Hong Kong is one of the easiest destinations to make a full weekend of. With reliable public transport and a general culture of speed and efficiency, the city offers itself up as the ideal weekender, complete with great food, entertainment, shopping and leisure.
This Hong Kong weekend itinerary takes you to a handful of quintessential landmarks, as well as some everyday local favorites. The activities can be accomplished over a good two days and a half, walled by a Friday evening arrival and Sunday night departure. We’ve also included tips on how to make the most of your trip. Get your pen and notepad ready, and be prepared to take notes!
NIGHT 1
Enjoy some views
Sky Terrace 428
- Take The Peak Tram from Central then head up the viewing deck, Sky Terrace 428, where you’ll find one of the most iconic views of the Hong Kong skyline. Tip: Viewing Deck hours last until 11PM. If you are early, pay a visit to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum nearby.
- Take the bus back to Central and make your way to Lan Kwai Fong, the city’s renowned party hub. Grab dinner at Tsui Wah Restaurant nearby for a taste of everyday Hong Kong comfort food.
- From there, roam the LKF vicinity as partygoers start to fill the area around 11PM. Meet new people, enjoy yourself, but be sure to watch over your valuables! Tip: The last trains depart around 12:40AM, but taxi services run well into the night with a flag down rate at HKD22. Our recommendation, however, would be to catch the last train and get some rest for the next day’s itinerary!
DAY 2
Shopping & a local theme park
Ocean Park
- Start by fueling up with breakfast, then head over to Ocean Park (opening hours: 10AM-10PM; tickets $327 Adults, $164 Children if you book on Klook). The amusement park is more than a fun and educational attraction. It’s been around for 38 years – a stuff of childhood for plenty of Hong Kongers. Some rides and attractions worth queuing up for: The Grand Aquarium, Hair Raiser, The Flash, Mine Train, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sichuan Treasures (where you’ll see pandas An An and Jia Jia!)
- Around 5PM, return to the city to freshen up and get a good hour or two’s rest.
- Then hop on the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui. You’ll arrive at the Avenue of Stars, a seaside promenade marked by honorary stars dedicated to the city’s influential figures in film. Located by the waterfront, you’ll also get another postcard-perfect view of the Hong Kong Island skyline.
- From there, you can walk to Harbour City for dinner (we recommend Crystal Jade Restaurant for fine Chinese dining, open until 11PM). Alternatively, a taxi ride to Mong Kok treats you to a good stone pot rice dinner.
- Afterward, enjoy a bargain shopping spree at the night market in Mong Kok.
DAY 3
Culture & nature
Ngong Ping 360 and the Tian Tan Big Buddha
- Take the train to Tung Chung and get on the Ngong Ping 360 Crystal Cabin Cable Car (opening hours: 10AM-6PM), a scenic 25-minute journey across the mountainsides toward Ngong Ping village.
- Once in Ngong Ping, enjoy about an hour’s stay in the old village and climb up the Tian Tan ‘Big’ Buddha, known in the world as the tallest outdoor statue of a seated Buddha. You may also want to visit the museum underneath.
- Return to the city before boon. If you could pack before your Ngong Ping excursion and check out of your accommodation by 1PM, you’ll have the afternoon to enjoy a late lunch at Tim Ho Wan, before heading back to the airport for your nighttime flight. Anticipate about half an hour’s waiting time to be seated, though, as the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant does accommodate a legion of diners! Tip: Taking the Airport Express saves you a good two hours of your holiday. A one-way ride to Hong Kong Station, the farthest on the line, takes only 25 minutes, compared to approximately 45 minutes by bus, without factoring in waiting time and route stops.
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Have you been to these sights before, and if so, are there others you’d like to see on your next Hong Kong visit? Let us know in the comments and we’ll recommend an alternative itinerary for you!
