An Insider’s Guide to Hong Kong

The people, the energy, the food – there is so much I love about my home city of Hong Kong. Only in Hong Kong can you wander through a magical flower tunnel hidden in a housing complex, ride the world’s longest escalator, stand at the base of the world’s tallest seated bronze Buddha and visit a model of Noah’s Ark. In fact, you’re likely to find yourself saying “only in Hong Kong” quite a bit during your visit. As someone who was born and raised in this city, I find I’m continually enthralled by everything it has to offer. Despite its size and overwhelming nature, it’s also a surprisingly easy city to navigate. If you’ve never visited Hong Kong, this may come as a complete shock to you, but it’s all conveniently connected via our extensive transportation network – the subway to get around the city, buses, trams and ferries to get from the city to outlying islands or across Victoria Harbour.

Top Attractions: First-Time Hong Kong Travelers
If you are visiting Hong Kong for the very first time, it can be a bit intimidating to plan a day or even two days if you are in port overnight. As a local, there are a few top choices I highlight to first-time travelers since there are so many things to do in Hong Kong. First, I’d recommend you ride the Peak Tram – it’s one of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways and offers sweeping views of the city. Whether you ride it up to the Peak Tower, down or both, it’s an unforgettable experience.

I also love taking visitors on the iconic Star Ferry ride across Victoria Harbour – it’s always special to see Hong Kong’s skyline from the water. In between, be sure to spend some time strolling around the Central district, Hong Kong’s core business and shopping district, along with the lively and down-to-earth Sheung Wan district, just west of Central, for antiques. When you’re ready for a break, stop by Soho, our prime entertainment district, for food and drinks. If you have another day in the city, definitely take an excursion to visit the iconic Big Buddha on Lantau Island.

Next-Level Hong Kong Explorations
If you’ve already experienced some of Hong Kong’s key attractions and are looking to strike out beyond the icons, one of my favorite things to do is to explore some of the city’s breezy outlying islands. They are just a short ferry ride away from Central – for example, try Cheung Chau, Peng Chau or Lamma Island. Our Wellness Discovery Tours by Aquamar are also a great way to experience Hong Kong from a different perspective. You can try a personalized traditional Chinese medicine therapy after a consultation or enjoy a reflexology session and seasonal lunch at the Chi Lin Nunnery – these are really unique and memorable experiences that reveal more layers of the culture and city.

Foodie Experiences: Ultimate Dim Sum, Egg Tarts & More
Let’s talk food! Hong Kong is one of the world’s great culinary capitals and you can’t experience this city without having a few meals. I love dim sum and I love to share it with visitors when they’re traveling in Hong Kong. I can never get enough traditional dim sum at Luk Yu Teahouse at Central. The innovative cartoon dim sum at Crystal Lotus at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is such a fun experience and Yum Cha is another great spot for it. Foodies won’t want to miss Michelin-starred dim sum at Tim Ho Wan.

Speaking of travelers that are really wanting typical Hong Kong food experiences, one of my favorite spots is the Australia Dairy Company – the steamed milk pudding is out of this world. Don’t be fooled by the name. It’s simply because the founder worked on an Australian farm in the 1940s. It’s a very traditional Hong Kong-style café or cha chaan teng and no one does eggs and custard dishes better. I love Tai Cheong Bakery for egg tarts, a popular Hong Kong snack. This is a really famous and traditional Hong Kong bakery and they are particularly well known for their egg tarts – a creamy and smooth filling encased in a buttery shell. You can’t go to Hong Kong without trying one!

Best Markets & Shopping in Hong Kong
Everyone knows Hong Kong is famous for its markets and shopping. Since you may typically only have one or two days in the city, I can recommend a couple of markets great for getting a taste of the local shopping scene and finding some unique gifts to take home. Definitely explore PMQ (formerly known as Police Married Quarters) in Central – this is a fantastic place to experience Hong Kong’s local artisan culture. There are so many small, local brands and this complex is a real creative hub filled with workshops, design studios and boutiques where you can find especially unique gifts and souvenirs. The Ladies Market in Mongkok (Kowloon) is a well-established bazaar, and I love taking travelers here to immerse them in the local atmosphere – expect rows and rows of vendors offering everything from clothing and jewelry to toys and quirky souvenirs. For those interested in the Hong Kong shopping mall scene, K11 Musea and Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui and IFC in Central are all top choices.

Gardens, Parks & Mini Retreats
Amid all of your exploring you might want a bit of calm or a place to relax before you continue on to your next adventure. For that my top recommendations are the Wong Tai Sin Temple, the Chi Lin Nunnery and the Nan Lian Garden in the Wong Tai Sin District. If you’re looking for a more in-depth adventure in nature, don’t miss the UNESCO-listed Hong Kong Global Geopark. You can explore rare volcanic rocks, go hiking on the MacLehose Trail and take a variety of guided boat tours.

At the end of your explorations, I have the feeling one thing will be certain – you’ll be wanting to plan your next cruise to Asia so you can come back and experience even more of it!

About Holly Kong, Director of Sales – North Asia
Holly Kong joined the Oceania Cruises Hong Kong office five years ago and oversees the sales in the North Asia region, encompassing Hong Kong, Taiwan, China and South Korea. Prior to Oceania Cruises, Holly was with Hong Kong Disneyland for more than 10 years, managing local distributions and ticket and hotel sales channels.