Hong Kong Island is the political and economic center of Hong Kong. It is also called the ‘Central’. And so if you are looking for historical sites from the territory’s colonial past, then this is a good place to explore. This is the place the British took as their own.
Most people visit Hong Kong Island to see skyscrapers, museums, shopping malls, and restaurants. However, behind the skyscrapers and busy streets, there are fun things to do on Hong Kong Island that you cannot find in any other place.
In this post, we will go through things to do on Hong Kong Island. Let’s get started!
Learn More About Hong Kong
- Fun Things To Do in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Travel Tips
- Can You Drink Tap Water in Hong Kong?
- Hong Kong Travel Guide
- Scams in Hong Kong
Things To Do On Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island had a good selection of activities from visiting the local night markets, and restaurants, and visiting Victoria Peak. There is also a good range of shopping on Hong Kong Island.
Here are some wonderful things to do on Hong Kong Island.
Use The Peak Tram To Reach Victoria Peak
The Peak is the highest peak in Hong Kong. From this spot, visitors can see the scenery of Hong Kong and the amazing panoramic views of Victoria Harbour. The evening is a good time to see the sparkling skyscrapers in Hong Kong.
The Peak is also famous as an elite location in Hong Kong since colonial times. So, it can be a good idea if you want to see Hong Kong city from the peak. The historic Peak Tram runs continuously from 7 a.m. until midnight and gives passengers plenty of time to see all the views of the city.
You can book the tram in advance online as this will get on the tram with minimal queuing but still, there is some. Especially useful if you have trouble standing in a queue for a long time. Tickets to get it are only HK$65 for a return ticket.
Ride The Star Ferry
Since 1888, the Star Ferry has been providing transport by boat from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon. Today, the Star Ferry vessels continue to operate and are a top tourist attraction. It is a cheap and convenient way to cross between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.
The crossing takes about 10 minutes. The Star Ferry can be boarded at the Central terminal going to the Tsim Sha Tsui terminal. If you time it right at 8 pm every day, you can see the light show from the ferry.
Do The HK Free Walk
The Hong Kong free walking tour in Hong Kong is simply a guided walk on either Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. The walking tour is free and the volunteer guides operate on a tips-only basis. You will see a side of Hong Kong that we would have never seen if we had wandered around by ourselves.
As you walk around Kowloon or Hong Kong Island, you will learn about the local history, economy, and politics and see interesting places that are off the tourist track. The tour takes around 2 hours.
Explore The Cat Street Market
Cat Street Market is a little off the beaten track but it is not crowded. At the market, who can buy something from the Old China stuff, including pictures of Mao Tse Tung, cups, his little red book, and much more?
This depends on your interests if it is worth visiting but Cat Street has a few decent beer houses and coffee shops nearby.
Visit Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds Hong Kong is part of the chain of wax museums founded by Marie Tussaud. And is located at the Peak Tower on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. You can see wax figures of politicians, sports icons, Hollywood stars, and so on.
You can take photos or selfies with wax-figure celebrities. The entrance fee prices range from HK$120 up to HK$440. This can depend if you pay online which is cheaper and if it’s a combo package.
Go Shopping At Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is one of the world’s best shopping areas, with shopping malls and markets selling a whole range of goods. It also with a range of family-friendly attractions, restaurants, and even rooftop bars.
Visit The HK Zoological And Botanical Gardens
The HK Zoological and Botanical Gardens are one of the oldest zoological and botanical centers in the world. It is an area of 5.6 hectares, on the northern slope of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. The zoo is a small one that is home. mainly apes, monkeys, and birds.
The entrance to the gardens is free. It is close to downtown and near the Peak Tram Terminus. The paths there are wide and good for children to run along freely. Plus there is a café shop near the fountain.
Explore Victoria Park
Victoria Park is a big, open public park, that was named after Queen Victoria. It is located in Causeway Bay, on the north of Hong Kong Island between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau MTR stations.
Victoria Park is a great place to relax from the busy streets of Hong Kong. You can go jogging, play basketball, walk away, and more.
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 Island has something for everyone, even those on a budget. You will not be bored when exploring the island as you can see there is a good variety of things to do on Hong Kong Island and this is only a shortlist. Like any trip, you’ll get the most out of it by learning all you can before you arrive.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on the things to do on Hong Kong Island has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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