Here are my 5 must-do in Hong Kong according to my own experience there. However, it is obvious that Hong Kong abounds of interesting things to do, and places to visit. Try your best to experience the most of it by checking review sites like Vibehero, or by hanging out with local people in order to step away from the usual touristic path.
The Peak
The first ‘must-do’ in Hong Kong is undoubtedly going to the Peak. I went there on my first day in Hong Kong and I knew at the first glance that it was, is and will be one of the most spectacular urban landscapes I will ever see.
The Peak is the highest and most impressive view point of Hong Kong, from where you can have an overall panorama of the breathtaking cityscapes of Hong Kong’s city center.
You can reach the top in different ways, be it by bus, walking or tram. However, to me the tram is definitely the most interesting experience.
You can take it at the Lower Terminus on Garden Road (you can walk there from Central Station) and enjoy the journey admiring the landscape while riding this historic funicular railway.
Once on the top, reach the Sky Terrace 248 or the free-entry observation deck of the Peak Galleria. The experience is enhanced in early evening when the skyline melts with pink and orange, turning this panorama into an unreal experience.
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Hong Kong from Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade (Photo credit: Sarmu)
Next stop? Experience this atmosphere from inside through the TST Promenade.
Starting from the Star Ferry and the colonial-era Clock Tower, you can walk along the water until Hung Hom station. You will find along the way some of the cultural wealth of Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Avenue of Stars, paying homage to the local movie stars.
The promenade is delightful during the day but it becomes really amazing at night where you could admire the multi-color lights of the big and beautiful buildings towering over the crowded waters of Victoria Harbour.
There is also a special daily show involving sound and lights dancing over more than 40 building runs from 8pm to 8:20pm. Do not leave Hong Kong without attending this!
Ladies Market – Mong Kok
Ladies’ Market, Hong Kong (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It is the most famous market of Hong Kong and a paradise for impassioned shoppers.
Situated in Mong Kok area, on Tung Choi Street, you enter here a one-kilometer street full of clothes, accessories, souvenirs, electronic devices and so on. Bargaining is a must-do here and you can find more than 100 stalls to practice your haggling skills.
Although it is called “Ladies Market”, the market is no longer reserved to women’s accessories. You need a new backpack for your travels? Go there. You want to buy a souvenir for your little brother? Go there. You need a new pair of sneakers? Go there. Everything is fake of course, but if you look for cheap and entertaining shopping this is definitely a must-do.
Mong Kok is probably the busiest area of Hong Kong at night. Surrounded by shops, malls and markets, it is always full of people walking around and street attractions like musical or dance performances (quite strange sometimes, as you can on the picture below).
Lan Kwai Fong
English: Lan Kwai Fong Street sign (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Lan Kwai Fong, usually called LKF, is Hong Kong’s first destination for dining and clubbing.
With more than 100 restaurants, clubs and bars gathered in 3 or 4 streets, LKF has become a must when it comes to nightlife, making of this area one of the favorite of Hong Kong tourists and expatriates community, which represent most of the frequentation of LFK.
On Thursdays, it is ‘Ladies night’ in LKF, which means almost all the bars and clubs offer free drinks for ladies all night long.
Take a hike on Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island South View (Photo credit: Je.T.)
Hong Kong is not only a finance center full of skyscrapers, it is also a beautiful island full of natural landscapes. The best way to discover it is going for a hike somewhere in the island.
You can choose the track and schedule that suit you most, from a several days hike in the mountains to a one-hour walk skirting the sea.
I chose a 3 hours hike through mountains and shores to a nice beach where we could rent tents and spend the night around a bonfire. I chilled on the beach the next day, having fun on the big waves, before taking a speed-boat surfing the waves up and down like if you were in a rollercoaster to go back.
