15 Incredible Experiences in Hong Kong You Can’t Miss

Check out 15 cool activities in Hong Kong: take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak, see the Big Buddha using Ngong Ping 360, sail across Victoria Harbour, wander through Mong Kok’s busy markets. This rundown covers must-see spots for awesome trips around town

Hong Kong mixes bright city towers, foggy mountains, plus old-school fishing spots spread over an island and mainland area split by water - mixing UK history with local Chinese culture. This zone squeezes big-city energy, quiet nature trips, along with tasty dumpling meals into just over a thousand square klicks. Here’s a full walkthrough of top activities in Hong Kong, hitting famous sights with background facts, how to get around, pricing clues, weather timing, so your trip runs smooth

Ride the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak Summit

Since 1888, this old-school cable car’s been climbing up 396 meters through homes in Mid-Levels to reach Victoria Peak - where nighttime views show off the city's glowing skyline from every angle. Up at Sky Terrace 428, you can grab a headset that talks about more than 1,200 buildings standing out below

Peak Circle Walk’s 3.5km trail loops past old colonial homes; catch sunset views just before the light show kicks off. Skip weekend crowds - use an Octopus card instead (HKD 99 return)

Dry months from October to April give the best sightlines - head to Peak Lookout for a meal, around HKD 300 or more. Try hiking paths instead; avoid plastic cups and cutlery when grabbing food

Cruise Victoria Harbour on Star Ferry

Ferries in green and white have sailed since 1880, costing just HKD 3.70 up top - sliding past IFC skyscrapers lit by Kowloon’s glow. Instead of crowded tour vessels, this 10-minute hop from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central gets you there fast

Avenue of Stars honors Bruce Lee statues and Jackie Chan handprints; nightly Symphony of Lights (8 PM) syncs 42 skyscrapers' lasers over water

Fun extras: Get endless ferry trips with a tourist pass - just 30 bucks per day. Rainy season runs from June to September, brings wild skies; mix it up with a harbor tram cruise instead

Visit Tian Tan Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery

Lantau Island’s big bronze Buddha - 34 meters tall, weighing 250 tons - sits on top of 268 stairs, surrounded by eight smaller figures; built in 1993. The Ngong Ping 360 cable ride stretches 5.7 km, costs HKD 235 for a regular ticket, offers sights of the runway and ocean along the way

Veggie meals cost HKD 100 at Po Lin - right after you pass the Wisdom Path’s carved wooden columns with Heart Sutra texts. Over at Ngong Ping Village, live performances bring culture to life

Get around easier: cable car runs from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.; go early when fog hangs low. Be mindful - honor local monks, skip short pants. Head further to Tai O’s water huts using a small boat for HKD 30

Explore Mong Kok's Chaotic Street Markets

Kowloon's densest district pulses with Ladies' Market bargains, Temple Street Night Market fortune tellers after 6 PM, and Goldfish Market's bubbling tanks

Sneaker Street hooks fans just as much as Bird Garden does - both show what people here love. You can grab snacks on footpaths - try an egg tart for around HKD 10

Know the market - save 30–50% by bargaining. Use an Octopus card on MTR trains. Skip busy times during Chinese New Year. Carry reusable bags when buying keepsakes

Wander Tsim Sha Tsui's Waterfront Promenade

Kowloon's Avenue of Stars traces Hong Kong cinema history, while the Clock Tower marks the 1915 Kowloon-Canton Railway terminus

Hong Kong Space Museum shows space films for HKD 32, while nearby K11 Musea mixes shopping with modern art. Watch the harbor glow at sunset

Free seaside strolls pair well with dim sum nearby. July through September brings typhoons, yet skies turn dramatic. Be respectful around memorials

Hike Dragon's Back and Shek O Beach

Hong Kong Island's premier trail stretches 8.5 km, rated one of the world’s best urban hikes

Seafood waits in Shek O; Stanley Market nearby offers silk and pearls. Bus 9 runs from Shau Kei Wan

Hot from April to September. Bring water and keep paths clean

Discover Lantau's Tai O Fishing Village

Stilt homes above shrimp farms date back to the Ming era. Dolphin tours pass nearby waters

Walk the village paths and sample egg puffs. Catch bus 11 from Tung Chung MTR

Weekends feel livelier. Hills turn hazy during rain; homestays offer deeper insight

Ride Historic Trams Across Hong Kong Island

Ding Ding trams from 1904 clatter across the island for just HKD 3

Happy Valley races and Causeway Bay neon views line the route

Ride early or late to avoid crowds. Pair with a walk on the Mid-Levels Escalator

Shop Cat Street and PMQ Creative Hub

Upper Lascar Row antiques include Mao-era collectibles; PMQ showcases indie design

Man Mo Temple incense fills the air nearby, while Hollywood Road hosts art galleries

Visit Saturdays for peak market vibes. Support local crafters over big brands

Relax in Kowloon Walled City Park Gardens

A restored yamen now marks where a lawless zone once stood

Open daily from 6:30 AM till late evening, free entry

Nearby Kai Tak Cruise Terminal adds another historic stop

Thrill at Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland

Ocean Park’s cable car crosses Nanwan Lake toward massive aquariums. Disneyland features seven themed zones

Water World opens in summer. Express passes help during peak days

Weekdays feel calmer. Conservation exhibits support panda protection

Scale Red Incense Burner Summit Hike

Sai Kung’s three-hour hike rewards with sweeping harbor views

Seafood dinners follow the trek. Bus 94 runs from Choi Hung MTR

Start early and bring water. Geopark trails extend the adventure

Savor Dim Sum and Cha Chaan Teng Classics

Tim Ho Wan serves Michelin-recognized dim sum. Pineapple buns and milk tea are staples

Yum cha mornings and roast goose in Sheung Wan round out the experience

Use OpenRice for reviews. Look for sustainable seafood options

Day Trip to Macau's Casinos and Ruins

TurboJet ferries reach Macau in an hour. Senado Square and St Paul’s Ruins highlight Portuguese heritage

Cotai casinos offer free shuttles. Travel runs around the clock

Weekdays feel calmer. Try Macanese egg tarts beyond tourist zones

Stroll Chi Lin Nunnery's Nanputuo Serenity

Gold-roofed pagodas and Tang-style gardens offer calm in the city

Nan Lian Garden’s koi bridges and vegetarian teahouse sit next door

Quiet reflection encouraged near Diamond Hill MTR

Capture Your Hong Kong Adventure with SimCorner eSIM

Stay connected from mountain views to city streets using SimCorner’s Hong Kong eSIM or choose a physical SIM for wider island coverage

FAQs: Top 15 Things in Hong Kong

What should new visitors check out in Hong Kong?

Victoria Peak Tram, Star Ferry harbour cruise, Big Buddha cable car, Mong Kok markets, Symphony of Lights

Best time for things to do in Hong Kong?

October to April brings dry, cooler weather. June to September is storm season

Things to do in Hong Kong with kids?

Disneyland, Ocean Park, Ngong Ping cable car, Star Ferry, easy hiking trails

Budget things to do in Hong Kong?

Star Ferry rides, night markets, free temples, urban hikes

Is there more to Hong Kong than just tall buildings?

Yes—explore islands, fishing villages, monasteries, hiking trails, and nearby Macau