Hong Kong Citywalk: 3-Day Itinerary — Pearl of the Orient

Overview

Hong Kong, Asia's most dynamic metropolis — Lonely Planet calls it "where East and West come together." Three days to ride the Peak Tram, cruise Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry, feast on dim sum and roast goose, and explore ancient temples nestled beneath gleaming skyscrapers.

Best Season: Mar–May, Sep–Nov (autumn is ideal) Budget: ~HK$3,000–6,000 per person Transport: MTR covers the city; get an Octopus card

Day 1: Hong Kong Island — Central & Victoria Peak

Morning: Victoria Peak

Getting there: Peak Tram from Garden Rd (walk from Central MTR J2) Tickets: Peak Tram return HK$88 | Sky Terrace 428 HK$75

Ride the historic funicular (since 1888) up to 396m. Walk the Peak Circle Walk (~1 hr) along Lugard and Harlech Roads for 360° views over skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour. Go before 9 AM to beat queues.

Lunch: Central

Central Market (1939, now creative hub). Nearby Michelin eats:

Yung Kee: Legendary roast goose (HK$120)
Yat Lok: Michelin-starred crispy roast goose (HK$80)
Lan Fong Yuen: Birthplace of silk-stocking milk tea (HK$30)

Afternoon: Mid-Levels Escalator & Man Mo Temple

Ride the world's longest covered outdoor escalator (800m):

Tai Kwun: Former Central Police Station, now arts hub (free)
PMQ: Designers' creative market in former police quarters
Man Mo Temple (1847): Incense-filled Taoist temple

Evening: Star Ferry + Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

Star Ferry: HK$4.50, voted one of the world's best-value sightseeing experiences.

Walk the Avenue of Stars (renovated 2019), find celebrity handprints, catch the 8 PM "Symphony of Lights" show.

Day 2: Kowloon — Temples × Markets × Night Bites

Morning: Wong Tai Sin Temple

Getting there: MTR Wong Tai Sin, Exit B3 Admission: Free

Hong Kong's most famous Taoist temple, known for answering prayers. Try fortune-telling sticks (kao chim); interpreters charge ~HK$30.

Lunch: Sham Shui Po

Hong Kong's most authentic food district:

Lau Sum Kee: Hand-pressed bamboo noodles (HK$40)
Kung Wo Beancurd: Since 1893, stone-ground tofu pudding (HK$12)
Sun Heung Yuen: Famous egg-and-beef sandwich (HK$40)
Apliu Street Flea Market: Vintage electronics and curios

Afternoon: Mong Kok

Ladies' Market (Tung Choi St): Open-air bargain market
Sneaker Street (Fa Yuen St): Limited-edition sports shoes
Goldfish Street: Aquarium bags hanging on walls — iconic photo spot

Evening: Temple Street Night Market

Getting there: MTR Jordan, Exit A

Hong Kong's classic night market — dai pai dong stalls, fortune tellers, street singers:

Typhoon Shelter Crab: Stir-fried with garlic and chili (HK$150–200)
Claypot Rice: Kam Kee, best on cold evenings (HK$50)
Egg Waffles: Lee Keung Kee, North Point style (HK$20)

Day 3: Outlying Islands — Lantau & Tai O

Morning: Ngong Ping 360 + Tian Tan Buddha

Getting there: MTR Tung Chung → Ngong Ping cable car Tickets: Crystal cabin HK$285 return | Standard HK$210

25-minute aerial journey over Tung Chung Bay. Crystal cabin with glass floor reveals the sea below.

Tian Tan Buddha: 34m bronze statue, 268 steps. Po Lin Monastery next door for vegetarian lunch (~HK$110).

Afternoon: Tai O Fishing Village

Getting there: Bus 21 from Ngong Ping (~20 min)

"Hong Kong's Venice" — stilt houses over water, traditional fishing boats. Take a sampan ride to spot Chinese white dolphins (HK$30):

Tai O doughnuts: Golden, crispy (HK$13)
Shrimp paste: Local specialty
Charcoal-grilled squid: Classic fishing village snack

Evening: Citygate Outlets (Tung Chung)

Getting there: Bus 11 from Tai O (~50 min)

Hong Kong's largest outlet mall — 150+ international brands at year-round discounts. Perfect last stop before the airport (10 min away).

Practical Info

Transportation

MTR: 10 lines, HK$5–60
Octopus Card: Essential — works on all transport, convenience stores, restaurants
Bus: Double-deckers, scenic city views (HK$5–40)
Star Ferry: HK$4.50 across Victoria Harbour
Taxi: Red (HK Island/Kowloon) starting HK$27

Accommodation

Budget: Chungking Mansions / Mong Kok, HK$300–600
Mid-range: Wan Chai / Causeway Bay, HK$600–1,200
Luxury: Central / Tsim Sha Tsui harbour-view, HK$1,500+

Food Map

Roast Goose: Yung Kee, Yat Lok
Dim Sum: Tim Ho Wan (cheapest Michelin-starred), Luk Yu Tea House
Milk Tea: Lan Fong Yuen
Wonton Noodles: Mak Man Kee, Ho Hung Kee
Claypot Rice: Kam Kee, Kwan Kee
Egg Waffles: Lee Keung Kee North Point

Tips

Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360: go early to avoid long queues
Buy Octopus at airport; refundable on departure
Carry cash — some taxis and small eateries are cash-only
Temple Street only buzzes after 7 PM
Summer is hot and humid — carry an umbrella (rain or shade)
Stand on the right on escalators; left side is for walking

Hong Kong — a city that never stands still. Three days from the shimmer of Victoria Harbour to the glass canyons of Central, from Sham Shui Po's bamboo noodles to the sunset from the Peak — every breath is this city's rhythm.