Your first fabulous day in Hong Kong

Take in Your Surroundings

Start your morning with a trip to Victoria Peak, where you’ll experience some of the most magnificent, panoramic views of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers, harbour, and mountain backdrop. To get there take the tram, one of the oldest in the world, that climbs steeply to the top. At the top head to the Peak Tower and the Sky Terrace, where you’ll stand 1,300-feet above sea level. If you prefer to see the city lit up, head up here as the sunsets, and don’t forget your camera. The tram runs everyday from 7am to 12am from the Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus.

After taking in the views head into the iconic Peak building to enjoy the rest of the attractions. Here you’ll find one of the best shopping areas in Hong Kong with a good selection of fashion and gift shops. It also has a fun post office where you can send a specially marked postcard from The Peak! Also at The Peak is Hong Kong’s Madame Tussauds where you can get up close and personal with your favourite celebrity; the wax version anyway. Finish your visit with lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants serving up unbeatable views and tasty traditional cuisine.

Man Mo Temple

If you want to get views of Hong Kong at night visit the Man Mo Temple Sheung Wan in the morning, if not head here after you’ve been to The Peak. You’ll find the temple on Hollywood Road; it’s the biggest temple of its kind in Hong Kong. The temple is dedicated to the worship of two gods, Mo Tai and Man Tai. It was built in 1847 and was made a protected historic building in 1993. You can visit the temple any day of the week from 8am to 6pm. To get to the temple take Hong Kong’s famous moving sidewalk, the Midlevels Escalator; it makes the steep climb up the hillside much easier. The route the escalator takes is a great way to soak up the action and people of the city.

Night Market

The true colour and character of Hong Kong comes to life at the Temple Street Night Market. It is here where you’ll recognise the backdrop scenes used many times in films. Vendors selling their, sometimes kitsch wares, fortune tellers, and street performers vie for your attention. Once the sun goes down the market is packed with tourists and locals in search of inexpensive food and products; it’s a great place to eat dinner. Vendors sell plenty of local specialities from their stalls and you’ll also find cheap restaurants that are perfect for people watching. It is also where you’ll encounter the sometimes unusual cures prescribed by tradition Chinese medicine masters. The nearest MTR stations to the market are Yau Ma Tei and Jordan Road. Don’t forget that bargaining is part of the fun here!

Ideas for your second exciting day in Hong Kong

Breakfast

For breakfast make the trip to Tai Cheong Bakery, famous for its amazing egg tarts with perfectly fluffy crusts and partially sweet centres. There are actually several branches throughout the city, but for the original head to Lyndhurst Terrace Central, which opens at 7:30am. Word is that the seaweed egg rolls here are fantastic too. Everything is almost always fresh out of the oven due to the immense popularity that makes them fly out the door.

Harbour Tour

Spend some of your day on the water, taking in Hong Kong’s some 260 islands in a traditional Chinese fishing boat called a junk. Today, some of these boats are specifically designed for harbour tours with comfortable seating areas and a café, such as Aqua Luna hop-on hop-off version. If you want a more vintage version, you will find boats that will take you on one-hour tours leaving from Kowloon Public Pier and Central Pier 9. Make sure you book your tour in advance so you don’t miss out. Bookings can be made at Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier.

Stop for Lunch

You can’t visit Hong Kong without experiencing some dim sum. One of the most atmospheric and famous places is Luk Yu Teahouse on Stanley Street. Walking inside this establishment will make you feel like you’ve stepped into the Hong Kong of days past. First opened in 1993 little has changed to the beautifully decorated interior with wood panelling and stained glass. The food here is a little on the expensive side, but worth it for the quality and authentic old fashioned experience.

Wong Tai Sin Temple

One of the most beautiful temples in Hong Kong is Wong Tai Sin Temple, dedicated to a 4th century monk three religions practice here ¨C Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It houses a revered portrait of the monk Wong Tai Sin and is a fine example of Feng Shui architecture. People visit the temple in search of guidance and good fortune.

Lei Yue Mun Fishing Village

At 6pm make your way to Central ferry pier 9 and enjoy the city lights from the harbour as you sail to one of Hong Kong’s best off the beaten track locations. Lei Yue Mun fishing village has a fish market selling just about any type of seafood you could imagine. All of it is about as fresh as you can get with fish swimming in tanks for you to choose from. Stroll through the market to pick your dinner and sit down to an amazing and traditional dinner before seeing some more of the harbour on your way back to the pier.

Whether you are planning a few days in Hong Kong on the way somewhere further, or a longer trip to really experience all this fascinating city has to offer.