First Published: 8 Jan 2019
Explore Hong Kong a little differently from the usual eat, shop, repeat — hike up to epic viewpoints, take a day trip out to explore far out islands or join a pub crawl! If that doesn’t sound like the Hong Kong you’re used to, you’re in for a treat!
Hong Kong’s not quite the concrete jungle you think you really know of. There’s no denying of its extensive food culture, neon-lit street and bustling night markets, but strip off the tourist lens and you’ll realise where the locals flock to instead.
The undiscerning eye would gloss past the secluded hiking trails scattered around (ominous-sounding Suicide Cliff, anyone?) that boast some amazing viewpoints. The bustling city also reveals an intimate charm in the fishing village of Sai Kung, and I never knew you could feel atas sipping wine while cruising on a Chinese junk ship along the skyline.
With this seven-day Hong Kong itinerary, here’s the best mix of local-flavoured activities with the must-dos.
Pre-trip Essentials
Connectivity: A 1GB/day eSIM starts from S$10.90 for 3 days (3, 5, 7, 10, 15 days available). You can set it up and activate it upon landing and enjoy data connection straight away!
Alternatively, a 4G WiFi device (unlimited data) starts from S$16 for 3 days and can connect up to five devices.
Transport: From the airport, Hong Kong station is a 30-minute ride on the Airport Express. We got the Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket (from ~S$10.20 one-way) and the reloadable Octopus Card (~S$16, comes preloaded with HK$50 credit).
Cash on hand: Most local restaurants and establishments prefer cash over credit.
*Pro-tip: Enjoy more savings by getting the Klook Pass Hong Kong — bundle deals of Hong Kong’s top attractions!
For example, a two-attraction pass with a Hong Kong Disneyland ticket (~S$102.40) costs S$149.20. You can choose to go on the Aqua Luna Victoria Harbour Cruise (~S$46.90) and Victoria Peak Tram (~S$21.90); this saves you S$22 as compared to if you bought tickets separately.
Day 1: Hong Kong Island
Lunch at Dim Sum Square
Sink your teeth in some dim sum, and the fact that yes, you are indeed in Hong Kong, no doubt characterised by the sounds of clinking tea cups and crowd chatter. You must order the Tim Ho Wan-esque fried BBQ pork and salted egg buns.
Cost: ~HK$45/pax (~S$7.80)
Opening hours: 10AM – 10PM (Mon – Sat), 8AM – 10PM (Sun)
How to get there: Walk 4min from Sheung Wan MTR Station, Exit A2 (Google Maps)
Man Mo Temple (Sheung Wan)
Photographers, get a good shot of this. With rows upon rows of incense hanging by the entrance, the Man Mo Temple sticks out in the midst of the financial district, famous for being often-visited by ancient scholars who pray for good results in the Imperial Examinations.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM
How to get there: Walk 7min from Sheung Wan MTR Station, Exit A2 (Google Maps)
Snack at Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan Fried Dumplings
If you’re a fan of xiao long bao (soup dumplings), try the Shanghai variant at Cheung Hing Kee — the best in the city. It certainly lives up to its Michelin Guide listing with a crispy exterior bursting with soup inside.
Cost: HK$35 (~S$6)
Opening hours: 10AM – 9PM
How to get there: Walk 1min from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station, Exit D1 (Google Maps)
Victoria Peak
One of Hong Kong’s most popular attractions, you must give the famous tram ride to Victoria Peak a shot. The 8-minute tram up leads you to the Sky Terrace 428 — the highest 360° viewing platform in Hong Kong overlooking the city. Layer up; it’s cold up there!
Cost: From ~S$13/pax
Opening hours: 7:30AM – 11PM for Peak Tram, 10AM – 10PM (Mon – Fri), 8AM – 10AM (Sat – Sun) for Sky Terrace 428
Meeting point: Walk 9min from Central MTR Exit J2 (Google Maps)
Dinner at Tung Po (東寶小館)
Dine with the locals at Tung Po restaurant, stashed in its new home at Wan Chai.
Don’t be intimidated by the extensive menu of over 100 fresh seafood and cooked food options — try the Squid Ink Spaghetti (HK$148), Pork Knuckle (HK$118), Razor Clams on Bamboo (Seasonal price) and Wind Sand Chicken (HK$280), alongside local beer uniquely served in porcelain rice bowls.
Stay past 9PM and you may be lucky enough to catch an 80s-themed musical performance staged by the owner himself.
*Pro-tip: Call ahead at +852 2880 5224 to make reservations if you don’t want to join the long lines!
Cost: ~HK$128/pax (~S$22)
Opening hours: 5:30PM – 12AM
How to get there: 8min walk from Wan Chai MTR station (Google Maps)
Aqua Luna Night Cruise
While most people admire the iconic Hong Kong skyline from the Causeway Bay Pier, take things up a notch on the Aqua Luna Evening Sail, a one-hour cruise on a traditional Chinese junk ship (with its famous red sails) departing from Tsim Sha Tsui and passing Central on a round trip.
With jazz hip-hop music, lounge chairs on board, wind in our hair and complimentary wine, it’s a night of living it up and being affordably atas in the city.
Cost: ~S$47/pax for a 45min cruise
Timings: Various timings from 5:30PM – 10:30PM
Meeting point: Tsim Sha Tsui Public Pier 1 (better option for full tour experience), or Central Pier 9
Day 2: Disneyland
If you’ve visited Hong Kong Disneyland 10 years, five years or even a year back, you might want to revisit.
The world’s first Frozen-themed land is set to open in November 2023!
Mystic Manor — a new Hong Kong-exclusive ride!
For a souvenir to remember your trip by, collect free stickers from any roaming/ride staff all over Disneyland (we collected more than 25 different stickers)!
For more tips, must-dos and our very honest review of the park, check out our Hong Kong Disneyland Guide!
Entrance fee: ~S$102.60 (save 7% by pre-booking on Klook) — Consider getting the Klook Pass Hong Kong for bundle deals on popular attractions in Hong Kong!
Opening hours: Varies
How to get there: From Sunny Bay MTR Station, transfer to the Disneyland Resort Line and walk 5min, following the signs (Google Maps)
Supper at Sister Wah Beef Brisket
For a hearty supper, head to Sister Wah Beef Brisket.
We had their Beef Brisket with Ee Fu noodles (HK$63) and the Beef Shank noodles (HK$63) — and it definitely lived up to the hype. The broth is tasty and not too rich. For some spice, add chilli oil — it enhances the delicious beefy flavours and brings the dish to a whole new level!
Cost: From HK$63 (~S$10.90)
Opening hours: 11AM – 10:45PM
How to get there: 1min walk from Tin Hau Station Exit A2 (Google Maps)
Day 3: Hong Kong Island
Breakfast at Hung Hom
Start the day right at Hung Hom, a cha chaan teng (local teahouse) breakfast chain popular with the locals. There are six breakfast sets to choose from (~$HK35), each comes with bread, eggs, a main (noodles/soup) and a drink, so you’re definitely fuelled to start your day.
If you’re there for lunch or dinner (after 11:30AM), try their signature Swiss Chicken Wings in Instant Noodles (HK$50).
Cost: From HK$33 (~S$5.80)
Opening hours: 6:30AM – 2AM
How to get there: Walk 8min from Sheung Shui MTR station (Google Maps)
Hunt for Famous Street Art
Explore Hong Kong’s creative side and hunt down street art by local and international artists around Central Station.
Highlights include portraits of Audrey Hepburn and Charlie Chaplin in pop art style on the walls of Madera Hollywood Hotel, and the French-inspired painting outside Uma Nota. Many are quite cleverly hidden!
Cost: Free
How to get there: Start from Central MTR station, Exit D (Google Maps)
Lunch at Tsim Chai Kee Noodle Shop (沾仔记)
The quality ingredients at Tsim Chai Kee Noodle Shop‘s wanton noodles give Mak’s Noodles (just across the road) a run for their money.
The Michelin Guide-lister gives you a choice of one to three toppings between shrimp wantons (each wanton has two shrimp!), beef slices and gigantic fishballs stuffed with pork — like Fuzhou fishballs, but double the size.
Cost: From HK$31 (~S$5.40)
Opening hours: 11AM – 9:30PM
How to get there: Walk 6min from Central MTR Station, Exit D2 (Google Maps)
Villain Hitting (打小人)
Those interested in a darker tourist experience will find the practice of villain hitting an interesting one. Watch elderly women sitting around small makeshift shrine set-ups under the bridge as they take on requests to help curse enemies or ward off evil.
Write a name on a piece of paper and she’ll start smacking the paper with a shoe while chanting before burning it in the flames. The process ends when she blesses you and sends you on your way. Moral of the story: don’t offend anyone while you’re there. Yikes!
Cost: From HK$50 (~S$8.80)
Opening hours: Generally 9AM – 6PM
How to get there: From Causeway Bay MTR Station, Exit A, walk 6min to Canal Road Flyover (Google Maps)
Dinner at Kwan Kee Claypot Rice (坤記煲仔小菜)
Another Michelin Guide restaurant, Kwan Kee Clay Pot Rice’s popularity is evident in the snaking lines outside the tiny shopfront, rain or shine. One taste and you’ll know why — the chicken and sausage bowls we had were smokey with plenty of extra crispy, charred bits at the bottom!
Cost: From HK$85 (~S$14.90)
Opening hours: 11AM – 2:30PM (Mon – Sat only); 6PM – 10:30PM
How to get there: Walk 1min from Sai Ying Pun MTR Station, Exit A1 (Google Maps)
Drinks at Ping Pong 129 Gintonería
Hidden underground with an unassuming shop front, the space where the underground bar now sits used to be a ping pong hall before it was refurbished into a nightlife sanctuary where people come to unwind over drinks and live music. A little pricey, but worth the experience.
Cost: From HK$75 (~S$13) for drinks, HK$48 (~S$8.40) for tapas
Opening hours: 6PM – 11PM
How to get there: Walk 4min from Sai Ying Pun MTR Station, Exit B3 (Google Maps)
Day 4: Lantau Island
Breakfast at Sang Kee Congee Shop
Fish, beef, pork or chicken, there’s porridge for every taste at Sang Kee Congee Shop, served up steamy and quickly with lots of staff yelling orders across tables — true blue Hong Kong style.
Cost: From HK$34 (~S$6)
Opening hours: 6:30AM – 8:30PM (Closed on Sun)
How to get there: Walk 1min from Sheung Wan MTR Station, Exit A2 (Google Maps)
Lantau Island via NgongPing360 Cable Car
How about sitting on an almost-transparent cable car to Lantau Island?The NgongPing360 cable car sports a 360-degree view including a full glass bottom — maybe acrophobes might consider sitting this one out.
Besides visiting the Tian Tan Buddha for a panoramic view of the city, we also did the Lantau Sunset Peak Hike from Pak Kung Au to Mui Wo. It’s a long but manageable hike, well-paved with large rocks that only get slightly steep and grassy towards the peak.
After the hike, bus back to Mui Wo for a seafood dinner with a sea view at the Mui Wo Cooked Food Market.
Alternatively, you could catch the sunrise on Lantau Sunrise Peak with a guided tour that starts early in the morning instead.
NgongPing360 Cable Car
Cost: From ~S$28 for a standard one-way ticket
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM (Mon – Fri), 9AM – 6:30PM (Sat – Sun, PH)
How to get there: Walk 5min from Tung Chung MTR Station, Exit B (Google Maps)
*Pro-tip: Pre-book your tickets on Klook for discounted tickets (~S$56 for round-trip Crystal Cabin — S$6 cheaper than the official site!) and Klook-exclusive queues which are much shorter than the general queues.
Lantau Sunset Peak Hike
Duration: About 5hrs (6.5km)
How to get there: From Ngong Ping, take bus 23 and alight at Pak Kung Au. The hike ends in Mui Wo, but you can save 3km on foot by ending the hike at Nam Shan and taking bus 1 or 3M to Mui Wo Ferry Pier (Google Maps)
Day 5: Day Trip to Sai Kung
A fishing village in the north eastern side of Hong Kong, Sai Kung is often overlooked by tourists. For the adventurous, the activities here are endless — surf, cycle, kayak, cliff jump or hike along the scenic coast of Sai Wan beach.
End off your day with a sumptuous seafood dinner by the pier before returning to the city. More details on planning your day trip here in our Sai Kung Guide.
How to get there: At Choi Hung MTR station, head for Exit C2. Take the Green Mini Bus A1 to Sai Kung Pier (5min interval, 25min ride) (Google Maps)
Read also: Hong Kong Sai Kung Guide — 7 Day Trip Itineraries
Day 6: Local Activities
Breakfast at Blk 18 Doggie’s Noodles
For a hearty breakfast, head to Blk 18 Doggie’s Noodle (HK$31). This Michelin Guide street food has been around since the 1950s and was named because the rice flour noodles resemble the stubby tails of dogs!
The broth is thick and gooey, flavoured with dried shrimp. It’s tasty by itself, but we added spicy chye poh (Chinese dried radish) for an extra kick! We also ordered spicy fish and meat dumplings (HK$12).
Cost: From HK$31 (~S$5.30)
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: Multiple outlets — Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Un Chau and Tsuen Wan
Experience a Neon Light Art Workshop
Photo credit: Klook
Neon signs are a huge part of Hong Kong’s cityscape. Here’s how you can bring a bit of Hong Kong back home with you — by creating your very own neon light sign!
You’ll be taught step-by-step by a friendly instructor (in English or Chinese) on how to bend, splice and electrodes to create your neon masterpiece. Guests also get to try acrylic painting a backdrop for the neon lights.
Cost: ~S$77.20/pax for a 3hr workshop (min. two pax per booking)
Timings: 12:45PM, 2PM, 4PM, 5:30PM
How to get there: Take the Island Line (MTR) and get off at the Causeway Bay Station, then walk 5min (Google Maps)
Go on a Lan Kwai Fong Pub Crawl
Photo credit: Klook
Experience Hong Kong’s bustling night life by going on a pub crawl! The tour is led by local guides, who’ll take you to three bars in the Lan Kwai Fong area. At each stop, get a free shot and the best drink deals — HK$20 beers and HK$30 cocktails, anyone?
There’s even a professional photographer tagging along to capture you and your new friends. At the end of the pub crawl, dance the night away at one of the best clubs in the area (free entry!).
Cost: ~S$20.50 (Bring a valid ID to prove you’re at least 18)
Timing: 9PM – 12AM
Meeting point: Lan Kwai Fong Amphitheatre (Google Maps)
Supper at The Drunken Pot
Photo credit: Klook
The Drunken Pot is one of Hong Kong’s most famous hot pot restaurants. They’re known for their signature five-in-one pot featuring four different soup bases (like Sichuan numbing spicy and Seafood soup with squid ink) and a papaya and shrimp centrepiece.
Cost: Set meals from ~S$16.50 or ~S$70 for a HK$500 (~S$86.60) cash coupon
Opening hours: 12PM – 1AM (Mon – Fri, Sun)
How to get there: Multiple outlets — Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay
Day 7: Kowloon Peak Hike via Suicide Cliff
Breakfast at Sing Heung Yuen (Tomato Soup)
A dai pai dong situated opposite the famous beef noodle joint, Kau Kee Restaurant, Sing Heung Yuen‘s famous noodles in tomato soup is a great breakfast option. The menu comes with a good variety of toppings like bacon, ham, egg and just about anything you can think of on a regular cha chaan teng menu.
Cost: From HK$27 (~S$4.60)
Opening hours: 8AM – 3:30PM (Closed on Sun)
How to get there: Walk 6min from Shueng Wan MTR Station, Exit E1 (Google Maps)
Kowloon Peak via Suicide Cliff Hike
Of the famous few hiking routes in Kowloon we ultimately opted for Suicide Cliff that gives a clear bird’s eye view of the cityscape, and only required an hour’s hike to the viewpoint!
Its notorious name stems from the accidents of travellers attempting to pose for a photo at the scenic cliff edge — the cliff edge is steep and is all rocks at the bottom so be extra careful if you’re checking that out!
The hike ends about 15 minutes further up where you’ll spot a Helipad and TV station. To descend, take the paved path on the right after the Helipad. This leads you down to Fei Ngo Shan Road in around 30 minutes.
Starting point: From Choi Hung MTR, take bus 91 to Fei Ha Road. Walk 5 minutes to the starting point on Fei Ha Road. The entrance is on the right side of the path.
*Pro-tip: If you’re cabbing back to Choi Hung Station after the hike, make a pitstop to visit the Choi Hung Estate rooftop for a photo against the famous pastel-coloured buildings all over Instagram.
Drinks at Tai Lung Fung
The cosy, neon-lit Tai Lung Fung boasts excellent service and serves bar bites like Duck Fat Fries and Mini Sliders before 9:30PM (you can bring your own snacks after).
Their signature cocktails (try: Drew Berries) set you back only ~HK$60, while their beers at ~HK$50 during happy hour. If you’re feeling adventurous, tell them to surprise you with their own concoctions.
Cost: From HK$45 (~S$7.90)
Opening hours: 4PM – 12AM (Mon – Thu, Sat), 4PM – 1AM (Fri), 4PM – 10PM (Sun)
How to get there: Walk 10min from Wan Chai MTR Station, Exit A2 (Google Maps)
Tips for Planning Your Hong Kong Itinerary
The colourful buildings of Choi Hung Estate.
Hong Kong is definitely more than meets the eye. The usual attractions aside, we dug deep, asked a few locals and uncovered many experiences we never knew existed. We especially wouldn’t have discovered these without using the Klook app when planning our activities.
Queueing up in Hong Kong isn’t uncommon so we were more than thankful for the special Klook-only queues to certain attractions like the Victoria Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360; which made us feel like VIPs, so that’s a nice bonus 😂
Nicole looking pleased with the non-existent Klook queue.
Getting our pre-trip essentials was also hassle-free — we collected all our cards (SIM, Octopus, Airport Express) at one stop upon arrival at the airport.
Save money by getting Klook’s Stay+ deals — discounted bundles when you book a hotel and add on travel essentials or attraction tickets like Hong Kong Disneyland! More details here.
Read also: Hong Kong Accommodation Guide — Best Hotels Sorted by Neighbourhood From S$83/night
If you’re planning to visit multiple attractions, get the Klook Pass Hong Kong! It’s a bundle deal for 2, 3, 4 or 5 attractions for up to 26% off.
The best way to explore Hong Kong is to make full use of the extensive transport network to visit popular destinations, and mix it up with local treasures that tell you a better story of the city. Now we can say: been there, done that!
Would your next trip to Hong Kong be different? Let us know in the comments below!
This post was brought to you by Klook.
