Ho Lee Fook! And More Places You Should Check Out in Hong Kong

Hong Kong: possibly the busiest, most crowded, most transient and one of the most exciting cities in the world. If you live in the Western Hemisphere, it’s also one of the farthest away places you can go and, because of that, many people who visit only make it to Hong Kong for a couple of days while they are stopping off on their way to some other exotic location.

While many cities need a longer stay in order to do it justice, Hong Kong is such a fast paced city that you can actually hit the highlights in that amount of time. If you’re doing a quick fly-by, here are my tips and recommendations:

Tips:

Getting from the airport to the city

When you land, it’ll probably be easiest for you to take a cab into the city since I suspect you’ll have a couple pieces of luggage. The trip in will be around 300–400 HKD and they only accept cash. You’ll want to get a red taxi going to Hong Kong Island (not the green taxis). You can also ride the Airport Express into the city. It’s 100 HKD one way and it’ll take you straight into the heart of the city. From there, you’d have to get a cab to your ultimate destination but it should only be a short drive from that point. You can buy the ticket for the Airport Express at the airport after you come out of baggage claim.

Getting around the city

To get around in taxis, you’ll need cash. Anything else (MTR (the subway), buses or ferries) you can use what’s called an Octopus card. Buy one at any MTR station, put money on it and “swipe and go” where ever your heart desires.

Stuff to Do

The Peak

While you’re here, you have to do the most famous attraction and go up to the peak. My recommendation is that you take the trolley up and then a bus back down, unless you’re a bit scared of heights and long, curvy roads.
(Photo: Samantha Sin / AFP / Getty)

Dragon’s Back Hike

Not many people know that Hong Kong is only 20% developed. The rest of the 80% is full of beautiful hiking. Dragon’s Back is one of its most famous hikes. This is an easy but good hike to see the city skyline. Takes about 1.5 hours. Afterwards, you can take the bus or grab a taxi to Shek-O beach. The first restaurant on the left as you come into Shek-O is a great local Thai place.

Lamma Island

This is an old fishing village and, in my opinion, is the best place to go get some seafood. You can go on a decent hike there too, go to a beach, etc. To get there, you have to go to the ferry peers and take the #4 ferry to Sok Kwu Wan. You can eat at any restaurant there and you’ll be happy.(Photo: Chensiyuan)

Stanley Market

Great place to go souvenir shopping and grab a bite to eat. You can take a taxi or a double decker bus (I suggest trying to get on the top at the front of the bus) and head down. The bus center is under IFC (famous tall building in Hong Kong on the water) and you can take bus 6, 6A, 6X or 260 down to there. Good for a Sunday afternoon.(Photo: hk-stanley-market.com)

Man Mo Temple

Man Mo Temple won’t take you long but it’s neat to see. To get there, first get to the famous escalators (also a must do) in Central off of Queen’s road and then walk up two blocks on the escalators to Hollywood Road.

Take a right and keep walking till you get to address 124–126 Hollywood Road.(Photo: strippedpixel.com)

Wet Markets

Hong Kong is famous for wet markets where you can buy meat, fish, fruit, veggies, etc. Fun to just walk around and see. There are some right in Central near the bottom of the escalators. Just go ride the escalators and walk around that whole neighborhood. Neat to see and tons of good restaurants.

Hong Kong Light Show

Every night at 8, Hong Kong does a light show with its skyline. You can watch it, with music, on the Kowloon side if you go to the Avenue of the Stars.

You can see it from the Hong Kong side, as well. The Sevva Bar is a good place to watch them from the Hong Kong side of the island.

(Photo: discoverhongkong.com)

Ladies Night Market

Ladies Night Market is another good place to go buy cheap souvenirs.

Massage, anyone?

DEFINITELY TAKE TIME TO GET A MASSAGE WHILE YOU ARE THERE!!!!

I cannot stress this enough. They are great and cheap! For a bit fancier of a place, I go to Ten Feet Tall. My favorite places are hole in the walls though. Jade Centre at 98 Wellington St (also by the escalator) is my go-to spot. Any place will do though!

Eating your way around HK

Common Room

Best burger sliders in the city; good for tapas

Because food tastes better when shared with friends. #commonroomhk #privefoodies #tuesdaytreat 📷 by @whimchicgal

A photo posted by Common Room HK (@commonroomhk) on Jul 11, 2016 at 11:04pm PDT

Ho Lee Fook

Best dumplings in the city and the ribs are amazing; and yes, it’s pronounced the same way it reads.

 

Iberico

Tapas and sangrias; this is a place right off the escalator. You really can’t go wrong with any place right off the escalator.

Paisano’s

Not the most amazing pizza ever but easy and good

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Metropolitan

Great mussels and atmosphere.
(Photo: french-creations.com)

Mana

Good veggie option for lunch.

Lock Cha Tea House

Great vegetarian dim sum.

Café Grey

Not the best place to eat but it has my FAVORITE view of Hong Kong at night that’s easy to get to.

 

Din Tai Fung

This is a must for good dim sum.

 

Mott 32

This has the best Peking Duck I’ve ever had and so many other amazing Asian dishes with a modern flair. If you want Peking Duck, I think you need to order it in advance.

Photo Credits: Samantha Sin, Hong Kong Discovery, Chensiyuan, HK Stanley Market, Stripped Pixel, Eatscape, Ten Feet Tall, Sassy Hong Kong, Expat Living,Paisanos, French Creations, Mana, Lock Cha Tea House Facebook, Next Stop Hong Kong, She’s Cookin, Mott 32

Tennyson Blackwood has also written about escaping NYC without really escaping.