Hong Kong: A 2 day Itinerary

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I’ll be away for 6 weeks, the husband proclaims. I’m going to Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. Now, I’m quite happy with my husband travelling a lot, but 6 weeks is a long time, and I can’t miss out on all 3 of those destinations now, can I?

The only problem is that I don’t have much leave left from work. So I get the idea, why don’t I come to Hong Kong, just for a long weekend? So off I went. A 13hr flight, and a 7hr time difference combining to a 20+hr travel impact for a weekend. You only live once and all that.

Hong Kong Skyline

Ahead of visiting Hong Kong, most people I spoke to who had been didn’t love it. It’s true that this city is humid and chaotic and so full of hustle and bustle. But it’s also beautiful and historical and a perfect urban oasis. It’s interesting and different, and unlike anywhere I’ve been before. I didn’t love it, but I definitely really enjoyed it and look back at it as having a special place in my heart. To see the main sites, 2 days is enough, and here’s how to squeeze the most out of them (albeit we did these across 3 days due to typhoon warnings locking us in to our hotel twice)


  1. Table of Contents
  2. Itinerary Day 1: Hong Kong Island
    1. The Peak
    2. Hong Kong Park
    3. Hong Kong Botanical Gardens
    4. Man Mo Temple
    5. Mid Level Escalators
    6. Central Market
    7. Shopping or Rooftop Bar/Pool
  3. Itinerary Day 2: Kowloon
    1. Star Ferry
    2. Avenue of Stars
    3. Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Park
    4. Hong Kong History Museum or Art or Science
    5. Kowloon Park
    6. Mong Kok & Ladies Market
    7. Symphony of Lights
  4. Have a little Longer?
    1. 10,000 Buddha’s Monastery
  5. Other Useful Information


Hong Kong is made up of over 200 islands! The main tourist area is on Hong Kong Island, south of the harbour. It’s here we start the itinerary, assuming you arrived the night before (flights from Europe normally land around 5pm local time).

Beat the crowds and get here early, provided the weather is clear (you can check the HK live webcams to see the views from the top before going so you don’t waste a trip). To get to the top you can either climb (not recommended given the heat) or take the tram. Either way, it takes you to the absolute best views in town, and this was (almost) my favourite part of the entire trip.

Views from The Peak

I loved the amount of greenery in Hong Kong despite its thousands of high rises. My favourite of all the parks was Hong Kong Park which even had a big waterfall in the middle of it, as well as lots of turtles and delicate waterlilies. It’s right by the tram station as well, so win win.

Close to HK Park are the botanical gardens which again were beautiful. Unfortunately we got absolutely drenched walking there as the rain hit us, but that’s all part of the fun! Inside the botanical gardens are picturesque trails, a gorgeous central fountain and a number of animals in a zoo section.

This temple worships the Literature God, Man Tai and the Martial God, Mo Tai. The two Deities were popularly patronized by scholars and students seeking progress in their study or ranking during the Ming and Qing Chinese dynasties. Built in the 1800s, this temple is the most central and famous of the Man Mo temples in Hong Kong.

Inside the temple

A true treat (ha!), who wouldn’t want to ride the world’s longest outdoor undercover escalator?! My husband, for one. So off I went on my own but joke was on him as the bar we wanted to have drinks at was in the square at the top so he had to get on it anyway.

At the bottom of the escalators is Central Market, home to amazing food stands and lots of cute independent shops, making it the perfect dinner stop to round off the day. We had some tasty Indian street food here.

Post dinner there are two options – either hit Queen’s Road and shop till you drop as there are so many incredible malls and shops with well priced clothes to discover. Or if you don’t want to shop, I recommend finding a hotel with a rooftop bar/pool to enjoy views out over the skyline. We stayed at the JW Marriott and their pool bar is open until 11pm so we sat with cocktails and watched the sun set. Most large hotels have similar on offer.


Kowloon is the peninsula of the area of Hong Kong attached to the mainland of China. It’s the most densely populated area in Hong Kong and it’s famous for its waterfront and markets.

Cross the harbour from Hong Kong island (assuming you’re staying there as that’s where most of the hotels are) on the famous Star Ferry and enjoy the sweeping views across the skyline as you go. A lovely way to start the morning and enjoy some fresh air before it gets too hot.

Views from the boat

Disembarking the ferry, it’s a short walk to Hong Kong’s answer to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, the Avenue of Stars, which pays tribute to the Hong Kong film industry. With people like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee honoured, it was fun to walk along, plus the views were beautiful.

Jackie Chan’s hand prints

Following the waterfront round you enter the park on the promenade which is a lovely place to stroll and enjoy the views (when the rain doesn’t suddenly start bucketing down as it did for us – but we’d learnt from the previous day and at least had a brolly this time!)

Hong Kong offers a number of really interesting museums. We of course chose the Hong Kong History Museum, but there’s also the Museum of Art, or Science Museum if they are more your thing.

The history museum was super interesting. Until the latter part of the 1800s, Hong Kong was effectively part of China. However, after losing the second Opium war, China ceded Hong Kong to British rule under a lease agreement for 99 years – running from 1898 to 1997. During 1941-45, Japan occupied Hong Kong but post 1945 it was back under British control. In 1997, an agreement was reached between the British and Chinese to give Hong Kong back to China – but as a Special Administrative Region (SAR), for 50 years. This means it is separate to China, but once the 50 years are up in 2047, the Chinese could absorb it back in to the mainland. The museum was very Chinese interest focused, and whilst of course I agree the British ruling was incredibly problematic, I couldn’t help but wonder what’s in store for the future of HK.

Another little urban oasis, Kowloon park is good for a stroll. There is a Chinese garden, some lovely fountains and sculpture park. As it was raining pretty heavily for us, we didn’t stay outside for ages here.

In the Park

Mong Kok is the most famous area of Hong Kong for street markets, and it didn’t disappoint. If you want fake designer bags, or cheap sunglasses/nodding cats/anything under the sun – you’ll find it here. The Ladies Market is also a cool one to explore being a specialist area for things like underwear, lace and makeup.

In the markets

Also in the markets, be sure to try some street food. I avoided deep fried intestines, chicken brains and stinky tofu and went for some delicious pork bao buns while hubs had some spicy fish balls. We also nipped in to Cafe 9 3/4 for some true ‘magic themed’ (to avoid Copyright) drinks – we even had the Hong Kong version of Butter Beer! We also ended up in Akune Wagyu Tachikui Yakinikumise – the first standing restaurant that serves Japanese-style BBQ in Hong Kong. It was a good day for food and drink – yum!

To finish your stay, it’s time to watch the Symphony of Lights from a boat. Each evening, the harbour is lit up with music and lights against the HK skyline. We chose to watch this via an Aqualina cruise which was lots of fun. Cruises leave from the piers on either side – either Tsim Sha Tsui, or Central. We boarded a cruise on the Tsim Sha Tsui side as that’s the side we were on after the markets, and then got off on the Central side as that is where our hotel was.

Harbour Views


Then my half or full day recommendation would be to head to North Hong Kong and the 10,000 Buddha’s Monastery

At the ten thousand buddhas complex


  • When to visit: Not June like I did, which falls in the middle of typhoon season! The best time to visit Hong Kong is during autumn and winter, specifically from late September- December. Avoid May-August as it’s very wet.
  • Language: The main language in Hong Kong is Cantonese, but English is widely spoken with over 50% of the population being fluent in both.
  • Currency: Hong Kong Dollar. All taxis, and many street food stands etc require cash payment, so have some with you.
  • Getting around: You *could* walk the entire itinerary above but you’ll be covering a LOT of miles. We largely got around using the metro, which is super easy. If you stay near Central or Admiralty you can largely just get on the red line to most spots on the itinerary. To make life easier on the metro, you need an Octopus Card. You can buy one at any customer services point in the metro stations which will cost $50 (£5), and then you put an amount of money on it and just swipe in and out. Typically a journey costs around $10-20 (£1-2), so it’s cheaper and much easier than a taxi.
  • Where to stay: Staying in the Central or Admiralty areas puts you in the best spot to access this itinerary, and close to major metro stations.


Hong Kong may have been an ambitious long weekend destination, but I am SO glad I did it. I had such an adventure. My husband says to me that when we’re old, and one of us is left alone without the other, it’s more important that we have memories to treasure than bank accounts with a few more £s in. I hope that is decades away, but in the mean time I don’t ever want to miss out on an adventure for as long as we are fit and able. Life is too short not to prioritise adventure, love, and the people you care about while you can, because you just never know.

What did you think of Hong Kong? I hope you enjoyed the quick trip. Stay safe and happy travelling!

44 responses to “Hong Kong: A 2 day Itinerary”

  1. I had no idea that Hong Kong has over 200 islands…wow! That’s a great elevated view, and the parks look lovely, too. So many sights to see, and you seem to have seen so many in your brief visit. Thanks for sharing another travel adventure, my friend Hannah 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I didn’t either until I visited, and I still can’t believe it for such a small place. It was an amazing adventure, thanks for following along 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  2. I couldn’t agree more- time and adventures together are far more important than having a little extra money in the bank. What an incredible long weekend adventure! You certainly saw so much of the city in a short time and it looks like it was worth the long flight and the rainy season to spend a few days there 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Totally, it was so worth it!! Thanks for reading Meg 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Nemorino

    Hong Kong certainly looks different now than when I was there in 1965:
    https://operasandcycling.com/rr-in-hong-kong-1965/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for sharing your post. WOW how that skyline has changed – it’s completely incredible to see the contrast. I think in your shots you can just about see the Governors House! It’s fascinating to see your hand drawn map as well, and your reference to the 1997 agreement coming up. On my visit I was wondering what will happen in 2047 when the 50 year “SAR” agreement ends.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I agree with you I like when Jon travels and I get my me time, but six week sis a lot!! A weekend in Hong Kong is very adventurous, I get tired just from a two hour plane ride and no time difference ha! But it is so worth it to see all the world!! Bravo to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hehe so worth it, I had the best time and it was definitely one of my favourite ever weekend trips! 🙂

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  5. OMG Han; I lived this same situation about 25 + years ago! My husband went to Asia for 3 weeks (not 6) and I met him in Hong Kong for a long weekend. It felt pretty crazy at the time, traveling from Seattle to Hong Kong for the weekend, but I’m glad I did it. I remember the Star Ferry and Kowloon, but didn’t see as much as you did. Your photos are beautiful and I’m so glad you saw so many of the highlights. Like you, it wasn’t one of my favorite cities, but quite interesting. We need to get together one of these days and share travel stories.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh my goodness, Seattle to HK is even further than from London – and there I was thinking I was mad 🙂 We definitely need to get together one of these days. We are in France next summer so perhaps I could drop in, or any time you’re in England!

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      1. Yes, it felt pretty crazy at the time! Next summer in France would be great. We may be in London after the first of the year; I’ll contact you directly if that happens. I hope you’re having an enjoyable weekend!

        Liked by 1 person

  6. A great 2 day itinerary Hannah. I’ve been lucky to visit Hong Kong numerous times both before its handover to China and since and always enjoy my stays. I wholeheartedly agree that life is precious and short so making memories from experiences shared with loved ones is the best use of time and money.

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    1. Thanks Marion, I think it’s a really interesting and vibrant city which must be ever changing. And I agree – memories are the most important thing 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. You certainly saw a lot in a short time. I’m surprised your friends don’t like Hong Kong, with all of its parks and hiking trails and the beautiful waterfront, I think it’s a great city. Maggie

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    1. I agree Maggie, I was really quite taken with its unique charm

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Wonderful escape and you saw a lot ! Absolutely beautiful modern city! And nice pictures.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much Angela, it was a great short trip 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. What a great life outlook to prioritise the memories. I also can’t believe you flew all the way for a long weekend! You packed so much into each day though and really made the most of your time there. I have family in HK but it’s been many years since I last went. I can’t say I love HK- it’s just a big bustling city with great food (and family).

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Definitely made the most of the time there and I am so glad I made the trip. It’s lovely you have family there. We also found the history and the things to do there really interesting – and yes, the food was amazing 🙂

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  10. A perfect itinerary!! Lovely captures, Hannah! You look great 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much Jyothi 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I have 3 posts entitled “Clearly I’ll Do Anything For a Post.” I think you should adopt that title with a weekend destination that takes 13 hours to fly to – haha! Your jet lag must have been wicked! Isn’t it a bummer when you have the funds but not the TIME to travel? Ugh, so frustrating. Anyway, thanks for the tour of Hong Kong.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hahahahaha, it’s so true! I hid it under the pretence of missing my husband, but really it was all for the Blog 🙂 It’s the worst….I am definitely applying for a sabbatical when this big project I’m working on is over that’s for sure!

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      1. Hey, if you can swing it, I say go for it (the short term travel half-way around the world . . . AND the sabbatical)!

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  12. I couldn’t agree more with your husband that memories are more important than a few more bucks in the bank account. Though I dramatically oscillate between ‘you only live once’ and ‘we need to save money’, ha ha. I loved Hong Kong with all its bustle and chaos, it was/is a special place. You definitely packed it in during your stay. One of our favourite movies is ‘In The Mood For Love’ by a HK filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai. These days I cannot think or read about HK without being reminded of some of the scenes. I also love the Blur album ‘The Magic Whip’, heavily influenced by the band’s fondness for the city.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am exactly the same, and he is always trying to tell me to stop worrying!! It sounds like you have a real affinity for the city as well, and like you I really enjoyed it and was definitely charmed 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. That’s a long flight and quite the time change to deal with just for a long weekend. But I like your thought process of not wanting to miss out and how we only live once! It sounds like you made the most of your short time in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Park looks beautiful. I’m convinced that every major city needs a massive park like this.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree that all major cities should have big parks for people to enjoy nature on their doorstep, I think it’s really important. Have a great weekend 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I loved following you around Hong Kong, Hannah! What a great weekend you had, and I admire your sense of adventure. Not many of us would board a 13 hour flight for a weekend trip – you go girl! So glad you could share it with us.

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    1. Thanks so much Kellye, it was such an adventure and I would do it again in a heartbeat 🙂

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  15. I was following your trip in HK on IG, and while I haven’t personally been to HK myself, it’s a destination that I’m dying to go to, given it’s in my home country. I’m all about having the true, “legit” dim sum (and stinky tofu, as I love that stuff!) and checking out the distinctive Cantonese culture here, although I’d be cautious about visiting during typhoon season! Looks like you had a whirlwind of a time there, but a rewarding one nevertheless!

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    1. You would have the best time and totally love it – the food is definitely up there and the dim sum in HK was incredible 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Phew I’m exhausted just thinking about that trip and time change for a weekend getaway. Looks like you made the most of it, though! I didn’t know Hong Kong was a bunch of islands, nor did I really know anything about it, I’m realizing. Looks like you saw quite a lot and found some things to enjoy, even if it wasn’t your favorite place.

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    1. Hehe it was adventurous but so worth it – I learned loads and had a great time, win win! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. hi from Bali. I have never been come to Hongkong. Hongkong park look beautiful views. hope one day i can follow your tour itinerary. thank you for inspiration .

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I only had an afternoon to walk around in Hong Kong between plane stops, enough to train to the waterfront and find a little park or two and dim sum. Now I can see how much I missed! That view from the tower is the best.

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    1. There was so much to do there, it really surprised me and I really enjoyed the city 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  19. A long weekend in Hong Kong? Yeh, why not 😀. I have to agree, the view from the Peak would be a favourite for me too. The green spaces are also lovely and it’s always nice to work in a museum visit. Btw, a brolly is an umbrella?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hehe you only live once right!! Yeah I loved the Peak, although it was very commercialised at the top, with selfie experiences, professional photographers to hire, a food court and a massive mall! A brolly is indeed an umbrella – us English will rarely call it an umbrella 🙂

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  20. […] Some places are just so whacky they stick with you and my favourite spot in Hong Kong was the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. Lying in the north of the islands within the New Territories, it’s so worth visiting if you get the chance to add it to a stop in Hong Kong. […]

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  21. This is amazing! I also wrote an itinerary for Hong Kong 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  22. That’s a lot of info. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. Anonymous

    My friend and I are using your blog article as a guide visiting HK, thank you Hannah for sharing! Very helpful tips and good pictures~ =D

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aw I’m so glad it’s helpful – have the best trip and if you have any questions let me know 🙂

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About the author

Hi! My name is Hannah, I’m a travel blogger from the UK who fits travel around a full time (and full on) job. In this blog I share my adventures around the world and hopefully help you to find some inspiration for destinations, things to do or places to stay. Thanks for stopping by – stay safe and happy travelling.

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