The Absolute Best Way to Spend One Day in Hong Kong

Ready, set, bao!

So you’ve got one day in one of the most fast-paced, food-loving, shopping-crazed places in the world. Deciding where to go can be overwhelming. Well, look no further—this list has everything you’ll need to get the most out of Hong Kong in one day. So buckle up, top up your Octopus card, and bookmark this webpage, because here we go!

Take morning stroll through Hong Kong Park

Amidst the chaotic hustle and bustle of Hong Kong life, there are pockets of peace and calm. Hong Kong Park is the perfect place for a relaxing stroll.

Grab lunch at the world-famous Little Bao

Opened by renowned chef, May Chow, Little Bao is Hong Kong culture captured in a delicious steamed bun, called bao. Enjoy a succulent pork belly bao, a numbingly spicy Szechuan fried chicken bao, or even an ice cream bao for one of the best lunches in Central. Converging classic Cantonese cooking with modern techniques and innovative flavor combinations, Little Bao is the perfect culinary ambassador for your one-day trip.

AFTERNOON

Take the Mid-Levels Escalators to Tai Kwun

Featured in films like Wong Kar Wai’s Chungking Express and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, the Mid-Levels Escalators are one of Hong Kong’s most iconic spots. Feel the history beneath your feet as you get off at the top to explore Tai Kwun, a recently-renovated prison from the 1800s.

Go shopping at Central Market

Originally built in 1939, the recently-reopened Central Market offers the best of modern food and shopping with immaculate old-school colonial vibes. Enjoy the boutique shops or sit down with some street food and a draft beer.

Take a ride on the Star Ferry

After a busy morning in Central, let’s head over to Kowloon for a full Hong Kong experience. The most iconic, beautiful, and—most importantly—cheapest way to get from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon is the incomparable Star Ferry. Make sure you sit by the window to get the best views!

NIGHT

Have a sunset picnic at West Kowloon Cultural District

Sure, Victoria Peak is featured in all the tour books, but if you’re looking for the best views in Hong Kong without swarms of tourists, then West Kowloon Cultural District is the perfect place for you. Grab some takeout from one of the restaurants in the park and find a grassy spot to watch the sun set behind Hong Kong’s unrivaled skyline.

Get lost in Temple Street Night Market

After a relaxing picnic dinner, turn up the energy at Temple Street Night Market, where you’ll step into a haze of steamy food stalls, mysterious fortune tellers, and quirky souvenir shops.

Catch the Symphony of Lights on your way back to Central

If you time it right, you can catch the ferry back to Central during the majestic Symphony of Lights, a dazzling 10-minute light show among Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. The show starts at 8pm!

Hit up COA for Asia’s best cocktails

Named number one in Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2021 and 2022, COA boasts the best cocktails and an unmatched collection of tequila and mezcal. Kick back with a glass at the hottest bar in all of Asia.

Finish strong in Lan Kwai Fong

And now that you’ll be nursing a nice buzz from COA, stumble over to Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s party district, where you’ll be greeted by other tipsy patrons for a night of debauchery. Cheers to the best one-day trip in Hong Kong!