Market, Goldfish Market, street food, neon signs. Most crowded district on Earth—pure energy.

🏮 Authentic 🛍️ Markets ⚡ Energetic
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Lantau Island

Hong Kong's largest island. Big Buddha, Ngong Ping Village, hiking trails, beaches, Disneyland, and the airport. Great day trip escape.

🙏 Buddha 🥾 Hiking 🏖️ Beaches

💰 Budget Planning

Hong Kong is cheaper than Singapore but still pricey. Accommodation is expensive, but food and transport are affordable.

Budget
HK$500
Per Day (~$65 USD)
Hostel Dorm HK$150-250
Meals HK$150-200
Transport HK$50-80
Attractions HK$50-100
Mid-Range
HK$850
Per Day (~$110 USD)
Hotel HK$500-700
Meals HK$250-350
Transport HK$80-100
Attractions HK$100-150
Luxury
HK$2500+
Per Day (~$320+ USD)
Luxury Hotel HK$1500+
Fine Dining HK$800+
Transport HK$150-200
Experiences HK$300+

🥟 Food & Dining

Hong Kong is a food paradise. From Michelin-starred dim sum to street food stalls, eating is the main activity.

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Dim Sum

Must-try Cantonese tradition. Har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai, char siu bao (BBQ pork buns). Tim Ho Wan has Michelin-starred dim sum for HK$30-50!

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Cha Chaan Teng

Hong Kong-style cafés serving fusion comfort food. Try milk tea, egg tarts, pineapple buns, macaroni soup. Cheap and authentic (HK$40-60/meal).

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Seafood

Fresh seafood at Lei Yue Mun or Sai Kung. Pick live seafood from tanks, restaurants cook it for you. Expensive but fresh and delicious.

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Dai Pai Dong

Open-air street food stalls (disappearing tradition). Wonton noodles, roast goose, clay pot rice. Cheap, fast, and authentic Hong Kong experience.

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Milk Tea & Desserts

Hong Kong-style milk tea is a must. Also try mango pomelo sago, egg tarts, egg waffles (gai daan jai), tofu pudding. Dessert culture is huge.

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Michelin on Budget

Hong Kong has the most affordable Michelin-starred food in the world. Tim Ho Wan, Ho Hung Kee, Kam's Roast Goose all under HK$100.

💡 Insider Tips

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Octopus Card

Buy an Octopus card (stored-value smart card) for MTR, buses, ferries, trams, AND convenience stores. Tap to pay everywhere. HK$50 deposit + HK$100 value.

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Free Activities

Many attractions are free: Symphony of Lights show, Star Ferry (cheap), temple visits, hiking trails, markets, promenade walks. Save money easily.

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Avoid Summer

June-August is hot (85-95°F), humid (80-90%), and has typhoons. Oct-Dec and Mar-May are perfect: 65-80°F, lower humidity, clear skies.

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English Works

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants. MTR announcements in English. Many signs bilingual. Much easier than mainland China.

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Hike the Trails

70% of Hong Kong is country parks! Dragon's Back, Lion Rock, Lantau Peak, MacLehose Trail sections. Best city hiking in Asia. Free and accessible by MTR.

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Night Views

Best skyline views: Victoria Peak (HK$99), Sky100 (cheaper), Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade (free!), Ozone Bar (world's highest bar), or any rooftop bar.

Ready to Explore Hong Kong?

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