A Fun 5 Day Hong Kong Itinerary for 2025
Are you wondering what to do in Hong Kong or looking for a Hong Kong travel itinerary?
On this 5 day Hong Kong itinerary you’ll discover traditional Chinese culture, beautiful Temples, Monasteries and museums, and enjoy bustling markets and spectacular views from the top of Hong Kong’s tallest building.
This 5-day Hong Kong itinerary focuses on cultural sites such as Victoria Peak, Victoria Harbour and the Big Buddha and explores Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Lantau Island and Macau. In Hong Kong, you’ll find delicious food, stunning scenery and a modern way of life.
Hong Kong is a collection of islands with a British colonial history. It’s a fascinating mix of ancient Chinese culture and colonial buildings in a modern Western city.
I’ve enjoyed two solo holidays in Hong Kong, and my 5-day Hong Kong Macau itinerary includes the best things to do, my favourite places to eat, where to stay, when to go, and more.
If you’re wondering how to spend 5 days in Hong Kong you’ll be spoilt for choice.
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Getting around Hong Kong
On this 5 day Hong Kong itinerary getting around is easy. Hong Kong has an excellent public transport network with MTR, trains, buses, ferries and trams to take you wherever you want to go. Hong Kong is also easily walkable with escalators and lifts to help you up many of the hills.
I bought an Octopus card to pay for public transport but Hong Kong has just introduced contactless fares using Mastercard making it even easier for tourists to tap on & off when they travel.
I found the Octopus card convenient to use and easy to top up at 7-Eleven stores and it’s also widely accepted by shops and restaurants in Hong Kong.
TIP: Hong Kong is a very popular destination so book your tickets to the main sites in advance so that you don’t miss out. It’s the best way to avoid waiting in long queues of tourists.
Hong Kong Itinerary Map
My Fun 5 Day Hong Kong Itinerary
Day 1 – Hong Kong Central / Victoria Peak / Street Food
A great way to start this 5 day Hong Kong itinerary is to visit Victoria Peak, an upmarket residential area with a stunning view and one of the most famous landmarks in Hong Kong.
Getting to the Victoria Peak Tram station
To get there I caught a tram to Admiralty. From there it’s a short walk to The Peak Tram station, and I took a detour past Statue Square and the Court of Final Appeal.
I also stopped at St John’s Cathedral and walked up Battery Lane to the lovely old colonial church, Hong Kong’s oldest, dating back to 1849.
Victoria Peak Tram
The Victoria Peak Tram is the most famous historical attraction in Hong Kong and one of the world’s oldest funicular tramways. The tram is operated by a cable system and it’s the easiest and most direct way to reach The Peak lookout at the top of Mount Austen.
The Peak Tram operates from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and offers spectacular views across Hong Kong but it’s very popular and gets very crowded. I passed by around 11 a.m., and there were crowd control measures in place because so many people were waiting for the tram. You can use your Octopus card to buy your ticket.
TIP: Buy your ticket for the Victoria Peak Tram in advance to avoid the long queues of tourists. Go early in the morning or after dark for breathtaking views of Hong Kong at night.
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is where you’ll find the classic view of Hong Kong with tall apartment buildings and Victoria Harbour. When you get off the Peak Tram, you’ll be right at the lookout point.
TIP: You can enjoy the view from The Peak Tower and pay for the privilege, or enjoy an almost identical view for free from the Lions Pavilion a short walk away. I chose the Lions Pavilion and the scenery was amazing.
While I was on The Peak, I walked a short way up Austen Road to the charming Victoria Peak Garden. A gentle stroll through the park along the winding pathways led to Lugard Lookout and the expansive views of the other side of the island.
Relax here for a while and return to Admiralty on the Peak Tram or catch a bus from the bus station next to the Peak Tower.
Hong Kong Park
My next stop was Hong Kong Park, a delightful green space filled with trees and tropical plants beside the Peak Tram station at the base of Mount Austen.
Hong Kong Park has an aviary with colourful, exotic birds and I enjoyed visiting the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. It’s a free exhibition dedicated to the Chinese appreciation of fine tea. I bought some quality green tea at the museum shop.
Stop for lunch at the Lok Cha Teahouse or simply relax amongst the greenery in the park.
Hong Kong Street Food Tasting Tour
I spent the afternoon (from 3 – 6 pm) discovering the delicious local food on a Hong Kong Street Food Tasting Tour. It’s a great addition to a Hong Kong travel itinerary and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the more traditional areas of Sheung Wan and Central.
We tried lots of local food including shrimp dumplings, Dim Sum, famous “Mammy” Waffles, and my favourite, the melt-in-the-mouth Hong Kong Egg Tarts.
The traditional Sheung Wan Market and the atmospheric Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Lane were also included in the tour and we passed the Mid-levels escalator and visited Central Market as well.
Discovering Hong Kong through food with a local guide was well worth doing.
TIP: The street food tasting tour of Hong Kong’s Old Town was a wonderful introduction to Hong Kong and one of my favourite experiences. Book in advance to reserve your place on your first afternoon in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong at Night
A visit to Lan Kwai Fong is a great way to experience Hong Kong’s vibrant nightlife and end the first day of this busy Hong Kong Itinerary.
Day 2 – Kowloon / Tsim Sha Tsui / Temples
Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden
Visiting the Chi Lin Nunnery and the peaceful Nan Lian Garden is a lovely way to start the second day of this 5 day Hong Kong itinerary. To reach the Chi Lin Nunnery, take the MTR to Diamond Hill. It took me around an hour and from there it’s a short walk to the Nan Lian Garden and the Chi Lin Nunnery.
After visiting the temple and relaxing in the beautiful Chinese Garden head back to the MTR.
Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple
The Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple is just one stop away by train and this impressive Chinese Temple is full of brightly coloured decorations. It’s a very popular temple and was inundated with large groups of Chinese tourists when I was there.
Chinese people love to come here to have their fortunes told and I got caught up in a crowd of people heading to the altar lighting incense, bowing and praying. It was interesting to visit but I didn’t stay long.
Hau Wong Temple
If time permits, the Hau Wong Temple at Lok Fu is just one stop away from Wong Tai Sin on the MTR.
This small historic Chinese Temple is quiet, welcoming and nicely kept and it takes around 10 minutes to walk there from the station.
Hong Kong Museum of Art
The next stop I made on my Hong Kong travel itinerary was the Hong Kong Museum of Art. I enjoyed the cool, peaceful atmosphere of the Art gallery and the displays of Chinese ceramics, paintings and other artistic treasures.
The Art Gallery shop is a great place to look for quality gifts and I enjoyed shopping here.
Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Hotel
Across the road from the Art Gallery is the luxurious Peninsula Hotel and I called in for afternoon tea.
For a special occasion (or just for fun) I can recommend the famous afternoon tea at The Peninsula. The hotel has a colonial feel and a lovely ambience with decorated ceilings and live music.
I ordered the classic High Tea and was offered a selection of fine teas. Sandwiches, scones and beautifully presented sweets were served on a tiered silver tray.
Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel operates on a first come first served basis from 2 – 4 pm. I arrived at 1:55 pm and waited for around half an hour. The afternoon tea was delicious, unhurried and very filling with excellent service. It was a treat and quite expensive but worth it!
Markets
I felt very rested afterwards so I took the MTR to Mong Kok to visit the Ladies Market, the Goldfish Market. If you’re interested in seeing more markets head to the nearby Flower Market, Sneaker Street and the Temple Street Night Market.
Victoria Harbour
When I finished shopping, I caught a bus down Nathan Road to the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade to watch the sunset over Victoria Harbour. There was a cool breeze and it was a pleasant place to relax and wait for the Symphony of Lights to start. The free laser light show is on every night at 8 pm and lights up the harbour.
If you have time to kill, the Avenue of Stars is nearby but I enjoyed sitting on the promenade enjoying the view while I waited for the light show to start.
At the end of the evening, I caught the famous Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour back to Central.
Day 3 – Monastery / Sky100 Observation Deck / Old Town
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery is a delightful temple in Sha Tin and a hidden gem in Hong Kong. Hundreds of life-size golden Buddha statues line the pathway to the monastery and each of them is different.
I loved the peaceful atmosphere at the monastery and found the Buddha statues fascinating and I saw wild monkeys amongst the trees along the pathway.
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery was one of my favourite places in Hong Kong and is open from 9 am – 5 pm but I suggest heading out early on the 3rd day of this Hong Kong itinerary as it took me about an hour to get to Sha Tin on the MTR.
Sky100 Observation Deck
Next on my Hong Kong iitinerary are the stunning 360° view over Hong Kong from the Sky100 Observation Deck. I went at sunset and it was well worth it. It’s very touristy but the view is spectacular!
The Sky 100 Observation deck is in Tsim Sha Tsui on the 100th floor of Hong Kong’s tallest building, the International Commerce Centre.
To get there, take the MTR to Kowloon station and follow the signs to Sky100. Take the elevator to the top floor and don’t forget your camera.
TIP: I booked my Sky100 Observation Deck entry ticket in advance and walked straight to the lift without having to wait in a queue.
Hong Kong Palace Museum
Around a 10-minute walk from Sky100 is the Hong Kong Palace Museum. I thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits about Life and Art in Beijing’s Forbidden City featuring beautiful clothing, poetry, paintings, Ming Dynasty ceramics and contemporary design.
The museum has a café and a shop and is open from 10 am – 6 pm (closed Tuesdays)
Hong Kong Old Town
Next on this Hong Kong itinerary, spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Hong Kong’s Old Town around Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan. I enjoyed wandering around the old Chinese part of Hong Kong as this area is full of character and has some great restaurants and street food.
Take the MTR to Sheung Wan and stroll down Wing Lok Street, Ginseng and Birds Nest Street, and Queen Street. Ko Shing Street has many Chinese herbal medicine shops with lots of shop cats to keep the rodents under control and Art Lane and Chung Ching Street are where you’ll find colourful street art.
Where to eat
Some great places to eat in this area are:
- Winston’s Coffee in Sai Ying Pun
- The Western Market is Hong Kong’s oldest market with cafes and fabric shops in a pretty colonial building.
- St Lolan Bakery in Sai Ying Pun sells the most delicious Hong Kong Egg Tarts
- Kwan Kee Claypot Rice in Queens Road Sai Ying Pun. The local food here is fantastic. I ordered Salt and Pepper Calamari and it was amazing. Kwan Kee opens at 5:30 pm and usually has a long queue. I waited for around 30 minutes to be seated.
- PING Pong 129 Gineteria for a gin cocktail.
- Tsim Chai Kee Noodle in Wellington Street, Sheung Wan serves tasty Cantonese noodles at a reasonable price.
Day 4 – The Big Buddha & Lantau Island
On day 4 of this Hong Kong itinerary head out to Lantau Island to see the famous Big Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. I enjoyed this day trip and a highlight was riding in the Cable Car to Ngong Ping village at the top of the mountain. The scenery is stunning with incredible views across the island.
To get there, take the MTR to Tung Chung and follow the signs to the cable car station. At the top of the mountain, Ngong Ping Village is very touristy with souvenir shops and pricey restaurants so I didn’t stay long there.
TIP: Book your Ngong Ping Cable Car ticket in advance to skip the long queues at the ticket counter. You may still have to wait for the cable car.
On the return trip, I took the Cable Car back to Tung Chung and caught a bus to Tai O Village to spend an hour or two wandering through the village, enjoying the seafood restaurants, street art, temples and houses on stilts.
Instead of returning to the MTR, I caught the ferry back to Hong Kong Central from the old ferry pier.
Day 5 – Macau Day Trip
Spend the last day of your 5 day Hong Kong itinerary exploring the Old Town in Macau. Like Hong Kong, Macau is a special administrative region of China and is full of character with Chinese shops sitting next to colonial European buildings.
Macau is located on the Chinese mainland and was a Portuguese colony until 1999. It’s an intoxicating mix of east and west with cobble-stoned streets, tiled pathways, military forts, Chinese gardens and pretty Catholic churches. A day trip to Macau is a charming way to end this Macau Hong Kong itinerary.
The Turbojet ferry to Macau leaves from Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island. The trip takes around an hour and you’ll need your passport to clear immigration. From there take a taxi or the No.3 bus to the Ponte 16 Hotel and see the sights of the Macau Old Town on foot.
Macau is also known for gambling, casinos and glamorous nightlife. If this interests you, head to The Venetian, a luxury hotel and Macau’s best-known casino.
Other Fun Day Trips from Hong Kong
- Lamma Island
- Cheung Chau Island
- Hiking the Dragon’s Back, a stunning coastal walk on Hong Kong Island
- Hong Kong Disneyland
- Hong Kong Ocean Park
Best Time to Visit Hong Kong
Mid-October to December is the best time to visit Hong Kong and Macau. During Autumn, the weather is sunny, with less humidity and cooler temperatures.
But the first week of October is the Chinese National Holiday and busloads of tourists visit from mainland China. Avoid visiting in early October if you don’t like crowds and book your accommodation well in advance. Accommodation prices are higher at this time.
I’ve been to Hong Kong twice in early October and the weather was warm with pleasant breezes most days but some of the attractions were very crowded. There were long queues at the Peak Tram and the Wong Tai Sin Temple was inundated with tour groups.
Winter (January to March) is also a good time to visit with cooler weather but spring (March to May) tends to be wet and humid and summer (June to August) is extremely hot and humid.
Travelling to & from Hong Kong Airport
Travelling to and from Hong Kong Airport on the Airport Express train takes about 25 minutes to reach Hong Kong Island and connects to the MTR. A one-way fare costs HK$110 (US$14).
On my previous trip to Hong Kong, I caught the red A11 bus from just outside the Hong Kong Airport Terminal to Causeway Bay as this was the most direct way to get to my Airbnb flat. The bus took about an hour and was a lot cheaper than the Airport Express (less than US$1)
TIP: Take the stress out of your arrival with a private transfer from Hong Kong Airport to your hotel.
Where to stay in Hong Kong
For this itinerary in Hong Kong and Macau, Hong Kong Island is one of the best places to stay you’ll want to be near the MTR, trams, ferries and buses. Hotel prices are most expensive near Central in Hong Kong.
Space is limited in Hong Kong so rooms and apartments are often very small by Australian standards. Expect cheaper rooms and apartments to be extremely small and cramped.
I stayed in several different areas of Hong Kong in Airbnb flats and hotels. On my most recent trip, I enjoyed the older part of town in Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan. I also stayed in more upmarket Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
Mid Range: The Harbourview – Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong has a good central location in Wan Chai. My room was a comfortable size and had a stunning view over Victoria Harbour.
Luxury: The Peninsula Hotel is a beautiful 5-star hotel with a great location in Tsim Sha Tsui for my itinerary in Hong Kong. This elegant hotel gets excellent reviews and is on my wish list. I visited the Peninsula Hotel for their famous Afternoon Tea and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I loved the relaxed ambience in the Lobby, the elegant decoration and the impeccable service.
Rosewood Hong Kong is another well-known luxury hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui with a fabulous location, stunning harbour views and exceptional reviews. (It’s on my wish list).
Hong Kong Highlights Video
Final Thoughts – 5 Days in Hong Kong Itinerary
My 5 Day Hong Kong Macau itinerary is busy and covers the best sights and activities in Hong Kong for solo travellers. With stunning scenery, beautiful temples, delicious local food and a fascinating history, Hong Kong is an exciting place to visit.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Hong Kong itinerary. The blend of traditional Chinese culture with a colonial history and a modern Western flavour is captivating. Each time I visit I find more interesting and fun things to do and to appreciate. I’m sure you’ll enjoy my Hong Kong travel itinerary.
You might also enjoy
A Delightful Day Trip to Macau from Hong Kong
Find The Best Area to Stay in Hong Kong
Lamma Island or Cheung Chau: Which Hong Kong Island is Best?
Hong Kong Dragon’s Back Hike: A Stunning Coastal Trail
A Guide to Successful Solo Travel in Hong Kong
The Popular Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Hong Kong
How to Avoid the Chinese Tea Ceremony Scam
25 Best Hong Kong Historical Landmarks
The Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery – A Hidden Gem
The Big Buddha in Hong Kong – A Stunning Day Trip
A Stunning Day Trip to Hangzhou from Shanghai
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