3 Day – Hong Kong and Macau Itinerary (Part 2)

This is my second and final instalment to my 3-day Hong Kong and Macau Itinerary. If you have not read the first part, it can be found here. Two full days in Hong Kong is way too short to do everything but yet long enough for you to cover quite a fair bit.

Before you try to cram your itinerary, always remember you can never cover everything; it’s also foolish and expensive (both in terms of money and time) to cover everything. So, pick the essential and do what you really want to do!

This itinerary allows some flexibility as I have broken it down into two parts: The quintessential Hong Kong itinerary and the optional itinerary. The optional itinerary gives some leeway as you can pick and choose from different items and helps tailor your trip to your own preferences.

This itinerary should not be read as though it should be done as itineraries on separate days. You can and should mix the items depending on the weather, your pace and also whether it involves a weekend (so as to avoid crowds for popular destinations).

The Quintessential Hong Kong Itinerary

Breakfast. Nothing beats starting the day with an awesome breakfast. You are spoiled for choices while in Hong Kong. I suggest skipping the Australian Dairy Company in Jordan (seriously overrated for their scrambled eggs, toasts and macaroni).

Instead try visiting Lan Fong Yuen (they have a franchise/branch in the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal at Sheung Wan) an institution in terms of Cha Chaan Teng dining experience and also Lin Heung Teahouse for dim sum. There are two “branches” although I still can’t figure out how they are related. The often-visited branch is in Central (Lin Heung Lau). I would, however, recommend visiting its other branch, Lin Heung Kui at Des Voeux Road. The overall experience is, I feel, better in Lin Heung Kui.  

With breakfast out of the way, head over to the Peak for a breath-taking view of Victoria Harbour.

While guides would often recommend taking the Peak Tram up, the service will be closed for at least 3 months from April 2019 for repairs and upgrades. Instead, consider either taking a taxi up or one of the many public buses up:

A Special Route No. X15 between Admiralty (West) Bus Terminus (near MTR Admiralty Station Exit B) and The Peak will be operated by New World First Bus (NWFB);

NWFB Route No. 15 (Central (Central Ferry Piers) / Exchange Square – The Peak);

NWFB Route No. 15B (Wan Chai (Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Extension) – The Peak) – service on Sundays and Public Holidays only;

*Beware of the weather. On rainy days or earlier in the year when temperatures are still on the lower end, fog is a problem. So, plan accordingly and give it a miss if fog is present. No point wasting time and money to be covered in misty fog. If visiting on a good day, consider dining at Mak’s noodles or Tsui Wah. At the time of writing, these eateries are closed as The Peak Galleria is closed for renovation.

If the Peak is unavailable due to fog or weather and you are seeking unique experiences (and have no interest in shopping), one alternative is to have an afternoon tea at Peninsula Hong Kong (i.e. skip the part on Causeway Bay and head over to Central Pier for Star Ferry and the Avenue of the Stars).

Lunch. One of my personal favourites would be Joy Hing Roasted Meat (265-267 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai). This shop may appear underwhelming but really packs a punch in terms of its food. The store featured quite a few times on Anthony Bourdain’s programmes and that, I believe, speaks for itself.

With lunch out of the way, consider walking over to Causeway Bay for some window shopping or, for some, serious shopping. Times Square offers a more legit shopping experience with branded goods whereas the nearby smaller malls offer cheaper alternatives.

Once done, hop onto either a tram or take the MTR back to Central. We are going to cross Victoria Harbour on the iconic Star Ferry. I suggest paying that tiny bit extra for seats on the upper deck as the air is fresher being further away from the engines. The cabin at the front of the ferry is air-conditioned and offers some respite from the summer heat.

Once off the ferry in Tsim Sha Tsui, turn right. You will likely see the iconic Former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower. Close to the Clock Tower is usually parked a Mister Softee minivan. Be sure to get a delicious soft serve ice cream to keep you company as you stroll along the Avenue of the Stars. It appears that this area has since been renovated. Previously, the hand prints were on the floor. Now, they have been shifted on the railings by the side. Keke, easier now to pose with your favourite actor’s handprint.

*Afternoon Tea at Peninsula Hong Kong. If experience hunting is your game, consider having afternoon tea at Peninsula Hong Kong. There is something reminiscent of colonial Hong Kong there. Tea starts at 2pm. Reservations are allowed 7 days in advance and full payment is required though. If walking in without reservations, be sure to queue early at around 1pm as this is on a first come first served basis.

The portions will be quite heavy, so consider skipping lunch if you are having afternoon tea.

Even if you are not having afternoon tea, do still pop over to the Peninsula Hong Kong. Although you are not a paying guest, you can still enjoy the afternoon tea atmosphere in the lobby. The hotel engages a live orchestra (albeit a small group of musicians) and listening to a few pieces while in there offers a good break from this hectic itinerary.

Depending on how full you are (and whether you had tea at the Peninsula), the itinerary here can vary.

Dinner – Claypot Rice. If you are hungry consider taking the MTR down to Yau Ma Tei Station and exit via Exit C. This area is known for their claypot rice and also duck oyster omelettes. YUMMY! There are two competing rivals here: Four Seasons and Hing Kee. Both, in my opinion, are about the same. If variety is on the top of your priority, Hing Kee’s menu appears to be more varied and goes beyond claypot rice dishes.

Temple Street

From Arthur Street, you can walk over to Temple Street. Temple Street is a lively night market that should feature on your itinerary. A little known fact is that Temple Street actually stretches over two “streets”. The main section is perpendicular to Kansu Street and is the “Temple Street”. The other hidden half is actually closer to Arthur Street (i.e. near to the Claypot Rice Shops). So, if time permits, consider strolling through both sections. If travelling with kids, do take note that in between these two sections (i.e. along Shanghai Street) there are stalls selling adult toys. You may want to either detour slightly (via Nathan Road and Kansu Street) or take precautionary measures.

This, I think, sums up my Quintessential Hong Kong Itinerary. By following this itinerary, you would more or less have covered most of the important sights in Kowloon and on Hong Kong island. Hong Kong, however, also offers much more for its visitors and the optional itinerary below allows visitors a chance to tailor their own Hong Kong experience.

Optional Hong Kong Itinerary

This part of the itinerary is quite flexible and depends on what you want to do.

For those inclined to do some hiking to take in the incredible views or for those who really enjoy the outdoors, consider doing the Dragon’s Back (4 hours hike, 8.5km, Medium Difficulty).

Or why not consider visiting one of the outlying islands like Cheung Chau and attempt the mini great wall?

If you are not the outdoor kind of person, a great alternative is to instead visit Lantau Island and its huge Bronze Buddha. One great itinerary possible is to visit late morning (either via Cable Car or Bus from Tung Chung). If going by cable car, I always recommend spending more and going by the crystal cabin and so avoid the long queues for the normal cabins.

Tucked away from the Bronze Buddha (about 10 minutes walk away) is the Wisdom Trail and makes for a great photo opportunity. You can grab a vegetarian lunch at the Monastery. There are deluxe meal tickets and also VIP tickets. Both are equally good. The meal tickets can be bought at the base of the staircase leading up to the Bronze Buddha or outside the dining hall. My suggestion is to get it while viewing the Bronze Buddha as the meal ticket grants you access to see the Buddha relic that is enshrined within the Bronze Buddha.

With lunch over, head over to Ngong Ping village. Although touristy, the village still offers some good sights and a way to step into the modern world. Thereafter, you can either take the cable car or bus back. If travelling by cable car, my suggestion is to go for the more expensive cabins and so “jump” the queue. If it so happens to rain while you are up at Ngong Ping and the cable car is down, do expect a huge crowd at the bus stop. While the line may look long, it clears pretty fast as the intervals between each bus is shorten (maybe, 3-5 minutes per bus). Avoid taking taxi as they are irregular and often only respond to taxi bookings.

Once back in Tung Chung, if you are in the mood for shopping, consider popping over to Citygate mall. It is an outlet shop mall and offers discounted branded items.

If you are really up for it, another viable alternative is a day trip out of Hong Kong. Shenzhen just lies about an hour’s MTR ride from Central to Luohu. As to whether this is worth your while, it depends on what you want to see. If you want to have a bit of mainland China in your itinerary, Shenzhen is a good choice. Once you crossed the border, there will be plenty for you to do. If shopping is your agenda, Shenzhen should be a shopper’s paradise. If you are a book nerd and happen to enjoy Chinese books, you can consider visiting Shenzhen Book City which apparently is one of the largest bookstores in the world. If pampering yourself with a massage is your thing, there are plenty of massage joints across the border as well. Hit up tripadvisor for recommendations! Travelling with kids? Why not visit Window of the World with its many miniature buildings of world famous sites?

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