No matter if you are visiting Hong Kong for the first time or an experienced local looking for new experiences to enjoy – this list has something for all of us – beaches with resort-like vibes to a Kamikaze cave – there’s sure to be something that meets your criteria here!
Discover Central’s glittering skyscrapers and visit an eye-opening museum, while kids will delight in meeting cartoon characters at Disneyland and discovering Hong Kong’s distinct festivals. Cathay Pacific flights allow you to enjoy the city, including Sydney to Hong Kong flights.
1. Repulse Bay
Repulse Bay is an idyllic beachy retreat offering something for everyone, with its golden crescent of golden sand just minutes from Hong Kong city and resort-like atmosphere. Perfect for sunbathing or enjoying an enjoyable happy hour – here is all you need to know about Repulse Bay as a longstanding favorite among both locals and tourists alike!
Repulse Bay, one of Hong Kong’s longest beaches, is famed for its silky-soft white sand and tranquil waters – providing a serene environment perfect for sunbathing, swimming and picnicking activities.
Residential areas within this upscale residential district feature luxury high-rise apartments with breathtaking ocean views as well as buildings constructed according to feng shui principles, such as the famous ‘Building with a Hole.
Shops and eateries abound in this neighborhood, from historic beach shops to modern malls like The Pulse. For sophisticated ocean views while dining elegantly at The Verandah restaurant or more casual fare at The Repulse Bay hotel food court (serving everything from fish tacos to pizza), visit The Verandah.
2. Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui is an attractive tourist spot due to its prime position next to Victoria Harbour. Once an active port and railway terminal, this district now focuses mainly on tourism and shopping with skyscrapers dotting its landscape.
Tsim Sha Tsui offers you plenty of choices whether it’s designer labels or local cuisine you seek – with high-end malls such as MUSEA and K11 boasting Instagram-worthy atriums as well as unique stores such as MoMA Design Store and Fortnum & Mason to explore.
Hong Kong offers many attractions for visitors to experience, such as its version of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame: Avenue of Stars (also called Hong Kong Walk of Stars ). There, visitors can find handprints and movie memorabilia of famous stars lining its path. Or stroll along its waterfront and admire Hong Kong’s recognizable skyline while seeing the amazing HK Symphony of Lights display at nighttime.
Take a ferry over to Lamma Island for an authentic Hong Kong experience, complete with peaceful villages and tranquil beaches, plus Indie boutiques and craft shops – an ideal way to unwind within Hong Kong itself!
3. Cat Street
Upper Lascar Row’s Cat Street has long been popular among tourists and antique enthusiasts as a shopping spot, featuring vintage jade carvings, copper household items, historic coins and much more! Offerings here range from vintage jade carvings to copper household goods. Bartering is encouraged; so don’t be shy to haggle!
At Hollywood Road Market, tourist shoppers dominate, but locals can also be found browsing its stalls to find something unique such as mahjong tile sets or Hong Kong-themed playing cards. Though you might expect to spend slightly more here than on Hollywood Road, it still provides cheaper shopping than buying similar items directly in stores and adds an engaging piece of Hong Kong culture into your home!
A popular tourist destination, the Dragon’s Back Trail provides breathtaking views of both ocean and city skylines. Hiking it alone or with a guide provides the opportunity to soak up nature while taking a leisurely stroll through breathtaking surroundings.
4. The Peak
The Peak is a beloved travel destination in Hong Kong, beloved by both locals and visitors alike for its breathtaking panoramic views over the city both day and night.
Join the Peak Tram (sometimes referred to as a funicular), and take in panoramic views of the city skyline as you ride it up Mount Austin. At its summit you can visit restaurants and shopping malls – including Madame Tussauds! Additionally there are walking routes and observation decks such as Lions Pavilion Lookout, Lugard Road Green Terrace Sky Terrace 428 that offer excellent sightseeing.
For an active experience, try hiking up to the Peak. By leaving early and leaving tram queues behind, you can start your trek along a winding trail directly from Sheung Wan or Tsim Sha Tsui without waiting in any lines – then stroll the Peak Circle Walk while admiring stunning vistas over Sheung Wan, Tsim Sha Tsui or Victoria Harbour – best done just before sunset when the city transforms into an array of lights!
5. Hong Kong Museum of History
The Hong Kong Museum of History, housed in an impressive building located in Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon Peninsula, provides an enlightening insight into Hong Kong’s long and rich history through engaging visual exhibits. Covering an area of 17,500 square meters, this museum displays cultural artifacts related to archaeology, ethnography, natural history and more.
Its flagship exhibit, The Hong Kong Story, takes visitors on an immersive experience from prehistoric Hong Kong through to China’s 1997 Handover of Hong Kong. Its eight galleries showcase life-size dioramas of village houses and colonial-era shopping streets as well as chilling accounts of Japanese occupation and an in-depth examination of how Hong Kong evolved after being handed back from Britain.
There are also other exhibits, including a recreated street and section dedicated to traditional folk culture, making this museum, which offers free entry with donations being accepted, an ideal opportunity for understanding Hong Kong as it stands today.
6. Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland is an essential stop for families with young children. Situated on Lantau Island, this amusement park features animal areas as well as thrilling rides – not unlike Shanghai’s 2015 Disneyland which lies two hours away! It was the first Disney park built specifically for Chinese audiences (a fact which distinguishes its experience significantly).
Mystic Point, Hong Kong Disneyland’s latest addition, offers an unforgettable theme park experience like no other with its story of undiscovered Papua New Guinea and mysterious forces at work in unexplored Papua New Guinea. Visitors can discover treetop houses, water-spitting totems, and native tribes during an immersive river ride experience.
Other highlights include Main Street USA, which recreates an American small town, and Mickey and Wondrous Book show, which brings Disney stories to life with musical entertainment. Don’t miss shopping souvenirs at Emporium or dressing your child up as their favorite prince or princess at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Royal Princess Garden; plus Cat Street boasts an unusual collection of antiques and kitsch curios – so much fun for all the family!
7. Wan Chai
Wan Chai is like a city within a city, offering the best of modern and traditional Hong Kong in one vibrant district. Attracting night owls, coffee addicts, and liquor enthusiasts alike.
Lee Tung Avenue’s once sleazy streets have now been transformed into luxurious malls and designer bars, while some traditional wet markets still thrive on Bowrington Road. Additionally, Star Street and Ship Street feature some stylish independent boutiques – while F11 Foto Museum houses the world’s largest Leica camera collection.
Climb the steps up Bowen Road for an incredible panoramic view over the city, as well as to find Lover’s Rock where local couples visit to pray for luck and prosperity.
Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel provides an ideal base for exploring this vibrant district, boasting a luxurious seventh-floor spa complete with Technogym cardio and weight equipment as well as breathtaking unobstructed harbour views from every room – making this hotel an excellent choice for romantic breaks in Hong Kong.
8. Kowloon Bay
Repulse Bay offers an accessible arc of sand while Big Wave Bay draws surfers looking to catch some waves.
Explore Hollywood Road art galleries, the JCCAC artists’ colony in Shek Kip Mei or one of Hong Kong’s vibrant street markets for an artistic or cultural experience. These places can provide great people-watching opportunities while you haggle with locals!
If you’re seeking something with more adrenaline-pumping entertainment, Ocean Park, an aquatic theme park featuring many rides and attractions is perfect. Two major draws here are their giant pandas who live as close as possible to their natural environment.
The park features numerous other attractions, from an aquarium and rainforest, to a recreated arcaded Central street and numerous thrilling rides. If you prefer, take the ferry over to Lamma Island for a more tranquil, rural experience with tranquil beaches and rolling hills.