Hong Kong 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Hong Kong plan works

Hong Kong + Macau

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Hong Kong rather than in transit. MTR (Octopus card) covers the whole city — HK$5–15 per ride, airport express in 24 min for HK$115. Star Ferry (HK$5) crosses the harbour in 10 min for the classic Kowloon ↔ Central sightseeing shot. Trams on Hong Kong Island cost HK$3 flat. Taxis are metered and cheap — red urban, green NT, blue Lantau. HKIA connects to Central in 24 minutes on the Airport Express.

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — Full essentials above.

• Day 2

  Day 4 — Macau ferry day trip (1h) — Senado Square, A-Ma Temple, Cotai casinos.

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Cheung Chau day trip OR Sai Kung seafood day + Mong Kok shopping evening.

Where to base yourself

• Central / Admiralty

  Skyline hotels (Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Rosewood) + IFC Mall + Peak tram — the icon base.

• Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon)

  Waterfront harbour views (Peninsula, Regent, InterContinental) + Symphony of Lights front-row.

• Sheung Wan / SoHo

  Boutique heritage stays, Man Mo Temple, PMQ design lanes, Central-Mid-Levels escalator.

• Wan Chai / Causeway Bay

  Mid-range hotels, Times Square shopping, wet markets and craft-beer bars.

Best time to run this itinerary

October–early December is peak — 20–26°C, low humidity, clear skyline nights. January–February is cooler (14–20°C) and pairs with Chinese New Year fireworks. March–May brings the Rugby Sevens and Art Basel; June–September is hot, humid and typhoon-prone. Book 2+ months ahead for CNY, Sevens and Art Basel weekends.

Before you go

• Get an Octopus card at any MTR station — taps MTR, buses, trams, ferries and 7-Eleven.

• Standing on the LEFT on escalators is the local rule (opposite of Tokyo/Singapore).

• Tipping is not customary; a 10% service charge is already added at restaurants.