Hong Kong is one of those places that makes an immediate impression.
Fast, vertical and energetic, it combines towering skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour with colourful markets, historic neighbourhoods, temples and one of Asia’s great food scenes. It is a city of contrasts, where ultra-modern architecture sits alongside much more traditional corners.
We’ve travelled to Hong Kong ourselves, staying in Kowloon as part of a wider journey, and for us it works particularly well as a stopover. Two or three nights can transform a long journey to Asia, Australia or New Zealand into part of the holiday itself.
There is plenty more we’d still like to discover too. Jonathan is particularly keen to return and finally visit Macao, which can now be easily combined with Hong Kong.
We stayed in Kowloon, which proved a great base for experiencing the city. You’re close to the harbour, shopping, restaurants and some of Hong Kong’s most famous views, while the streets themselves are busy, colourful and full of life.
What we remember most is the extraordinary skyline and the contrast between modern Hong Kong and its older neighbourhoods.
We haven’t explored every corner of Hong Kong and wouldn’t pretend otherwise. It is somewhere we’d happily return to, particularly to spend more time discovering the quieter parts of the territory and to combine it with Macao.
That experience shapes how we would approach a first stay. The harbour provides a useful starting point, with time on both sides giving you different views of the city and its everyday life.
For a short stopover, we would begin with a well located hotel and a manageable sightseeing plan.
There is no need to spend every hour moving between attractions when simply being out in the streets is part of the experience.
A longer visit opens up other possibilities. We would look at how much time you want in the busiest areas and whether a day away from the centre would bring a welcome change of pace.
Hong Kong has an energy that makes even a short stay feel like a distinct part of your holiday. The harbour, the streets and the skyline each offer a different perspective, and moving between them becomes part of the enjoyment.
We particularly like the variety you can build into a few days. A morning exploring a neighbourhood can lead into a ferry crossing, a relaxed lunch and an evening beside the water. You can enjoy the famous views without making every day a tightly organised sightseeing exercise.
Its appeal also changes with the time you have. A short visit gives you an introduction to the city, while a longer stay allows space for quieter areas and a little more independence.
For us, the best Hong Kong holiday balances those different sides. Allow time for the recognisable landmarks, but leave room for the meals, streets and small discoveries that make the visit your own.
A few nights in Hong Kong can give a longer journey a memorable opening or finish. Think about arrival and departure times as well as the number of nights.
A three night stay with an early arrival offers a different amount of exploring time from one that begins late in the evening.
An evening beside the harbour offers a different atmosphere from a day of sightseeing. You might combine a relaxed meal with a walk and time to take in the illuminated skyline.
Keep the first evening flexible if you have arrived after a long flight, leaving a more ambitious programme until you feel ready.
With more time, consider a day that introduces a quieter setting. Lantau is one possibility, with the choice of places and activities shaped around your interests.
Allow for travel time and the weather when planning. A single well paced day away from the centre can be more enjoyable than several hurried excursions.
Leave room for different kinds of meals, from a simple lunch to an evening you plan around a particular restaurant. Food can give the day its structure without filling it with organised activities.
If you enjoy exploring through food, a guided introduction can help you decide what you would like to try next.
Choose a manageable area and leave time to walk, browse and stop along the way. The smaller streets can be just as rewarding as a major attraction when you are getting to know the city.
A neighbourhood visit also provides a useful balance to the larger views and shopping centres.
Combine time beside Victoria Harbour with a crossing on the water. Seeing the skyline from a promenade, a ferry and the opposite shore gives you a better sense of the setting.
There is no need to make each view a separate excursion. Work the harbour naturally into the journeys you are already making.