Overview
Why Hong Kong belongs on every Asia itinerary
Hong Kong is one of Asia's most electric destinations — a compact, cinematic city where 100-storey skyscrapers rise straight out of jungle-covered mountains, and where you can go from Michelin-starred dim sum to a hidden beach in under an hour. Few cities pack so much into so little space.
It's a place of beautiful contradictions. Neon-lit alleyways sit beneath glass towers. Century-old cha chaan teng cafés share the same block as members-only cocktail bars. Traditional temples burn incense a five-minute MTR ride from Louis Vuitton flagships. This mix of modern skyscrapers and traditional culture is exactly what makes it so exciting.
Then there's the food. Dim sum trolleys, roast goose, wonton noodles, egg tarts, milk tea, clay pot rice — Hong Kong is one of the great food cities of the world, whether you're eating for £5 in a tiled tea house or £500 at a harbour-view tasting menu.
Getting around is easy. The MTR is one of the best metros on the planet, the Star Ferry is a working commute and a heritage experience at the same time, and the whole city is set up for pedestrians — with English signage on every corner.
Best of all, Hong Kong is packed with easy day trips — Lantau Island's Big Buddha, the Dragon's Back hike, the beaches of Repulse Bay and Stanley, and outlying islands ten minutes from the CBD. Whether you're on a long holiday or a 48-hour stopover, this city delivers.
Quick Overview
Duration
5 Days
Destination
Hong Kong
Start / Finish
Hong Kong Island
Best For
First-time visitors, couples, solo travellers & city breaks
Budget
Budget, Mid-range & Luxury
Transport
MTR, Star Ferry, trams, buses & taxis
Best Time
October – April (cool & dry)
Highlights
Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, Big Buddha, Dragon's Back, Mong Kok markets & Symphony of Lights
The Route
Your 5-day Hong Kong route
A five-day loop across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the outlying islands — mostly on foot and by MTR.
Day 1 · Central & Peak
- • Victoria Peak & Peak Tram
- • Mid-Levels Escalator
- • Man Mo Temple
- • Symphony of Lights & Star Ferry
Day 2 · Kowloon
- • Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
- • Avenue of Stars
- • Kowloon Park
- • Temple Street Night Market
Day 3 · Lantau Island
- • Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
- • Tian Tan Big Buddha
- • Po Lin Monastery
- • Tai O Fishing Village
Day 4 · Nature
- • Dragon's Back Hike
- • Or Repulse Bay & Stanley
- • Stanley Market
- • Lan Kwai Fong / Soho
Day 5 · Markets
- • Ladies Market
- • Goldfish Market
- • Flower Market
- • Yuen Po Bird Garden
Sunset finale
- • Sky100 Observation Deck
- • Or Ozone / Aqua rooftop bars
- • Final harbour views
- • Depart from HKG
Day 1
Central & Victoria Peak
Start high. Day one is Hong Kong's greatest hits — the tram up Victoria Peak, the old lanes and temples of Sheung Wan, and a Star Ferry crossing timed to Symphony of Lights.
How to get there
Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport and take the Airport Express to Hong Kong Station (~24 min). Pick up an Octopus Card the moment you clear customs.
Where to stay
Budget
- YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel — heritage-building hostel in Sham Shui Po
Mid-Range
- Butterfly on Wellington — well-located central boutique
- Ovolo Central — stylish mid-range with breakfast included
Luxury
- Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong — legendary Central luxury
- The Peninsula Hong Kong — the classic harbour-view five-star
Best areas to stay: Central (sightseeing, nightlife, luxury) or Wan Chai (transport, mix of local and modern).
Day 1
Peak, temples & the harbour
Morning
- Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak
- Sky Terrace 428 or the free Peak Circle walk
- Coffee with a view
Afternoon
- Descend to Central
- Mid-Levels Escalator (world's longest outdoor)
- Man Mo Temple in Sheung Wan
- Tai Kwun heritage & arts complex
Evening
- Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui
- Symphony of Lights at 8pm from the Kowloon waterfront
- Dinner in Tsim Sha Tsui or back in Central
Food recommendations
- Dim sum lunch at Lin Heung Tea House or Tim Ho Wan
- Egg tarts at Tai Cheong Bakery
- Wonton noodles at Mak's Noodle
- Sunset drinks at Sevva or Ozone
Approx daily budget: £75 backpacker · £180 mid · £420 luxury
Day 2
Kowloon
Cross the harbour and spend a day in Kowloon — waterfront promenades, museums, parks and one of Asia's most atmospheric night markets.
How to get there
Take the MTR or, better, the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui.
Where to stay
Budget
- Hop Inn Mody — clean design hostel steps from TST
Mid-Range
- Eaton HK — arty mid-range in Jordan
- The Kowloon Hotel — right by the harbour
Luxury
- Rosewood Hong Kong — waterfront ultra-luxury
- The Peninsula Hong Kong — colonial-era grande dame
Best area: Tsim Sha Tsui — harbour views, museums, shopping and the best MTR access on Kowloon side.
Day 2
Waterfront, culture & Temple Street
Morning
- Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
- Avenue of Stars
- Clock Tower & Cultural Centre
Afternoon
- Hong Kong Museum of Art (optional)
- Kowloon Park
- Nathan Road shopping
- Sneaker Street or Ladies Fashion Street
Evening
- Temple Street Night Market
- Cheap eats, souvenirs, fortune tellers, dai pai dong food stalls
Food recommendations
- Dai pai dong seafood at Temple Street
- Egg waffles (gai daan zai) from a street cart
- Roast goose at Yat Lok
- Bubble milk tea at Kam Wah Café
Approx daily budget: £65 backpacker · £160 mid · £380 luxury
Day 3
Lantau Island
Big Buddha, monasteries and a stilt-house fishing village — Lantau is Hong Kong's most rewarding day trip and completely doable in a single day.
How to get there
Take the MTR to Tung Chung, then the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car up the mountain. Book the Crystal Cabin online in advance to skip the queue.
Day 3
Big Buddha & Tai O
Morning
- Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
- Ngong Ping Village
- Climb the 268 steps to Tian Tan Big Buddha
Afternoon
- Po Lin Monastery
- Vegetarian lunch at the monastery kitchen
- Bus to Tai O Fishing Village
- Stilt houses & pink dolphin boat tour (optional)
Evening
- Return to Hong Kong Island or Kowloon
- Dinner in Wan Chai or Causeway Bay
Approx daily budget: £80 backpacker · £190 mid · £420 luxury
Day 4
Hong Kong Nature
Hong Kong is 40% country park. Spend a day out of the city — either hiking one of Asia's best urban trails or taking a slower coastal route through Repulse Bay and Stanley.
Option 1: Dragon's Back Hike
- MTR to Shau Kei Wan then bus to Shek O
- ~4 km ridge walk with harbour and beach views
- Finish at Big Wave Bay for a swim
- 2–3 hours, moderate difficulty
Option 2: Repulse Bay & Stanley
- Bus 6 or 260 from Central
- Repulse Bay beach & the Kwun Yam shrine
- Continue to Stanley village
- Stanley Market & waterfront restaurants
Day 4
Nature by day, nightlife by night
Morning / afternoon
- Choose Dragon's Back OR Repulse Bay & Stanley
- Coastal views, beaches and fresh air
- Lunch at Big Wave Bay or Stanley Main Street
Evening
- Return to Central
- Sunset drinks in Soho
- Dinner then out in Lan Kwai Fong
Approx daily budget: £65 backpacker · £170 mid · £400 luxury
Day 5
Markets & Sky Views
Finish with the markets of Mong Kok, one of the most concentrated shopping districts on the planet, and a final sunset high above the harbour.
How to get there
MTR direct to Mong Kok — the markets are all within a 15-minute walk of the station.
Day 5
Mong Kok, then sunset
Morning
- Ladies Market
- Goldfish Market
- Flower Market
- Yuen Po Bird Garden
Afternoon
- Dim sum lunch in Mong Kok
- Sneaker Street & Argyle Centre shopping
- Return to Central or Kowloon
Evening
- Sky100 Observation Deck
- Or rooftop drinks at Ozone (ICC) / Aqua (TST)
- Final harbour dinner
Food recommendations
- Clay pot rice at Kwan Kee
- Roast goose at Yung Kee
- Mango pomelo sago at Hui Lau Shan
- Milk tea & pineapple bun at Kam Wah Café
Approx daily budget: £70 backpacker · £180 mid · £450 luxury
Where to Stay
Best neighbourhoods in Hong Kong
Central
Perfect for sightseeing, nightlife and luxury hotels — the historic core and financial district in one.
Wan Chai
Excellent transport links with a mix of local culture, modern hotels and a lively food scene.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Fantastic harbour views, shopping and restaurants — best base on the Kowloon side.
Mong Kok
Great for budget travellers, night markets and authentic local life. Loud, busy, brilliant.
Causeway Bay
Ideal for shopping, dining and transport — one of the world's busiest retail districts.
Sheung Wan / Sai Ying Pun
Quieter, hipper and cheaper than Central — dried seafood shops next to speakeasies.
Getting around
Hong Kong transport guide
MTR (Metro)
One of the best metro systems in the world — clean, fast, cheap and English-signposted. Reaches almost every neighbourhood in this itinerary.
Star Ferry
A working commute and a heritage experience. Around HK$5 for a Central–TST crossing with one of the best views on earth.
Ding Ding Tram
Double-decker heritage trams that trundle across Hong Kong Island. Flat HK$3 fare — sit upstairs at the front.
Buses
Extensive but slower — essential for Lantau, Stanley and Shek O where the MTR doesn't reach. Pay with Octopus.
Airport Express
Direct MTR line from HKG to Central in 24 minutes. In-town check-in available at Hong Kong and Kowloon stations for many airlines.
Octopus Card
Buy on arrival — works on MTR, buses, Star Ferry, trams and convenience stores. The single best thing you can do on day one.
Walking
Central, Sheung Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui are all easily walkable, with covered footbridges connecting most of Central above street level.
Uber & taxis
Red taxis (urban), green (New Territories), blue (Lantau). Uber operates city-wide. Cash preferred in older taxis — keep small notes.
Food to Try
10 Hong Kong dishes you can't miss
Dim Sum
Har gow, siu mai, char siu bao — best at a classic tea house like Lin Heung.
Roast Goose
Crispy skin, juicy meat, sweet plum sauce. Yat Lok is Michelin-listed.
Char Siu
Sticky, caramelised barbecued pork over rice — a Hong Kong daily staple.
Wonton Noodles
Shrimp wontons in a fine egg-noodle broth. Mak's Noodle is legendary.
Pineapple Bun (Bo Lo Bao)
Sweet buttery-topped bun, best sliced with a slab of cold butter.
Egg Tarts
Buttery pastry, wobbly custard — Tai Cheong Bakery is the classic.
Clay Pot Rice
Winter specialty — sizzling rice with cured meats and soy at the bottom.
Hong Kong Milk Tea
Strong black tea with evaporated milk — the fuel of the city.
Fish Balls
Street-food staple — try curry fish balls in Mong Kok.
Mango Dessert
Mango pomelo sago at Hui Lau Shan — a Hong Kong summer icon.
Costs
Hong Kong budget breakdown
All-in estimates per person for 5 days — accommodation, food, local transport and activities. International flights excluded.
| Travel Style | Estimated Cost for 5 Days | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | £350 – £550 | Hostels, street food and cha chaan teng cafés, MTR & Star Ferry, free viewpoints and parks. |
| Mid-Range | £700 – £1,300 | Comfortable 3–4 star hotels, mix of dim sum and modern restaurants, MTR + occasional taxis, one or two paid attractions. |
| Luxury | £2,000+ | 5-star hotels including The Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental, private drivers, harbour-view fine dining and premium experiences. |
Accommodation (per night)
Hostel £20–40 · Budget hotel £60–110 · Mid-range £120–220 · Luxury £300+
Food
Street food £3–8 · Restaurant £10–30 · Fine dining £40+ · Coffee £3–5
Transport
MTR £1–4 · Star Ferry under £1 · Airport Express ~£10–12
Money-saving tips
How to travel Hong Kong for less
- • Buy an Octopus Card on arrival
- • Use the MTR instead of taxis
- • Take the Star Ferry for cheap harbour views
- • Eat at local cha chaan teng cafés
- • Visit free viewpoints and parks
- • Travel outside rush hour where possible
- • Book attractions online in advance for discounts
- • Watch Symphony of Lights — it's free
FAQ
Common questions about 5 days in Hong Kong
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