Things to do in Hong Kong

21 places worth the trip in Hong Kong, grouped by what they are. Every guide explains what to see, the best time to go and the practical details, checked against official sources. Best time to visit Hong Kong: Oct–Dec.

Mosques & temples (6)
Heritage (2)
Markets (2)
Islands (2)
Viewpoints (2)
Landmarks (1)
Cities (1)
Nature (1)
Mountains (1)
Beaches (1)
Adventure (1)
Museums (1)

Mosques & temples in Hong Kong

Tian Tan Buddha seated on its hilltop above wooded slopes and misty mountains, Lantau Island

Ngong Ping, Lantau Island

Tian Tan Buddha

A 34-metre bronze Buddha seated above Po Lin Monastery on the Ngong Ping plateau, reached by a 25-minute cable car ride from Tung Chung and a climb of 268 steps.

Rows of giant incense coils hanging from the ceiling of Man Mo Temple, with light beams through the smoke

Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island

Man Mo Temple & Sheung Wan

Built between 1847 and 1862 and dedicated to the gods of literature and martial arts, Man Mo Temple is a smoky, atmospheric declared monument at the heart of old Sheung Wan.

Ornate red and gold entrance archway of Wong Tai Sin Temple under a blue sky, with a tower block behind

Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon

Wong Tai Sin Temple

One of Hong Kong's busiest temples, run by the Taoist body Sik Sik Yuen and dedicated to the healer Wong Tai Sin, where worshippers shake fortune sticks amid clouds of incense.

The golden Pavilion of Absolute Perfection and red bridge over a pond in Nan Lian Garden, with hills and tower blocks behind

Diamond Hill, Kowloon

Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden

A serene Buddhist nunnery built in Tang dynasty style from timber without nails, joined by a footbridge to Nan Lian Garden with its golden pavilion, red bridge and koi ponds.

Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre with its white marble domes, Tsim Sha Tsui

Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre

The Kowloon Masjid and Islamic Centre on Nathan Road is Hong Kong's largest mosque, holding up to 3,500 worshippers, with roots going back to an 1896 mosque for soldiers.

The red-and-gold tiered pagoda beside a pavilion with a golden statue, potted flowers and hills behind

Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin, New Territories

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

A hillside Buddhist complex above Sha Tin, founded in 1949, where a stairway lined with golden statues leads to halls holding more than 12,000 Buddha figures and a nine-storey pagoda.

Heritage in Hong Kong

Arched verandahs of the Barrack Block at Tai Kwun beside a red-brick building, with towers of Central behind

Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong Island

Central-Mid-Levels, PMQ & Tai Kwun

In the hilly lanes above Central, the former Central Police Station complex is now Tai Kwun, a centre for heritage and arts, while nearby PMQ houses studios of local designers.

A row of Tai O stilt houses standing over green water, with a steep green mountain and blue sky behind

Tai O, Lantau Island

Tai O Fishing Village

A Tanka fishing village of stilt houses linked by creeks and boardwalks, known for shrimp paste, dried seafood and boat rides in search of Chinese white dolphins.

Markets in Hong Kong

Temple Street entrance arch with its lit name sign at night, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong

Jordan and Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon

Temple Street Night Market

A long-running street market in Jordan and Yau Ma Tei where stalls, roadside eateries, fortune tellers and impromptu Cantonese opera take over Temple Street each evening.

Elevated daytime view of a Mong Kok street market with rows of covered stalls between tall residential blocks

Mong Kok and Prince Edward, Kowloon

Mong Kok street markets

A cluster of themed street markets in Mong Kok: bargain stalls on Tung Choi Street, bagged goldfish, a wholesale flower district and a traditional songbird garden.

Islands in Hong Kong

A green-roofed Chinese pavilion on a hillside above a calm bay with fish farms, hills and a dappled sky

Lamma Island, Outlying Islands

Lamma Island

A car-free island of village lanes, beaches and seafood restaurants, crossed by an easy 5 km Family Trail between Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan.

Colourful wooden boats crowded together on calm water in Cheung Chau harbour, with hills and blue sky behind

Cheung Chau, Outlying Islands

Cheung Chau

A lively car-free fishing island south-west of Hong Kong Island, home to the 18th-century Pak Tai Temple, sandy beaches and the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

Viewpoints in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island high-rises, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon seen from The Peak on a sunny day with clouds

The Peak, Central and Western District, Hong Kong Island

Victoria Peak

Ride the 1888 Peak Tram up to The Peak for a panorama over the skyscrapers of Central, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon, then walk the easy, tree-shaded Peak Circle Walk.

The Avenue of Stars promenade on a sunny day, with railings, a curved canopy and the Hong Kong Island skyline across the harbour

Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade & Avenue of Stars

A free harbourfront walk from the Clock Tower along the Avenue of Stars, with classic views of Hong Kong Island and the nightly A Symphony of Lights show at 8pm.

Landmarks in Hong Kong

Green and white Star Ferry moored at Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier on Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon and Central / Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island

Star Ferry

A short, inexpensive harbour crossing on a fleet of green-and-white ferries, linking Tsim Sha Tsui with Central and Wan Chai and offering close-up views of the skyline.

Cities in Hong Kong

Colonnaded stone facade of Murray House on the Stanley waterfront, framed by palm trees

Stanley, Southern District, Hong Kong Island

Stanley

A relaxed former fishing village with a souvenir-filled open-air market, a waterfront promenade, the relocated 1846 Murray House and historic Blake Pier.

Nature in Hong Kong

Columnar volcanic rock cliffs below a green-topped headland, with a pale rock stack and blue sea behind

Sai Kung, New Territories

Sai Kung and the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark

Towering hexagonal rock columns formed by a supervolcano about 140 million years ago, seen at High Island Reservoir's East Dam in the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region of the geopark.

Mountains in Hong Kong

Hazy daytime view from Lion Rock over the dense high-rise blocks of Kowloon towards the harbour

Kowloon and Sha Tin, New Territories

Lion Rock Country Park

A rugged 495 m peak shaped like a crouching lion, with sweeping views over Kowloon and Victoria Harbour from one of Hong Kong's earliest country parks, designated in 1977.

Beaches in Hong Kong

Repulse Bay beach and calm water with high-rise apartments against green hills under a blue sky

Repulse Bay, Southern District, Hong Kong Island

Repulse Bay

A sheltered, crescent-shaped beach of soft sand and calm water on the south side of Hong Kong Island, with lifeguards, a shark net and giant statues of Tin Hau and Kwun Yam nearby.

Adventure in Hong Kong

Green ridge of Dragon's Back with a footpath leading towards a hazy hill and the sea beyond

Shek O Country Park, Southern District, Hong Kong Island

Dragon's Back, Shek O Country Park

A moderate ridge walk of about 8 km over Shek O Peak, the final stage of the Hong Kong Trail, with sweeping views of the coast and a finish at Big Wave Bay beach.

Museums in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Palace Museum's tapering gold-toned facade above trees and a lawn under a clear blue sky

West Kowloon, Kowloon

West Kowloon Cultural District, M+ & Hong Kong Palace Museum

Hong Kong's harbourside arts district, home to M+ for contemporary visual culture and the Hong Kong Palace Museum for Chinese imperial art, with lawns and a promenade facing the skyline.

Hong Kong holiday packages

Hong Kong Island high-rises, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon seen from The Peak on a sunny day with clouds

City break

Hong Kong · 4 nights5★ Hotel

Hong Kong Harbour Break

Victoria Peak
Dim sum tour
Lantau Big Buddha

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$1,439 pp

Green and white Star Ferry moored at Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier on Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong

City breakFamily

Hong Kong · 8 nights4★ Hotel

Hong Kong & Singapore Twin-City

Star Ferry
Gardens by the Bay
Night markets

Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing

Indicative from

$2,378 pp

Hong Kong travel overview Plan a Hong Kong trip

Hong Kong travel guides