Back in February this year, when it was the middle of winter in the Netherlands, we decided to use our holidays and spend a few days in Hong Kong on our way to China. I was super curious about the city due to its history and presence in pop culture. I must admit, I got quite surprised by the city.

Travel Insights for Exploring Hong Kong

• Stay on Hong Kong island. Hong Kong has several parts, the most famous being Hong Kong Island and the inland part of Kowloon. While Kowloon is a nice place and hotels are much cheaper, I would highly recommend staying on the main island. The commute is shorter, and you will feel the atmosphere of the city much better.
• Octopus card. While you can use Apple Pay in many places, it’s good to have your Octopus card topped up. It’s a transportation card, but it has also become quite popular as a payment method in small restaurants and even shops. In some places where a normal payment card is not accepted, the Octopus card can be a real lifesaver!
• Food. Hong Kong is known for its amazing food. Dim sum (a type of small dish) is widely known, but what was surprising for me was the number of restaurants that look very modest and not well-maintained but have Michelin recommendations due to the quality of the food. In the West, this is very rare and I enjoyed a lot of affordable food at such quality!

Day 1

We arrived in the morning after a very long flight and were quite jet-lagged, so we took a long nap to recover. Afterward, we went for a walk around the city along the main street, which was quite overwhelming due to the number of people.

Walk around the city and Sister Wah Beef Brisket

Our walk took us from the city center, through Victoria Park, to one of the most famous restaurants – Sister Wah Beef Brisket. It’s an interesting place – it has a Michelin recommendation, but it’s very affordable and egalitarian. It’s almost hard to believe the recommendation when you see the place, but once you start eating, you fully understand it!

Ding Ding Tram

On our way back, we used the famous Ding Ding tram. Hong Kong has only one tram line, and all the trams are double-deckers, very short, and make a specific sound which gives them their name. If you are in Hong Kong, you need to ride it at least once!

Day 2

City centre

We started day 2 by exploring Hong Kong Central, considered the city center. There isn’t much to see except for tall buildings and elevated pathways between them, allowing people to move between buildings without dealing with ground-level traffic.

Central Market

While walking in the neighborhood, we visited Central Market, a hipster place with arty and craft shops. We strolled between the stalls and enjoyed some coffee. The barista recommended Geisha coffee with a pineapple taste, and it was absolutely stunning!

Kowloon

In the evening, we took the ferry to Kowloon. We tried to see the light show, but it was very underwhelming, so I recommend skipping it. We walked along the main street of Kowloon, visited the night market, and after eating some food, we returned to our hotel. Kowloon is very different from the main island – it’s less posh, the buildings are not as tall, and it can feel less secure. However, the night market has its own vibe, and you can feel a little more space than on the denser island.

Day 3

Tian Tan Buddha

On day 3, we visited Tian Tan Buddha, about an hour away by metro, followed by a cable car ride. It’s good to pre-book, but even then, you’ll have to wait in line. There are different cable car options, but the basic one offers great visibility. The Buddha statue is one of the five big statues in China, and it’s quite impressive, though it requires climbing quite a few steps. The top offers a nice view of the nearby monastery and lush green hills!

Monster building

After returning from Tian Tan Buddha, we took a tram to the so-called “Monster Building.” The name may be surprising, but when you see it, you understand. Hong Kong Island has very little space and a dense population, resulting in very big, tall buildings with countless small flats inside. This spot is very popular on Instagram!

Day 4

Central escalators

Despite leaving on day 4, we managed to visit the “central escalators.” This impressive system of escalators brings people from sea level to the mountains behind the city. It takes almost 20 minutes to ride them all. Even though the view at the end isn’t that impressive, it’s interesting to see how the city merges into the hills and how the infrastructure helps people deal with the steepness. I was surprised to learn that Hong Kong Island is essentially one big mountain, with the city growing around and on it. It’s rare to see mountains, sea, and city merged into one.

Victoria peak

On the way back, we also visited Victoria Peak, one of the most famous spots in Hong Kong. It offers a mesmerizing view over the city. You can get there by bus from the central station, but I highly advise checking the webcam at the top before starting the trip. Often, the fog over the city is so thick that visibility is zero. Once you arrive at the top, don’t stay in the shopping malls. Instead, walk about 15 minutes to the viewpoint. It’s a bit hard to find the path, but Google can help (navigate towards Lugard Road). It’s one of the highlights of Hong Kong and absolutely worth visiting!

Leaving the city

Our trip to Hong Kong was short but full of amazing experiences. The city’s unique blend of history, culture, and modernity left a lasting impression. We can’t wait to return and explore even more of what this vibrant city has to offer!