Travelling around the world? Thinking of visiting Hong Kong? Looking for some activities to do in your 2 days in Hong Kong? Can’t decide which Hong Kong hotel to stay at?

There are heaps of things to do in and around Hong Kong. While on my way to Australia, I decided to extend my stopover in Hong Kong for about 2 days. Surely not enough! Now I know that this was definitely not enough time to visit this awesome city. My recommendation is to spend at least one week in Hong Kong. There are plenty of things to do here!

Hong Kong is one of the most popular hot spots to catch connection flights in Asia. The city is the embodiment of Ying and Yang, the Chinese concept of balance. If you haven’t seen this beautiful city yet, you definitely should put that on your list ‘Things to do before I die’. Check out what I did in the 2 days I was there and where I stayed.

Where to stay in Hong Kong as a Backpacker

I stayed in a hostel called Hong Kong Hostel, which I can highly recommend. It’s got the best location from all the hostels around the city. All the shopping, nightlife and dining goes on in the “Causeway Bay” area. It’s located a 5-minute walk from the train station (Causeway Bay), right next to the biggest park in Hong Kong: Victoria Park. Very close to the Hong Kong Hostel, you will find the most popular shopping malls such as Sogo, Hysan Place, Lee Theatre and Hysan Place. (Shopping is one of the main reason why many tourists visit Hong Kong. Mostly all goods are tax-free, apart from alcohol and cigarettes). If you would like to stay in a hotel, rather than a hostel in the area, check this out.

A big variety of room types is available: Single /Double /Twin Private Ensuite, 3 / 4 Bed Private Ensuite, one single bed (Single) / one double bed (Double) /two single beds (Twin) with shared bathroom, or if you would like to go for the cheaper version (that’s what I did), there are several dormitory rooms available:

– 4 Bed Mixed/Male/Female Dorm
– 6 Bed Mixed Dorm
– 8 Bed Mixed Dorm

A cheaper way option is to catch the city bus E11 which is as quick as the A11. It will safe you by half and costs you HK$21. It leaves from Tin Hau Station straight to the airport. If you need more help or information about the transport system in and around Hong Kong, get this app. There is free WiFi available in many places around the city.

Other Options: Hong Kong Hotels

If you’re not comfortable to stay in a hostel or you’re traveling in a bigger group, you can check out the following options as well!

Also, we’ve included both Agoda , Booking.com  and Tripadvisor  icons for you to compare prices for each listing.

What to do in Hong Kong?

After I dropped off my bag at the hostel, I made my way to the Temple Street Market. There is literally nothing you can not buy at this market. All sorts of electronics are available (I couldn’t resist the selfie sticks 🙂 ), watches, trinkets, tea ware, menswear, jade and antiques are scrutinised and haggled over, while clay pot rice, seafood, noodles and other treats are consumed with gusto. Haggling is a must here!

How to get there?

Just catch the MTR to Yau Ma Tei Station, take Exit C and turn onto Temple Street at Man Ming Lane.

Things to Do in Hong Kong: The Light show or the ‘Symphony of Light’

The light show involves about 40 buildings from both sides of the harbour and represents 5 themes, which are: awakening, energy, heritage, partnership and celebration. I really really loved watching those laser lights and listening to the music- you absolutely can not miss out on this FREE activity. They play it every night, it starts at 8 pm and goes on for about 15 minutes.

This is how the ‘Symphony of Lights’ looks like when you are in the city:

How to get there?

Take the Hong Kong MTR to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit J. Then follow the signs to the Avenue of Stars and Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront or simply ask the locals for direction. Enjoy the show 🙂

The Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha)

One of the attractions to the Hong Kong airport is the Big Buddha. The giant bronze Buddha is located on the Lantau Island, sits 34 m high and faces the North, in order to look over the Chinese people. It symbolises the stability of Hong Kong, the prosperity of China and the peace on Earth.

The trip is considered as a half day trip, if you only would like to visit the Big Buddha and its temples around. But, if you are physically fit and you still don’t have enough after walking up 268 steps to the Buddha, there are heaps of awesome scenery hikes to do around the area which can take up to 5 hours. Make sure you bring enough water, sun cream, a hat and sunglasses.

And what do we like? —-> All of those activities are FREE!

How to get there via Ngong Ping 360

Catch the MTR to Tung Chung Station Exit B, then put yourself in the Ngong Ping 360, the cable car (HK$ 165) which takes about 25 minutes and gives you amazing panoramic views of Tung Chung Bay, the Hong Kong International Airport, Ngong Ping Plateau, South China Sea, the Big Buddha, as well as the flora and fauna of Lantau North Country Park. 

Victoria Peak

One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Victoria Peak. It’s called the Peak because it’s the highest place in Hong Kong. From there you have a 360 degree view and you can see just about everything. I haven’t been up there myself, but YOU should definitely not miss out on it. What you could do is, go up there for 8 pm, so you could watch the Symphony of Lights from a complete different angle. If you have been up there, please share your experience in the comment box below 🙂 I would LOVE to hear about it.

How to get there?

You can catch the peak tram, the bus or you can even hike all the way up there.

What to eat in Hong Kong?

If you can’t speak or read Cantonese, but you still would like to eat where the locals eat, it is always helpful to have a friend with you who can.

But where do I find a local friend? If I don’t talk to people on the street, people come up to me and talk to me, invite me for dinner and/or to their house and show me around. That’s what happened to me again in Hong Kong. Otherwise you can contact locals before hand via the platform Couchsurfing. The locals love to have the opportunity to practise their English.

Where to eat?

Lucky me, my new local friends took me out to for dinner into this back street after turning left right going North, South, West, and back East into this restaurant, where I was the only white person. I did not feel uncomfortable at all. Nobody looked at me like I am an alien (unlike I’ve experienced in so many other countries). In Hong Kong people consider it as rude to stare at other people and respect the personal space. I appreciated that so much.

Have a look at this website to find the right place to eat for yourself 🙂

Random fact: Hong Kongers hold their chopsticks with the left hand to eat. That can sometimes cause the inconvenience to the person next to you, especially if he/she is right-handed.

That was my first Hong Kong experience. However, as I mentioned before, there are plenty of things to do and I will surely return to this awesome city sometime in the future.

If you liked my blog post, or if you have any questions, or if you simply would like to share your Hong Kong experience, please leave a comment in the box below!

Massive thank you to my friends Cow Ball and Lip Hui for translating some of the dishes 🙂

Feel free to contact us if you’re looking for a more personalized traveling experience!