When it comes to jetting to Asia for holidays, Hong Kong is a great option for those who want a change in scenery without crossing continents. The busy city has everything you need for a quick mid-year pick-me-up, with its idyllic hiking trails and bustling nightlife.
However, there’s so much more to do than partying till the cows come home at Lan Kwai Fong, and do you really want to play it safe with the same ol’ dim sum haunts? Rhetoricals aside, refresh your itineraries with these new things to do in Hong Kong.
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Hong Kong’s a great place to escape the Singaporean heat, so plan to fly over during early September to early December. That’s when the temperature ranges from 19°C-28°C, so you’ll be able to stroll along the streets without breaking a sweat.
Flights to Hong Kong from Singapore are generally pretty quick and hassle-free too. Flight times float around 4 hours, and there are plenty of direct flights into Hong Kong from Changi Airport. For instance, its national carrier, Cathay Pacific, operates up to 8 direct flights per day from Singapore to Hong Kong.
Once you’ve touched down at Hong Kong International Airport, you’re gonna want to purchase an Octopus card ASAP. That’s because you’ll be able to use it to pay for public transport like buses and the MTR, which is the MRT-equivalent of Hong Kong and is arguably the best way to get around the city. You can even use it as a payment method at eateries and certain tourist attractions like museums.
You won’t need to apply for weeks’ worth of AL to explore Hong Kong; anywhere from 3-5 days is ideal. This leaves you with ample time to visit popular attractions like Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. You can also set aside a day to go hiking, as the various trails found in outdoor options like Tai Mo Shan Country Park are great to experience Hong Kong’s countryside.
Then, of course, you can take the time to explore the following new things to do in Hong Kong.
The trail takes about 4 hours to complete. You’ll then reach Lin Ma Hang Road where there’s public transport to take you back to your accommodation.
Image credit: @lala.stella_wildlife via Instagram
Should hiking enthusiasts be looking for a worthy trail to surmount, then look no further than Robin’s Nest Country Park. Hong Kong’s newest country park just opened in March 2024, which means not many hikers have been privy to its stunning hilltop views just yet. Plus, it’s tucked away from civilisation.
Image credit: @danieltheowl.wild via Instagram
This is because the 530-hectare country park is snuggled right beside the Shenzhen border, so you can be sure that the wilderness is mostly unblemished by human activity. Natural landmarks that you’ll find on your way include the Lin Ma Hang abandoned mines, which is now home to one of the most important bat colonies in Hong Kong.
Image credit: @catherine.onthego via Instagram
For an extra kick of heritage on your hikes, there are also a couple of war relics from WW2 to check out, as guard posts and trenches of days past lie dormant for curious adventurers. Keep an eye out for the MacIntosh Forts, a group of 7 observation posts built between 1949 and 1953 which have definitely seen better days.
Location: Robin’s Nest Country Park
Situated amongst clusters of Hong Kong’s emblematic high-rise apartments is ARTLANE. You’ll find this funky number in the neighbourhood of Sai Ying Pun, which is home to an eclectic mix of trendy eateries and time-honoured establishments. A couple of artists were hired to leave their mark on the neighbourhood, which blessed its streets with several striking murals.
From stylised facades to colourful alleyways, ARTLANE has got it all. A notable one to spruce up your feed with is the lengthy yet detailed snapshot depicting life in Hong Kong during simpler times; it’s located in the Sai Ying Pun MTR station.
There are a total of 26 murals to enthral your IG audience with. When you need a breather or some shade from the sun, duck into one of the many hipster cafes peppered about; after all, the area is known to be a hotspot amongst coffee aficionados.
Address: 8 Chung Ching Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 24 hours, Daily
Contact: ARTLANE website
For those who swear by the efficiency of 5-minute meals fueled by cup noodles, book a visit to Nissin’s CUPNOODLES MUSEUM Hong Kong. It’s the only one that’s outside of Japan, but rest assured that it still pulls no punches when it comes to satiating the noodle-crazed crowds.
You can’t miss the giant overturned cup noodles photospot, and the long wall of different flavours of cup noodles from all over the world is another marvel to admire. You’ll get to learn about the humble product’s history, and how its ingenious inventor Momofuku Ando came up with something so beloved by time-strapped university students and office workers worldwide.
Don’t forget to enrol in their various workshops too. The on-site My CUPNOODLES Factory (HKD60, ~S$10.42) lets visitors get hands-on by designing their very own cup of cup noodles. You’ll be able to personalise cups with markers and choose from 4 soup bases plus 12 different toppings to add to your creation.
They’ve also got the Demae Iccho Factory (HKD120, ~S$20.84) should you prefer the variant of instant noodles that comes in packets. Participants will knead, flatten and cut the dough used to make the noodles. After a flash fry and doodling sesh, you can walk home with an edible memento that’s unapologetically you.
Address: L2 #26-35, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 11.15am-7.15pm, Daily (Closed on Wednesdays)
Contact: +852 3406 6600 | CUPNOODLES Museum Hong Kong website
Let’s be honest, can you really say you’ve been to Hong Kong without paying Hong Kong Disneyland a visit? However, if you’re headed there yet again, you can look forward to spending a day with Elsa and company as the brand-spanking new World of Frozen just opened its enchanted doors in November 2023.
Image credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Visitors will be transported to the glorious kingdom of Arendelle from the movies, and there’s something for everyone here. The lil’uns will love Frozen Ever After, a mellow boat ride which recreates iconic scenes from the movies while animatronic characters dance in the background.
The Playhouse in the Woods attraction is also another fan favourite, as you’ll get to meet Elsa and Anna in the flesh. This interactive theatrical experience invites onlookers to play a part in the story as the sisters make their rounds about their childhood hideaway.
You’ll want to swing by the Northern Delights candy store too. They’ve got Frozen-themed goodies like Olaf Muffins (HKD50, ~S$8.69) and Coronation Sundaes (HKD95, ~S$16.51) to end your visit on a sweet note.
Address: Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 10.30am-9pm, Daily
Contact: +852 3550 3388 | Hong Kong Disneyland website
Image credit: @singingatito via Instagram
The themed bites continue at Transformers: The Ark. No prizes for guessing which franchise this fast food joint draws inspiration from. Its futuristic facade and interior mimic Cybertron, the home planet of everyone’s favourite robots in disguise.
The attention to detail is immaculate; even the ordering counter is decked out in techy screens while the seating area features projections of gazing out to the cosmos.
Go for their Prime Burgers (from HKD50, ~S$8.69) that come with various patties like Black Truffle Angus and Crab Meat Avocado. Similarly, they’ve got Allspark Pizzas (from HKD68, S$11.81) that are shaped in the logo of the Autobots. When you’re ready to roll out, remember to strike a pose beside the towering Optimus Prime statue near the store’s entrance.
Address: 38 Russell Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 11am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Transformers: The Ark Facebook
Image credit: @thepeakhk via Instagram
Despite being over 130 years old, the Peak Tram is keeping up the times with its recent upgrade project that saw it undergo a 14-month-long renovation. It finally reopened in August 2022, outfitted with fresh features like larger capacity tramcars, new track rails, and updated control and signalling systems.
A ride on the Peak Tram (HKD148, ~S$25.71) to reach the summit of Victoria Peak is quite the experience, due to the extremities of the track’s gradient which can reach 27-degrees at its steepest. Due to an optical illusion caused by this steepness, the surrounding buildings seem to “fall” into the hillside when the tram ascends the hill.
The Peak Tram’s surrounding facilities have also been refurbished, so take your time to explore the new additions if you’ve not been here in a hot minute. Before you board the tram, take a minute to check out the enigmatic Eye of Infinity sculpture at the Central Terminus. Once you’re atop Victoria Peak, have a seat on a replica of the first generation of trams that were in operation decades ago.
Since you’re already up here, quell your inner shopaholic by heading into The Peak Tower; it’s a shopping mall perched amongst the clouds. You’ll also find the Sky Terrace 428 viewing platform here which is the tallest of its kind in all of Hong Kong, positioned 428m above sea level.
Address: 33 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 7.30am-11pm, Daily
Contact: +852 2522 0922 | Peak Tram website
If you’ve ever dabbled with the idea of picking up surfing but thought against it because crashing face-first into choppy waters is just not it, then Groundswell is the place for you. It’s a bar and restaurant that’s equipped with a FlowRider surf machine, as well as an in-house surf school.
Surf shirts are available for sale at Groundswell, as well as towel rentals.
Image credit: @groundswellhk via Instagram
That’s right, Groundswell is basically an indoor surf venue where you can learn to ride the waves in a controlled environment. Their hourly rates are HKD500/hour (~S$86.86), and there’ll be instructors there to show you the ropes and guide you every step of the way.
After you’ve had your fill in the water, it’s time to refuel with some serious grub. The fare here is impressive; the Thai food here is said to be solid, so slurp on a comforting bowl of Thai Boat Noodle Soup or have something light like their Larb Gai Salad. Afterwards, wash everything down with tipples like shots of Absolut Vodka and Olmeca Tequila at the bar.
Address: AIRSIDE Shopping mall, L6 #601, 2 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Hong Kong
Opening hours: 11.30am-10pm, Daily
Contact: +852 3564 8345 | Groundswell website
Image credit: @klook_ph via Instagram
Museum dates are universally cute, so here’s one to consider when you’re touring Hong Kong. The M+ Museum (from HKD120/pax, ~S$20.85) is one of the city’s latest openings in their bustling art scene, and it has everything you need for an artsy afternoon.
Image credit: M+
There are currently 2 long-term exhibitions at the museum, namely the M+ Sigg Collection: Another Story exhibition and the Shanshui: Echoes and Signals collection of works. Both are equally as intriguing, with enigmatic installations such as a room filled with mannequins of old, polarising political figures on wheelchairs, and other abstract pieces of art.
The M+ Museum also has a slew of workshops to sign up for if you or your kid prefers to get hands-on. Workshops here typically cost between HKD180 and HKD300 (~S$52.11-S$31.27), and past workshops have included collaging and jewellery.
The museum even has their own cinema, dubbed the M+ Cinema. However, you won’t find your usual blockbusters here. Instead, they screen experimental films, restored classics and rarely-seen movies. Tickets go for HKD85 (~S$14.77) and you’ll get to feast your eyes on flicks like Wong Kar Wai’s Days of Being Wild and 1993’s live-action rendition of Super Mario Bros.
Address: 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon Cultural District, Kowloon
Opening hours: Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 10am-6pm | Fri 10am-10pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: +852 2200 0217 | M+ Museum website
Located just a 3-minute drive from the M+ Museum lies another throng of artsy happenings. Art@Harbour is an ongoing outdoor art festival organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and boy is it a spectacle.
Image credit: @teamlab via Instagram
The main attraction of the festival has to be the teamLab: Continuous installation. The Japanese art collective has filled Tamar Park with numerous egg-like ovoids that light up wonderfully at night. Feel free to bump into them – they’ll just bounce right back up and even pulse with different colours. Tickets for this one are free, just remember to snag them off Klook beforehand.
Other curious installations include the imposing l’ordre des mondes, which is essentially a totem pole consisting of chairs and planet-shaped marble spheres. There are also a couple of bear-shaped humanoid sculptures sat on “beds” scattered around, as part of the Science in Art exhibition to cuddle with
Image adapted from: Hong Kong Tourism Board
The last day to visit Art@Harbour’s installations will be on 2nd June 2024, but there’ll still be events to look forward to in the vicinity thereafter. To commemorate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, there’ll be a scheduled drone show happening across Victoria Harbour on 10th June, as well as a breathtaking fireworks display on 15th June.
Victoria Harbour
Location: Victoria Harbour
Tamar Park
Address: Harcourt Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island
Opening hours: 24 hours, Daily
Contact: +852 2520 2321 | Tamar Park website
For the truly daring, try stomaching exotic street food like chicken testicles. If not, scaling a near vertical cliff face at Beacon Hill is a close second.
Of course, there’s no shame in falling back on the tried and true attractions in Hong Kong. One must-visit location that springs to mind is Ocean Park; after all, it boasts the fastest roller coaster in Hong Kong – great if you’re an adrenaline junkie. For more options to fill out your itinerary, head over to Discover Hong Kong’s website for the best spots to visit.
POV: Your view as you peer out of your plane window to marvel at Hong Kong’s cityscape.
Image credit: @cathaypacific via Instagram
With all these options in mind, planning the perfect itinerary can be mind-bogglingly difficult, but grabbing a buddy and booking a flight on a Hong Kong-bound plane is a solid first step. Thankfully, Cathay Pacific has made it pretty easy to get that sorted out with an ongoing Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal on their round trip tickets from Singapore to Hong Kong.
Do note that you have to bundle your round trip tickets with stays at designated hotels as a “Flights+Hotels” package. Don’t worry, Cathay Pacific has taken it upon themselves to suss out the best hotels in the region. Their list of accommodations has lavish stays such as The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong (S$369.66/night), as well as budget-friendly options like Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East (S$128/night).
With flights basically 50% off, take this chance to jet over with a +1 to Hong Kong, as a pat on the back for tiding through almost half of 2024.
Cover image adapted from: @susuki_ng & @teamlab via Instagram
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