Need to Know
When to Go
October to early December is the best time to visit. June to August is hot and rainy. Beware of typhoons in September.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than HK$800
AGuesthouse: HK$180–450
AMeals at a cha chaan tang (teahouse) or dai pai dong (food stall): HK$60–150
AMuseums (free Wednesdays); night markets (free); horse races (HK$10)
ABus, tram, ferry ticket: HK$2.50–15
Midrange: HK$800–1800
ADouble room in a hostel or budget hotel: HK$550–1100
AChinese dinner with three dishes: HK$350
ADrinks and live music: HK$300
Top end: More than HK$1800
ADouble room in a boutique or four-star hotel: HK$2000
ADinner at a top Chinese restaurant: from HK$800
ACantonese opera ticket: HK$400
Advance Planning
Two months before Check dates of Chinese festivals; book accommodation, tickets for major shows, and a table at a top restaurant.
One month before Check listings and book tickets for fringe festivals; book nature tours and a table at a popular restaurant.
Two weeks before Book harbour cruises; sign up for email alerts from events organisers.
One week before Check the weather forecast.
Useful Websites
Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com/china/hong-kong) For all your travel needs.
Discover Hong Kong (www.discoverhongkong.com) The Hong Kong Government's user-friendly website for travel information.
Urbtix (www.urbtix.hk) Tickets to movies, shows and exhibitions.
Time Out Hong Kong (www.timeout.com.hk) What to eat, drink and do in Hong Kong and Macau.
Hong Kong Observatory (www.hko.gov.hk) Weather information including forecasts.
Arriving in Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport Airport Express MTR train to city centre from 5.54am to 12.48am, HK$90 to HK$100; buses to various parts of Hong Kong from 6am to 12.30am, HK$19 to HK$48; taxi to city centre HK$220 to HK$360.
Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau MTR train to city centre from 5.55am to 12.30am (Lo Wu), from 6.38am to 10.55pm (Lok Ma Chau), HK$37 to HK$48.
Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal MTR train (Sheung Wan) to city centre from 6.05am to 12.46am, HK$4.50 to HK$13; taxi HK$20 to HK$100.
China Ferry Terminal MTR train (Tsim Sha Tsui) to city centre from 6.11am to 12.54am, HK$4.50 to HK$12; taxi HK$20 to HK$100.
Useful Tours
Gray Line Tours (
%852 2368 7111; www.grayline.com.hk; adult/child 3-11yr from HK$530/430) More than 20 different tours.
Little Adventures in Hong Kong (www.littleadventuresinhongkong.com) Everything from food crawls to history walks.
Handmade in Hong Kong tour (www.hstvl.com) An eight-hour tour from 9.15am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for HK$850 per person. The tour will show you Hong Kong's age-old handicrafts such as shoe making, neon-sign making, and bespoke tailoring.
Land Between Tour (www.grayline.com.hk) Full-/half-day tours for HK$620/460 that take you on hikes to walled villages, monasteries, fish farms and the like in the New Territories.
Hong Kong Foodie Tour (www.hongkongfoodietours.com) A mouth-watering food crawl in Central and Sheung Wan departing 2.15pm Monday to Saturday for adult/child HK$690/490.
HKTB Island Tour (%852 2368 7111; www.discoverhongkong.com; half-/full-day adult HK$530/740, child HK$400/620) Includes Man Mo Temple, the Peak, Aberdeen, Repulse Bay and Stanley Market.
Sleeping
Hong Kong offers a full range of accommodation, from closet-sized rooms to palatial suites. Most hotels on Hong Kong Island are between Central and Causeway Bay; in Kowloon, they fall around Nathan Rd, where you’ll also find budget places. During low seasons prices fall sharply, particularly the midrange and top-end options, when booking online can get you discounts of up to 60%.
Useful Websites
ALonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com/china/hong-kong/hotels) Book LP's top accommodation picks online.
AHotel.com (www.hotels.com/Hong-Kong) Specialises in cheap lodging.
ADiscover Hong Kong (www.discoverhongkong.com) Provides a hotel search based on location and facilities.
AAsia Travel (www.hongkonghotels.com) Has better deals than others.