Hong Kong Travel Itinerary – 7 Days Of Food, Culture and Venture

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Hong Kong is Asia’s World City but more than that, it’s an open kitchen, has a legendary skyline, filled with vibrant traditions, unexpected lush greenery, and ancient volcanoes. You think you know the city, but until you’ve seen our Hong Kong travel itinerary, you’ll realize that there’s so much that you haven’t seen.

In 7 days, we cover all the essential details you need to build your own epic trip to Hong Kong. Let’s jump right in!

This trip to Hong Kong was certainly a unique one for me because half of it was with my parents who and the other half on my own. This was the last leg of their Asia tour before flying home to Canada and I was accompanying them and playing a bit of tour guide as well.

When putting together the itinerary, I wanted to show them the an authentic side to Hong Kong and be able to do it independently because they’re so used to seeing Asia through the lens of a bus tour.

As someone that’s been to Hong Kong before, it’s also worth noting that we didn’t feel as much FOMO about doing absolutely every single touristy spot in the city. In some ways, this was much more liberating because we could go a bit off-the-beaten-path.

While this itinerary is certainly perfect for first-timers, with a week to work with, it gave us some latitude to incorporate a few unique locations that often don’t make their way to most Hong Kong trips.

Seeking local eats – This itinerary almost exclusively focuses on local street eats. If you enjoy trying authentic Hong Kong cuisine, you’re going to be a happy camper.
Enjoy the natural outdoors – Easily overlooked are Hong Kong’s bounty of outdoor experiences. If you love hiking, you’ll love how Hong Kong’s Green Outdoors are incorporated.
Want to see the popular sights – We still make sure that you get to see and do many of Hong Kong’s icons.
You’re a first timer but want to go deeper – Ultimately, we feel that this itinerary is a balanced mix of the classics with opportunities to delve into Hong Kong’s art, cultural, foodie, and hiking-scene that are normally skipped.

As with all of our itineraries, we do our best to make these as helpful as possible. Instead of making you jump between a lot of different pages and force you to assemble it, we put as much detail in our day-by-day breakdown.

With this Hong Kong travel itinerary, we have special call out boxes called “What you need to know” which have deep insight from our personal experiences. We also have summaries of each day and an interactive trip map that you can take away to use as well.

Before you go, make sure to sign up to get access to our pre-made spreadsheet of this exact trip, a tool we swear by for our trip planning process.

Lastly, feel like we missed something or want ideas for other things you can swap in? We have you covered with our What We Missed in Hong Kong section.

Even as a transit day into Hong Kong, you’re going to make the most of it immediately after you touch down. Get ready to say “Hello Hong Kong”!

The arrival procedure at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is pretty straightforward. The only things you will encounter are:

They do random temperature checks on arrival into the terminal where a staff has a handheld temperature meter. In my case, I was asked to take off my hat.
You need to fill out an Arrival Card which you may or may not receive on the plane. If you didn’t, there’s a counter at customs which will allow you to grab one and fill it out.
In between the luggage carousel area and the arrival hall, you’ll find a Hong Kong Tourism Board desk. They run promotions from time to time and it’s definitely worth lining up to get their freebies or vouchers.

Once you get your Octopus Card sorted, you’ll need a way to get into the city. One of the fastest and most convenient ways to do this is to take the Airport Express trail.

While you can definitely use your Octopus Card to pay, the important tip is that if you are a group of 2 or more, you’ll want to buy their group tickets because they are cheaper. Alternatively, you can also buy tickets in advance to save some time.

You’ll be lugging around your luggage so once you hop out of Airport Express, connect with the MTR to get to your closest subway station.

In our case, since we stayed at Page148, MTR Jordan Station was the closest and we walked the rest of the way. It was too early to check-in so we left our bags with the front desk.

No matter whether you arrive in Hong Kong in the morning or afternoon, start your trip right by heading to a legendary HK-style cafe, Australia Dairy Company.

These types of cafes are distinctly a part of the fabric of Hong Kong cuisine and known as cha chaan teng. You can think of these as an equivalent to an American diner except they’re a fusion of east and west that developed from British influence.

If you see a long queue outside, don’t worry, the turnover is insanely fast so you’ll get a table in no time. Of course, with that, you’ll likely be sharing a table with another group, they’ll hustle you for your order, and when the food arrives, you eat and go.

It’s a chaotic scene but you’ll love how it gives you glimpse into Hong Kong’s fast-paced lifestyle.

When you’re here, make sure to order their steamed milk pudding, HK-style French toast, milk tea, and egg sandwich.

Next, make your way to Ladies Market, a 1 kilometer stretch, covering 4 blocks and consists of stalls selling all sorts of knickknacks, primarily geared towards tourists. That said, it’s an open-air market that has a liveliness to it that is always welcome.

Here, you’ll find everything from magnets, t-shirts, bobble-heads, jewelry, phone cases, handbags, socks, knockoffs, and more.

Just north of the market is the Goldfish Market on Tung Choi Street. You’re probably not buying any luck-bringing goldfish on your trip but you get to peer into the window of where locals go to buy pets.

At this point, your room should be ready so head back to the hotel to get organized.

You’re in for a treat! On our first few visits to Hong Kong, the classic thing to do is to head out to watch the sparkling night lights from Kowloon pier and we’d always see this beautiful red junk boat sailing in the foreground. I thought, “now that has to be the best way to see Hong Kong!” – I was right!

So turns out, one of the main operators is aqualuna where they own two iconic red sail junk boats. The best time to do their cruise is around sunset where they do a 45 minute loop around Victoria Harbour, giving you ample time to sip on a glass of wine while enjoying the illuminated skyline on both Kowloon-side and Hong Kong Island.

After disembarking in TST, check out the Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower and walk to newly revitalized Avenue of the Stars where you’ll see hand-print plaques of famous Chinese stars on the railing and the famed statue of Bruce Lee.

As you’ll learn throughout this trip to Hong Kong, to experience authentic local eats, you have to find the hole-in-the-wall joints that are frequented by the very people that live there.

Since you’re already in TST, head over to Shek Kee Wonton Noodles. You won’t see a single lick of English on the outside but on the inside is one of the best places in the city to have a bowl of wonton noodles.

The multi-language menu will be overwhelming to go through but I’ll make it easy for you, get the “Wonton, Fish Ball & Beef with Noodle”. That’s what you see above and it is a winner.

Hong Kong is made up of many small islands and this is personally something we make sure we do every time we visit. For day two, you’ll go on an adventure to see a completely different side to the metropolis that you saw on your first day.

Peng Chau means ‘flat island’ and ironically is crescent-shaped and is more hilly than it is flat. In the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), industry thrived here with over 100 factories, including the largest match factory in Southeast Asia.

Today, Peng Chau is a peaceful retreat that gives a taste of authentic village life, hideaway beaches, easy hiking trails, panoramic viewpoints, and soothing sea breezes.

To get to the outlying island of Peng Chau is quite easy. From Central Ferry Pier 6, there is a ferry run by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (HKKF) and will whisk you away in 40 minutes with the ordinary-speed catamaran ship.

Once you arrive on the island, you’ll see the customary “Welcome to Peng Chau” sign. You can find these at all of the outlying islands including Lamma Island and Cheung Chau.

The ferry pier is right next to the central part of the island. If you’re hungry, you can go to Kee Sum Cafe to try their famed prawn toast.

It’s also here where you’ll find Tin Hau Temple. This is a popular name for temple so you’ll see these all over Hong Kong. Make sure to go inside to see all of the spiral incense hung from above. Most people come to pray for good fortune at sea and their safety.

A short walk away is Kam Fa Temple or Golden Flower Shrine. I personally love this one because of the twin dragon pillars that flank each side. This temple is right next to an old banyan tree and many people come to worship Kam Fa Goddess because she’s known to make wishes come true.

Continue along the western shoreline, you’ll pass by Seven Sisters Temple. This is a collection of temples that are dedicated to seven deities that couples will come visit to pray for fertility.

From here, you’ll see a bridge that connects to a lone islet. This is Tai Lei Island, a popular spot for fishermen, but is also quite photogenic thanks to the large ‘Turtle Rock’ that juts out into the water.

At this point, the Peng Yu Path begins. This is a walking trail that covers the northern part of the island. Along the way, you’ll pass by several secluded beaches.

The main highlight of this path are Snoopy Rock and Old Fisherman’s Rock that stand precariously on different parts an island that’s connected by sand.

Along the path are several pavilions offering a place to sit and get under the shade. Continue along Peng Chau Family Walk which completes the northern crescent and drops you into Tung Wan Beach, the largest of all beaches.

Along the beach is Lung Mo Temple, decorated by gold on the inside, and is famous for the goddess, Lung Mo’s statue and her Dragon Bed. Many is said about it but apparently if you touch it, you’ll be bestowed good luck.

Back in the center of the island, this is the perfect time to take your lunch break. We highly recommend you eat at Hoho Kitchen on Wing On Street. They serve many of the classic Hong Kong dishes, alongside their Insta-famous pineapple bun ice cream sandwich.

When done, take your time to wander the local village streets, check out the traditional Chinese architecture, and pick up some snacks and drinks for your afternoon walk.

Make sure to also seek out the Fook Yuen Leather Factory, a historic building that’s been transformed into a creative art installation made of recycled materials.

Finger Hill

From the center of town, start your walk on the Peng Chau Family Trail which will take you up to Finger Hill, the highest point on the island.

On your way, you’ll have 355 steps laid out in front of you so take your time, take breaks, and don’t forget to look back down for some awesome views.

At the very top of Finger Hill is a pagoda where you’ll no doubt want to cool off a bit with the shaded breeze as you take in the views.

Next, take a flight of stairs down to Ngan Chai Tsai Pavilion, which arguably has the better view, facing east and points directly at Hong Kong and the skyscrapers that surround Victoria Harbour.

Round out your day on Peng Chau by following the path to a lower viewing platform and beach that has looks at Ngan Chau Island, another that resembles a turtle. Get back on the paved road and pass by an old pier, another beach, and finally to Nam Wan (South Beach).

A short distance along the seaside promenade and you’ll be back to the Peng Chau ferry pier. If you want, you can grab a quick bite at A Noy Bakery or Island Table Grocer Cafe.

Catch the ferry back to Central Ferry Pier 6 and watch a brilliant sunset cash its glow on the silhouette of islands.

Unmissable is the giant ferris wheel that’s staring right at you. This is the Hong Kong Observation Wheel which is part of the AIA Vitality Park.

While you’d assume that it’d cost an arm and a leg to ride the ferris wheel, think again! Tickets only costs HK$20 for adults (less than $3 USD) so there’s almost no reason to not buy your tickets in advance.

If you’re lucky, be on the lookout for the Mister Softee ice cream truck or listen for the Blue Danube jingle. They’re a childhood favourite and still so good today.

Another beloved Hong Kong street food classic is claypot rice. This is where the crackle and crunch of rice from the baked rice is topped with a mix of meat, seafood, and vegetables, then you stir in the sweet soy sauce.

Running for over 30 years, Hing Kee Claypot Rice Restaurant has become so popular that they’ve had to scoop up multiple storefronts to keep up with demand. Even though you’ll see branches across two streets, there’s still a line to get a table.

There are literally 60+ variations of claypot rice so you might be overloaded with choice. Sometimes, the simplest combos are the best so I’d stick to spare ribs with Chinese sausage or chicken with Chinese sausage.

Beyond claypot rice, make sure to try other dishes like razor clams and deep fried oyster pancakes.

TIP: The line may seem long but like Australia Dairy Company, the turnover is fast and they have so many tables scattered around.

To close out the night, walk down from Hing Kee and enter the main gates of Temple Street Market. This is a lively area that’s kept much of its original character. It’s a bit rough around the edges but is certainly eye-opening.

The main stretch is dominated by many of the same type of shops you’ll find at Ladies Market, but surrounding it are also an eclectic mix of fortune-tellers, open-air karaoke, street food, and prostitutes lurking in the shadows.

Next on your travel itinerary is a day filled with many of the Hong Kong classics – the kind that you’d feel the FOMO if you didn’t do, and if you’ve done it before, it’s is the kind of place that you never mind being reacquainted with.

Start off your morning by venturing out to the most western stop on MTR’s Island Line, Kennedy Town. You’ve made it all this way to eat at Sun Hing Restaurant, a dim sum specialist that opens as early as 3AM.

This might be one of the most raw forms of dining you’ll have on this trip and that’s precisely why you’ll love it. Nobody really speaks English here, you’ll most definitely have to share a table, and the plastic stools aren’t the most comfortable but the dim sum will make it worth it.

I’d say the chaos here surpasses what you’ll experience at Australia Dairy Company. Dishes come out of nowhere and sometimes they don’t come at all. Once you’re done eating, you’ll feel darting glares from those that are standing at the entrance, so it’s best to be quick about it.

TIP: Despite providing a order sheet that’s completely in Chinese, you quickly learn that it doesn’t go anywhere. If the wait-staff remember what you ordered, they’ll bring it over but if they don’t, nothing will ever come. The best way to get what you want is to just point at dishes when they come out. If you’re having trouble, there is an English translation of the menu on the wall with pictures.

Next, pop out of MTR Sheung Wan Station and pass through Upper Lascar Row, an antique street market that’s always fascinating to browse through.

Once you pass through the market, the picturesque temple, Man Mo Temple, will come into view.  This temple pays tribute to the God of Literature and the God of War, so this is the place locals would come if they wanted to ace an upcoming exam or solve conflicts.

The most striking feature when you walk inside the main temple are the wafts of smoke coming from the spirals of incense suspended from the roof.  You’ll also see wood carvings, golden deities, murals, and lanterns.

Before you leave, make sure to also pop into the adjoining temple next door which is a separate place of worship for other Buddhist and Taoist deities.

One of the things I love doing is just walking from Man Mo Temple towards Central. This part of the city is always more peaceful and filled so many different boutique shops, murals, and a look into the daily comings and goings of locals on the Hong Kong Island.

A few stops along the way we recommend are:

Kung Lee Sugar Cane Drink – They make fresh sugar cane juice and herbal jelly which are very refreshing on a hot day.
Graham Street Mural – There’s a section of the sloping street that has a painted mural depicting tightly packed homes set in a vibrant blue sky.

You’ll eventually come across a cluster of British colonial buildings amidst towering skyscrapers. This is Tai Kwun, a redeveloped area that combines the old with the new.

This was once a compound consisting of a police station, central magistracy and prison. Undergoing a massive transformation, it’s now a museum, cultural hub, space for art, and simply a really cool place to hang out with its open spaces, cafes, and restaurants.

As a visitor, they do an excellent job at showing how the police operated here back then since it was established in 1841, and you’ll get to walk in various blocks of the Victoria Prison that was fully functioning up to 2006.

There are also two museums called the JC Contemporary and JC Cube, both are spaces for exhibition and performing arts. JC Contemporary art gallery is free to enter and in addition to their incredibly photogenic spiral staircase, they host a constant flow of new art exhibitions.

In our case, we weren’t feeling too hungry after all of that dim sum but if you’re looking for a lunch spot, we scoped out Central Market inside a revitalized historic building and has a foodcourt-style hall where you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Your walk will continue along a lush green respite through Lower Albert Road until you reach the lower terminus of the Peak Tram. This is perhaps one of the three most iconic modes of transportation in Hong Kong.

This funicular railway has been bringing visitors up to “The Peak” since 1888. Thanks to the large panes of glass on its current generation of tram cars, you’ll see the urban apartments fade to greenery and occasional peeks at the impressive array of skyscrapers.

The tram arrives inside The Peak Tower which has a mix of museums, shopping, and restaurants. Once you’re on the ground floor, you’ll be officially standing on the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island – Victoria Peak.

Continuing walking to east towards the lion pavilion and terrace. It’s here that you’ll see the perfect opening in the trees to lay out the iconic skyline in front of you.

While you’re here, we recommend that you explore the The Peak Galleria which is the mall across The Peak Tower. Their roof is free and gives you a great lookout of the southwestern side of the island. Pacific Coffee in The Peak Tower also has a wonderful patio space that has a direct view of the Peak Tram’s tracks, and the skyline as well.

You can take the Peak Tram down but we recommend using the bus because it drops you right in front of Central Ferry Pier 8 which is where one of the other famous modes of transportation is located – the Star Ferry.

These green and white passenger ferries are distinctly Hong Kong and have been moving people from all over the world between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island for more than 120 years. What’s endearing about the Star Ferry is that they look and feel the same

To get on the ferry, you’ll want to have an Octopus Card so you can tap right on. You’ll get to choose between two decks of the ferry – the upper is a tad more expensive and is better because it is air conditioned, has more comfortable seats, and a better vantage point, the lower deck is cheaper and is open air although we think the views are just as good because there aren’t any windows to contend with.

TIP: The prices are different on weekends versus weekdays and the upper deck is roughly HK$1 more for adults. That said, the prices are insignificantly different that it’s really a matter of preference.

Foodies can all agree that the best food in Hong Kong isn’t found in in fancy dining rooms of 5-star hotels, they’re the ones that usually spill out onto the street, are loud, and rambunctious. These are what’s called dai pai dong.

With their flaming woks, chefs with serious personality, plastic stools, and foldable tables, spots like Oi Man Sang are keeping this tradition alive. The experience here is no frills and unpretentious. It’s all about authentic local eats and toasting to another great day.

As a staple of the Sham Shui Po area since 1956, the must-order dishes are their potato and beef stir fry, salted egg yolk prawns, clams with black bean & chili sauce, and steamed razor clams.

TIP: When you arrive, make sure to go to the machine to get a ticket first. There’s typically a long queue but with so many tables, it moves through relatively quickly.

Save some room though because there are 2 more popular snack spots in Sham Sui Po.

The first is Kung Wo Beancurd Factory. They specialize tofu pudding, a silky smooth, rich in soy aroma, and syrup-glazed dessert that’s slurp-worthy.

Nearby is also Hop Yik Tai where they are the go-to place for the Hong Kong-style snack of rice rolls that are drizzled with a peanut, oyster, and hot sauce, plus a dash of sesame. If you take it to go, they’ll prepare it in a plastic bag and hand it over to you with a few skewers – the local way.

As a mid-way point in your itinerary, it’s the perfect time to have a more relaxed day, taking the opportunity to explore the other side of Hong Kong island – Causeway Bay, Quarry Bay, and Taikoo Shing.

You can never have enough cha chaang teng when in Hong Kong. A fun twist to the breakfast can be found at Cafe Match Box. They serve all of the classics but inside you’ll find a larger-than-life cutout of a green minibus and around it, tons of nostalgia from the 80s and 90s.

And yes, that’s a ping pong table and plenty of patio space outside.

Causeway Bay is the best place to go to satisfy your retail therapy. From high end luxury, shopping centers, multi-level department stores, duty-free, and ground-level shops, there’s just about everything here.

For an orientation of sorts, make sure to check out the venerable SOGO Causeway Bay. They’re a Japanese-style department store where upstairs are layers of fashion brands we always love heading down to the basement to hunt for confectionary snacks, baked goods, refreshments, and Japanese imports.

The district’s largest shopping mall is Times Square. Various times of the year they have displays outside. Inside, they carry most of the biggest fashion brands. Again, we love heading down to the basement for city’super, a grocery store that has seasonal food festivals, sweet treats, and ice cream.

Other notable spots to check out is the Transformer’s themed restaurant called The Ark, DFS Causeway Bay for duty-free shopping, and if you love egg tarts, get in line at Hashtag B.

You’ll be snacking along the way so you probably won’t be super hungry so we suggest you try Yee Shun Milk Company. They’re similar to Australia Dairy Company but we think their steamed milk pudding has a richer milk flavour.

Get on the MTR and hop over to a quieter and more residential part of Hong Kong Island. From MTR Quarry Bay Station, if you walk towards the water, you’ll eventually get to Quarry Bay Park, a beautiful green space that allows you to escape the chaos of the city.

With 10 hectares of space, you’ll enjoy a different view of Victoria Harbour. We suggest you follow the promenade until you get to the Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery.

A previous visit to Sugar in the evening

Hong Kong has many notable rooftop bars and one of them is Sugar in Taikoo Shing – a perfect pairing to your very chill day.

From their spacious open deck with fabulous views of the harbor, sip on a sundowner while indulging in shisha or nibbling on Japanese-inspired shareable plates.

TIP: Sugar opens at 5:30PM all days of the week.

Psst, we’ll let you in on a secret. You don’t need to do a hop-on-hop-off bus on Hong Kong Island. There’s a practically-free one you can take (adults are only HK$3)!

It’s the double-decker Hong Kong Tramways that you’ll see run length-wise on the island. Locals affectionately call a ‘Ding Ding’, the third of the iconic modes of transportation in Hong Kong.

We recommend that you take a nice stretch of the tram westbound from Taikoo Shing to Central. It’s fun to people-watch from this vantage point and there are photo-worthy framings of the urban jungle.

TIP: You get on the tram from the rear. You get off the tram from the front and pay upon exit by tapping your Octopus Card or you can pay by cash but no change is given. The best seats are on the second level right at the front.

Back in 2009, a tiny 20-seat dim sum restaurant called Tim Ho Wan opened in Olympia, Hong Kong and within a year, it gained its first Michelin-star, becoming “the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant”.

With locations all over the city it’s much easier to get a seat compared to back then. On your way home, they have an outlet inside the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.

Along with the classics, the must-have item is the Baked BBQ Pork Buns. There aren’t any rules around having dim sum for dinner, right?

On your way home, drop by Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles which is right around the corner from Page148. Bubble waffles are another dessert that’s taken the world by storm and originated in Hong Kong.

The newest developed area in central Hong Kong is the West Kowloon Cultural District. Built on 50 hectares of reclaimed land, this has been a development project as early as 2012.

This is the kind of cultural and arts hub that the city’s never had before and while there’s still work being done, the anchor sites are complete and is totally worth spending a day here.

When you get here, start by exploring the Art Park, a large city green space that makes the foundation for the West Kowloon Cultural District.

When you’re here, there might be special cultural events but you can also come here for running, biking, picnicking, or just a relaxing stroll. After all, there are beautiful views of the harbour from the waterfront promenade. There’s also a second level viewing platform that you can take advantage of.

TIP: As it stands, getting here isn’t the most convenient. If you’re coming from TST, cut across on Austin Road. There’s a portion that goes underground and that leads you into MTR Austin Station. The station has a bridge that crosses into Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and from there you can walk on foot into West Kowloon Cultural District.

There are two must-visit museums here. The first is the Hong Kong Palace Museum which focuses on ancient Chinese art and culture but presents it in a contemporary architectural lens.

I was particularly blown away by their main exhibit which brings to light, artifacts and stories from the Forbidden Palace in Beijing and more specifically, during the Qing dynasty.  Through the viewing of immersive elements and many never-before-displayed treasures, you’ll get to experience what life was like in the court.

You’ll also appreciate the three atriums stacked on different levels of the museum, each offer panoramic vistas of the city and surroundings in different directions.

For lunch, we recommend you check out the food trucks in the Art Park. Pineapple Canteen is good but a bit far so you might want to try Pat Chun Saucy Truck instead.

The other one to visit is M+ Museum, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual art and is packed with collections that span the 20th and 21st century visual art, design, and architecture.

What I really appreciated about this museum is that it’s a museum of modern art that also has a focus on Asian and Chinese artists and themes.  The layout of the museum is also easy to explore and are spaced out very well so it never feels overwhelming either.

Don’t miss the North and South Roof Gardens while you’re here.  The views from here are quite the remarkable and gives you a panoramic look at the whole of West Kowloon Cultural District.

You can easily spend a full day in the West Kowloon Art District and when you’re done, head back out to the promenade and enjoy a beautiful sunset.

This might not be for everyone but the photography side of me had an itch to seek out a few locations in the city I’ve always wanted to capture.

Monster Building: This is a hulking and tightly-packed E-shaped residential complex in Quarry Bay. It’s easy to find and relatively easy to frame because you just have to look up. HDR will help to bring out the tapestry of colors. Remember to be respectful as people live here.
Long Exposure from IFC Footbridge: This one’s a bit harder to find. I’ve seen photos of this before but it’s not marked anywhere but I eventually figured out which footbridge you need to be on which you’ll see on our itinerary map.

For both of these shots, you’ll want to have a tripod with you and the widest lens that you have.

If you end off near IFC Mall, in a departure from street eats, our from-left-field-suggestion is to go to Shake Shack.

Their burgers are just as good as they are in New York City (something we feature in our NYC food guide) but each location has their own exclusive. In Hong Kong, it’s the mango bubble shake with popping boba, vanilla custard, pomelo, coconut cream, mango puree, and crunchy egg rolls. Worth it!!

As someone that loves the outdoors, this was one of my favourite days of the trip. It’ll be a packed day but with the Walled city, Kowloon Peak, Chinese desserts, and egg tarts, this is a day you won’t find any one else’s itinerary.

Egg tarts are synonymous with Hong Kong and if you loved Hashtag B, you’ll also want to try Bakehouse by Chef Grégoire Michaud. What makes theirs special is they have a flaky shell and a little burnt on the top, similar to a pastel de nata.

What everyone is after are their egg tarts with their flaky sourdough shell and is a little burnt on the top, similar to a pastel de nata.  They make them in batches and often sell out so your best bet is to go right when they open.

Make sure to pick up a few extra baked goods while you’re here that you can eat on your hike.

Coming out of Sung Wong Toi MTR Station, head into Carpenter Road Park and adjacent to that is the infamous Kowloon Walled City Park.

The extremely dense and ungoverned enclave was demolished in 1994 and was converted into an urban green space. So while you won’t be able to see the walled city, they do a great job at showing you what it was like with a great 3D model and a cross-section mural.

So what’s actually left? There are two points of interest.

The first is the remnants of the original South Gate where you’ll see the original path, drainage ditch, and two stone plaques that say “South Gate” and “Kowloon Walled City”.

The other point of interest is the yamen building.  It’s the only building that survived the demolition and consists of 3 halls and was used for a number of different purposes including a senior home, place for refugees, school, and clinic.  Today, it’s a museum and they’ve built several immersive spaces to give you a better sense of what life was like in the walled city.

Before you leave the neighbourhood, you’d be remiss if you don’t visit Tei Mou Koon. They serve all of the classic Chinese desserts that are mainly soup based but also have other favourites like mango pillows and glutinous rice balls.

As you can see in the photo, I went a little overboard with my order so this turned into a lunch.

This might not be for everyone but if you’re up for a moderately challenging hike and are seeking the most epic views of Hong Kong, Kowloon Peak is an excellent off-the-beaten-path addition.

I heard about the Suicide Cliff hike but 1) being more of a cautious traveler and 2) experience vertigo and 3) the name itself not being the most comforting, I looked into whether I could do it another way. Luckily there is.

So yes, you can hike to Kowloon Peak without doing Suicide Cliff.

Our video of the best things to do in Hong Kong shows you the behind-the-scenes of the hike and we have all of the details laid out below so I won’t go into more detail but this is 100% worth the effort.

You’ll be exhausted by the time you finally make it back to TST so have a quick dinner at Asam Chicken Rice and crash early.

Itinerary Day 7 – Enter An Ancient Rock Column Palace

It’s easy to associate Hong Kong with it’s plethora of landmark skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of a megatropolis.

So far we’ve peeled back the layers from that to show you that there’s so much more to the city. On your final full day of the itinerary, you’ll get to see a place that belongs to somewhere like Iceland or Northern Ireland.

Once you arrive at MTR Choi Hung Station, you’re only a short walk away to the Choi Hung Estate, the famous public housing apartments.

This has become a hotspot for photographers because these estates are painted a strikingly beautiful layers of pastel. From the basketball court, you can’t help but snap away!

What makes this area unique is that it belongs to a large protected area known as the Hong Kong Global Geopark.  The area is particularly rich in super rare rhyolitic volcanic rock columns that was revealed during the excavation work for the dam.  Thanks to this project, it’s the only place in Hong Kongwhere you can walk to on foot and get right up to the hexagonal rock columns.

What’s special is that this type of rare rock showcases more of the features of the original lava and tuff. This whole area was created 140 million years ago from a supervolcano where the cooling process eventually sculpted the volcanic materials into millions of hexagonal rock columns.

Spend your day hiking the High Island Geo Trail which consists of:

Reservoir Monument
The overlook of the reservoir
Geopark Monument
Hexagonal Rock Columns including the buckled S-shaped hexagonal columns 
The inner Cofferdam
Sea-cave
The lower wall which consists of thousands of concrete wave-dissipating dolosse

If you have time, you can also do:

1 km-long extension to Biu Tsim Kok viewing point
Connecting trail from the lower wall to get close to seeing the Po Pin Chau sea stack island

TIP: We cover this in detail below but coming here is the easiest on the weekends and you’ll want to plan to head back before 3:30PM because the line up for the bus gets very long.

About Bus 92:

This is a standard double-decker bus.
From Diamond Hill, it operates from 6AM – 11PM. Frequency varies from 15-30 minutes.
From Sai Kung, it operates from 6AM – 11:45PM. Frequency varies from 15 – 30 minutes.
This bus does not run on Sunday.
Fare is HK$7.50 and they only take Octopus Card or exact fare.
The journey takes 40-45 minutes.

About Bus 96R:

This is a standard double-decker bus.
From Pak Tam Chung, it operates from 7:30AM to 5PM. Frequency varies from 18-30 minutes.
From East Dam, it operates from 8:50AM to 7:30PM (8:50AM to 3PM on holidays). Frequency varies from 20-30 minutes.
Pak Tam Chung stop is not the final destination so make sure to pay attention to the stops.
Fare is HK$19.90 and they only take Octopus Card or exact fare.
The journey takes 60-65 minutes.

About 9A Bus:

Only runs on Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays.
From Pak Tam Chung, it operates from 9:30AM to 6:30PM.
From East Dam, it operates from 10AM to 7PM.
This bus doesn’t have a specific schedule during operation. They basically have several mini buses that run back and forth. Get in line and wait patiently.
Green mini buses have a maximum capacity of 19 people.
Fare is HK$11.90 and they only take Octopus Card or exact fare.
The journey takes 20 minutes.
Service updates due to bad weather can be found on their website or Facebook page.

There’s nothing better than simple and classic Hong Kong comfort dishes when you finally get back to TST.

Tai Hing is a popular chain restaurant that you’ll find all over Hong Kong. They started specializing in BBQ roast meats but is now a casual restaurant that you could say is very much like a HK-style cafe as well.

When you get to this point, you will be shocked that you’ve already a full week in Hong Kong. Since it’s your last night, do any last minute shopping that you might want to do, re-pack your belongings, and prepare for the next leg of your journey.

To help with your Hong Kong trip planning, this map be super handy in knowing where everywhere we’ve included in this itinerary is located.

Even with our week in Hong Kong, there was a lot that we missed and wish we could’ve included. As a bonus, we’ve also included extra pins for activities, attractions, restaurants.

HOW TO USE THE MAP: You can use the Hong Kong itinerary map as is but if you’d like to do more with it, expand the map and create a copy in your logged-in Google account. With this copy, you’ll be able to access it in your Google Maps app under the Saved tab. Scroll to the bottom and look for the “Maps” button. Keep in mind that you need data to access this map. For an offline solution, use the offline Google Maps feature and individually save location pins on your primary map.

So far we’ve covered a ton of itinerary-specific tips but we have a few more for you that are more general to Hong Kong. These nuggets of advice will help ensure you have the most stress-free and awesome time in the city.

We talked about this at the beginning but the Octopus Card is truly a wonder in Hong Kong and extremely visitor friendly.

Not only can you use it to take the subway (MTR), tramways, and Star Ferry, you can also use it to take the ferries to outlying islands, pay for things at places such as cafes, bakeries, and convenient stores, and you can even use it to take the Peak Tram.

It’s as simple as either pre-ordering one loaded with HK$50 or getting it right at the airport (HK$39 with no deposit charge) at the following locations:

7-Eleven (Unit 5T058, Arrivals Meeters & Greeters Hall, or any 7-Eleven outlets)
MTR Ticket & Octopus Selling Machine (Airport Station)
Relay (Arrivals Pre-Immigration, L5, Terminal 1, (Restricted Area))

Always keep it topped up and try to use up all of the funds by the end of the trip.

While Hong Kong isn’t a massive city, it makes sense to build your days around the different areas of Hong Kong. This helps reduce the commuting time and unnecessary back and forth.

At a high level, you can break out your days between spending time on Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon-side. More specifically though, you can also look at your itinerary around the neighborhoods of:

That’s why it’s super helpful to have all of the places you want to go pinned on a map. Make sure to grab a copy of our Hong Kong trip planning map.

If you’re not able to make it work, it’s not the end of the world either because transit is so convenient. As you saw from this itinerary, we tried our best but sometimes less-optimal detours were unavoidable.

There were very few places now that are cash-only in Hong Kong. This means that you don’t necessarily need to convert too many Hong Kong Dollars before you come.

In our case, we loved the convenience of our Wise card. This is the ultimate travel hack. It’s this magical hybrid of being a Visa credit card and a loadable card except the beauty is that it can hold multiple currencies, and they have near-market exchange rates. Since you’re spending local currency, you don’t have to worry about any foreign-exchange mark up.

That said, there are exceptions. On this itinerary specifically, Australia Dairy Company and Shek Kee Wonton Noodles are cash-only. You’ll also need it for those Mom & Pop street vendors and markets that you might encounter (including Ladies Market).

TIP: For a week in Hong Kong, we recommend you have HK$2,000 (roughly $250 USD) per person.

It’s easy to stay connected in Hong Kong thanks to hotels like Page148 offering free pocket wifi devices and the ease of the use of eSIMs with the likes of Airalo so offline capability isn’t too big of a deal but here are a few apps to download:

MyMapHK (iOS/Android) – This is an official Lands Department app and a great free companion if you plan on doing any hikes in Hong Kong.
Google Maps (iOS/Android) – You probably already have this installed but we found this to be the most straightforward app to get transit directions including times. Quick reminder that it’s always good practice to turn Google Maps offline before you go.
Explore Hong Kong (iOS/Android) – Sometimes you just want a quick look at the MTR map without having to search for it on Google and this does just that
Wise (iOS/Android) – Managing your foreign currency has never been this easy with the accompanying app. You’ll have a physical Visa debit card with Wise but you can also set it up in your digital wallet.
Gaia GPS (iOS/Android) – If you are doing any of the bigger hikes, you’re better off having the premium version of this which is great to for tracking your hike but also available offline incase signal cuts out. Get the 1 year free trial from us!
Google Translate (iOS/Android) – Hong Kong is very visitor-friendly with tons of English signage everywhere but you’ll inevitably run into a place or menu that is only in Chinese. Remember to download the Chinese (Traditional) language pack for offline use.

Hong Kong can get insanely hot so on most days, you’ll want to manage the sweltering heat by wearing t-shirt and shorts but I’ve learned to always bring light layers with me because they love to crank up the air condition indoors.

We recommend the following items to help you stayed prepared on your trip:

Whether it’s for the ice-cold indoors, breezes by the water, high peaks, or cooler evenings we recommend having an active fleece or mid-layer jacket with you.
We find that wearing Breathable and lightweight active-wear is way more comfortable than their cotten equivalents. Even on days you aren’t doing anything super strenuous, you’ll be glad to have something breatheable.

For this Hong Kong travel itinerary, we stayed at Page148 Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui and closest to MTR Jordan Station.

This hotel was certainly a bit more of a splurge compared to the additional hotels we recommend below but we were very happy with this property for a number of reasons:

Modern and new – It’s a newer hotel which just gave a fresh and energetic vibe as most properties in Hong Kong will feel outdated.
Free drinks – Refilled daily (if you opt for housekeeping), it was really nice to have refreshments available in the room or to bring on the road.
Free wifi hotspot – While we didn’t know this at the time of booking, they actually offer wifi hotspots. This means that you can get data access for free, eliminating the need to get an eSIM while you’re in Hong Kong.
Breakfast – Our package included breakfast and we actually loved that they served Western-style cafe items such as avocado toast, smoked salmon bagel, and burrata cheese & roasted red pepper toast. We preferred this over a buffet because it left all-important stomach space to eat more throughout the day.
Convenient location – We’ve stayed in different parts of Hong Kong over the years and being in the Tsim Sha Tsui area can’t be beat. There’s tons of food, shopping, and is easy to get back to at the end of the night.

TIP: When looking for hotels in Asia, Agoda is hands-down the best booking platform. We’ve done numerous tests and it’s always come out on top in terms of inventory and prices. They’re also love showering their users with coupons for additional savings.

We understand that everyone has different budget requirements and interests in types of accommodations so below are 4 alternate properties that you should consider for your trip to Hong Kong.

Overall, we’ll say that Hong Kong isn’t a cheap place to stay when comparing to Asia standards of prices. However, deals can be found, if you know where to look. We’ve included 4 well-priced hotels and one intriguing luxury place to stay.

TIP: You might be tempted to stay at an ultra-budget hotel like Dragon Inn but if you look more closely, these inns are all in the infamous Chungking Mansions. While we know people that have stayed here in the past, it’s good to know more about the building.

When we put together our travel itineraries, everyone wants to know how much it cost. It’s a great question and we’ve got you covered.

Below is a table of our travel expenses in Hong Kong converted to USD. We’ve purposely left out flights because everyone will have different inbound and outbound plans.

CategoryAmount (USD)Accommodations$1,869Food$400Transportation$155Activity$137Souvenir$24Communication (AloSIM)$12TOTAL$2,596

What’s a bit tricky about the 12 d ays is that 3 days was with my parents and 4 days on my own. After some fancy math, I was able to calculate a daily per person spend of $316 USD.

Comparing to the 12-day Shikoku itinerary which was a $208 USD/day, this trip cost a bit more but came very close to what our week in Sapporo in the winter cost ($318 USD/person/day).

Ultimately, the biggest expense was our stay at Page148. To bring the costs down, you can stay a budget property such as ….

For other points of comparison, 1 month in Chile averaged out to $308 USD/day, 3 weeks in New Zealand was $353 USD/day, and 10 days in Egypt was $204 USD/day.

Hong Kong has a sub-tropical climate which means that it gets pretty steamy for half of the year because of its high humidity. As a result, you’ll want to make sure you’re well-prepared.

For some context, we visited in mid-November which just happens to be one of the best times to visit because the temperatures are more comfortable (low 20s) and there are cool breezes.

Jacket – Arc’teryx Beta Shell – If you come during typhoon season (July – September), this will be important to have so the rain doesn’t ruin your days.
Waterproof pants – Arc’teryx Beta Pant – Especially if you don’t want to carry an umbrella everywhere, waterproof pants to pair with your jacket will be important.
Light jacket – Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody – A super light shell that provides wind protection and packs into itself. Since it’s designed for minimalists, you can pack it in your bags and pull it out when you freeze with all of that AC pumping.
Active fleece – Delta Hoody – This is a thin fleece that can be your go-to long-sleeve. This’ll come in handy for cooler nights or when you’re on Kowloon Peak after dark.
Travel pants – Outdoor Research Ferrosi Joggers – My new favorite travel pants that features a zippered back pocket, elastic cuff hem, elastic waist, and quick-drying material.
Shoes – Altra Lone Peak 7 – Lightweight, versatile, zero-drop shoes that are comfortable for long days on foot and excels on the trail.
Active t-shirt – Arc’teryx Cormac Crew Shirt – Hong Kong in the summer gets sweaty. Ditch anything that’s not breatheable and only pack these active tees.
Long-sleeve sunshirt – Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie – On days where you’ll have no cover from the sun (i.e. Kowloon Peak or Peng Chau Island), this gives you UV protection while keeping you cool.
Hat – Ciele GOCap – I’m a big fan of these light, quick-drying, packable, and fun-colored hats for travel. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a hardcore runner!
Sunglasses – Maui Jim – The current model I’m wearing is discontinued (Chee Hoo) but I can back up optometrist’s claiming that they have the best clarity and quality of lenses on the market.
Luggage – Db Journey Ramverk Luggage – I chose the medium size of this niche-brand suitcase because they use one of the best and largest wheels on the market (60mm Hinomoto), making them silent and easy to move around the streets of Hong Kong.
Charging – Mogics Super Bagel – This is a handy universal power strip for travelers that gives you 5 standard North American outlets, fast-charging Type C USB and a original USB A. You’re also protected with a replaceable fuse.
Backpack – Shimoda Action X50 V2 – The ultimate photography backpack for active travellers.
Messenger bag – Everyday Sling – The 3L and 6L slings are amazing for travel, especially in Hong Kong when you’re urban exploring and don’t need that much camera gear with you.
Packing cubes – Eagle Creek Pack-It Cubes and Compression Cubes – Keep your suitcase organized.
Sunscreen – Sun Bum SPF50 for face and body – Make sure you’re protected every day.
Reuseable tote – Peak Design Packable Tote – Super handy when you go shopping and don’t have space in your sling or backpack.
Tripod – Peak Design Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod – This is our go-to tripod for our travels and we’ve reviewed it extensively.
Camera – OM System OM-1 – Certainly one of the minority but I love my OM System (previously Olympus) micro-four-thirds system. It’s perfect for travel.
Camera – DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – If you watch our video on the best things to do in Hong Kong and where to eat and stay in Hong Kong, you’ll be surprised to hear that most of it was shot on the Pocket. It worked extremely well in those tight spaces, to be discreet, and encouraged me to do more on-camera commentary.
Drone – DJI Mini 4 Pro – This is the perfect travel drone (for now). I was able to fly it on Peng Chau and High Island Reservoir East Dam.
Lens – OM System M.Zuiko Pro 8-25mm – I had to be selective with my lens choices for this trip and ended up using this one the most.
Powerbank – VEEKTOMX 10000mAh – So good that I travel with 2 of these now. One is permanently with the Shimoda backpack and the other in the sling or my pocket.

The funny thing is that most people think of Hong Kong as merely a quick stopover. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great hub to get to other parts of Asia but as you’ve seen with our Hong Kong travel itinerary, even with 7 days, we missed plenty of stuff.

If you’ve loved our itinerary but would like to make tweaks to it based on your interests, travel style, and group dynamic, here is a list of places that we think would be great to swap in.

Places to go

Golden Bauhinia – By the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is this golden flower statue. The whole area has great views of the Kowloon-side.
Ocean Park – The original amusement park in Hong Kong with roller coasters, water park, shows, and wildlife encounters, this is fun for the whole family.
Ngong Ping 360 – Cablecar experience on Lantau Island that takes you up to The Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery.
Happy Valley Racecourse – This is a fun night out especially if you go on one of their Happy Wednesday events which includes their Beer Garden and English-commentary.
Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden – These two are next to each other and are beautiful places to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Sky100 – If you’re a fan of views from skyscrapers, don’t miss out the observation deck on the 100th floor. It’s also right next to the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Day trip ideas

Hong Kong Disneyland – With the exclusive World of Frozen, this is a must-visit for any Disney-lover. Get your tickets ahead of time to save money.
Stanley – Picturesque coastal town that’s located on the southern side of Hong Kong Island with a sandy beach, shopping, temple, vibrant market, and seaside restaurants.
Macau – We have a great Macau day trip itinerary that shows you how you can fit it in your trip.
Sai Kung – A great seaside fishing village that is worthy of being a day trip on its own or you could even try to combine it with your visit to the Hong Kong GeoPark area.
Tai O Fishing Village – At this historic fishing village in the far end of Lantau Island, explore scenic trails, seafood restaurants, street food, and houses on stilts.
Outlying Islands – Peng Chau is just one of many. Others we’ve loved in the past are Cheung Chau and Lamma Island.
Hikes – There are so many epic hikes in Hong Kong. If you’re looking for a different type of trail and view, check out Dragon’s Back, Braemar Hill Peak, Lion Rock, and Sunset Peak to name a few.
Shek O Beach – A popular beach getaway within the city and easy to get to on Hong Kong Island.
Lau Fau Shan & Nam Sang Wai – Chatting with a local, he said if you really want to go off-the-beaten-path, these two spots on the far northwest end of Hong Kong’s New Territories is a more untouched fisherman village (Lau Fau Shan) and nature preserve that’s great for bird-watching and extremely photogenic (Nam Sang Wai).

Activities and tours to join

Plover Cove Bicycling and Hiking – A great guided tour that includes biking and hiking in Hong Kong’s wilderness and through one of the prettiest parts of the city that rarely anyone gets to see.
GeoPark Kayaking – See the GeoPark and the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region from the water with this kayaking adventure.
Baked Goods DIY Workshop – This is a bit of a new concept. You’ll go to a self-service baking studio to learn how to make traditional Chinese baked goods like egg tarts and mooncakes.
Dark Side of Hong Kong Walking Tour – In this walking tour, see the real disparities in housing in Hong Kong with visits to a subdivided unit what it’s like to live in a 100 sq. ft. apartment.
Street Food Walking Tour – A great way to try the best street food in one walking tour.

Restaurants to try

We’re not going to list them all but we’ve added several that we wanted to fit in but just didn’t have the time on our trip planning map.

Short on time? You can always follow our 2 day Hong Kong itinerary as well!

Even if you think you know what Hong Kong is about, think again! Whether you’ve been to Hong Kong before or it’s your first time, there is so much to do.

Thinking about the trip as a whole, these were 4 highlights that made it really special.

Can’t beat local eats – If you think we intentionally picked the grungiest and no frills street food-type restaurants that we could find, you’d be right and I’m so glad that we did. The energy, cheap prices, and downright deliciousness can’t be beat!

What a view! – While in Hong Kong, you kind of get used to the gorgeous skyline everywhere you go but I’m not exaggerating when I say that the view from Kowloon Peak is absolutely jaw-dropping.

Thriving art scene – I’ll be honest, on previous visits, going to a museum never even crossed my mind. Hearing all of the buzz around the West Kowloon Cultural District, I was interested to see if it lived up to the hype. I was impressed and am glad I spent a day dedicated to the area. On top of that, places like Tai Kwun which I never thought to do added another layer to Hong Kong’s diverse culture.

Outdoor gems – We believe that the perfect Hong Kong itinerary should have a nice sprinkle of its gorgeous outdoors. Green spaces are another thing that doesn’t necessarily come to mind right away but it’s one of those hidden secrets where “if you know, you know!”

Hey I get it, a week in Hong Kong seems like a long time but I’m proof that there’s more than enough places to visit and things to eat. In fact, I probably could’ve used a few more days but I’ll leave that for a future trip.

Hope this itinerary leaves you inspired for your upcoming adventure in Hong Kong!

This trip was in partnership with Hong Kong but all opinions are our own.