How To Spend A Weekend In Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a city I’ve been fascinated with for a long time and I have long fantasized about living and working there at some point. If you’re like me, whether on a stopover or short getaway, you might be spending a weekend or a few days in Hong Kong and keen to see as much as you can in a short amount of time. I recently spent a weekend in Hong Kong on a belated birthday trip and I’m spilling all the details on a 48-Hour Hong Kong itinerary.

Getting Into Hong Kong From The Airport

You can take a taxi, or my hotel even offered a limo/Rolls Royce (at a cost of course), or you can take the Airport Express train which got me into the city in twenty minutes! 

To get around town, I got an Octopus card from the airport which allowed me to ride the MTR. The MTR is affordable and efficient. Otherwise, taxis are very affordable (unlike Tokyo where I currently live). I ended up using Uber a couple of times as well. 

Where To Stay In Hong Kong: Locations and Hotels in Hong Kong

I’ll be honest, Hong Kong is such a well connected city, such that you can pretty much stay anywhere and you’ll be able to get access to the rest of the island. Whatever you do, just make sure you’re close to an MTR station. Regardless, here are some of the most popular areas to stay during your weekend in Hong Kong.

Kowloon –

I chose to stay in Kowloon as I felt it has a bit of charm to it.  and was rewarded with amazing views of Hong Kong’s skyline from my hotel and room. My hotel was not only connected to a mall with lots of dining and shopping options, it was also connected to an MTR station which made getting around a breeze. I stayed at the Ritz Carlton in West Kowloon as it was a belated birthday trip so a little splurge for the birthday girl!  

Tsim Sha Tsui – or TST,

This area has a more local vibe and is much more accessible to places where locals prefer to hang out like Mong Kok for example. It is a better jumping point to sample good Cantonese food (and Indian or halal as well). TST is only  2 stops from Central on the train, and a 10 minute ferry ride from TST. If you’re open to taxis, it’s about $150 (US$20). The Peninsula and Rosewood are two excellent luxury hotels in TST. 

Central –

Central some of that East-meets-West vibe, and LKF is right there in Central. But there is more to Central than LKF. In central, there’s more international cuisine, English is widely spoken, and there’s a good chance you’ll run into expats. Central is a great jump off point to see Victoria Peak and the area boasts several wonderful restaurants

Causeway Bay –

Causeway Bay is an area on Hong Kong Island and is one of Hong Kong’s major shopping districts. Beyond shopping, it is home to Hong Kong’s largest public park and is also a favourite neighborhood for visitors to Hong Kong.

Arrival Day – Evening (Dinner & Drinks)

If you’re like me, you are arriving in Hong Kong on a Friday for your weekend in Hong Kong, perhaps in the late afternoon or evening. You don’t have a full day but you can definitely kick off your weekend in Hong Kong right away. Check into your hotel, freshen up and grab some dinner. If you’re staying in Kowloon, then you can grab dinner at:

• Tim Ho Wan – on Austin Road in West Kowloon (for some legendary, affordable Michelin star dim sum). 

After dinner, head into town to grab drinks on Lan Kwai Fong or nearby Soho. Lan Kwai Fong (LKF) is a popular spot for nightlife in Hong Kong. From what I hear, it is also popular with expats and tourists. I spent the evening with my friend so I tagged along with a local, which was nice. LKF is on a hill so wear comfortable shoes! You’ll be spoilt for choice with bars, but my friend and I wanted a view so we went to Wav, a rooftop bar in the heart of Central that takes in views of the city from both sides. We ordered drinks and bites to nibble on.  

Live Music & Cocktails at DragonFly

After rooftop drinks at Wav, my friend said we had to check out the Tai Kwun complex in central. The Tai Kwun Complex is a historical landmark in Hong Kong . It is a unique cluster of low-rise buildings in the heart of Soho, Central, Hong Kong. It is the site of the former Police headquarters. Today, it is home to 16 Heritage buildings which house art, music, restaurant, theatre performances and so on. 

While checking out the Tai Kwun complex, I loved how the complex/square has open space for people to just hang out: families, lovers, and friends.  I heard live music and I just couldn’t resist, so we followed the music! We ended up staying at DragonFly until the last number by the amazing live band they had on a Friday night. Turns out, DragonFly is a top 5 cocktail bar in Hong Kong with absolutely stunning interiors. It was so good I returned alone the following night for Caribbean night! Loved it and I highly recommend it!

Take The Star Ferry Back

I had the Star Ferry on my itinerary so it was perfect when my friend suggested we take it back from central to TST, which is close to West Kowloon. The views from the Star Ferry are to live for and if i’m being completely honest, photos do not do it justice so I gave up on photos pretty quickly. It’s also pretty convenient that the Octopus card can be used to ride the star ferry. From the ferry dock, you can take a short taxi ride back to your hotel.

Day Two – Full Day

As this is your only full day in Hong Kong, you’ll have a long day ahead! As much as I wanted to sleep in, I got up early and got ready to head out.

Breakfast at Australian Dairy Company

Australian Dairy Company is a Hong Kong cha chaan teng (diner) that came highly recommended for Hong Kong style breakfast in all of the research I did. I hear no one does moist scrambled eggs and toast like this joint. Go early, as I hear the lines can get long, but the team works quite efficiently. 

Head to The Peak

You’ve likely seen pictures of Victoria’s Peak and if you’re in Hong Kong, you don’t want to miss this view either. Here, you’ll find the best views over Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. Wanting to make the most of my day, as advised by my friend, I took an Uber ride up to the peak to avoid the hour-long queues to take the tram up. I arrived around 8:30 am and it was not crowded at all. I took my time to grab a drink at a Starbucks in a mall-type building. After checking the views out and taken a few free photos from the Peak Galleria (mall) observation deck, I decided to do the Peak Walk (again thanks to my friend).

Peak Walk

The Peak Walk is a 3.5km walk that starts on Lugard road boasts the best views of Hong’s Victoria Harbor. The walk takes about an hour to complete and is mostly flat, but trust me, you’ll stop for photos and/or to take in the views. I did the Peak Walk in the day time, and I can imagine it is spectacular at night. You’ll find locals going on their walks/runs and tourists checking out the view. I found this Peak circle walk blog post helpful in planning my own walk. 

Terrace

After the Peak Circle walk, in a bid to see everything possible, I got tickets to the Terrace at Victoria’s Peak. The views were great, but in my opinion, they weren’t any more spectacular than the free views at the Galleria and from the walk. In my opinion, save your coins and skip the terrace! I wish someone told me this!

Tram

Since I took a taxi up, I wanted to take in the experience of the tram on the way down and it was such a fun ride! I was first in line to get on the tram so I got to sit in the very front row and I was so tickled by it all. So fun! The ride down takes about 7-8 minutes and it is steep in parts.

Dim Sum Lunch at Yung Kee in Central

After getting off the Tram, you’ll probably be starving and ready for lunch! I don’t know about you, but Dim sum in Hong Kong has been on my living list (read bucket list) for the longest time. Yung Kee is a short ten minute walk from the tram station to this restaurant in Central. While the restaurant is also known for the roasted goose, I came for the Dim sum. I was seated pretty quickly. I ordered Bbq pork buns, shrimp and port, crispy pork belly, fresh watermelon juice, and Chrysanthemum tea. It was all delicious and since I was travelling solo, I was pretty stuffed!

Another spot for Dim Sum, recommended by a local is Maxim’s Palace.

Jenni’s Cookies For The Ultimate Hong Kong Souvenir

Jenny’s Bakery in Hong Kong is famous for delicious butter cookies made fresh everyday in Hong Kong. After lunch, I took a walk to the nearest location to pick up some souvenirs. Jenny’s cookies are packages in adorable teddy bear biscuit tins and are a symbol of the brand. I first tasted these cookies when my friend gave me a small tin from Hong Kong and I was hooked. There was quite the line when I arrived but by the time I was leaving, the lines were around the block. There are two locations, one in TST, and the other in Hong Kong Island. 

Tip: Bring cash, and know your order in advance. The line moves fast! Also, have a ‘plan B’ order in mind just in case they’ve sold out of your number 1 preference. 

Dinner on Temple Street

I went back to the hotel to rest up before heading back out for dinner on Temple Street. Temple street is a hub for late night dining and is popular with both tourists and locals. Bring your best poses and camera along as Temple Street is ever-lively with energy, filled with sights, and sounds. There is a giant entry way, and lanterns that light up the streets and food stalls. There are both full restaurants and food stalls on Temple street. The food stalls each specialize in different snacks from fish balls, oysters, to siu mai, to fruit, to freshly made juices, and snacks from other Asian countries. 

I grabbed some snacks (skewered pork, and some fruit), and walked the length of the street. Beyond food, there are also stalls selling some fake designer goods, as well as other souvenirs (including luggage for those that need them). 

I had a delicious meal in the open air Wing Fat Seafood restaurant with a few hundred other locals and foreigners alike. Other restaurants on temple street include, and it is a good spot to try Spicy Crab at Temple Street Spicy Crabs (but this delicacy is on offer at other spots as well).

Aqua or Ozone For Sky High Views and Drinks

After a lovely meal, ‘time to wrap up your last night in Hong Kong with HK nightlife, or at a minimum drinks with a view of Hong Kong’s skyline at night! I stick with drinks with a view. Since I was staying at the Ritz Carlton, I had a drink at Ozone, the highest bar in Hong Kong. Looking for other options, you can have drinks at Aqua in TST, Hong Kong!

Day Three – Final Day Of A Weekend In Hong Kong

It was my last day in Hong Kong and I decided to sleep in a bit and enjoy the final moments of my luxurious stay at the Ritz Carlton. You know, enjoy the room I paid for! The views are to LIVE for!! By sleeping in, I chose to miss out on a Hong Kong Palace Museum and Avenue of the Stars visit and I was okay with that. I’ve come a long way from my earlier days where I had to see everything. 

An Afternoon in Mong Kok, Hong Kong

Afterwards, I finally checked out and went to do my final bit of sightseeing by heading to Mong Kok. Everything I read leading up to my visit indicated that I needed to check out Mong Kok. Mong Kok means ‘busy corner’ in Cantonese. True to its name, Mong kok is a bustling shopping area with attractions such as the Ladies market, sneaker street, and lots of street food options. While I didn’t have time to eat, I was curious to check out Sneaker Street. Yup, it is a 50-metre long street (Fa Yuen) filled with sportswear, sporting goods stores with every sneaker style in the world. In addition to the stores, there are also interactive sports zones in the area. It is a must visit for sneakerheads and sports enthusiasts

The ladies market is a sprawling open air market close to Sneaker Street that is run mostly by women. There are over 100 stalls selling wares from clothes, shoes, souvenirs, toy cars, bags, luggage, and so much more. Yes, you are expected to haggle here so go ahead and bargain with the vendors. When shopping. I personally tend to walk across the market and ask for the price of the same goods at multiple vendors to get an idea of a starting point for bargaining purposes. However, I have to say that I’m losing a bit of my bargaining mojo, or am I getting old?

Final Lunch At Michelin Starred Tin Lung Heen

To wrap up my stay in Hong Kong with a nice bow on it, my very last activity was lunch at Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant Tin Lung Heen at the Ritz Carlton. Reservations are required and as a hotel guest, I was fortunate to snag a spot by booking one day in advance. I wouldn’t recommend cutting it so close. It is a TWO Star Michelin restaurant and ranks in top 50 (of over 13,000) restaurants in Hong Kong on trip advisor. While I’m not particularly a foodie, this was a great experience. Due to my last minute booking, I was not seated by the window, which was fine as I enjoyed great views from my room and from other restaurants at the hotel. I tried frog legs (honestly, delicious!), and three different dumplings, one of which was the largest I’d ever had (Sui mai, Salmon roe and one other one) from the Dim Sum menu. Then, I had the seafood fried rice. It was all so delicious and the service was excellent!

Things To Know Before Visiting Hong Kong

• Pack comfortable walking shoes as there are lots of hiking trails
• Get the Octopus card to easy use of public transit
• Shopaholics will be spoilt for choice between the malls and street markets
• English and Cantonese are official languages
• The Airport Express train takes 20-25 minutes to the city from the airport and runs every few  minutes.
• Carry cash for some mom and pop shops
• I saw a lot of Teslas and sex toy shops in Hong Kong. I wasn’t expecting that I guess!

Overall Impressions from a Weekend In Hong Kong

I could have used one last full day in Hong Kong but my weekend in Hong Kong delivered on all my expectations. I loved the 24/7 hustle and bustle of it all, and it reminded me of New York. I finally lived out my dream of having Dim Sum in Hong Kong. Staying in a luxurious hotel was wonderful! The views, all of the lights! My goodness! I could get used to those views and the skyscrapers gleaming in the night sky made my heart so glad to be able to witness it with my own two eyes! Hong Kong is small, but it definitely packs a punch and I hope my experience helps you plan your weekend in Hong Kong, or it brings Hong Kong to your world! 

In summary, regardless of how you choose to order your activities, here’s a summary of things to do during your weekend in Hong Kong

1. Drinks at Central/Soho – Bonus: live music at DragonFly
2. Day 0 dinner at Tim Ho Wan
3. Victoria Peak Circle walk
4. Dim Sum at Yung Kee in Central or Maxims Palace
5. Pick up delicious souvenirs at Jenni’s cookies
6. Dine with tourists and locals on Temple street
7. Michelin star Cantonese lunch
8. Drinks at Ozone or Aqua
9. Ride the Star Ferry
10. Check out Avenue of the Stars
11. Mong Kok for Ladies Market and Sneakers Street
12. Hong Kong Palace Museum

Happy travels,

Dee