Day one

Drop off your bags and head to Hong Kong Island. Stores and shops open quite late in Hong Kong, so to take advantage of your daylight hours you can hike up to The Peak to catch the most iconic view of Hong Kong. The hike will take you more than an hour and you can take the iconic Peak Tram back down or catch any of the buses back to Central.

Dim sum has to be on your mind by now so for cheap and cheerful you can choose either Lin Heung Tea House for an old-school experience, or head to the basement of the IFC to Michelin-starred Tim Ho Wan for their famous shrimp dumplings or barbecued pork buns. For those after a bit more sophistication, there is a plethora of high-end Cantonese restaurants that offer state-of-the-art dim sum such as Mandarin Oriental’s Man Wah (closed for the next six months but offering pop-up dim sum on weekends) and the three-Michelin starred Lung King Heen.

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Now that you’re fed and watered it’s time to explore this historic part of town within a short walk of Central. Tai Kwun is the gentrified colonial-era Central Police Station that now houses many eateries and art exhibits, the building itself is steeped in history and worth a visit alone. After that, head along Hollywood Road to visit Man Mo Temple, one of the oldest places of worship in Hong Kong, and do stop by the cute shops and antique stores along the way.

Shopping is a national pastime in Hong Kong and while esteemed shopping malls are abundant, you should take a walk down Lyndhurst Terrace where you can buy knick-knacks and cheap souvenirs.

Visiting a dai pai dong is Hong Kong street food – but with seats – and is one of the best ways to sample stir-fried dishes. Graham Street springs to life at night with several dai pai dongs for you to choose from.

The popular spot for nightlife is Lan Kwai Fong where there are awesome bars that offer some of the best cocktails in the world. From the artisans of Tokyo’s Bar High Five is their Hong Kong offshoot Bar De Luxe in Central. Inside MO Bar at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is New York’s famous speakeasy PDT and there is Hong Kong’s own celebrity mixologist Antonio Lai’s gin bar Origin, just to name a few places to keep the libations going through the night.

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Day two – day trip

If you have a full day free on your itinerary then you’re in luck, as Hong Kong has plenty of fantastic places to spend the day.

Long Ke Wan beach

For those who don’t mind a small hike, head to Sai Kung and you can spend the day at Long Ke beach, which has been heralded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by CNN. It’s either a hike, a speed boat ride or a taxi and then a short walk away from Sai Kung, but the trip is worth it.

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Tai O

A taxi or bus ride away from Tung Chung is one of the last traditional fishing villages left in Hong Kong, where you can easily spend hours soaking in the atmosphere. Walking around town and stopping for a coffee or food is fun, or try your luck and take a boat tour to spot one of Hong Kong’s native pink dolphins.

Sunflower farm

If you’re visiting town in the summer, the San Tin Sunflower Farm in Yuen Long is newly opened to public. This is a side of Hong Kong people won’t expect.

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Hong Kong Pearl Cultivation Association

Also in Sai Kung is a pearl cultivation farm that offers not only information about of history of cultured pearls but also many DIY classes to make pearl accessories such as earrings and bracelets. A fun break from the city and shopping malls.

Day three

If you haven’t had the chance then hop on the Star Ferry to get to Tsim Sha Tsui as the ride will offer you one of the best views of Hong Kong – all for less than a US dollar. If you’re an early riser and have oodles of time on your last day you might want to squeeze in another hike to Kowloon’s Lion Rock, which takes around two to three hours to complete.

Kowloon is full of Instagramable sites of Hong Kong. Choi Hung Estate translates to “Rainbow Estate” in Cantonese and the basketball court is where you can capture the colourful exterior of the building. The name Yick Fat Building may not ring any bells but you’ll definitely recognise the worm’s eye view of the three-sided residential building as seen in films like Transformers: Age of Extinction and Ghost in the Shell.

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For those who like to get a taste of Hong Kong’s famous markets, the Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok is a must. This is where you can buy phone cases for almost every phone under sun!

Many people favour the view of Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon side to see the city’s iconic skyline. Our favourite restaurants to soak up the view is Aqua for contemporary cuisine or Hutong for regional Chinese fare. For an even more up close and personal view of Hong Kong, head to Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. Anything on the apex of the building facing Victoria Harbour presents gorgeous vistas. On the plates, Hexa offers modern Chinese cuisine and Harbourside Grill can satiate any meat lovers’ cravings.

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