Hong Kong has been the crossroads of the Pacific for centuries. Today it is a luxurious metropolis filled with culture, food, fashion and more. Here is our complete guide for a visit to Hong Kong.
Getting Around
After a long flight across the world, you’ll probably want to relax at your hotel for a bit. There are two easy ways to get into the city. First, you can take a taxi, there is a large taxi stand outside of the airport with official taxis. For a ride into the Wan Chai district, a ride should cost around $50USD. Second, there is something called the “Airport Express,” the train service into the center of town, which will connect you with the MTR metro network. Tickets are about $15USD each way. A taxi ride will take anywhere from 30-60 minutes depending on traffic, but the train is 24 minutes no matter what into the Central Station on Hong Kong Island.
Where to Stay when Visiting Hong Kong
There is no shortage of luxury hotels in Hong Kong, but the latest and greatest is the newly opened St. Regis Hotel in Wan Chai. The property is a sparkling gem of a building. The 27-story property has 129 guest rooms including 17 suites. No matter which room you are in, you have a beautiful view thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city vibes are so chic, you won’t want to leave!
With the impeccable St. Regis butler service check ins are done in room, and your butler will even unpack your things. So, get to the hotel, freshen up, head to dinner and by the time you are back and ready for bed, all your clothes will be neatly hung in your spacious walk in closet.
When you wake up the next morning, hopefully well-rested and not too jet lagged, call the butler service for a complimentary coffee or iced latte and it will be promptly brought to your room.
And we mean promptly, during our visit someone was at our door within 5-7 minutes. If you are still a little jet lagged, get some exercise by doing some laps in the beautifully modern pool on the 7thfloor of the property and once again enjoy the city views while you get the blood flowing.
What to Do
Hong Kong has so many things to do, you would need a lifetime to experience them all. But here are a few you won’t want to miss:
- The Peak Tram – Our number one can’t miss in Hong Kong is heading up Victoria Peak on the Peak Tram. The views of Hong Kong are beautiful and it’s the perfect spot to snap a few Instagram pics to show all your friends. Pro tip: order your tickets online, you can show them from your phone to skip the ticket queue.
- Big Buddha and the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car – The next thing you should do when visiting Hong Kong is head to the Big Buddha on the Ngong Ping Cable Car. Take the MTR to the Tung Chung Station and then follow signs for the short walk to the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car. And again, buy your tickets online to skip any lines at the ticket office. There are two options, the “crystal cabin” or the normal cabin.
Lantau Island, HK – Our view from the Crystal Cabin on the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car The “Crystal Cabin” has a perfectly clear see-through floor so you can have a truly bird’s eye view during the 25-minute ride up to the Big Buddha. We took a Crystal Cabin both ways!
- Man Mo Temple – Located in Central Hong Kong, stroll to the temple in the morning, it is free to enter and beautiful to explore.
- Edward Youde Aviary and Hong Kong Park – Another free sight to explore, the Aviary inside the Hong Kong Park is just breathtaking, it is a giant garden filled with tropical birds from all over the South Pacific!
Hong Kong Park, HK -A tropical bird at the Hong Kong Park Aviary - Chi Lin Nunnery – Located on the Kowloon side of the bay, the Chi Lin Nunnery is another beautiful temple complex to check out.
Hong Kong, HK – Chi Lin Nunnery - Hong Kong Museum of Art – The Hong Kong Museum of Art is a chic, modern art museum on the banks of Kowloon Bay, many exhibits are free to enter, so check it out!
Kowloon, HK – A modern art exhibit at the Hong Kong Museum of Art - K11 Mall – The brand new K11 mall, is located right around the corner from the art museum, so you can do both of these in the same afternoon. This mall takes luxury to the next level, filled with designer shops, this mall even has doormen at every entrance!
- Avenue of the Stars – The Avenue of the Stars is the boardwalk along the harbor in Kowloon, just outside the K11 mall. Take a nice stroll here any time of day to enjoy the Hong Kong skyline. But be sure to come back here at least one night during your stay to see the nightly light show. Yes, Hong Kong has a daily light show where the buildings light up and dance to the music, complete with lasers and moving lights throughout both sides of the harbor.
Food Guide to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is not lacking in this department either. You can eat everything from street food to Michelin starred dishes, and sometimes they are even one in the same! Here are a few restaurants that we loved, and highly recommend:
- Tim Ho Wan – There are a few locations now, but the original is where you can score the cheapest Michelin starred meal in the world! Visit for quality, consistent dim sum dishes.
Central, Hong Kong – A section of dim sum at Tim Ho Wan - L’Envol – A one Michelin starred destination at the St. Regis, L’Envol serves up French inspired fine dining. Be sure to come with an appetite because you will want to enjoy several courses of the chef’s creations, along with a cheese course, a dessert or two and some wine pairings.
Wan Chai, Hong Kong – A chicken and truffle dish at L’Envol at the St. Regis Hong Kong - Rùn – Also located at the St. Regis, Rùn is a fabulous place to try some modern takes on classic Cantonese cuisine. Ask for tea pairings as they have a tea sommelier on staff who will whip up some interesting pairings to make your experience that much more special. Be sure to try the lobster and truffle spring roll.
Wan Chai, Hong Kong – The signature lobster and truffle spring roll at the St. Regis Hong Kong - Yan Toh Heen – Another Michelin starred Chinese restaurant; Yan Toh Heen is the flagship restaurant at the Intercontinental on the Kowloon side of the harbor. The beautiful interior and the flavorful dishes are exactly what you would expect on a trip to Hong Kong.
Kowloon, Hong Kong – A dish at Yan Toh Heen - Avobar – For something a little out of the ordinary, head to Avobar inside the K11 mall. This restaurant is avocado forward to say the least. Most dishes, if not all, incorporate avocado in some way. Go for the ultimate avocado toast and a bowl or two with some green juice to wash everything down.
Kowloon, HK – Avobar - Yum Cha – Yum Cha is literally the action of going for dim sum in Cantonese, but the Instagram worthy restaurant, of the same name, takes it to a whole other level. The beautiful dumplings are almost too cute to eat. Another place to come hungry as you will literally be eating with your eyes as everything is so perfectly put together, you’ll want to see everything.
Kowloon, HK – Sweet custard buns at Yum Cha - Amber – The two Michelin-starred Asian fusion dining spot at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental is certainly worth a visit as well. The amazing cuisine is interesting, delicious and perfectly prepared. The entire space was recently renovated, and it is now a modern, vibrant space where you will want to spend all evening. Every guest is also treated to a little surprise halfway through their meal. We won’t tell you what it is, but you can probably figure it out from this picture.
Central, Hong Kong – View of a chef plating up a vegetable dish at Amber in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental - Bing Kee – Any trip to Hong Kong has to include a visit to at least one Cha Dong, the traditional open-air food stalls. And while they are disappearing, Bing Kee is going strong. Listed as one of the cleanest stalls in the city, this is a must. Their affordable pepper pork noodle soup is a belly warming way to start the day. Wash it down with some milk tea.
Hong Kong – Bing Kee food stall - Kam Fung Café – You also have to experience the other local breakfast options like egg sandwiches, ham and macaroni, pineapple buns and milk tea of course. Kam Fung Café is a great little spot in Wan Chai. We went twice on our visit we liked it so much!
Hong Kong – A pineapple bun and some milk tea at Kam Fung Cafe - Regis Bar – Finally, whether you are staying at the St. Regis or not, you have to stop by the St Regis Bar one night so you can try the famous Bloody Mary done Cantonese style, the Canto Mary is something that you do not want to miss. And while you’re at it, check out the rest of the cocktail list; there are lots of interesting flavors to explore.
Wan Chai, Hong Kong – View of both the classic and Canto Mary at the St. Regis Bar For other articles about luxurious trips to Asia, be sure to check out our travel guides to Cambodia and Thailand.
