1-Day Hong Kong Itinerary: Your 24 Hours in HK Starts Now

At first, one day in Hong Kong might not sound like a lot of time. I mean, it’s just 24 hours after all. Wrong. 

I’ll happily die on the hill that Hong Kong is one of the best cities in the world should you only have 24 hours to explore. Its densely packed landscape and layout, affordable world-class public transportation, and palpable (undeniable) energy all make it easily navigable and addictive.

My goal with this one day Hong Kong travel itinerary is to help you (a) explore as much of Hong Kong as possible, (b) do so in a logical way that doesn’t have you running around to all corners of the city like a chicken with its head cut off, and (c) avoid waiting in unnecessary lines and visiting overrated tourist traps. 

A typical 3-day Hong Kong itinerary would generally include a full day of exploration on Hong Kong Island, a full day exploring Kowloon with more Hong Kong Island mixed in, and a third day either at Disneyland, Ocean Park, or one of Hong Kong’s several outlying islands. I’m going to get you through 2/3rds of that in just 1/3rd (or less) the time. 

I recommend utilizing this 1-day Hong Kong travel itinerary as a baseline, customizing accordingly based on your specific interests, wants, and needs. I’ll also provide some alternative ideas, sites, and recommendations that can be switched in and out for things. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: I know that many reading this won’t be in Hong Kong for the full 24 hours so in that case, I recommend mixing and matching any parts of the itinerary to what fits your timeframe! For example, breakfast might be out of the equation so just skip right ahead to lunch!

Essentials For Your 24 Hour Hong Kong Speedrun

24 hours in Hong Kong will be best ‘done right’ if you make sure to prepare several things before you arrive. That doesn’t mean you need pens and pencils stuffed in your pocket protector, a fanny pack, and a clipboard with health inspector-sized checklists, just a general awareness of where you need to be, how to best get there, and what you’ll need along the way. 

Two non-negotiables are: 

1. Octopus Card – Hong Kong’s contactless value-added smart card, ubiquitously used for all transportation, and commonly used at convenience stores and specific restaurants and shops, 
2. eSIM – a SIM card that is directly ‘embedded’ into your phone’s software that can be activated before you touch down in the city, allowing you to access the internet and data. 

For additional things to bring, read my Hong Kong packing list post. 

To get into the city as quickly as humanly possible, read my guide explaining how to get from the airport to the city center (hint: it takes just 24 minutes). 

Further, if your flight is at an ungodly hour and outside the time most public transport operates (5 AM/6 AM to 1 AM), read my guide on using Uber in Hong Kong. Also, the N21 Citybus operates every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the night from Tsim Sha Tsui to the Airport (and vice versa) while the N11 Citybus runs every 60 minutes from Central (1 AM – 5 AM) to the Airport (and vice versa). 

The Airport Express is going to be your best friend for getting to and from the airport. 24 minutes flat.

For ease of transport, access to the Airport Express, and the ability to peel off for a quick nap, shower, or break during the day, I recommend booking a hotel either in Central, Sheung Wan, Sai Ying Pun, Admiralty, or Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, or Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, or Yau Ma Tei on Kowloon. 

Here are several of my top affordable hotels in Hong Kong, all of which are in convenient locations (Harbour Plaza North Point is the only one that is a stretch for this itinerary).

Further, if you need to exchange cash for HKD and don’t want to get destroyed by unscrupulous exchange rates, here is my top currency exchange in Hong Kong. It’s centrally and conveniently located just outside the Sheung Wan MTR. 

Finally, if you are in Hong Kong for less than 24 hours and don’t plan to book a hotel, you can store your luggage at Hong Kong Airport’s baggage storage facility on level 5 of Terminal 1. It’s HK$14 per hour (USD 2 per hour), maxing out around HK$165 (USD 21) for a full day. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Curious about how much cash you should bring for your trip? Make sure to check out my comprehensive post ‘Is Hong Kong Expensive to Visit?’, which breaks down all major food, accommodation, and activity costs you can expect.

Morning

SoHo stars to the right (Hollywood Road).

I typically don’t eat on most flights as it almost always leads to me feeling like that lady from Prometheus when she’s about to give birth to an alien baby. So, I’m always ravenous when I hop off the plane and ready to gustatorily rumble. 

There’s no better way to position yourself for a bite (and the day) than by starting the day in Central, specifically SoHo. Short for ‘South of Hollywood’, SoHo is a gastronomic powerhouse. It’s also one of Hong Kong’s busiest areas, packed not only with countless restaurants, cafes, and bars but also shops, art galleries, and creative complexes. 

Start the morning off at Lin Heung Lau, a traditional dim sum team house on Wellington Street known for its authentic ‘push-cart’ style service and offerings. 

It’s frenetic, it’s overwhelming, and it’s delicious. 

Classic dim sum favorites like egg yolk buns, steamed meatballs, har gow (shrimp dumplings), chicken feet, and noodles are thrust in front of you by way of an old push cart packed to the brim with bamboo baskets. 

Simply point and grab whatever looks appealing and hunker down for some Hong Kong nostalgia and heritage dating all the way back to 1889. 

Turnip cake is and will always be one of my favorite dim sum dishes.

A close second is Lan Fong Yuen (Gage Street), one of the city’s most historic cha chaan teng restaurants (tea restaurants) serving up Hong Kong classics like pork chop buns, Hong Kong-style french toast, pineapple buns, luncheon meat noodles, and of course, Hong Kong-style milk tea (strained through pantyhose).

Both Lin Heung Lau and Lan Fong Yuen paint a picture of Hong Kong’s gastronomic and cultural heritage, and are the perfect look into (unfortunately) dying institutions. Lines move exceptionally fast and don’t worry, even if there are a large number of tourists, there’s also a large number of locals at each as well. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: For Melbournian vibes and Australian cafe culture to the max, Fineprint might be more up your alley. They serve up one of the best avocado toasts in the city, along with a ricotta toast with blueberries, honey, and thyme that literally every third customer orders. Expect a crowd but prompt service, strong coffee, and Australian breakfast lore…galore. 

Now, while you just tossed back more BBQ pork buns than any man or woman should advisably do before 9 in the morning, it’s time to pick up an anticipatory snack before you burn a few calories. Walk or ride the world’s longest outdoor covered system of escalators (Mid-Levels Escalators) from either location up to Staunton Street, where a line should already be forming. You’ve arrived at Bakehouse. 

I no longer have any Bakehouse egg tarts on my camera roll, just this custard donut pastry, which is a close second.

This is one of the only queues in Hong Kong that I will stand by and acknowledge is absolutely worth it. The caveat is that you have to get their infamous sourdough egg tarts. The earlier you arrive, the less crowded the line, so this is a fantastic incentive to get out the door early and over to SoHo.

It’s a takeaway bastion of fresh sourdough, tantalizing pastries, and of course, potentially the (now) most famous egg tarts (a quintessential Hong Kong snack) in the city. 

If the holy egg tart spirit has washed over you and you have to eat it on the spot, I understand. However, if you can hold onto them for just 45 minutes, you’ll be able to enjoy it over one of the best views in the world. 

Two roads diverged in a yellow SoHo, and you can’t be one traveler. That’s my transition to say that there are two distinct modes you can take to make your way up the mountain you are currently on (Victoria Peak), to reach the top and enjoy panoramic views of the city’s skyline, Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, and surrounding mountains. 

• Take The Peak Tram;
• Hike up via the Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail.

Walk from SoHo over to The Peak Tram terminus in Central, first stopping at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, which offers up a surprising (free) tranquil refuge of greenery and fauna smack-dab in the city center. A hop, skip, and jump away is Hong Kong Park, which sits adjacent to The Peak Tram Terminus. 

Explore Hong Kong Park’s Edward Youde Aviary, a lush enclosure of 70-plus species of rare and exotic birds, soothing waterfalls, koi ponds, and winding paths. Or, simply queue in line for The Peak Tram. Lines can get quite long but move very fast, as Hong Kong’s first-ever reversible funicular cable railway takes just 8 to 10 minutes to reach the top!

Once at the top, for some of the best views in the city, either head to the Victoria Peak Lion’s Pavilion (my personal favorite) just past Rajasthan Rifles, or to the rooftop of The Peak Galleria. Thank me later. 

Also, would I skip the Madame Tussauds Museum at the top for life-size wax replicas of celebrities, politicians, and other famous persons? Probably. Would I blame you if you went? Probably not. 

Views like this are the reason I hike to The Peak almost every Friday.

Should you decide to strap on a pair of comfortable shoes and make the trek up Lung Fu Shan Morning Trail, know that it can be accessed by taking the Mid-Levels Escalators up to Conduit Road, turning right, and following it until you reach Hatton Road. Follow Hatton Road up and that is the start of the trail. 

Walking at a steady clip, it should take no more than one hour to reach The Peak. I’d compare it to a relatively easy staircase with several ‘rest points’ and benches. If you are feeling especially spicy, turn off at Harlech Road and Lugard Road Park and continue up to the top of High West. It should take no more than 20 minutes to get to the top of High West and yields 360-degree views of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbor, Aberdeen, and other areas south of the island, and even Lamma Island (outlying island) to the south. 

The best way I can describe the view from the top of High West is that it’s a true bird’s eye view of every inch of Hong Kong. There’s a good chance you’ll have a piece of real estate all to yourself, especially if you venture off the roped path to the left of the viewing point and make your way to the dirt path ridge in front of you. Just be careful! 

Remember how I said to save those egg tarts? This is where I typically eat mine. 

Getting down from The Peak is as straightforward as you came. However, because time is limited, I also recommend (a) queuing again for the Peak Tram, which will offload you in Central, (b) taking the No. 15 Citybus or X15 Citybus to Central, or (c) cabbing down the mountain from The Peak Galleria Bus Terminal. 

Now may be a good time for a quick breather or shower at your hotel before the rest of the day’s festivities.  

Pale Ale Travel Note: While it might seem like a ton of things in SoHo are only for tourists, I can assure you that you’re wrong. Residents just go at ‘off-hours’ because of work, life, and other obligations. If I could queue at Bakehouse at 12 PM every single day, I would. But I have to sneakily get in right at 8 AM or after the gym at night. 

Afternoon

After all these years, Dragon State Kitchen is still one of my favorite siu mei restaurants.

There’s no better way to start an afternoon with a full belly, especially if you opted for the hiking portion of this itinerary. 

And, there aren’t many better spots than the meaty, bustling Cantonese BBQ restaurant Dragon State Kitchen in Sheung Wan. Grab a plate of char siu (BBQ pork), roast goose, roast pork belly, and an iced lemon tea. It’s true Hong Kong. It’s perfection. 

Fun Fact: Hong Kongers eat siu mei (Cantonese BBQ), on average, once every four days!

Other formidable Cantonese lunch haunts that are sure to deliver on authenticity, flavor, and sustenance are Yuk Kin Fast Food, one of the city’s best fried rice restaurants (both the curry fried rice with egg and black pepper beef fried rice with egg gustatorily ‘slap’), For Kee Restaurant, for a no-frills pork chop rice, and Ming Kee for siu mei (Cantonese BBQ) and stir-fried noodles in the Sheung Wan Market and Cooked Food Centre. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: I’m a bit of a siu mei fanatic, so much so that I also happen to eat it about once every three or four days. Here are my top siu mei restaurants in Hong Kong for everything char siu, roast goose, roast pork belly, and pork trotters.  

All of the suggested lunch locations above aren’t just delicious but they are strategic, as it’s time to explore one of the oldest areas of Hong Kong, a remnant of East vs. West, somewhere that many spend all day – Sheung Wan.  

Start on Upper Lascar Row, aka Cat Street, for a taste of quirky, nostalgic, vintage collectibles, antiques, and other trinkets. This former early 20th-century hotbed for stolen goods is now one of Hong Kong’s go-to streets for antique hunters. You’ll find old Hong Kong and Western records, Mao-era propaganda, porcelain and jade, old coins, calligraphy scrolls, and classic movie posters spread across various stalls and shops. 

To fuel up, make sure to pop into Halfway Coffee (on Upper Lascar Row) for one of my favorite cups of coffee in the city. That’s because all coffee is served in traditional Chinese porcelain cups. Or, get your first dose of “medicine” at one of Hong Kong’s best craft beer bars, Blue Supreme, which makes for one of the best people-watching spots on Cat Street. 

From Upper Lascar Row, continue up the steps (which is technically south) to the area between Hollywood Road and Tai Ping Shan Street/Po Hing Fong, charmingly referred to as ‘Poho’ 

Side note: This is where Yuk Kin Fast Food is located. 

My new office is in Poho so I’m lucky to be able to walk through this little maze or quirky wall art every day.

Poho’s quiet, eclectic streets are home to offbeat yet lovable wall art and graffiti, artsy cafes, small fashion boutiques, independent art galleries, bookstores, and small shrines. It’s also home to a favorite bottleshop of mine, Craftissimo, where you can sample from 300+ Hong Kong and international brews “post up” in a lawn recliner outside. 

Just a stone’s throw away on Hollywood Road is the 1800s Taoist Man Mao Temple and compound, dedicated to the scholarly virtues of the civil god Man Cheong and martial god of wear and wealth Kwan Tai. The temple’s other components, Lit Shing Temple and Kung So are for worship of all deities and administrative/community affairs. 

It’s a completely free look into Qing-era architecture and a place to offer incense and offerings to the respective gods. 

One option to round things off for the afternoon is to pop up to Caine Lane (right before Caine Road) to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences to learn about the development of the medical industry in Hong Kong and healthcare in the region. The three-story 1906 Edwardian-style building is one of my favorite buildings in the city and a rare ode to Hong Kong’s colonial architecture. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: There’s always a lot of interesting street art and graffiti that can be found where Peel Street meets Hollywood Road and Graham Street. Both are popular spots to take photos!

PMQ is seven stories of local artisan excellence!

To complete the loop back to SoHo, follow Hollywood Road east to PMQ, the former Police Married Quarters which has been converted into a creative complex for art galleries, designers, coffee shops, restaurants, exhibitions, and other local artisan culture. 

If you want to support small local businesses, this is the spot. PMQ is a spot that can feasibly be explored in 20 to 30 minutes, so if you are expecting to spend the whole afternoon here, you’re mistaken (a lot of people online seem to get the wrong impression!). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If you’re trying to figure out dates to visit Asia’s World City, make sure to check out my post explaining the best time to visit Hong Kong. I factor in things like time of the year, key events happening in the city, affordability considerations, and more. 

Finish the afternoon off by exploring the former Central Police Station, Victoria Prison, and former Central Magistracy now known as Tai Kwun. Tai Kwun is my preferred space over PMQ thanks to the several heritage exhibitions it features, recounting experiences of the millions who appeared before the city’s courts and magistrates, life in a colonial-era prison, and stories of the police force’s formation, duties, and more.

You can even walk through some of the incredibly tiny, cramped cells that imprisoned tens of thousands of people.  

Tai Kwun is also a bustling hub for heritage arts, boasting a diverse mix of visual arts, theater performances, music, and free concerts. Oh, and don’t forget the countless cafes, restaurants, and bars that are found interspersed in this complex of 16 heritage buildings, Madame Fù Grand Café Chinois being my top pick for contemporary Chinese and dim sum favorites, and Armoury Terrace for Aperol Spritzes and snacks (and people watching!). 

You know how I’d finish off the afternoon for good measure? I’d head down to Des Voeux Road Central to either the Pottinger Street or Pedder Street tramp stops and hop a ride on the Ding Ding – Hong Kong’s narrow gauge tram system which is endearingly referred to as the ‘Ding Ding’ thanks to the sound its warning bell makes! Go to the upper deck for the best views!

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Looking for further information on most of the activities on this list? Make sure to check out my post breaking down the best things to do on Hong Kong Island. 

Night

One of the better pictures I’ve taken from the Star Ferry.

You’ve tackled about as much on Hong Kong Island as any one person can in a single day so it’s time to switch things up and spend the night in Kowloon. Hop on down to Ferry Pier, as it’s Star Ferry time, baby. 

I don’t want to stop you from riding the Star Ferry during the day but my personal favorite at night. For me, this is the single most iconic activity in Hong Kong and is something that I can’t get enough of. So, if you have the opportunity during the day and it makes sense, by all means, do it!

Not only does it provide some of the best views of Hong Kong’s Bladerunner-esque skyline, with The Peak serving as its black canvas (at night), but it also makes for a formidable mode of transportation between Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon). It’s my favorite way to begin (and wind down) a night.  

After alighting the Star Ferry, either (a) pop into the MTR (to Jordan, Exit A), (b) hail a taxi, or (c) make the 20-minute walk north to Temple Street Night Market, passing through Kowloon Park to hang with the flamingos and catch a breath of fresh air along the way. 

Located just several blocks off the mammoth, bifurcating Nathan Road, Temple Street Night Market is chaos. It’s a mix of roadside food and snack stalls offering everything from quintessential curry fish balls, to well-seasoned meat skewers, fluffy waffles, fresh juices, and even Indian and Turkish favorites. 

Simply stroll and pick out whatever looks good but don’t fill up! The main enchilada is still to come.

Temple Street Night Market actually opens at 2 PM, so you can always mix it into your afternoon.

Temple Street is also known for its diversified offering of fresh seafood (specifically its spicy crab), with tanks and restaurant seats spilling out into the street. 

Look, it’s not going to be the best thing you’ve ever eaten in your life (or the most hygienic) but it’s a seafood and drinking symposium like no other. The go-to spot, Temple Spice Crabs. Pop in, grab a spicy crab and some scallops, along with several homestyle Cantonese dishes and some ice-cold Blue Girl beers, and it will be a pretty damn good night. 

If Temple Spice Crabs isn’t up your alley with what you’re looking for, there is no shortage of restaurants in the area, one of my all-time favorites being Manakamana Nepali Restaurant (some of the best Nepalese cuisine in the city). 

Ink Seafood Bar is one of the least pretentious and most affordable spots to enjoy the best skyline in the world.

Yung’s Roast Goose Restaurant is also a several-minute walk away and serves up a mean siu mei (Cantonese BBQ). Hong Kong-style Western fusion dishes are also on point at the Yau Ma Tei branch of Tai Ping Koon, the pigeon and ox tongue both being must-orders (in my opinion). 

Cap the night off to the northeast of Temple Street at Terrible Baby, a legendary cocktail bar on the 4th floor of the Eaton HK that houses a lush outdoor terrace overlooking surrounding buildings, a music room (for live music), and a gallery room. I recommend ordering anything mezcal-based there! 

For something less ‘cocktail bar-y’ and more ‘craft bar and chips and guac-y’, unwind with a brew and a view at Ink Seafood Bar on the promenade (just before the Avenue of Stars). 

And, if you were to just skip Temple Street altogether and post up for a classy night of unlimited Northern Chinese cuisine and drinks at Hutong, with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong Island skyline, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. 

Finally, whatever side you are staying on, Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, wind the night down by taking the Star Ferry back and walking along the promenade, soaking in the city’s ethereal skyline and watching ships pass by in the night. It’s one of my favorite Hong Kong pastimes. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: If you have any questions about any restaurants, bars, or cafes, or would like some more recommendations, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

24 Hours in Hong Kong Like a Boss – Complete

One of my favorite spots in TST is Hutong. Not just for the food but the views as well.

Hopefully, these 24 hours in Hong Kong are just a warm-up before a more ‘full-on’ trip to take advantage of the beauty, energy, and depth the city has to offer. I know I wouldn’t be living here after all these years if that wasn’t the case. 

In the years when I wasn’t based in Hong Kong, it wasn’t uncommon to pop into town for a debaucherous single night or weekend, so I know the feeling of touching down and wanting to make sure that no second/minute is wasted. 

If you have any questions about the above one-day itinerary in Hong Kong, maximizing your trip, or squeezing in even more activities during your 24 hours (or more), please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I also provide custom Hong Kong travel itineraries for travelers of all budgets, so make sure to inquire about pricing if that interests you!

Travel well everyone,

Big Body