It was always a stock ticker with a skyline for me. For years, my idea of Hong Kong came from a very specific set of images. I had visualised it as towers of glassy-mirrored windows, bankers in crisp, tailored suits and nobody looking up from their ‘recently bought’ phones. But to be very honest, that is all partly, very true.
But I’d be lying if I said that was all of it. Because amidst all of that shine and sound, there’s also a tram that climbs a mountain, markets that stay open way past dark, two awe-some theme parks, beautiful hiking trails that end in beaches, a harbour that puts on a light show every night and a nightlife district built on a single hill. To make it a proper list, I’ve also added a few places in Macau in this blog, because why not? It is only a ferry ride away from HK. So here is my list of the top places to visit in Hong Kong, and a little beyond, that deserve a spot on your itinerary.
1. Old Macau: A-Ma Temple, Ruins of St. Paul's and Senado Square
Macau's old centre was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2005, but that is not the sole reason you should visit it, hear me out.
To start off, A-Ma Temple is dedicated to the goddess A-Ma, who's still hugely popular with locals. The Ruins of St. Paul's is what's left of a church that Jesuit priests built between 1602 and 1640, which was once the largest church in Asia. A fire during a typhoon in 1835 destroyed most of it, so what stands today is the granite facade and a staircase of 68 stone steps.
From there, it's only a short walk to Monte Fort, which sits on a hill 52 metres above sea level, and then down to Senado Square, the old city's main plaza. You also get to explore Fisherman's Wharf, a waterfront complex with replica buildings and a Colosseum, and Macau Tower to round off your time.
How to visit: When you arrive in Hong Kong, take a direct bus to the Macau border without clearing Hong Kong immigration, and spend your first night in Macau. On day two, you can tour the old city, then catch a ferry from Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal to Shun Tak Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong.
Activities: Visit A-Ma Temple, climb the steps to the Ruins of St. Paul's, walk up to Monte Fort, stroll through Senado Square and go up Macau Tower for the view.
2. The Cotai Strip: Macau After Dark
Don’t leave just yet, because Macau looks very different once the sun goes down. The big hotels on the Cotai Strip are built to look like other places, so you can stop for photos outside The Venetian, The Parisian and The Londoner in one evening. The Parisian even has a half-size Eiffel Tower out front, which you'll see from the outside. After dark, the Diamond Show, the Crystal Show and the Wynn Palace Fountain Show take over. Oh how I’d love to hear about it after you’ve seen them in person!
How to visit: This night tour can be made on your first evening in Macau, after you've checked into your hotel.
Activities: Photo stops at The Venetian, The Parisian and The Londoner, then the Diamond Show, the Crystal Show and the Wynn Palace Fountain Show.
Not sure how to fit all of Hong Kong's highlights into one trip? Connect with our destination experts and we'll help you put together an itinerary that makes sense for your time.
3. Hong Kong Disneyland
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Hong Kong Disneyland opened on 12 September 2005, on reclaimed land at Penny's Bay on Lantau Island. It has eight themed lands, including Fantasyland, Toy Story Land and World of Frozen. The Castle of Magical Dreams, which opened in 2020, is now the park's icon, and it's about double the height of the castle it replaced. Its daily capacity is the lowest of any Disneyland park, so it's very doable in a single day.
There’s plenty to do. Ride the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars in Grizzly Gulch, a runaway mine-train coaster. Explore Mystic Manor in Mystic Point, take a Jungle River Cruise through Adventureland, or float through Frozen Ever After in World of Frozen. In Toy Story Land, you can spin around on Slinky Dog Spin or race on the RC Racer, and in Tomorrowland, you can ride Space Mountain, which now has a Star Wars theme. Its daily capacity is the lowest of any Disneyland park, so it’s very doable in a single day. Stay until the evening, because the fireworks are the proper finale.
How to visit: You can stay at a Disney hotel and take the hotel shuttle bus to and from the park. If you're travelling independently, you can take the MTR's Disneyland Resort line from Sunny Bay.
Activities: Spend a full day on the rides and in the themed lands, meet the characters and stay on for the evening fireworks show.
4. Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island, standing 552 metres above sea level, and it comes up on almost every Hong Kong sightseeing list. The Peak Tram, which has been running for over a century, takes you up in about five minutes. At the top, the Sky Terrace 428 sits at 428 metres and gives you a 360-degree view of the entire island, the harbour and Kowloon.
It's one of the best things to see in Hong Kong, and the view changes completely between day and night. In the daytime, you get blue skies and a clear skyline. After dark, the high-rises light up. Madame Tussauds is right at the top too, if you feel like posing next to a wax celebrity by any chance .
How to visit: Take the Peak Tram up from the city. Buying tickets online helps you skip the queue at the bottom station.
Activities: Ride the Peak Tram, go up to the Sky Terrace 428 for the view and visit Madame Tussauds.
5. Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Symphony of Lights
Every night at 8 pm, buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour light up in a free light and sound show called A Symphony of Lights. The best views are from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and from the Avenue of Stars. Make sure you get to one of those.
It's a free show with no ticket needed, which makes it one of the easiest things to see in Hong Kong on a budget. It's suspended if there's a Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or higher, or a red or black rainstorm warning, so watch out for those as well.
How to visit: Arrive a little early to grab a spot along the promenade, since it gets pretty crowded.
Activities: Watch the Symphony of Lights from the promenade, then walk along the waterfront afterwards.
Prefer to take the scenic route, stay a little longer or skip the places that don't interest you? Our tailor-made tours let you shape the journey around your way of travelling.
6. Mongkok's Markets
If you’ve come to Hong Kong to shop, Mongkok is where you’ll end up, whether you meant to or not. The Ladies Market is the spotlight: about a kilometre of stalls along Tung Choi Street, between Argyle Street and Dundas Street, with over 100 of them selling clothes, bags, toys, souvenirs and phone accessories. Need a new phone case or a fridge magnet for your aunt? This is it.
And once you’ve had your fill, there’s more on the streets running alongside. Fa Yuen Street is known as Sneaker Street, which is where the shoe lovers in your group will disappear for an hour, and Sai Yeung Choi Street is the Electronic Street, for anyone who can’t resist a good gadget.
Prices at most stalls aren't fixed, so bargaining is expected. Start low, smile and be ready to walk away, which is often when the price drops.
How to visit: Most stalls open around noon and close between 10 and 11 pm. The best time to go is around 4 to 8 pm, when it's lively but not yet fully packed.
Activities: Browse the Ladies Market, the Sneaker Market and the Electronic Market, and bargain for souvenirs.
7. Ocean Park
Ocean Park opened in 1977 in Wong Chuk Hang, on Hong Kong Island, and it's a theme park and animal park rolled into one, which makes it one of the bigger 'family’ things to see in Hong Kong. There are roller coasters like Hair Raiser and Arctic Blast, the Grand Aquarium, giant pandas and a 1.5-kilometre cable car linking the Waterfront and Summit areas. If you're visiting between 25 October and 5 November, there's a seasonal Halloween experience too, so it's worth reconfirming the details and admission before you travel.
How to visit: Take a private vehicle to Ocean Park after, and spend the whole day at your own pace.
Activities: Ride the roller coasters, visit the Grand Aquarium and the giant pandas, and take the cable car between the park's two areas.
8. Lan Kwai Fong
Lan Kwai Fong is a small cluster of streets and alleys in Central that's made for eating, drinking and staying out late. It was once a hawker area, was revived in the mid-1980s and is now one of the city's best-known spots for bars and dinner! It's a good way to end a long sightseeing day, especially after Ocean Park.
How to visit: Take the MTR to Central Station and use Exit D2. If you're travelling with us, the transfer from Ocean Park can drop you here, or at your hotel.
Activities: Have dinner, grab a drink and soak up the atmosphere. On public holidays and event nights, it gets very crowded, so go early.
Still figuring out where you want to go in the world? Have a look at more ideas on places to visit, things to do and how to plan your trip.
Which Places Should You Prioritise?
If this is your first trip, start in Macau. Start with the old town and the Cotai Strip at night, then take the ferry across to Hong Kong, where Disneyland, Victoria Peak, the Symphony of Lights and Mongkok's markets all fit into a few days. Ocean Park and Lan Kwai Fong are good for the last stretch, when you want a big day out followed by a relaxed evening.
You don't have to choose between the big attractions and the quieter evenings, either. Many of these places to go in Hong Kong slot comfortably into a single, well-paced itinerary, letting you see temples, theme parks, skyline views and night markets without feeling like you're sacrificing one for the other.
Ready to see how it all fits together? Browse our Hong Kong tour packages from India, and let's start turning this list into your dream itinerary.
