Insider’s Guide to Hong Kong

Hong Kong was the first stop on my 7 week adventure. It was busy, exciting and at times overwhelming, but overall it was great. Here’s an overview of my stay in this city complete with tips and tricks! Enjoy!

Victoria Peak provided some incredible views of the skyscraper landscape that the city boasts. We did not buy our tickets in advance and instead had to wait in a line for approximately 45 minutes to an hour. If you’re planning on visiting just keep the wait time in mind. A train takes you on a short ride to the top. We went on a cloudy day and on top of that the smog was very present. However, the view was still pretty. I’d say it was definitely worth the trip– I’d like to go up again on a sunny, clear day.

The Hong Kong harbour front was stunning and I highly recommend a ride on the star ferry at night. The buildings are quite spectacular all lit up in the evenings. The star ferry has been taking passengers to and from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon since 1888. It’s a cool experience plus it’s super cheap, just tap your Octopus card (grab one at the airport – covers buses, MTR, star ferry) and you’re good to go. Many people talk about the evening light show at 8pm every night– I chose to skip that one and hold out for the show I would later see in Singapore. If you want The Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong make sure you’re on the Kowloon side for the best views.

The architecture in Hong Kong is mind blowing. The buildings are so high it looks like they’re touching the sky. We checked out Rainbow Estates and the Monster Buildings which are both highly photographed areas in the city. They’re the must have snaps when visiting this bustling metropolis. Check out the photos:

We also took an excursion down to Aberdeen fishing village. It was very cool to see all of the boats on the water. But what’s even cooler is the FREE ferry shuttle to the floating restaurant. The restaurant is well worth a look, however our wallets decided against stopping for a bite. Pretty neat to see a floating restaurant though!

Shopping in this city is top notch. I’ve fallen in love with a store called Monki and may have splurged a little there (treat yourself, right?). Mongkok is a great shopping area! I also loved exploring the night markets, the jade market and sneaker street. I bought some new kicks at New Balance, and a day pack that replaced my broken one. It’s also a great place to grab some cheap souvenirs for your loved ones. Don’t forget to barter!

Lan Kwai Fong is the pedestrian-only party street in Hong Kong, it’s always lively at night and well worth a walk through. Keep in mind that drink prices are much higher than in Canada– a cider in HK can be upwards of $18 CAD. My advice is to scout out happy hours and grab cheap drinks at the 7/11. You’re allowed to walk down the street with a drink in hand– no issues. Plus, if you’re in the city for Halloween brace yourself for the massive crowds. Hong Kong is busy on a regular day but Halloween in the LKF area is absolutely nuts– I’ve never experienced anything like it before. It’s chaotic but very cool!

Finally, for those with allergies, this city can be incredibly challenging. I struggled for a number of days to find anything safe. I accidentally came across a health food store in Central and stocked up on some protein bars. Later, I found a British grocery store where I bought a loaf of gluten-free bread and peanut butter (lifesaver!). If you’re looking for a bite out, “infiniti c” a new restaurant in Kennedy Town has some delicious options but bear in mind food in HK is pricier than at home. After not having a solid meal I was over the moon to find avocado toast at “infiniti c” and I devoured it. MANA! also has some options but the risk of cross-contamination is a lot higher so you have to be careful. Luckily, I was fine. I suggest the PB & J route (cheap + filling) plus a couple meals out. The pasta at “infiniti c” is to die for! Plus they have cake… so what are you waiting for? YUM!