Hong Kong is skyscrapers over the harbour, old temples squeezed between them and noisy markets in the evening. This is a selection from my list of saved places: the ferry and the tram up the Peak, Hollywood Road and Tsim Sha Tsui, a night market and a monastery on Lantau. Where I left a note, those are my words; everything else is put together from Google Maps reviews. I added Man Mo Temple, Tai Kwun, Kowloon Park and M+ on the advice of travel guides (34travel, Time Out and others), and those descriptions come from reviews too.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, valid as of 1 October 2026. Rate: 1 HK$ ≈ $0.13.
In short
- Two must-dos: the Star Ferry across the harbour (about 5 HK$) and the Peak Tram up Victoria Peak. Sit on the right on the way up.
- The old town: Hollywood Road with Man Mo Temple and the former prison at Tai Kwun.
- Kowloon: Tsim Sha Tsui, the free Kowloon Park with its flamingos, and the M+ museum in West Kowloon (closed on Mondays).
- In the evening: Temple Street Night Market in Jordan, with a row of street food at the entrance.
- A whole day out: Po Lin Monastery on Lantau next to the giant bronze Buddha, free to enter.
The Peak and the old town
The Peak Tram
Central · funicular up Victoria Peak · daily 7:30–23:00
Google Maps · 33 Garden Rd
The little tram up Victoria Peak. A must! According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 25,000+): the climb is very steep and takes under 10 minutes, and the cars are new and roomy now; the best views are on the right-hand side going up. The queue moves fast, but on public holidays it's packed, so many people come back down by bus or on foot.
Victoria Peak
The Peak · mountain with viewpoints · open 24 hours
Google Maps · The Peak
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 5,000+): Hong Kong's main viewpoint, with the whole city and the harbour below. You get up by the Peak Tram or by bus, or hike the trails from the centre. The Peak Tower by the tram station has shops and cafés, but visitors suggest walking about 15 minutes on to the lookouts, where it's calmer. Come towards sunset to catch both daylight and the city lights.
Hollywood Road
Sheung Wan / Central · historic street · open 24 hours
Google Maps · Hollywood Rd
The historic centre. Man Mo Temple and the former police compound at Tai Kwun are on this street (both below), and Halfway Coffee is in the next lane, Upper Lascar Row.
Man Mo Temple
Sheung Wan · Taoist temple · daily 8:00–18:00
Google Maps · 124–130 Hollywood Rd
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 7,000+): one of the city's oldest temples, built in 1847 and dedicated to the gods of literature and war. Inside it's dim, with red lanterns and huge incense coils hanging from the ceiling, a sharp contrast with the street outside. The temple is small; you can draw a fortune slip or buy incense (card or Octopus accepted). At weekends there can be a 20-minute queue to get in. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Tai Kwun
Central · former prison and police station, now an arts centre · daily 8:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · 10 Hollywood Rd
According to Google Maps reviews (4.4 from 13,000+): the former colonial police station and Victoria Prison, turned into a cultural centre. You can step into the old cells, cross the parade ground ringed by brick buildings and then see contemporary art shows, with cafés and bars all around. Entry is free and it's a few steps from the Mid-Levels escalator. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Kowloon: the ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui and museums
Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier
Tsim Sha Tsui · ferry pier
Google Maps · website · Tsim Sha Tsui
Take the ferry: it's a must. According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,300+): about 10 minutes across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island for roughly 5 HK$ (≈$0.65), and you just tap a bank card or phone at the gate. The skyline is at its best in the evening; weekends get busy, weekday mornings are quiet.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Kowloon · neighbourhood
Google Maps · Tsim Sha Tsui
A district of shops and historic buildings. And there's a great park! The Star Ferry leaves from here too, and Kowloon Park and the M+ museum are next on the list.
Kowloon Park
Tsim Sha Tsui · city park · daily 5:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · 22 Austin Rd
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 1,800+): a big free park right in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui. Flamingos on the bird lake, a lotus pond with fountains, a maze garden, swimming pools, an avenue of comic-book heroes and kung fu shows on Sundays. It's big enough to absorb the crowds, though on holidays a free bench is hard to find; the toilets are clean. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
M+ Museum
West Kowloon · museum of visual culture · Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00, Fri until 22:00, closed Mon
Google Maps · website · 38 Museum Dr
According to Google Maps reviews (4.3 from 5,900+): a museum of art, design, architecture and moving image in a Herzog & de Meuron building, with a strong focus on Chinese and Asian artists. Exhibitions change often, and half a day goes easily. A ticket is around 190 HK$ (≈$24), but the building itself is free to walk around: go up to the roof for the harbour view. The waterfront outside has places to eat. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Markets and shops
Temple Street Night Market
Jordan · night market · daily 14:00–23:00
Google Maps · website · Temple St
A fun area packed with stalls and places to eat. According to Google Maps reviews (3.8 from 23,000+): the Jordan end now starts with a row of street food, such as grilled oysters at about 35 HK$ (≈$4.50) and dumplings, followed by souvenirs, gadgets, fridge magnets and knock-off backpacks. It's touristy, so haggle; go in the evening, under the lanterns.
Wan Chai Computer Centre
Wan Chai · electronics mall · daily 10:00–21:00
Google Maps · Facebook · 130 Hennessy Rd
A mall full of cheap electronics. According to Google Maps reviews (3.8 from 5,300+): three floors of small shops selling laptops, accessories, parts and drones, plus quick phone and laptop repairs. The heyday of computer centres is over, and visitors coming from Japan find prices on the high side. The escalator to the second floor is hidden at the back of the first.
Day trip: Lantau
Po Lin Monastery
Ngong Ping, Lantau · Buddhist monastery · daily 9:00–18:00
Google Maps · Ngong Ping, Lantau Island
According to Google Maps reviews (4.5 from 10,000+): a colourful monastery in the Lantau hills next to the giant bronze Tian Tan Buddha. Entry is free, with well-kept gardens, mountain views, a hall of a thousand Buddhas and a vegetarian restaurant where many stop for lunch. People come by cable car from Tung Chung or on foot along the Lantau trail; the last cable car down is around 18:00 and depends on the weather, so check ahead.
One last thing
Get an Octopus card or just use a contactless bank card: either works on the ferry, the tram and the metro. The Peak Tram and the Star Ferry fit into one day: go up the Peak, come down into Central for Hollywood Road, and cross the harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui at sunset. M+ stays open until 22:00 on Fridays, a good evening plan if the day turns out hot or rainy.
More on Hong Kong: where to eat, bars and coffee.