Hong Kong
Towers on the harbour, hills behind them, and islands and hikes in every direction.
Hong Kong stacks itself between the harbour and the mountains: Central's towers on the island, Kowloon's neon across the water, and behind both a territory that is mostly green — country parks, beaches and outlying islands reached by ferry. The Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour is still a fine introduction.
Why go
For the density and the drama: the Peak at dusk, the skyline light show from the Kowloon waterfront, the trams along the island, the wet markets and the dim sum halls. Few cities compress this much into so little flat ground.
And for what is outside the frame: the Dragon's Back hike to a beach, the fishing village on Lamma, the big Buddha on Lantau, the temples and walled villages of the New Territories.
Highlights
What people go for, in no particular order.
01The Peak
Up by the funicular tram or on foot through the Mid-Levels, for the view over the towers, the harbour and Kowloon. Dusk into night is the classic hour; the circular walk around the summit is the quiet version.
02The Star Ferry and the harbour
The green-and-white ferries between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, a few minutes of open water and the whole skyline. The Kowloon promenade has the light show in the evening.
03Central, Sheung Wan and the trams
The escalator up through SoHo's restaurants, the dried-seafood streets and antique shops of Sheung Wan, the Man Mo temple, and the double-decker trams that rattle the length of the island.
04Kowloon: Mong Kok and Temple Street
Street markets for goldfish, flowers, birds and sneakers by day, and Temple Street's night market and fortune tellers after dark.
05Lantau and the big Buddha
The cable car over the hills to the bronze Buddha at Po Lin monastery, the stilt village at Tai O and the beaches on the island's south.
06The hikes and the beaches
The Dragon's Back ridge down to Shek O, the MacLehose trail's stages, and the beaches of Repulse Bay and Sai Kung's clear-water peninsula.
07Dim sum and the food streets
Morning dim sum in a cavernous hall, roast goose in Wan Chai, egg tarts and milk tea in a cha chaan teng, and the dai pai dong stalls that survive in Central.
Areas
Where to base yourself, and what each area is like.
Central and Sheung Wan
The business heart with the Peak above and the ferry below. Restaurants and bars up the hill in SoHo.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon's waterfront, with the harbour view, the museums and shopping, and the Star Ferry pier.
Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
Markets, malls and neighbourhood restaurants along the tram line east of Central.
Sai Kung and the outlying islands
Seafood villages, beaches and hikes, for a stay away from the towers.
When to go: Hong Kong
- AutumnOctober – December
- Clear, dry and warm without humidity: good months for the Peak, the hikes and the harbour.
- WinterJanuary and February
- Cool and mostly dry, with the Chinese New Year fireworks over the harbour. Comfortable for walking.
- SpringMarch – May
- Mild but increasingly humid, with mist on the Peak and rain building towards summer.
- SummerJune – September
- Hot, humid and wet, with typhoon warnings possible. Malls, museums and the beaches in the mornings.
Getting there
Airports
One airport in our search serves Hong Kong. Distances are measured in a straight line.
- HKGHong Kong International
Distance from
- SINSingapore2,580 km
- BOMMumbai4,300 km
- DXBDubai5,940 km
- SYDSydney7,380 km
- CDGParis9,610 km
- LHRLondon9,640 km
- JNBJohannesburg10,700 km
- JFKNew York12,970 km
Getting around: Hong Kong
The MTR is quick and reaches nearly everywhere, including the airport by express train; trams, buses and minibuses fill in. An Octopus card pays for all of it and for ferries and shops.
Ferries cross the harbour and run to the outlying islands from Central's piers. Taxis are metered and plentiful; the island's steep streets are walked with the help of escalators and lifts.
Practical facts
The country, its currency and languages, the time zone and the time there now.
- Country
- Hong Kong
- Currency
- HKD · Hong Kong Dollar
- Languages
- Chinese and English
- Time zone
- Hong Kong Standard Time
- Local time now
- Calling code
- +852
The atlas
Hong Kong in figures
The figures under this guide: the climate on modelled 2001–2020 averages, how far it is from the UAE, and the places around it.
Climate
The weather in Hong Kong, month by month
- Jan20°
- Feb21°
- Mar23°
- Apr26°
- May29°
- Jun30°
- Jul30°
- Aug30°
- Sept30°
- Oct28°
- Nov25°
- Dec21°
- Mild to warm and dry
- Mild to warm, humid or showery
- Hot
- Cool
- Wet
- Cold
Good for going, on these averages: October to April.
Mean highs run from 20°C in January to 30°C in July, with about 1,401 mm of rain in a year.
These are modelled averages for 2001–2020; the seasons described above are our own reading of a typical year.
Month-by-month climate for Hong KongModelled averages for an area about 50 km across, not a weather station's record: NASA POWER climatology, 2001–2020.
Airports
How far it is from the UAE
From DXBHong Kong
5,940 km
7 hrs 45 mins · Estimate
From AUHHong Kong
6,030 km
7 hrs 50 mins · Estimate
The great-circle distance, and a rough flying time: the distance at an average 850 km/h plus 45 minutes for take-off and landing. Real flights follow airways, meet headwinds and wait for traffic, so schedules differ.
On the map
Places near Hong Kong
In pictures: Hong Kong
Plan this trip: Hong Kong
Open the trip builder with Hong Kong already filled in. Flights, stays and everything else are priced together in one quote, prepared by a person on our team.
