14 of the Best Things to Do on Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Island is the ‘Big Kahuna’ of launching points in Hong Kong when it comes to exploring Asia’s ‘World City’. So much so that you’d be hard-pressed to find a Hong Kong travel itinerary that doesn’t consist of a substantial chunk of activities, experiences, and restaurants being on ‘the Island’. 

You’ll most likely take the Airport Express to the city center (aka Central), there’s a high probability you’re hotel is between Sai Ying Pun and North Point, and we both know that a driving force behind your trip was because of an Instagram reel you saw of the sourdough egg tarts at Bakehouse. I can’t blame you for that at all. As a seven-plus-year resident of the city, I still line up with the best of them for these buttery, flaky, calorie-dense saucers of perfection. 

The beauty of Hong Kong is that while yes, there are certain activities and experiences that may be slightly more geared towards tourists than residents, oftentimes, you’ll find both groups at the same place, doing the same thing, eating at the same restaurants, walking the same walk, and talking the same talk (not literally, as I don’t speak Korean). 

That’s a testament to (a) Hong Kong’s inescapable density, and (b) the fact that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. To ensure that you don’t dejectedly Charlie Brown-walk your way to HKIA feeling like you missed out on the full Hong Kong experience, here are the 14 best things to do on Hong Kong Island. 

All are activities that both my friends and I regularly partake in so if you see a balding, stocky man in his mid-thirties with egg tart custard all over a one-size-too-small cat graphic tee, don’t be afraid to say ‘Wazzup!’ like Ghostface in Scary Movie. 

Ride the Ding Ding Like a Boss

Beginning operations in 1904 and nearly stretching the entirety of Hong Kong Island the Hong Kong tram, endearingly referred to as the ‘Ding Ding’, is Hong Kong’s first large-scale transportation system and a historic symbol of nostalgia that is synonymous with the city’s vibrant (and hectic) streets. 

These open-window double-decker trams carve from the east in Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan in the west (and vice versa), providing passengers with an immersive, leisurely, and scenic view of the city’s diverse, colonial-era and contemporary skyscraper-fueled neighborhoods. 

Snagging a seat on the top deck is one of my favorite ways to absorb the city’s palpable energy, sounds, and chaos firsthand, especially as the distinctive double-bell (“ding ding” warning sounds to alert pedestrians of its presence. 

And, a trip from one side of the Island to another will cost you just HK$3, meaning it’s not only a venerated cultural emblem of the city but a practical, affordable mode of transportation.  

Peak Tram & Explore Victoria Peak

Clocking in as the tallest ‘hill’ on Hong Kong Island at a modest 552 meters (1,811 feet), Victoria Peak is the go-to spot for unparalleled views of every inch of the city. From the dense urban jungle and collection of skyscrapers below to Victoria Harbor, Kowloon, outlying islands to the south, and even several mountains in the New Territories, there isn’t much that’s left to the imagination when it comes to Hong Kong’s sprawling, diverse landscape. 

The best way up? Via Hong Kong’s first cable, reversible funicular railway, aka ‘The Peak Tram’. Built as a functional mode of transportation for the wealthy elite of late-19th century Hong Kong, it’s now a popular attraction for both residents and tourists seeking a 10-minute ride up or down the city’s most iconic attraction. 

Ferrying riders up and down a 27-degree incline, the journey begins at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus in Central. At 6 meters per second, riders catch glimpses of lush greenery, colonial-era mansions, and increasingly ‘tilting’ skyscrapers below, greeted at the summit by mesmerizing bird’s eye views of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, and beyond.   

Next to riding the Star Ferry, I can’t think of any activity I’ve done more during my seven-plus years here than hiking The Peak (something I do almost every single Friday morning).

The second way I recommend approaching Victoria Peak, and my preferred method, is by strapping on your hiking/running shoes and making your way up to the top by way of Morning Trail. This can be done in under 50 minutes (if you hustle) and offers several lookout points with unobstructed panoramic views of my favorite skyline in the world along with Victoria Harbour. 

If you want to get some extra steps in and crave celestial views of the south of the Island as well, consider pairing it with High West (pictured in the feature image), which may be accessed via the rest area of the Hatton Road and Lugard Road intersection. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Rainy day in Hong Kong and you don’t want to miss out on exploring the city? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are the best rainy day activities in Hong Kong, all of which have been tried and tested by yours truly. 

Eat at a Cooked Food Center

Some typical dishes you’ll find at a cooked food center – these from the Sheung Wan Market and Cooked Foot Centre.

Maybe I’m a tad cynical when it comes to dining in Hong Kong but I say, skip the high-end, Michelin-starred restaurants and even Western eateries, and opt for an authentic taste of Hong Kong’s eclectic food scene at one of its many cooked food markets. These frenetic, no-frills food courts are located inside seemingly unspectacular-looking municipal buildings and typically double as wet markets and household goods marketplaces (located below). 

Unsurprisingly, cooked food centers just so happen to be home to some of the best and most affordable Cantonese cuisine and snacks in the city. They are also unpretentious and a welcomed refuge from some of the self-gratifying influencer hotspots.

Originally established to relocate street hawkers and food stalls into licensed, regulated (hygienic) spaces, cooked food centers are a “slept-on” Hong Kong institution, one that preserves the city’s dying ‘dai pai dong’ (open-air food stall) culture in a more permanent setting. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: It pains me as an American to write ‘center’ as ‘centre’. However, it’s in the name so I’ll abide by its spelling. 

My personal favorites include:

• Sheung Wan Market and Cooked Food Centre: one of the best spots for slugging beers over an array of homestyle Cantonese dishes. My favorite restaurant: Ming Kee. 
• Bowrington Road Cooked Food Centre: a go-to spot for some of the best roast meat (‘siu mei’) and traditional Chinese dishes. My favorite restaurant: Tung Shing Roasted Meat. 
• Java Road Market and Cooked Food Centre: formerly home to one of the most lively seafood-centric and stir-fried dishes restaurants in the city (Tung Po Kitchen), this two-story food center is still the top spot for fresh seafood and a spirited (yet intimate) atmosphere. It was also visited and loved by Anthony Bourdain! My favorite restaurant: Cheung Fat Kitchen. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I have yet to visit Tung Po Kitchen’s newest location (after a forced closure in 2022) but you can find it between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay. Let me know if you’ve been and what you think of it!

Lace Up Your Hiking Boots & Hit the Trails 

Violet Hill + The Twins can be devastating on a hot day. But I’ll tell you that no Aperol Spritz tastes better than the one in Repulse Bay after.

As I’ve transitioned into my mid-thirties, my preferred weekend activity has noticeably shifted away from raging booze sessions with everyone and their grandmother and moved towards healthier, wholesome treks up one or more of Hong Kong’s countless mountains. 

Hiking is (undeniably) the best way to explore Hong Kong. While Hong Kong is famous for its skyline and Victoria Harbour, few tourists realize that roughly 80% of all land in Hong Kong is uninhabitable and designated for country parks, nature preserves, and mountainous terrain.

Pale Ale Travel Note: I have some more quirky facts like the one above which you can read more about in my post ‘30+ fun and surprising Hong Kong facts’. 

Even better, you don’t have to wander too far from Hong Kong’s city center (Central) to find yourself atop a mountain, overlooking cool blue water views, coastal ridges, and mind-boggling panoramas. Name another city on earth where you can be in the heart of the central business district one minute and perched at the peak of a mountain 45 minutes later. I’ll wait. 

Whether you’re looking for a more leisurely stroll or an exhilarating, quad-burning challenge, these are some of my favorite Hong Kong Island hikes:

• Dragon’s Back: One of the city’s most famous hikes and for good reason. Start in To Tei Wan and make your way atop the ridge (back) of the ‘dragon’, with breathtaking views of Shek O Beach, Big Wave Bay, Tai Tam Bay, and even Lamma Island (on a clear day). Finish the hike with a beer, snack, and dip in the water at Big Wave Bay.
• Mount Butler: a steep (yet well-maintained) and rewarding hike that begins with Jardine’s Lookout and sees military memorials, dense vegetation, a historic quarry, and sweeping views of Hong Kong Island (and Kowloon) and Tai Tam River and Country Park. 
• Sir Cecil’s Ride: a relaxed forested trail behind Tai Hang, Quarry Bay, and Tai Koo that yields some of the best (hidden) vantage points and views of Hong Kong’s skyline and Victoria Harbour. This is my recommended hike for beginners and Instagram sunset-chasers.
• Violet Hill & The Twins: A dual-mountain hike that can be as easy or as challenging as you want it. Feeling an easy, quick hike that ends in Repulse Bay or Stanley? Stick with Violet Hill. Want to burn an excessive amount of calories? Continue through and up the ‘Terrible Twins’, a leg-day challenge of 1200-plus stairs that reward stunning views of Repulse and the South China Sea. 

Oh, and if you don’t want to break a sweat yet want one of the most gorgeous bus rides down to Stanley, make sure to take the 6A, 6X, 66, and 260 buses from Exchange Square down to the south of the island.  

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Are you absolutely ravenous after one of the above hikes and looking for my favorite spots to chow down? Check out my posts breaking down the best Cantonese BBQ restaurants in Hong Kong, the best Korean BBQ restaurants in Hong Kong, and the best pizza joints in Hong Kong. 

Spend a Day at the Beach 

Chung Hom Kok is still my top spot after all these years.

While I was once referred to as the ‘White Whale’ due to a skin hue so porcelain that I could be easily mistaken for an elusive aquatic Melville mammal, I still enjoy a good beach day now and again. Much like hiking in Hong Kong, the beauty of the city is that you can be in a suit and tie one minute and posted up on a beach towel in your trunks in just 30 to 45 minutes. 

Hong Kong’s beaches are criminally underrated. While the less trafficked (specifically, non-gazetted) beaches can be found over on Lantau and out in Sai Kung and Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong Island is home to a handful of formidable gazetted beaches that offer up laid-back coastal vibes and lounging.

Just a short taxi or bus ride, or even hike, from Central, these sun-soaked beaches are my top spots for a recalibrating urban retreat: 

• Repulse Bay: one of the most popular beaches in the city, don’t expect pristine water or silky clean sand but it more than gets the job done. It’s the perfect place to end one of the hikes above by posting up at The Pulse or a beachside restaurant/cafe for an Aperol Spritz and guac and chips (Limewood for the win!). 
• Shek O: a bustling surfer-friendly beach and village on the far east of the island that is a great spot for lounging all day – especially thanks to its BBQ pit and grill rentals. Great for larger groups and slugging some cold ones!
• Chung Hom Kok: my definition of a hidden gem compared to its more popular neighbors. This secluded cove is for those who want a quieter beach day experience, one where you don’t have to fight off everyone who has the same idea for a spot on the sand. The quality of the water here is also exponentially cleaner and clearer!

Antique Shop at Cat Street

For a taste of quirky, old Hong Kong charm and nostalgia, head to Upper Lascar Row in Sheung Wan, better known as ‘Cat Street’ – a historic pedestrian lane filled with antique shops, vintage collectibles, old photographs, and other eccentric trinkets. 

Dating back to the early 20th century, Cat Street was once a hotbed for stolen goods, referred to as ‘mouse goods’, and other black market accessories, all priced considerably lower than in regulated mainstream shops. Shoppers were compared to cats trying to catch a mouse, “snagging” an affordable bargain on goods, hence the name ‘Cat Street’. 

Today, it’s a harbor for antique hunters, rare music records, vintage clocks and cameras, and unique souvenirs. As you stroll past buzzing stalls, hole-in-the-wall shops, and quaint cafes (Halfway Coffee is one of the best), you’ll find everything from Mao-era propaganda posters and jade carvings to porcelain vases, Buddhist relics, old coins, calligraphy scrolls, and venerated movie posters. 

Don’t forget to stop in for a quick libation at one of my favorite craft beer bars, Blue Supreme. It’s a tad pricey but worth it!

I could definitely rock the cliche that Cat Street is ‘like stepping back in time’ but I won’t. But I guess that’s me using it and not wanting to feel derivative. On your way over to Upper Lascar, make sure to wander the back streets and alleys of Sheung Wan where creative, intricate, and offbeat wall art (is graffiti a better term?) lines the walls of buildings. 

If you want to get out of the cluster ”you know what” that is Central and Sheung Wan, head down to the south of the island to Stanley Market. You’ll find a wide range of affordable clothing items, art (I buy paintings for my apartment here), jewelry, and other trinkets in this colorful little labyrinth of shops and stalls!

Cafe Hop Around the Island

PoHo is part of Sheung Wan and refers to the streets of Po Hing Fong, Tai Ping Shan, and its surrounding area – it’s one of the best areas for a cafe day not just in Hong Kong but in Asia.

Having first moved to Hong Kong in 2012, I can assure you that its coffee and cafe scene was nowhere close to what it is today. Things have exploded over the recent years, with the city undergoing a perceptible untethering from major coffee chains like Starbucks, Pacific Coffee, and Holly Brown (RIP) in favor of small, independent cafes and brewmasters. 

Today, you’ll find a third-wave coffee scene that rocks everything from meticulously crafted flat whites (and other Australian favorites) to Italian espresso that can compete with the best of them in Milan, experimental pour-overs, and lightning-charged cold brews. 

Paired with idiosyncratic designs with laid-back interiors, Hong Kong’s cafes are now spots where you can comfortably spend all day – chit-chatting with friends, tackling some work, or simply reading.  

I’ve recently gotten much heavier into taking pictures of Hong Kong wall art, this guy in PoHo is one of my favorites.

My favorite caffeine-fueled neighborhoods and coffee shops on Hong Kong Island are:

1. Tai Hang: a trendy, low-key enclave just a stone’s throw away from the hectic Causeway Bay that has evolved into one of Hong Kong’s top cafe (and bakery) destinations over the past several years. It’s a charming, historic, and hip neighborhood that’s home to one of my favorite minimalist cafes, oneday. Other favorites are YOUKA for brunch/all-day breakfast and the French-style bakery Plumcot for their pain au chocolat (I group cafes and bakeries together!) 
2. Sheung Wan: potentially Hong Kong Island’s most established and robust coffee and cafe scene, Sheung Wan is where I find myself most days when I want a quality specialty brew. On top of Halfway Coffee (mentioned above), who serve potent espressos in traditional Chinese porcelain cups, you can find me at Meanwhile Coffee, where Ricky is constantly innovating with blends and styles, and the rustic, chilled hara kako for their house blend. I’d be remiss not to mention that I’m usually working on my laptop a day or two of the week from Elephant Grounds.  
3. Sai Ying Pun: a once sleepy neighborhood turned into the new ‘center of the Hong Kong Island universe’ thanks to its infusion of new cafes, restaurants, and apartment complexes. You can’t go wrong with old faithful Winstons Coffee right outside the MTR and Rootdown for sandwiches and matcha lattes. 
4. Kennedy Town: a seaside latte and laid-back lounging? Kennedy Town is now one of the more popular spots on Hong Kong Island for everything coffee, especially the trendy, sleek Japanese chain % Arabica facing Victoria Harbour and cozy, no-nonsense coffee shop and bistro Waffling Beans. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I’d be remiss not to add two awesome little drinking haunts to this list, both of which can be found on Second Street in Sai Ying Pun: (1) Primal Booze & Feed, and (2) Crushed Wine Bar. 

Spend a Day at Ocean Park

That was Medium Body right there. Today, I’m Big Body.

If you’re looking for a day of rides, shows, and suspending disbelief, there are two key spots to visit in Hong Kong: (a) Hong Kong Disneyland, and (b) Ocean Park. 

However, this post is about the best things to do on Hong Kong Island and only Ocean Park is on the Island, so you know what it is, kid. Understandably, Hong Kong Disneyland steals the spotlight and is often the ‘top dog’ for theme park goers. But if you want to experience the O.G. of all parks in Hong Kong, then it’s Ocean Park all day, every day. 

Opened in 1977, and less than a 15-minute MTR ride from Admiralty, Ocean Park is a more affordable, more adult-oriented (not in that way), and more scenic theme park than Disney (in my humble opinion), offering a thrilling mix of rollercoasters, wildlife, and memorable coastal views. It’s bifurcated by a mountain into two key areas: the Waterfront and The Summit, both connected by a picturesque cable car with panoramic views of the South China Sea and an underground funicular system. 

Thrill rides like the floorless ‘Hair Raiser’ coaster, dizzying spinner ‘The Flash’, and tilting pirate ship the ‘Crazy Galleon’ are perfect for those wanting to get the adrenaline pumping, while marine and other animal exhibits split between both the Waterfront and Summit offer educational and entertaining experiences for visitors of all ages. Mix in countless other family attractions like the Bumper Blaster at Thrill Mountain, towering (romantic) Ferris Wheel, and classic Merry-Go-Round (and even a Sea Life Carousel), and it’s easily a spot you can spend all day. 

Keep an eye out for seasonal events like Halloween Fest and Summer Splash, which both bring added energy and effervescence to this legendary park (the former being my favorite – pictured above).  

Hit the Happy Valley Horse Races

The horse procession always gets me very pumped up to bet the minimum.

While this is a season and Wednesday-specific event, if you’re in town for the Happy Valley horse races, do as the cool kids do and go throw down a tenner or two on whichever horse has the funniest name while tossing back some ice-cold San Mig beers at the beer garden. 

As one of the city’s most iconic sporting venues, the Happy Valley Racecourse has faithfully served degenerates and racing enthusiasts alike since 1845 (that’s right, over 180 years of thoroughbred history). It’s a thrilling mix of fast-paced races, roaring crowds, seasonal parties, food stalls, and lively beer gardens. 

This September to July mid-week horse-racing constitutional costs just HK$10 to enter and can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be. As I think I’ve won just one single ticket during my horse-betting tenure, I typically stick with the lowest bet amount (HK$20) and opt for drinking and dancing to live music in the beer garden.  

For most people, ‘Happy Wednesdays’, as they are endearingly referred to, are far from being about the actual racing. They are controlled, electric symposiums of chaos and nightlife packaged in a lighthearted arena where the city’s competitive spirit and after-work revelry collide – all with an illuminated backdrop of the surrounding high-end apartments and grassy hills. 

Have a Sports Day at the SCAA

Look, depending on the month that you visit Hong Kong, there is a chance that you’ll have a day or two of your trip rained out. So, it’s always clutch to keep a ‘rainy day’ contingency plan in your back pocket. In my humble opinion, there is no better failsafe than the South China Athletic Association (SCAA) in Causeway Bay. 

Time and time again, I find myself flocking here to blow off steam by way of a couple of games of bowling, (painful) swings at the driving range, and embarrassing attempts at ping pong. The beauty is that you can purchase a membership on the spot, starting at just HK$130 per month. 

Once signed up, a process that takes no more than 10 minutes, you now have access to 17+ sports facilities, including a swimming pool, fencing room, indoor shooting range, and billiards hall (on top of the bowling center and driving range mentioned above). 

The SCAA is also an underrated spot for local food and an ice-cold pint or two as well thanks to the esteemed Kam’s Roast Goose (located in the bowling alley) and rooftop sports bar Inn Side Out (ummm, endless peanuts that you can throw on the ground? Heck yeah). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Roast goose and bowl is an all-time favorite activity for this Big Body in Hong Kong. So much so that I wrote a post here. Here’s everything you need to know about the SCAA along with why Kamcentre Roast Goose is one of the G.O.A.T.’ed siu mei (Cantonese BBQ) restaurants in the city. 

Explore Hong Kong Park + Zoological & Botanical Gardens

Amidst the towering skyscrapers and capitalistic rackets of Central, I bet you weren’t expecting there to be a carved-out tranquil escape into nature. Cue Hong Kong Park and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, two urban oases just a short walk apart that blend verdant leafage, historic landmarks, and exotic wildlife smack-dab in the heart of the city.

As a longtime squasher at the Hong Kong Squash Centre, located along Hong Kong Park’s Cotton Tree Drive (western) side, afternoon explorations of Hong Kong Park aren’t unbeknownst to this Big Body. Picture winding pathways through lush gardens and ‘rainforest’, cascading waterfalls, koi-filled ponds, and a dense, 3,000-square-meter aviary of 500-plus rare and exotic birds. 

Hong Kong Park is also home to the Flagstaff House, considered to be the oldest example of Western-style architecture remaining in the city, which was converted to a teaware museum in the mid-1980s. 

A hop, skip, and jump away is the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, one of the oldest in the world (founded in 1864/opened in 1871). Much like Hong Kong Park, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens offers up a serene natural environment that highlights a mix of primates like the orangutan, gibbon, and ring-tailed lemur, 400-plus birds, and 20 reptiles, next to greenhouses and gardens of 1,000-plus species of indigenous plants to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.   

Admission to both gardens is free and one of the best ways to get up close to exotic wildlife and flora while enjoying sweeping views of the surrounding city skyline.  

Boutique Shopping & Al Fresco Caffeine Sippin’ at the Historic Tai Kwun & PMQ

Tai Kwun at night. Directly across is my favorite spot for an Aperol/coffee – Armoury Terrace.

Hong Kong’s easily walkable, connected, dense streets and districts mean that you can cover a lot of ground without actually putting in too many steps. That’s both good and bad when you live here but fantastic for when you’re visiting. 

There aren’t many better representations of the full-on head collision of Hong Kong’s past and present than both Tai Kwun and PMQ. I group both as they are a stone’s throw from one another and are both former heritage sites turned cultural, artisan, shopping, and gastronomic compounds.

Tai Kwun, once Hong Kong’s Central Police Station, Victoria Prison, and Central Magistracy, is now an eclectic, bustling center and labyrinth for arts, history, lifestyle, and dining. You’ll find restored prison cells (some converted into hidden speakeasies), heritage courtyards, contemporary art galleries, and interactive exhibitions detailing Hong Kong’s past. And, there’s no shortage of trendy restaurants and al fresco bars (Armoury Terrace being my favorite) to take a breather at. 

PMQ is the former Police Married Quarters for junior policemen and is a must-visit for small, independent boutiques, artisan workshops, and rotating art exhibits and installations. You’ll find everything from handmade ceramics and Mahjong sets to designer fashion and costume jewelry, Spanish tapas bars and French eateries,  painting studios, and even an Italian library.

Fuel up with some caffeine at Jessy Coffee PMQ before zig-zagging your way through the multi-story, 6,000-square-foot complex and you’ve got a day ahead of you. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: A lot of people recommend eating your way through Central Market, less than a 5-minute walk from both Tai Kwun and PMQ, but I generally recommend against it as it just offers mediocre snacks and restaurants – all in an overcrowded setting. The only spot I semi-frequent is Stormies for a quick beer or two (RIP to the old Lan Kwai Fong Stormies). 

Ride the Mid-Levels Escalator

As someone who rides the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world every single day, aka the ‘Mid-Levels Escalators’, I can’t help but think of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ – as it is something most people don’t know that they’ve got until it’s gone. There aren’t many cooler transportation methods to commute than this. 

Stretching from Queen’s Road Central to Conduit Road (and vice versa), the Mid-Levels Escalators is an 800-meter system of connected escalators that rips through the heart of Hong Kong – SoHo. It runs downward from Conduit Road from 6 AM to 10 AM every morning, reversing direction until midnight thereafter. 

I don’t think it’s so much the 16 reversible escalators themselves that are the actual highlight. Rather, it’s everything that has sprouted along its 20-minute route up The Peak. The quirky local wall art, Tai Kwun, the countless bakeries, cafes, and restaurants, the people watching. As someone who lives in Hong Kong, I have no problem entertaining myself for an entire day in SoHo and the surrounding neighborhoods. 

It’s a vehicle (literally) to access several of the most popular districts in Hong Kong and a photogenic anchorage at its worst. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Curious about budgeting for a trip to Hong Kong? You might be surprised to learn that but for accommodation, it can be done far more affordably than you might have initially thought. Read my post ‘Is Hong Kong Expensive to Visit?’ for the finer details on making the most of your trip without breaking the bank (or breaking the bank ten times over). 

Ride the Venerated Star Ferry to TST

With views like this, I don’t know why I ever disembark.

What can I say about the Star Ferry that hasn’t already been said? “Fgishdgsdihfsdoh.” I guess I did it. But that’s complete gibberish and provides you absolutely zero context on what you can expect.

I’ll try to just let the pictures speak for themselves because anything I can write about it is completely superfluous. 

If riding the Star Ferry isn’t on your Hong Kong itinerary, then I’m not even sure you came here. I’m ending with the best for last here. While it’s only a 10-minute ride cross-harbor, you can turn it into so much more than that or as a warm-up for whatever more time-consuming activity you have planned. 

Pair it with a drink at Ferry Pier 3 in Central or Mister Softee ice cream cone in Tsim Sha Tsui (or a drink at Ink Seafood Bar), a walk along either side’s promenade, 360-trip around the AIA Observation Wheel, reenactment of a scene out of The World of Suzie Wong, or simply ride it back and forth multiple times (something I do all the time). 

Whatever you do, just ride it. Soak in the world’s best skyline. And, it costs less than USD 1 for a single journey trip. You know how I said the best things to do in Hong Kong are free (or cost almost nothing)? This is exactly what I’m talking about with the Star Ferry.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Learn more about the Star Ferry and its history in my post breaking down 30+ fun Hong Kong facts. 

The Best Things to Do on Hong Kong Island Are (Mostly) Free 

The AIA Observation Wheel is definitely worth a go during your time in Hong Kong!

While accommodation in Hong Kong can be prohibitively expensive (at points), the city, unbeknownst to many, can be enjoyed at no or minimal cost. I believe that the best things to do in Hong Kong are free or cost just several dollars. 

The above things to do on Hong Kong Island are a testament to that and are all activities that have contributed towards feeling at home (and at peace) in this city. 

Looking for more activity ideas in Hong Kong? Check out these posts:

1. The Best Date Ideas in Hong Kong
2. The Best Hikes in Hong Kong
3. Unique Rainy Day Activities in Hong Kong
4. What My Perfect Day in Hong Kong Looks Like

If you have any questions about visiting or moving to Hong Kong, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at info@palealetravel.com. 

I also provide customized itineraries for travelers of all budgets, so get in touch about pricing if that is something that interests you!

Finally, if you live in Hong Kong and want to be kept up to date about the latest and greatest events, where to eat and drink, and more, make sure to subscribe to my secret newsletter. 

Travel well everyone,

Big Body