Hong Kong in 2-3 days
Days 1 to 2
You could cram the following into one day if you stay on the move, but spreading it out over two days will make for a much more relaxed trip.
First up, take the tram up Victoria Peak for an unforgettable view. Walk down through Hong Kong Park and take a wander through the the Admiralty and Central and Sheung Wan districts — the Graham Street market is a must-see. Grab some yum cha – there’s no better place to try it than Hong Kong, and make sure you take a tram ride across the island — and head to the upper deck for a great view.
From the Central ferry terminal take a ferry ride over to Kowloon. The Hong Kong Museum of History is well worth a look, as is the Peninsula Hotel — an undeniably grand hotel with a fine colonial heritage. Head over to bustling, neon-infused Nathan Road and wander up to the Temple Street Night Market for a bite to eat. For a glimpse of the grittier side of Hong Kong take a wander around the surrounding Yau Ma Tei district.
Catch the ferry back across the harbour for a spectacular view towards the skyline of Hong Kong Island and Peak. Taking a trip up the Peak at night is well worth, the vista is unbeatable.
The nightlife around Wan Chai district is pumping (there’s also plenty of traditional shops to wander around), or head out to the Happy Valley Racecourse — it’s a Hong Kong institution.
Day 3
Escape the bustle and head to the far-less developed, but no less interesting, south side of Hong Kong Island. Take a bus to Stanley, where there is a famous market. From there head on the bus along the coast, stopping at the beach at Repulse Bay. Continue along to Aberdeen, where you can take a boat ride around the fascinating, boat filled harbour.
Hong Kong in 7-9 days
You can see quite a bit of Hong Kong in just 2-3 days, but if you’ve got a bit longer there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Here’s a few ideas:
• On the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, near Aberdeen, is the giant Ocean Park. It’s an amusement park with one of the world’s largest aquariums, plenty of rides and a hair-raising cable car. Cool. This could easily fill a whole day.
• From Stanley you can head into the Tai Tam Country Park, where there are walks where you can really get away from the developed parts of Hong Kong.
• The outlying islands of Lantau, Lamma, Cheng Chau and Peng Chau are definitely worth checking out. They are an easy ferry ride from the main Central Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island and have some fantastic beaches. For a traditionally Chinese experience visit head to Peng Chau or Cheng Chau, where there are alley ways and beaches to explore. Lantau and Lamma both have great, easily accessible walking trails, while Lantau also has several interesting monasteries. If you’ve got the time spending a night on one ofthese islands is highly recommended.
• The New Territories occupies the lion’s share of Hong Kong’s landmass. A trip around the region would be very rewarding — there’s several interesting monasteries, a large wetlands centre, and the eastern part has some great hiking and beaches.