Best time to visit
October to December and March to April are the best months for Hong Kong – with mild temperatures and low humidity.
Hong Kong trips: Victoria Peak, Lantau and Kowloon
Hong Kong adventure: Between neon light and jungle mountains
Between skyscrapers and jungle-clad mountains, a city pulses that never sleeps – Hong Kong is pure electricity. Here, the Peak Tram climbs steeply skywards, while 100 storeys below, street kitchens serve steaming dim sum. In the morning, locals practise tai chi between tower blocks, and in the evening, the skyline shines in one of Asia's most spectacular light shows. Hong Kong is the perfect opening for your Asia trip or an intense experience in its own right: you'll climb Victoria Peak, lose yourself in the neon alleys of Kowloon, sail across the harbour and discover hidden temples. Here, tradition and future collide with an intensity that exists nowhere else. Welcome to the vertical metropolis.
Tips and info for your Hong Kong trip
Currency
The official currency in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD).
Flight time
A direct flight from the UK to Hong Kong takes about 12 to 13 hours.
Language
The official languages of Hong Kong are Cantonese and English.
What are the must-sees in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is full of highlights, but these must-sees belong on your bucket list.
Skyline view: Victoria Peak and Kowloon
The Peak Tram races upwards almost vertically in just seven minutes. At the top, Victoria Peak towers 1,811 feet above the urban sprawl of clouds and high-rises and serves up Hong Kong on a silver platter. Down below, one of the world's most densely populated skyline sparkles. On the other side of the harbour, Kowloon explodes in colour: in Tsim Sha Tsui, neon lights flash, steam rises from markets and the Avenue of Stars stretches along the water. In the middle of it all lies Kowloon Park – a green oasis with flamingos and tai chi sessions for the perfect breather. In contrast, Hong Kong Island boasts the Central district, full of suited commuters, glass buildings and rooftop bars with million-dollar views. Hong Kong lives vertically – get stuck in.
Nature adventures: where jungle meets megacity
Walk along ridges with the subtropical jungle on your left and the South China Sea on your right. After five miles, you'll reach the reward: Shek O Beach. It's no wonder CNN named Dragon's Back the best urban hike in Asia. Around forty percent of Hong Kong is a protected nature reserve, with endless trails like the 62-mile MacLehose Trail and the Wilson Trail, which catapults you straight into the jungle. Suddenly, you find yourself standing on a peak looking down at a sea of skyscrapers. And in Hong Kong UNESCO Geopark, a 140-million-year-old geological drama awaits – hexagonal volcanic rocks that look like they've been stacked by giants. It's perfectly clear: nature is Hong Kong's superpower.
Island-hopping: Lantau, Lamma and Sai Kung
Over 260 islands and 40 official beaches? In Hong Kong? Yes! The city hides a complete archipelago that you can reach by ferry in just 30 minutes. Lantau Island boasts Asia's largest seated Buddha – 112 feet of bronze, 268 steps and a spiritual knockout with mountain views. The fishing village of Tai O floats on stilts above the water, while the Ngong Ping cable car hovers above green peaks. And Lamma Island winds the tempo down completely – no cars, just bicycles and bays that smell of salt and freedom. Last but not least, the Sai Kung Peninsula opens the gate to hidden beaches like Clearwater Bay.
Macao in the distance: bridge to another world
The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge is a 34-mile engineering marvel, the world's longest bridge and tunnel sea-crossing, which brings you to Macao in just 45 minutes. There, the scene changes: cobblestone streets are flanked by colonial-era buildings in pastel colours and small restaurants serving up Portuguese salted cod. Macao mixes European influences with Asian pace and casinos with world heritage sites, and Senado Square looks like Lisbon in fast-forward. Two completely opposing worlds, a single day – and by evening, you'll be back in Hong Kong before the skyline starts to glow. This is the perfect day trip.
