“A New York minute is a Hong Kong second” there is a saying you’ll hear all around you. It is a thrilling city of 7 million residents and it’s not hard to see why. Hong Kong teems with energy from the moment you arrive. There are skylines that need to be photographed, there are countless street markets to explore or get lost in, and ferries and boat rides are waiting. It’s pointless to say that it’s impossible to do everything, but there are some experiences that simply shouldn’t be missed. Whether you’re visiting Hong Kong for the first time or the tenth, here are 10 things you absolutely can’t miss.
1.Look up at all the Skyscrapers.
Lift your head and look up towards the sky when walking around the busy streets of Hong Kong, and look at all the spectacular skyscrapers. There are over 7 million people living in Hong Kong, and the lack of space has turned Hong Kong into the world’s most vertical city. Some of the skyscrapers are quite cool!
2.Take the double-decker trams
Taking the tram through the Hong Kong Island is a fun and cheap way to see the city! It is affectionately called “Ding Ding” by the locals. The colorful, narrow, old, double-decker trams, dating from 1904, goes from Central to Causeway Bay. The fare is 2 HK$ (0,22 Euros) Super cheap! Runs from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
3.Just walk around
You should put away the map and just wander around the streets of Hong Kong looking at all the vibrant and livelihood going on everywhere. Take in all of Hong Kong`s smells and noise. It is such a busy city, full of colors!
4.See the view from Victoria Peak
Don’t miss the famous view from Victoria Peak, arguably the city’s most famous attraction. Rising 1,805 feet above sea level, the summit affords breathtaking views of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Victoria Harbour, and, on very clear days, Kowloon’s eight mountains. There’s an ongoing argument about whether the view is better during the day or at night—see both if you have the time and decide for yourself.
5.Ride the Peak Tram
There are several ways to reach the top at Victoria Peak, but the classic method is a seven-minute ride on the Peak Tram, the world’s steepest funicular railway.
6.Hit the street markets
A really busy area is Mong Kok in Kowloon, where you can find great restaurants and two of the most renown markets in Hong Kong! It is a really busy area, and this is where the city really lives.
7.Enjoy a Macau Day Trip
Only an hour away by ferry, another world awaits you with Portuguese buildings to see, a different style of cuisine to taste, and huge casino resorts. The world’s biggest gambling city is a big change of pace from Hong Kong.
8.Watch Symphony of Lights in Avenue of Stars
A perfect way to end a perfect day in Hong Kong is to witness the internationally renowned Symphony of Lights, a 15-minute sounds and light show that will leave its spectators in utter amazement. Fondly billed as “The largest permanent sound and light show in the world” by Guinness World Record, this nightly spectacle will appease your senses with one-of-a-kind digital fireworks, flashy lasers and splendid light displays.
9.Escalade the longest covered escalator system in the world.
Speaking of joyrides, don’t forget to take a ride up the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, the longest covered escalator system in the world.
10. Experience the electrifying nightlife of Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong, the undisputed party and nightlife epicenter of Hong Kong, is brimming with cheap drinks, sheesha, clubs, bars and ritzy nightspots. Nights here are pretty wild, and its street is crowded with nocturnal party animals. You can even get some free shots in this part of Hong Kong. It’s a little rowdy, but nevertheless a great place to hang out, especially if you want to see the wilder side of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong may be a small destination, but it has more than enough activities and attractions to keep you occupied. Of course there are a lot of other things to see in Hong Kong, but this are the things that we managed to see in our 2 days trip to Hong Kong. Keep in mind that 2/3 of the country is actually made up of the countryside which is full of countless small mountains and several islands. Now looking back, I will love to return to give Honk Kong more time.
