Hong Kong is a city of two halves – the traditional in Kowloon and the ultra-modern on Hong Kong Island. This skyscraper-studded, neon-lit city is a patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe.
There are countless cool places in Hong Kong, and you could easily spend a whole month discovering them all, but we know time is precious. To help you discover Hong Kong like a local, we’ve picked out 10 places well worth your time. Work through them all or pick out the ones that speak to you – either way, make sure you invest a decent wad of time soaking up the culture, art and outdoor activities Hong Kong does so well.
1. Go to Sham Shui Po for the hipster crowd
Best for… picking up a bargain, arts and crafts
A trip to Hong Kong wouldn’t be complete without a stroll around Sham Shui Po. If you’re into arts and crafts and picking up a bargain, head to this fantastic area that draws a cool, hipster crowd. Shop for fabric at Yen Chow Street, pick up handmade leather goods on Tai Nan Street and stock up on haberdashery goodies at Yu Chau Street and Nam Cheong Street. Then grab dim sum at Tim Ho Wan – the Sham Shui Po restaurant has a Michelin star.
If art’s your thing, there’s loads of street art. It’s all thanks to the HK walls street-art festival in 2016 when artists from all over the world painted murals and artwork across the neighbourhood.
2. Take the Sham Shui Po food tour
Best for… local delicacies like snake soup, dim sum and roast goose
This is your chance to experience Hong Kong like a local. The Sham Shui Po food tour takes you through an almost untouched neighbourhood that retains Hong Kong’s traditional charm. You’ll have the opportunity to visit decades-old eateries and sample Hong Kong’s most popular dishes, including a traditional Hong Kong breakfast and steamed rice rolls.
Plus, between tastings, you’ll have the chance to explore the neighbourhood and learn about its storied past. If you’re a foodie looking for new experiences and a new favourite dish, this is the tour for you.
For a food-driven experience in Sham Shui Po- discover delicious local snacks on our Sham Shui Po Morning Foodie and Hiking Tour.
3. Discover art in Central
Best for… exploring the cultural side of the business district
Photo credit: @araneversettles on Instagram
Don’t be fooled into thinking this a purely business-oriented neighbourhood in Hong Kong. Dig a little deeper and you’ll discover a burgeoning art scene. Head to PMQ. It bills itself as a creative lifestyle venue, so you’ll find designers, artists and crafters making full use of the 130 workshop and retail units.
Hunt down unique handmade items and then feast on delicious food and drinks at the cafes and restaurants – one of the top picks has to be Aberdeen Street Social. Sunday to Friday 5pm-8pm is happy hour. Elsewhere in Central, make time to journey the mid-levels escalator. It’s the longest outdoor covered escalator on the planet and takes about 25-minutes to travel from one end to the other. Hop out at SoHo for trendy bars, restaurants, quirky boutiques and galleries – or book on to our Central Street Art Half Day Tour for an afternoon of art adventure.
4. Head for great Instagrammable sights
Best for… street art
Hong Kong is packed with Instagrammable spots that require #nofilter.
For the top spots, visit the street art in Central. Arguably the most famous street mural is located on Graham Street. Here, local artist Alex Croft was commissioned to create a piece for lifestyle brand GOD’s store, which is just around the corner. However, the piece is now an attraction in itself, with the mural of old townhouses attracting Instagrammers and influencers from around the globe.
If you prefer urban impressionism, head to Elgin Street. A collaboration between British street artist Dan Kitchener (also known as Dank) and Charles Williams, this iconic image was inspired by local charity Feeding Hong Kong. It shows the city on a rainy evening and includes the message ‘don’t let it go to waste’ in Chinese script.
For something seasonal, head to La Galerie Paris 1839. Here, the street art mural is updated to promote the latest art exhibitions, meaning you get to see fresh, new creations every time you visit.
5. Night-time bar experience in SoHo
Best for… world-class bars and restaurants
You can’t beat exploring the city by night, so embrace the bright lights and dark skies with a bar experience in SoHo. A strip of buzzing bars and restaurants, SoHo offers everything from speakeasies to sophisticated wine bars. No matter what your tipple of choice, you’ll find it here. To start, take a trip up the famous SoHo escalators to visit Peak Bar – the perfect spot to watch the world go by. Grab a street-facing seat and enjoy the long happy hours available every day.
From here, take a short stroll down Staunton Street to Little LAB. Here you’ll find a collection of east-meets-west creations perfectly blended by highly trained bartenders. Feeling peckish? We recommend the incredibly moreish Coca Cola-marinated chicken wings. For a cultured experience, end your evening just around the corner at The Old Man, an ode to Hemingway. The bar offers everything the great writer enjoyed and the cocktails are named after his great novels.
6. Have a sip at Piqniq
Best for… cocktails and sky-high views
Get some perspective up above the streets and alleyways of Hong Kong. We’re talking 27 floors up – at the top of the city’s hottest new arts venue, H Queen’s. By day, Piqniq is a dining terrace, but by night it transforms into a vibrant celebration under the stars.
Located right in the heart of Central, Piqniq provides mesmerising views that stretch from Victoria Harbour to The Peak. Whether you’re looking for al fresco dining, drinks, or even a spot of relaxation, Piqniq is the place to be.
7. Visit heritage hideaways at Wan Chai
Best for… temples, malls and quirky neighbourhoods
Photo credit: @shgwon3704 on Instagram
Wan Chai has evolved into one of Hong Kong’s coolest and most dynamic areas. Here you’ll discover a heady mix of old and new where temples and old tenement buildings are hidden between skyscrapers. As a result, Wan Chai is now the place to be seen for all things art and culture. It’s home to quirky neighbourhoods such as Lee Tung Street, Star Street and the Grade I historic building, Blue House.
Lee Tung Street is famous for its upscale mall, but you’ll find plenty of heritage hideaways to discover, too. Look out for the facade of the Bauhaus-era Wan Chai Market, the wet markets nested in the maze of Bowrington Road and the temples and shrines hidden in back lanes surrounding Stone Nullah Lane.
8. Book the Hong Kong Island Tram and Walking Day Tour
Best for… seeing the sights in style
Photo credit: @spiegelbild.momente_fotografie on Instagram
Wondering what to see in Hong Kong and how to pack all of these wonderful sights into your holiday? Our Hong Kong Island Tram and Walking Day tour is a great way to take in a handful of the city’s best sights with the help of a knowledgeable tour guide.
Jump on board a sightseeing tram and enjoy some of Hong Kong Island’s main attractions from the comfort of an old-fashioned tram that click-clacks its way along the streets.
You’ll stop off at Wo Cheong Pawn Shop and Hung Shing Temple, pay a visit to the Old Wan Chai Post Office and enjoy lunch in a Hong Kong-style restaurant in Wan Chai. Later on, you’ll see the Blue House Cluster and Pak Tai Temple, and you can hike up to Lovers’ Rock. Many locals worship at the rock as it’s supposed to help fertility problems and those in search of a partner. If you’re looking for love, it could be worth a shot…!
It’s not just about partying and cityscapes! On the contrary, Hong Kong is culturally rich.
We hope our guide to Hong Kong will help get you on your way to exploring this adventure-filled city. Mix your time between exploring independently and enjoying guided tour activities and you’ll get the most out of this city. It’s packed full of cultural explorer activities, whatever you’re after: art, lifestyle, food.
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