Hong Kong is popular with people for a variety of reasons which range from skyscrapers, enjoying street food, going shopping, and more. Little any other place Hong Kong has its own little quirks and its own culture and history.
There is plenty to do from the fantastic views from Victoria Peak to the Symphony of the Stars light show from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. We put these tips together to help first-time visitors or experienced travelers to Hong Kong make the most of their trip to this amazing city.
In this post, we will go through Hong Kong travel tips that I wish I had known before visiting Hong Kong. So let’s get started!
Learn More About Hong Kong
- Things To Do In Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Travel Tips
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- Hong Kong Travel Guide
- Scams in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Travel Tips
Hong Kong has its little quirks and little things that are nice to know. To make your visit to Hong Kong more enjoyable and to avoid any misunderstanding we have a few Hong Kong travel tips that will help.
Here are Hong Kong travel tips, that I wish I had known before visiting Hong Kong.
Get an Octopus Card
The octopus card can be purchased at the airport or any MTR station. The octopus card is a prepaid card that can be used on buses, MTR, and the ferry. Octopus Card users get a discounted rate.
With an Octopus card, you just scan your card over the reader and the payment is deducted from your prepaid stored value.
Use The Airport Express
Getting to and from the Hong Kong International Airport couldn’t be any easier. The Airport Express is probably the quickest and most direct way to the city, making three stops at Tsing Yi, Kowloon, and Hong Kong Stations in under 24 minutes.
Get on the train right at the airport and prices range from HK$90 to HK$100 per adult. The airport bus has more stops but takes more time to arrive in the city. Popular bus services include route A21 which takes approx. 45-50 minutes into central Kowloon and route A11 which takes approx.
It takes between 50 to 65 minutes to get into the central areas of Hong Kong Island. Prices range from HK$33 to HK$40 per adult.
Taxis are not the cheapest option generally cost HK$225-250 for Kowloon and HK$290-320 for most Hong Kong Island destinations.
Hong Kong Accommodation
Hotels can cost from HK$150 to HK$1,800. Where guesthouses and dorms start at a much lower price of HK$150, although they may be of lower quality. Generally, rooms are usually small and cramped due to the small land space and building structures in Hong Kong.
First, decide where you want to stay on Hong Kong Island or the Kowloon side. There are loads of things to see and do on both sides. If you prefer to stay in an Airbnb there are tons of apartments and condos available and in a lot of cases cheaper.
Staying in an Airbnb will also help save money on meal costs as you can easily make breakfast before heading off exploring Hong Kong.
Know The Weather
Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate where summer temperatures during the daytime can be over 30°C, and the insufferable humidity can make it feel even more oppressive. Be prepared, bring plenty of water with you, and take breaks.
Eating In Hong Kong
Hong Kong has over 10,000 restaurants and thousands of street food stalls. Plus Hong Kong is expensive but some of the best and cheapest places to eat in Hong Kong, are the little local places. Here are some tips.
- Always keep tissues with yourself. Why? Because most of the restaurants don’t offer them.
- Learn to eat with chopsticks as most of the small restaurants do not have forks.
Hong Kong Skyline At Victoria Harbour
The best Hong Kong tip for taking a picture of the Hong Kong Skyline is to view it from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade which is on the Kowloon side.
If are at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade at 8 pm, you can see the Symphony of Lights.
Symphony of Lights is a multimedia show that starts at 8 pm every evening, combining lights, music, and narration involving 19 key buildings on Hong Kong Island.
Interesting Sites To See In Hong Kong
Hong Kong is blessed with awesome attractions and sightseeing. You will find endless things to see and do. It is always good to find out all the things to do in Hong Kong.
- Garden Of The Stars.
- Avenue Of The Stars.
- Take The Tram To Victoria Peak.
- Ride The Tram For Sightseeing.
- Stroll Along Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.
- Symphony Of Lights At Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.
- Hiking At The various trails in Hong Kong.
- Ride The Star Ferry.
- Visit Street Markets.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Hong Kong has its customs and little quirks that you should respect and something you should beware of before going to Hong Kong. Generally speaking, the locals are understanding when tourists make mistakes. Like any trip, you’ll get the most out of it by learning all you can before you arrive in Hong Kong.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on Hong Kong travel tips has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if you go.
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