Hong Kong is one of our favourite cities in the world, for the best travel experience we created our list of top 10 travel tips for visiting the city. Hong Kong has a beautiful skyline, friendly locals, great food, and shopping.
There are so many amazing things to see and do in Hong Kong. Here are our best travel tips for first-time visitors.
1ST TRAVEL TIP – USE OCTOPUS CARD IN HONG KONG
Octopus card is a multipurpose card to use in Hong Kong. You can buy it at any 7/11 store but can only top up the card with cash.
You can use the Octopus card for all public transport and most attractions. This card will make your time in the city easier. If you visit the city often it is great to have this card.
2ND TRAVEL TIP – BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD
Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere but if you are not familiar with Hong Kong and need to use Google Maps for navigation, then a local sim card is a must-have.
You can buy a local SIM card at Klook or any 7/11 store in the city.
3RD TRAVEL TIP – USE KLOOK IN HONG KONG
I was not familiar with Klook app before travelling to Hong Kong. Many attractions have better prices if you buy tickets through Klook.
Waiting times for attractions are shorter if you buy your tickets in advance. It is the best app to use in the city and one of our most important travel tips.
You can also buy an Octopus card, local sim card, and Airport Express ticket through Klook. Do not forget to download the app before traveling to Hong Kong.
4TH TRAVEL TIP – USE AIRPORT EXPRESS
Airport Express is the best way to get in and out of the city. It is fast and efficient, and you do not have to worry about the traffic.
It takes about 24 minutes to get from the airport to the city.
5th TRAVEL TIP – HAVE CASH IN HONG KONG
In most cases, you can pay with a credit card but there are some cash-only examples. Taxis are cash only and if you need to top up your Octopus card you can only use cash.
There are many ATMs available all around the city.
6th TRAVEL TIP – MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR POPULAR RESTAURANTS
Hong Kong is a city with a large population. If you have a special restaurant in mind for your dinner date, make a reservation upfront. At weekends, most of the popular restaurants are full or have long waiting lines.
7TH TRAVEL TIP – GOOGLE MAPS IS GREAT FOR NAVIGATION AROUND HONG KONG
Google Maps was our best friend in Hong Kong. It is familiar with MTR stations and timetables, so it always helped us find the most efficient way to our destination.
To use Google Maps in the city – do not forget to buy a local SIM card.
8th TRAVEL TIP FOR HONG KONG – TRAVEL ADAPTER
Most electrical outlets in Hong Kong take a three-pronged UK-style plug. So do not forget your travel plug adapter if you need one. If you are staying in a fancy hotel there is an option that your hotel will provide an adapter.
9TH TRAVEL TIP – WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES
You have a lot of walking to do, sometimes even uphill, so wear shoes that you are comfortable in. A good pair of sneakers or my favourite for hot weather – the Birkenstocks.
If you are visiting Hong Kong in a rainy season wear waterproof shoes.
10TH TRAVEL TIP – HAVE A HOTEL NEAR MTR STATION
It is not a must, but it makes your life much easier.
If you are visiting Hong Kong for just a few days and have limited time to squeeze in all the important sightseeing, you do not want to make any extra steps to get to the MTR.
BEST HOTELS NEAR MTR STATION IN HONG KONG
Hotels in Hong Kong are expensive. There are many good hotels but not all of them are near the MTR station. We compared hotel prices and found out that Agoda has the best deals for the city.
Here are our best recommendations:
AFFORDABLE – THE CITYVIEW
The Cityview is in a great location in Hong Kong that is close to the Temple Street Night Market. The rooms are comfortable, clean, and reasonably priced.
Check the hotel availability here.
AFFORDABLE – OCEAN INN
Ocean Inn is the most affordable option we could find in a great location. The rooms are clean and simple and the location is right next to the MTR station. The reviews are also amazing. If you are low on a budget for your Hong Kong travel this is a great accommodation to choose.
Check the availability and price here.
MID-RANGE – HOTEL CORDIS
Hotel Cordis is located in Kowloon. It is directly linked to the MTR station and the Langham Place shopping mall. The location is amazing, and most of the rooms offer incredible views of the city.
Breakfast is delicious, and there is also a rooftop pool with views. Do not miss out on this amazing hotel; check the availability here.
MID-RANGE – HOTEL ICON
This hotel is a little bit more expensive than the mid-range, but we loved staying there. The rooms in Hotel Icon are spacious and comfortable. Every room also has a drinking water tap. Because of that, you do not need to buy plastic water bottles.
Some of the rooms have amazing views, and there is also a pool with a skyline view. If you have the option to go to this hotel, I would not think twice.
Check the availability on Agoda here.
EXPENSIVE – THE RITZ-CARLTON
It is located in the heart of Kowloon in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Ritz-Carlton hotel has world-class service, and it is one of the best accommodations in the city if you have the budget for it.
Because the hotel starts at the 102nd floor, every room has a spectacular view of the city.
You can check the prices here.
SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Hong Kong: Top 10 Things to Do on Your Next Adventure in the City