Hong Kong holidays

1. A great place to get your bearings when you first arrive is from Hong I Kong’s highest point, Victoria Peak. Head up the mountain before the crowds ascend by taking the well paved, yet leafy, Morning Trail. If you don’t fancy the walk, hop aboard the Peak Tram.
2. Hong Kong Disneyland is packed with the stuff of childhood dreams, including Fantasyland and Jungle River Cruise, complete with animatronic wild animals. Attend the many parades and performances with sparkle and song and visit the memorable town of Arendelle at Disney’s first-ever World of Frozen. You’ll find it all on Lantau Island.
3. A massive part of Hong Kong’s heritage and diet is dim sum. These small dishes and parcels are delicious, served almost everywhere from high-end Hong Kong restaurants and luxury hotels to everyday cafes, market places and more.  Some restaurants come with Michelin Star ratings, but most won’t cost you a tidy (dim) sum.
4. Take in the quiet fishing village of Tai O on Lantau Island and wander on wooden walkways between homes built on stilts.  One of the best ways to explore the area is by boat. While here, it’s worth sampling its famed seafood at any number of restaurants or at the bustling Tai O Market.  If your visit happens to be around May, take in the Dragon Boat Festival.
5. You can’t come to Hong Kong and not ride one of its Dings Dings – the nickname given to its double-decker trams set on narrow tracks. They provide a sustainable and reassuringly cheap way of seeing the city.
6. Reach for the stars at the Sky100 observation deck at the International Commerce Centre. You’ll need to head 100 floors up to take in the delicious wrap-around views of Hong Kong’s skyline, open from morning ‘til evening
7. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car offers an eyeful of incredible views from Lantau Island, including a country park and Tung Bay. If you’re feeling brave, climb aboard the Crystal+, a cable car where all sides of the cabin are transparent. The car will whisk you to Ngong Ping Village and from there it’s a short walk to one of the largest seated bronze Buddhas in the world at 34 metres. The Big Buddha took 12 years to construct and sits close to the Lo Pin Monastery, an active centre for Buddhism.
8. Almost 70% of the region is made of idyllic beaches, marine parks, nature reserves, mountains and more. One of the most beautiful areas is Long Ke Wan with its clear waters and proximity to the rare hexagonal rock formations at Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. Many of Hong Kong’s islands provide an easily reachable escape from the bustle of the city. Familiar ones include Cheung Chau – perfect for seafood, and the laid-back Lamma Island.
   
9. Hong Kong has exploded onto the street art scene, offering loads of Insta-worthy trails and tours. From artworks on Blade Runner to Bruce Lee, technicolour to monochrome murals and masterpieces can be found all over the city. However, they’re more concentrated in Central, Sheung Wan, Sai Kung and Morrison Hill. If you’re here in March, look out for the HKWalls festival.
   
10. Climb the 431 steps leading to the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery to find loads of life-sized gold-painted Buddha statues, each one unique. In fact, you’ll find 500 life-sized ones lining the path the monastery and once at the top, you’ll find around 13,000 and stunning views of Sha Tin and the mountains.
    
11. Hong Kong screams brilliant festivals. Come in June to see international teams battle it out in Victoria Harbour for the legendary dragon boat races. Others include the Art@Harbour outdoor art project, lots of music festivals celebrating urban to classical, and even an event for craft gin lovers, called Ginsanity.
    
12. Instagrammers will love Hong Kong’s most iconic housing estates including the ribcage-like Lai Tak Tsuen or the rainbow housing estate Choi Hung, which features in K-pop music videos.
    

Once undesirable because of the uphill slog to get there, SoHo now features buzzing bars, trendy cafes and modern galleries. Meanwhile, market lovers can head to Mong Kok. Here you’ll find the Ladies’ Market for trinkets and watches, Temple Street Night Market offering anything from flowers to astrology readings, and trainer lovers should head for Kowloon’s ‘Sneaker Street’.  Close to the markets is the great-value Cityview.  For a roomy budget-friendly stay, try the Dorsett Mong Kok hotel between Tai Kok Tsui and the Mong Kok. 

Those into more luxury brands and malls should head east. Perfectly placed for Causeway Bay and Wan Chai and Victoria Harbour, you’ll find the Harbour Grand Hong Kong or try the Harbour Plaza North Point. Nearby, in Hong Kong’s traditional and artsy North Point, is the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour. For a pocket-friendly stay in the area, try Hong Kong North Point.

For something more traditional, Old Town Central is one of the oldest and most dynamic districts in the city, where you’ll find sloped streets and small alleys of Central and Sheung Wan, century-old temples and authentic tea houses that rub shoulders with modern art galleries. Across the harbour from the island, the arty Kowloon goes on to merge with the green peaks of the New Territories. For a deluxe stay here, try the Harbour Grand Kowloon. Another spot overlooking the Victoria Harbour is the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, while the Kowloon Shangri-La forms its own landmark on Tsim Sha Tsui East's waterfront.   

Public transport in Hong Kong is cheap and efficient. The MTR subway covers lots of areas, with buses, trams and minibuses filling the gaps. An Octopus card can be used on all public transport, including the Peak Tram and the Ngong Ping cable car, as well as in supermarkets, restaurants and more.

You can visit Hong Kong for up to six months without a visa. For information on entry requirements see the Hong Kong SAR government website. If you’d like to stay longer for business or work, you’ll need a Hong Kong visa. 

Cantonese and English are the two main languages spoken in Hong Kong, with English being commonly used. 

The official currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD).