Hong Kong is the first place abroad that I have traveled to; but in that particular trip, what I mainly did was just eating and shopping as I accompanied a friend of mine back in university. So, when I was able to finally come back again this year to do a more proper ‘tour’ of the city, I did my best to cover as many activities and attractions possible! And today, I am sharing with you my 5-day itinerary to Hong Kong (which include a day trip to the nearby city of Macau and an array of other must-dos that you can consider doing if in case you have more days to spare).
But before I go on, I think it’s best that I give you a bit of some background about the geographical area of Hong Kong because a lot of people actually have this misconception that there’s not much to do there, or that there’s not much green at all — two things that are absolutely NOT true.
First things first, there’s more to the well-known urbanised center because 2/3 of the country is actually made up of the countryside which is full of countless small mountains and several islands.
READ: 10 Things Foreigners Should Know About Hong Kong
To illustrate, Hong Kong is made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and over 200 offshore or outlying islands (the largest of which is Lantau Island).
The area that which most tourists tend to only explore is that of the center: Kowloon Peninsula, and the northern edge of Hong Kong Island.
Rest assured, everything is well-connected by bus and train (MTR – Mass Transit Railway), so going from point A to point B wouldn’t be a big problem at all. If in case you get lost or you get confused about public transportation, Google Maps‘ directions feature is your best friend — this nifty piece of technology has helped me numerous times whenever I’m traveling to foreign countries.
…Now, with all that said and done, let me present to you the things to do in Hong Kong when you’re traveling there for 5 days (or even more!)
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DIY: 5 Days Itinerary in Hong Kong
» PRE-TRAVEL GUIDE
Where to get the best flight deals?
My go-to platforms for grabbing the best flight deals are Momondo, Kayak, and Skyscanner. But of course, it’s always good practice to research first the budget airlines that exist in the country that you’re currently staying in, since they could have rock-bottom prices that are not often visible in the above flight search engines. (For example, if you’re in the Philippines, one of the budget airlines is Cebu Pacific and they typically have $50 or less promos of roundtrip airplane tickets to Hong Kong.)
Where to stay?
It’s best to get your accommodation either in Kowloon Peninsula or Hong Kong Island.
Kowloon Peninsula = Luxury: Hotel ICON / Mid-Range: Shamrock Hotel or AirBnB / Budget: Urban Pack
Hong Kong Island = Luxury: Four Seasons / Mid-Range: Charterhouse Causeway Bay or AirBnB / Budget: Mini Hotel Causeway Bay
How to get Hong Kong dollars currency?
I highly advice that you do NOT exchange your money at the airport since the rates there are totally not competitive. What should you rather do? Either exchange your money or US dollars at a bank or at a money exchanger; or better yet, just withdraw from an ATM with your debit/credit card.
Rate exchange: HKD $1 = USD $0,10~ = Php 6~
How to get around?
It’s always best to avail an Octopus Card — a prepaid contactless debit card that can be used to pay for all kinds of public transport (except taxis and some red minibuses; and if I may add, this can even be used to pay at convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, museums, and more). After all, Hong Kong is best explored by train (MTR) as it is the fastest mode of transportation. The only time that I can recommend using a taxi is if you’re in a hurry, if you get lost, or if you have 3 other people with you to share the cost (meter starts at HKD $22).
To better navigate yourself within Hong Kong, use Google Maps‘ directions feature — I find it as a very helpful tool if I want to reach a certain place from a particular location. (To stay connected, I also recommend that you get a pocket WiFi).
You can avail an Octopus Card at the airport or at any MTR station, and it can also be reloaded at any MTR station or merchant stores that accept Octopus (7-Eleven, McDonalds, etc.). A basic Octopus Card costs HKD $150 in which $100 can be used as credit and the remaining $50 serves as refundable deposit. You can load it to a maximum of HKD $1,000 but you can only refund remaining credit if it’s less than $500. It stays valid for 1,000 days after your last top-up or ‘load’ and can be reactivated anytime afterwards. Rest assured, your card can go negative (for as low as HKD $-35 but this isn’t really negative since your $50 deposit secures it). However, it can only go negative once and you can only use the card again after you reload.)
Helpful Cantonese phrases
Hello: Néih hóu
Thank you: M̀h’gōi
Please: Chíng
Goodbye: Joigin
Excuse me (to get attention): M̀h’hóu yisi
I’m sorry: Deui-m̀h-jyuh
How much: Géidō chín a?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: nī douh yáuh móuh yàhn sīk góng Yīngmán a?
Help!: Gau mehng ā!
Cheers!: Yámbūi!
» DAY #1 «
During my stay, I got a hotel at Hong Kong Island (but you can also opt to get your accommodation in Kowloon as it is more in the ‘middle’ of everything).
That being said, you might find it odd that I explored Kowloon area during my first day instead of Hong Kong Island itself — however, I wanted to see the harbour during the day as well, so it made more sense to sail to Kowloon and explore it, and then sail back at night to see the evening cityscape too. To add, it was a Wednesday when I arrived, and it was timely that the Symphony of Lights had English narration for that day.
Explore Tsim Sha Tsui area in Kowloon
• Go through Victoria Harbour via Star Ferry towards Kowloon Island (Tsim Sha Tsui area)
HKD $2.20 – From Hong Kong Island, you can ride the Star Ferry from either Wan Chai pier or Central pier and it only takes about 10 minutes to reach Tsim Sha Tsui pier. Tickets can be bought on the spot and the ferries leave every 10 minutes.
• Walk around Kowloon Park
This is a large public park smacked in the middle of the bustling area of Tsim Sha Tsui but it offers tranquility for its guests what with its Chinese garden, lotus ponds, aviaries, and more. If you come here on a Sunday around 2PM to 5PM, you can even witness a kung fu and lion dance performance.
• [Lunch] Eat at One Dim Sum Chinese Restaurant
HKD $25~ per meal – If you want to taste a One-Michelin star dim sum restaurant that wouldn’t burn your wallet, then this is the right place for you! During peak hours though, be prepared to wait for about 30 minutes until you get seated; otherwise, it’s best to visit during low peak hours from 3PM to 5PM and 9PM to midnight.
• Head to Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
If you’ve got time, the promenade is a charming place to stroll in. Around this area you can find the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Clock Tower, and the Avenue of Stars (where you can see exhibits dedicated to film stars like Bruce Lee, etc.; regrettably though, this area is under improvement until 2018).
• [Night time] Watch the Symphony of Lights from Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
This is a free nightly multimedia show involving (what else but) lights, lasers, and buildings. The best spot to watch it would be by the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade waterfront so that you can see the picturesque Hong Kong Island and Victoria Peak on the other side. Live narration in English is available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (the rest of the days are in Mandarin and Cantonese) — it starts at 8PM daily and lasts for about 13 minutes.
TRIVIA: The Guinness World Records named this as the world’s largest permanent light and sound show.
• [Night time] Shop till you drop at Mong Kok
Temple Street Night Market – this is basically a flea market bazaar where you can find tons of affordable trinkets, souvenirs, electronics, jade, antiques, etc. Officially, it is open from 2PM until midnight each day between Jordan Road and Kansu street; but most stalls usually open at 4PM and its lively atmosphere starts about 9PM.
Ladies Market – as the name goes, this is a haven for the ladies what with all the cheap clothing and accessories that adorn this place. There are also branded stores speckled across the area that are relatively inexpensive. (MTR: board the train going to Tsuen Wan and get off at Mongkok Station, exiting at Bank Centre signed E ad then E2.)
Mongkok Computer Centre – for all the techies, this is where you must head off for all your computer-related needs. It houses more than 70 computer shops!
• [Dinner] Dine at any of the food stalls lined along Temple Street
To really be with the locals, this is a must-do! Try out the fresh seafood dishes or look for a stall that offers claypot rice — a Hong Kong classic!
• Go back to Hong Kong Island via Star Ferry
HKD $2.20 – I suggest taking the Tsim Sha Tsui to Central route since it has a more picturesque view of the harbor, with the beautiful Victoria Peak in view. If you want, Star Ferry also offers a harbour cruise that is times together with the Symphony of Lights (see here).
Other/Substitute Activities
• Visit the Hong Kong Museum of History
Come here if you want to learn more of Hong Kong’s historical and cultural heritage. There are audio guides for HKD $10 and you can get in for free if you come on a Wednesday (a majority of Hong Kong’s museums have free admittance on Wednesdays actually).
• Go up the Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck
HKD $151 if you buy online – This is located on the 100th floor of Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre (ICC). In here, you can have a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of Victoria Harbour.
» DAY #2 «
Given that my trip to Hong Kong was sponsored by a local company, my 2nd day actually involved meetings, exploring their properties, hotels, etc. Now of course, it wouldn’t make sense for you to do the same; so instead, I would suggest that you go off and explore the areas of the New Territories and/or Lantau Island for this day!
It helps to note that NOT everything listed below for both can be done in a day. Therefore, what I suggest is that you do half a day per area as you pick just one or a few activities for each.
Explore the New Territories
• Go through a heritage trail
There are two of these that you can choose from. The Ping Shan Heritage Trail links up a number of traditional Chinese buildings that are within walking distance to one another as it gives you the chance to learn more of the traditional life in the New Territories. Meanwhile, Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail will take you through the history of the Tang clan, one of the 5 largest clans in the New Territories.
• Go hiking
Hiking is slowly becoming a favorite past time of the people in Hong Kong and with the vast green terrain that surround the country, there are surely various hiking trails that you can choose from. This website perfectly sums up all of those places and labeled accordingly with difficulty, time, etc.
• Visit some temples
The most notable ones are:
Chi Lin Nunnery – a large temple complex that has been established as a retreat for Buddhisht nuns. You can find here statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, Guanyin and other bodhisattvas made from gold, clay, wood, and stone.
Che Kung Temple – this honors Che Kung, a military commander of the Southern Song dynasty. Naturally, you will find a giant statue of Che Kung at the main worship hall’s altar.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery – there are actually no resident monks in this Buddhist temple as it is now managed by laypersons. However, the beauty of this place’s temples, pavilions and pagodas are not to be missed; plus, the journey up to this monastery is an attraction itself due to the golden Buddhas that line up the path.
Explore Lantau Island
• Ride 360 Ngong Ping
HKD $255 for Standard roundtrip and HKD $325 for Crystal Cabin roundtrip – This 25-minute cable car ride is the best way to explore Lantau island. It starts from Tung Chung (MTR), and if you could, I suggest that you try the Crystal Cabin that has a glass bottom so that you can see everything around and below you in clear view.
• See the Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha)
Po Lin Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist places and has been called as the ‘Buddhist World in the South’. Opposite to this is the famous brnze Big Buddha statue that sits at 34 metres high and facing north to look towards Mainland China (it is open from 10AM to 5:30PM).
• Go around Ngong Ping Village
This is a 1.5-hectare place where you can find an array of shops and eateries. If you have HKD $40 to spare, you can also watch the multimedia show ‘Walking with Buddha’
» DAY #3 «
Perfect for families, or simply for those who are kids-at-heart…
Visit Disneyland
HKD $539 for adults (you can get HKD $20 discount if you purchase from CTS/China Travel Service at the airport) – Since I already visited OceanPark before, I opted to put Disneyland on my recent 5-day itinerary to Hong Kong and it was fun!
There are various attractions and themed areas — furthermore, there are several parades and stage shows that happen daily which you should try and see! My favorites are the ‘Festival of the Lion King‘ at Adventureland and ‘Mickey and the Wondrous Book‘ at Fantasyland. (Go to this link for an accurate schedule of activities during your day of visit). Be sure not to miss out the 4D attraction that they have, as well as the 8PM fireworks display.
Other/Substitute Activities
• …or go to OceanPark instead
HKD $385 for adults – Disneyland is best explored if you just want some ‘calm fun’; so if you want crazier rides, I suggest going to OceanPark! …And of course, they have varied attractions that lets you take a closer look into marine life.
» DAY #4 «
Explore Hong Kong Island
• [Breakfast] Have breakfast at Kam Kee
HKD $35~ Have a taste of a typical Hong Kong breakfast right here!
• Take the Hong Kong Tramway (Dingding)
As low as HKD $2.30, payable with Octopus Card – this 1920s-style tram is the best way to discover Hong Kong Island. Just head over to this site to decipher the route you want to take and map out your stops; or better yet, for only HKD $95, you can already be a part of their signature 1-hour TramOramic tour.
• [Lunch] Try the famous Din Tai Fung Restaurant (Yee Wo Branch)
HKD $70~ This is yet another affordable Michelin-star-awarded franchise restaurant that specializes in xiao long bao — a type of steamed soup dumpling that I guarantee you will love!
• Go up via the Peak Tram to reach the Sky Terrace and see Victoria Peak (and then have some fun at Madame Tussauds)
All of these are packaged at just a price of HKD $305 (yes, including roundtrip fare for Peak Tram) – I loved this package that I availed via the wax museum: Madame Tussauds website, because not only is it reasonably-prized but it also helped me steer clear of the long line at the ticket counter for the Peak Tram. So basically, Peak Tram will take you up to Victoria Peak via the Sky Terrace — the place where you get to see with your own eyes that iconic view of the Hong Kong skyline and it’s absolutely an amazing sight. (NOTE: Madame Tussauds is located in the same building).
• [Dinner] Dine and drink at Lan Kwai Fong
This small square street is one of Hong Kong’s most popular nightlife hot spots with over a hundred of restaurants and bars. And surely, if you’re up to party afterwards, you’ll have no shortage of options here.
Other/Substitute Activities
• Ride a sampan or ‘junk boat’
Those flashy red wooden boats that you see on Victoria Harbour are no other than the traditional sampans or junk boats that were typically used in the olden times. There are not a lot of providers available today, but you can take your pick among 3, which you can find here. (Fare starts at about HKD $120 per person)
• Shop around Causeway Bay
If you’re up for a high-end shopping spree, go for places like Time Square, IFC, and Landmark among others. For gadgets and computers, there’s the Wan Chai Computer Centre.
» DAY #5 «
Macau is just a 1-hour boat ride away, so why not take this opportunity to come and visit? Besides, you won’t spend so much money here (except for food, shopping, or casino-playing [if you want to]) and that’s mainly because once you’re in here, you won’t need to pay for transportation due to the number of FREE casino shuttle buses s that go all over the city (which can be used by literally anyone, you don’t have to be a casino’s guest to use it).
CURRENCY: Macau has its own called as Macanese Patacas (MOP). But don’t worry about exchanging your HKD to MOP because HKD is already widely accepted in Macau.
Explore Macau
• (8AM) Take the TurboJET ferry to get to Macau (Outer Harbour) ferry terminal
HKD $165 – Ride the TurboJet ferry from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal which is located at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan (MTR Sheung Wan Station). Make sure that you buy a roundtrip ticket that lands in Macau Outer Harbour and NOT Macau Taipa.
• Get on the FREE shuttle bus at the terminal that leads to Grand Lisboa, and then explore the nearby attractions in the historic center…
Senado Square – this is a paved town center of Macau and part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of the Macau World Heritage Site. As per history, this used to be a meeting place for the Chinese and Portuguese people. Many large events were also hosted here and it still continues up to today.
St. Dominic’s Church – located near Leal Senado Building, this Baroque-style church is noted for its mixture of European and Macanese design features.
Ruins of St. Paul’s – this was originally St. Paul’s College and the Church of St. Paul; today however, what remains of it now a fire back in 1835 is only that of the southern stone facade and some other parts of the ruins that are now turned into a museum.
Monte Forte (Fortaleza do Monte) – this is the historical military centre of Macau, located just beside the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Originally, this was built to protect the properties of Jesuits in Macau from pirates, but later on seized by the governor for defending the city.
• Visit Macau Tower
HKD $2.5 – From Senado Square, walk over to Praca Jorge Alvares and take Bus 32. At 338 meters, this tower is apparently inspired out of Auckland’s Sky Tower. Today, it holds the highest commercial skyjump (bungee jump) activity in the world at 233 meters. (You can try this out for yourself at HKD $2,800~)
• Have a look at the famous casinos of Macau in Taipa island
A FREE shuttle bus that stops at City of Dreams can be taken at the lobby of Macau Tower. Once you get off, you’re pretty much at the center of Taipa, and every casino nearby can be easily reached by walking or by riding the free shuttle buses. Now of course, unless you’re here for gambling, I suggest that you just simply visit a select few of casinos (like the ones I’m listing below); besides, you can see ALL the casinos later on in the night with an activity that I’ll be suggesting later on in this list.
City of Dreams – Bring your kids here to Kids’ City, or party at Club Cubic — better yet, come witness the world’s largest breathtaking water show: the House of Dancing Water! (Ticket starts at HKD $580 for adults).
Galaxy Macau – smacked right in the main lobby of Galaxy Macau is the Fortune Diamond which is a huge 3-meter gem that serves as a backdrop for a waterfall. You can also watch a movie here in their big 10-screen 3D cineplex or just shop at The Promenade.
Venetian – Apart from the luxury shopping experience, a sight to be seen here is their Venice-inspired interiors wherein there are actually a network of canals where you can rent a gondala for yourself and be serenaded by a gondolier. One of Lord Stow’s Bakery’s food stalls can also be found here, so make sure you buy yourself some of those famous egg tarts!
• Walk over to Taipa Village
Old Taipa Houses – this complex contains 5 houses that depict the old colonial residences that used to be owned by well-off Portuguese families in Macau.
Rua do Cunha – this is a narrow but well-lit street in Vila di Taipa that’s known for its restaurants and shops. Some of the well-known stores here where you can buy great Chinese fares to take back home and give away as gifts (or eat for yourself of course) are Choi Heong Yuen and Koi Kei.
• [Night time] Ride a shuttle bus and ogle at the casinos’ facades
Macau becomes even more of a beauty at night and if you’re pressed on time but still want to see the rest of the casinos in Taipa that you can’t easily reach by foot, just ride any free shuttle bus that passes by the casinos that you want to see and stay there until it reaches its starting point again. I personally love the ostentatious buildings of Studio City, Galaxy, and the Parisian.
• Catch a ferry of TurboJet back to Hong Kong
HKD $190 – The free shuttle buses go directly back to Macau ferry terminal (I took the shuttle bus at the Venetian that was marked ‘Macau Ferry’). Just make sure that you pick a bus that goes to the Macau ferry terminal at the Outer Harbour or in the Macau Peninsula (not the one in Taipa).
***TIP: When booking this roundtrip ticket with TurboJet, it’s best to pick the last boat that leaves for Hong Kong (typically before midnight). Even if you don’t intend to leave that late, you wouldn’t want to feel rushed to catch an 8PM ferry, for example, if in case you ended up spending too much time at a certain place. Rest assured, you can use your ticket at any time as long as it’s before the intended departure time.
Other/Substitute Activities
• Wynn Casino
If you’ve got some time, pass by Wynn casino to watch their spectacular water show. It happens every 15 minutes and runs until midnight.
• Mandarin’s House
This residential complex depicts the typical characteristics of traditional residences and also used to be the home of late Qing theoretician, Zheng Guanying.
• Guia Fortress
This is a military fort, chapel and lighthouse complex that is also part of the historic centre of Macau.
• A-Ma Temple (Ma Kok Miu)
This is one of the oldest Taoist temples in Macau and it is said that the name ‘Macau’ was derived from the name of this temple when natives replied to Portuguese sailors with “A-Ma-Gau” (when asked what the name of the place was).
Overall
Hong Kong may be a small destination, but it has more than enough activities and attractions to keep you occupied.
I tried my very best to be as detailed as I could with this guide, so that you won’t be missing any of Hong Kong’s (and Macau’s) highlights! That being said, feel free to tweak this itinerary as well as my suggestions to make your trip shorter or longer and better fitting for your travel style. Enjoy and do let me know how your trip goes!
How about you?
What do you think of this itinerary?
What are the top things that you would LOVE to do?
Or have you already been to Hong Kong and/or Macau? How was it? Any other tips to add?
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