Hong Kong is such an exciting, lively and vibrant city, that really lives up to the term: “East meets West”. It is a great mix of both Western and Eastern culture, food, shopping and architecture. It is a city that has “everything”. On any given day, you can head to a fishing village less than an hour from downtown, lie on a beach and go on a shopping bonanza in one of the many flashy shopping malls or back-alley markets. After a busy day, you can wind down at one of the city`s restaurants that holds world-class standard, before heading out in the evening some of to the endless numbers of cafes and bars. What`s not to like about Hong Kong?

Here are our top 10 things to do and see in Hong Kong:

1. Eat breakfast at the Flying Pan

Start your day at the famous Flying Pan (9 Old Bailey Street, 2140-6333; 3F, 81-85 Lockhart Rd, Wanchai, 2528-997), and splurge yourself with a big american breakfast with pancakes and waffles. This will definitely keep you going through the day! What diet?!

The Flying Pan.

Delicious breakfast at the Flying Pan.

The cafe is a cool retro American diner, open 24 hour. They have everything you could ever think of when it comes to breakfast/ lunch, with over a doxen omelets, waffles, bagels and pancakes.

Cool American Diner interior at the Flying Pan breakfast/ lunch place.

2. Relax in Hong Kong Park

In the middle of the city, on Hong Kong Island, is a big park in between the big sky scrapers.

The beautiful and peaceful Hong Kong Park.

Me taking a break in Hong Kong park and studying the map (to the left), and a funny tree totally adapted to the city (to the right).

Come here to find some peace and quiet, and wander around looking at the pretty trees, flowers and animals. The park also contains a city zoo with monkeys, reptiles and other animals on display in cages. Honestly, I am not a big fan of that part of the park, but the rest is nice for a little time-out from the city`s noise and hustle.

3. Go shopping

Hong Kong is one of the BEST shopping cities in Asia, yeah I will actually say the world! It is not a cheap city though, so dig deep and find your credit cards. There are sooooo many huge shopping malls here, both on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, as well as some great street markets.

Hong Kong have tons of shopping malls. So have your credit card ready!

Green jade is popular items to buy in Hong Kong. Some of it is pretty expensive though.

Crazy shopping in Kowloon.

We met Spiderman outside the Ocean Terminal shopping mall.

You can find spices and dried “everything” in Hong Kong.

There are also a lot of street markets in Hong Kong, where you can make great bargains!

Street market for lamps, buttons and sewing stuff.

4. Take the Star Ferry

Hong Kong harbor is probably one of the most photographed and most famous harbors in the world, and for a good reason. It is spectacular, especially in the evening with all the lights from the sky scrapers. Taking the Star Ferry is great way to experience the harbour.

The Central Pier, where The Star Ferry Terminal is.

Boarding the Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon.

One of the Star Ferries.

Onboard the Star Ferry.

The Star Ferry in it’s classic green colour.

Sunset at Hong Kong harbour.

Hong Kong harbor at night.

To hop on one of the Star Ferries between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon is so worthwhile. Star Ferry also offers harbour tours which takes you for a half hour tour around the harbour. If you have had enough of the city, you can also explore the outlying islands if you have time. For instance the islands: Sai Kung, Lantau, Lamma and Cheung Chau. Here you will find gorgeous scenery, good hiking trails, beaches, sea food restaurants, small villages, temples and monasteries.

5. Take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak

Take the Peak Tram from Central to the Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island for a breathtaking view!

Yes, it is touristy, and the queue to take the tram is ridiculously long! But the view once on top is worth it, believe me! The tram trip takes 8 minutes, and departs from Garden Road.

Ridiculously long queue to the tram!

The Peak Tram.

Finally on board the tram, after about one hour in queue!

Breathtaking views from the top!

Sunset from Victoria Peak.

Hong Kong at night.

A little bit darker….

And completely dark….

At the top there is a big shopping mall full of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Lots of shops, cafes and restaurants at the top of Victoria Peak.

6. Enjoy the Tram-a-rama

Taking the tram through the Hong Kong Island is a fun, colorful and cheap way to see the city. The colorful, narrow, old, double-decker trams, dating from 1904, goes from Central to Causeway Bay. The fare is 2 HK$ (0,26 US$, 1,50 Nkr). Super cheap!

Taking the tram is a fun and cheap way to see Hong Kong Island.

Taking the Tram is very popular.

7. Eat Dim Sum

Eating Dim Sum or Dumplings is a must in Hong Kong, and Maxim`s Palace in City Hall (3rd floor) is one of the best and most authentic Dim Sum places left in Hong Kong.

The Maxim`s Palace is extremely popular, and for a good reason. They have one of Hong Kongs best Dim Sum.

They still do it the “old way”, with trolleys rolling by in between the tables, where you can pick the Dim Sum you want. They also serve delicious desserts from their trolleys. Lovely Jasmine tea is included. Yummi!

The waitresses walk around the restaurants with freshly made Dim Sums on trolleys.

Fresh and warm Dim Sum. Yummi!!!

For dessert: Sesame and coconut pudding (to the left) and mango pudding with milk (to the right).

8. Drink Chinese Tea

Luk Yu Tea House (Stanley St, 24-26) is an authentic vestige of a lost era. It is a real old-school Chinese tea house, and the most famous traditional and authentic tea house left in Hong Kong. It is beautifully decorated with black ceiling fans, wooden booths, ornate wood paneling, stained-gass murals and marble tabletops. They apparently also serve Dim Sum. Their opening hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but when we were there around 4 p.m. they were already closed. So we didn`t get the chance to try out their tea and dumplings unfortunately. But we will definitely try again next time!

Luk Yu Tea House, one of the very few authentic Chinese Houses left in Hong Kong.

9. Look up at all the Sky Scrapers

Lift your head and look up towards the sky when walking around the busy streets of Hong Kong, and look at all the spectacular sky scrapers. There are over 7 million people living on Hong Kong, in a fairly small area, making it one of the world’s most densely populated area. The lack of space has turned Hong Kong into the world’s most vertical city, full of sky scrapers. Some of the sky scrapers are quite good looking and fancy decorated if I might say!

Hong Kong is one of the world`s densely populated cities. The people live in tall skyscrapers.

Is it a space ship?!

10. Just walk around

Last but not least, one should just wander around the streets of Hong Kong and experience the atmosphere and the sights of every day life. Take in all it`s smells and noise. It is such a busy city, full of colors!

Kowloon, full of people, neon signs and many many shops.

Hong Kong is such a colorful city, full of life.

In Shelley Street (from Des Voeux Rd, Central to Conduit Rd) there is an escalator! Yep, IN the street. So cool! It is definitely worth a ride, and it`s free! The whole ride takes about 20 minutes. The escalator goes downwards 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., and upwards 10 a.m. to midnight.

The escalator in Shelley Street. Great fun!

Next to the Peak Tram, is lovely St. John`s Cathedral. Step inside, sit down, and enjoy the peaceful silence for a moment to clear your head from the city`s noise.

St. John`s Cathedral.

St. John’s Cathedral is the oldest surviving Western building in Hong Kong, and the oldest Anglican church in the Far East. It had its first Sunday service on Sunday, 11 March 1849. During the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong, the cathedral was converted into a club for the Japanese. Many of the original fittings were stripped out, including the original stained glass windows. The site of St. John’s Cathedral is actually the only freehold land in Hong Kong, granted the Church of England Trust Ordinance. All other land in Hong Kong is leasehold in nature.

St. John`s Cathedral in the middle of all the tall skyscrapers. Such a peaceful escape from the big city`s noise.

We really enjoyed our five days in Hong Kong. It is such a vibrant and modern city! We enjoyed the shopping, especially finding Indiana Jones at the Hot Toys, eating good food, and admiring the views from Victoria Peak.

Travelers Information

Where To Stay In Hong Kong

Hong Kong is packed with hotels at all price levels. It is however not a cheap city to stay in when it comes to accommodation. below are some of our favorite hotels.

Island Pacific Hotel
We stayed at the Island Pacific Hotel on Hong Kong Island. We really liked it! Nice rooms, clean, big bathroom, great and very helpful staff. The hotel is located a little away from the main action on Hong Kong Island, but the hotel has a free shuttle bus that goes into the city center. The tram also stops close to the hotel. We walked into the city center several times, so it is absolutely doable.
Click here for the latest prices

Travel Guides

We used Lonely Planet`s Hong Kong guide book on our trip. It was very good! Click on the pictures below to read more about each book on Amazon (affiliate links):

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Have you been to Hong Kong? What are your top things to do in Hong Kong? Please share your thoughts in the comment area below! If you like this blog post, and find it useful, please share and like on social media! Thanks! 🙂

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