If you only have one day in Hong Kong, then make sure you follow day one of our itinerary! Marvel at the stunning Hong Kong skyline, cruise across the harbour on the Star Ferry, take a step back in time at the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden and experience the city’s colonial history in the Peninsula Hotel.
For a real taste of traditional Hong Kong, start your day with a relaxing stroll around Yuen Po Street Bird Garden. Take a seat in the park and watch elderly men walk, preen and chat to their feathered companions. The market stalls sell everything from exotic birds and handcrafted bamboo cages to bags of live crickets for the birds to eat! Pop over the road to the Mongkok Flower Market to peruse to exotic blooms and why not check out the Goldfish Market too!
Join the hoards of shoppers and practice your haggling skills at the 1km long Ladies Market. Got your eye on that new Mulberry bag? Always fancied a Marc Jacobs scarf? Well this is certainly the place to pick up a bargain knock-off and a potato peeler or two!
Ready to treat yo’self? Walk down the neon-clad Nathan Road Towards The Peninsula for afternoon tea in the hotel’s grand lobby. This quintessentially Hong Kong experience is a little pricey, but who doesn’t want to eat cucumber sandwiches and scones to the sound of a string quartet? (Even if you’ve only been away from home for 24 hours!!) It’s a real treat and we’d highly recommend it! 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm (First-come, first-served) HK$658 for 2 people.
Time to burn off all that patisserie! Take a brisk walk down the Avenue of Stars, and track down Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s handprints for a selfie! And of course marvel at the stunning Hong Kong Skyline.
Ride the iconic Star Ferry to Hong Kong island. The service, which has been running since 1888, is still going strong today and is jam-packed full of tourists, commuters and locals alike. Climb to the top deck to feel the breeze in your hair and get incredible views of Kowloon and Hong Kong island – without forking out for an expensive site seeing cruise! Return ticket HK$100-180.
Feeling pooped? Finish off your day with a sundowner at one of Hong Kong’s fabulous rooftop bars. Check out this list for some top notch suggestions.
Phew! That’s the end of day one! Now go back to your hostel, get some sleep and be ready for another jam-packed day of Hong Kong exploration tomorrow!
Have a lie in – You earned it! Then head for brunch Hong Kong style. You guessed it right. It is time for dim sum! Dim sum refers to a variety of small, bitesize dishes to be eaten over a leisurely brunch and to be enjoyed with a cup of tea! The Dragon Trip’s favourites dishes include turnip cake (蘿蔔糕), BBQ pork buns (叉燒包), Shrimp dumplings (蝦餃) and prawn stuffed steamed noodles (鮮蝦腸粉). Try them – you’ll love it! Check out this guide for some of the best budget restaurants in Hong Kong.
Ready to see something a little bit different? Head to Dried Seafood Street to inspect the exotic fare on offer, in an area that was once used to air dry fish. The streets nearby are also worth a visit! Head to Ginseng and Birds Nest Street to improve your complexion, and purchase some traditional remedies at Herbal Medicine Street.
Continue your journey towards the Man Mo Temple, one of the oldest and the largest in Hong Kong. This atmospheric Taoist temple, dedicated to the god’s of literature and war, lends itself perfectly to a few minutes of exploration in it’s smoky halls.
Now it’s time to head uphill – and it’s quite a climb! But don’t worry, that’s what the Mid Level Escalators are for! Glide up the world’s longest outdoor escalator that is 800m in length and climbs 135m. It isn’t actually one long escalator as you might think, but a series of shorter escalators with many entry and exit points, originally built for local commuters. Now all the exits are surrounded by bars and restaurants to satisfy any travellers needs.
Time to eat, drink and be merry in an area enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Head to Lan Kwai Fong, the home of happy hours, packed bars and all night revelry. Grab a street-side snack, prop yourself up at the bar and party in to the night!
Take a chill pill and get ready for the journey ahead on the third and final day of our pre trip Hong Kong itinerary!
After breakfast, catch the ferry to Lamma island, a Y-shaped island scattered with fishing villages, white sand beaches and excellent seafood restaurants. It’s the perfect place to get away from the city and recuperate before your journey continues.
Catch the ferry to Yeung Shue Wan, the islands main settlement, and take the stunning 1.4 kilometre walking trail to the small fishing village of Sok Kwu Wan. Expect to see some stunning views, as you wind your way along the coast and across the island.
Great weather? Excellent! Stop off at Hung Shing Yeh Beach for a sunbathe and maybe even a dip in the sea. Relax on the sand and gaze at the incredible vistas of the surrounding islands.
Follow the picturesque trail up and over the hills to Sok Kwu Wan Village. Grab some fresh seafood from one of the bayside stilted restaurants.
Catch the Ferry back to Central – you’ll need to conserve your energy for tomorrow! Head back to the hostel, pack your bags and get an early night. You’ve got a busy day ahead!
Love our Hong Kong guide and want to do the trip for yourself? View our 26-day china loop tour!
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