Hong Kong Travel Guide
Start Planning Your Trip to Hong Kong
One of our favorite places to visit, Hong Kong is an amazing mix of East and West. For first-time travelers to Asia, Hong Kong is an easy place to visit, but even if you are a frequent traveler…Hong Kong never fails to disappoint.
Explore this Hong Kong Travel Guide
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PLANNING BASICS
Essential information and Hong Kong travel planning tips including currency, transportation, climate & safety.
TIPS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Accommodation ideas as well as our own personal tips and recommendations for fun things to do Hong Kong!
INTERACTIVE MAP
Find top vacation destinations in Hong Kong and browse connected blog posts with planning tips!
TOOLS & CHECKLISTS
Download sample itineraries, vacation planning templates, and find packing lists for Hong Kong!
BOOKING RESOURCES
Search and book popular activities and hotels for your trip to Hong Kong!
BLOG POSTS
Scroll through all our Ireland blog posts to discover our Hong Kong travel tips and be inspired with new ideas!
Hong Kong Travel Planning FAQ's
What Language Do they Speak in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. There are technically 3 language widely spoken in Hong Kong. While the official language of China is Mandarin, locals in Hong Kong primarily speak Cantonese due to the heritage in this southern region of China.Â
However, given the fact that Britain controlled Hong Kong for so long, you will find English spoken widely in Hong – particularly in the most popular and touristy areas. You will find that many signs in Hong Kong are in all 3 languages, as well as transportation.Â
What Are the Entry / Exit Requirements for Hong Kong?
Even though Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, you do NOT need to have a Chinese Visa to enter Hong Kong.Â
Entry requirements will vary depending on the country you are coming from. But if you are from the USA, as of 2020 you do not need a special visa to enter Hong Kong.
You do need to have a valid passport to enter Hong Kong. Then US citizens will receive a visa on arrival.
What Money / Currency do They Use in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong has their own currency, the Hong Kong dollar. You will be able to exchange currency throughout the city, and you can also use the ATMs to get cash out – as long as you check with your bank and make sure you can use your ATM card abroad and put a travel notification on your account to let them know you will be in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong ATM machines actually give you the option to withdraw cash in both Chinese Yuan as well as Hong Kong Dollars.Â
What is the Climate and Weather Like in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong in in the southernmost part of China along the sea. The region’s weather is along like that of Florida. It is hot and humid much of the year, particularly in the summer, which a distinct rainy and dry season.Â
April through September are the wettest months of the year, while the winter months tend to be more dry.Â
The hottest month of the year is typically July, while the coldest is January. Hong Kong doesn’t see snow, so the winter months are still considerably mind yet chilly.
Typhoons (hurricanes) occur in the months from May through November. But the peak is between May to September.Â
Tips for Getting In / Out and Around Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a compact region that is extremely well connected. You do NOT need to rent a car or anything to get around Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong airport is connected to the city by express trains, and there are numerous metro lines that span the region, even across to Hong Kong Island.Â
There are also an extensive bus system, as well as ferries. For more details, check out our complete post about Getting Around with Hong Kong Transportation.Â
Hong Kong Travel Tips & Recommendations
Hong Kong really surprised me (Liz) on my first visit. I traveled to Hong Kong on a complete whim — totally last minute…and alone! Yet, I had one of the BEST vacations of my entire life!
Luckily, when Josh and I decided to live overseas for a few years we had the opportunity to live & teach English in Guangzhou, China — which is right near Hong Kong. So we were able to visit Hong Kong regularly for weekend trips. Turns out, Josh loves Hong Kong as much as I do, and we highly encourage travelers to visit this AMAZING city.
There’s more to Hong Kong than just the bustling, international city center. Explore the many districts of Hong Kong to discover the Chinese / Cantonese culture. Explore the many islands of Hong Kong to do some hiking and beach hopping — in fact, Hong Kong is an outdoor paradise with hiking and biking trails (you can even camp on the beach). Don’t forget to visit the giant Buddha on Lantau Island, and possibly take a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland!
Even though accommodations in Hong Kong can be spendy, they are many cheap & unique accommodations in Hong Kong as well as plenty of free activities in Hong Kong to save money as well. And with the awesome transportation in Hong Kong, you’ll be able to zip around the city and countryside with no problem. So whether you decide to take in a museum, explore old fishing villages, or just relax on a Hong Kong beach – a visit to Hong Kong is always a good idea!
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Hong Kong Booking Resources
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All Hong Kong Blog Posts
Geocaching in Hong Kong with FREE City Wifi
There’s no doubt that Geocaching in Hong Kong can be filled with adventure. You will find that other countries in Asia (like Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, and even mainland China) just don’t have many geocaches
Our Favorite Hong Kong Food!
One of the things that makes a visit to Hong Kong so great is that it is such a global city. This means that it is multi-cultural and, therefore, you can
10 Reasons for Solo Travel in Hong Kong (even solo female travelers)
This post was originally published in 2013, but was updated in 2019. Back when I was a single female (before Josh came along), I wanted to travel, but it was always difficult
Where to Stay in Hong Kong – Our Recommendations
Where to stay in Hong Kong? Having visited Hong Kong a number of times, we can attest to the wide variety of accommodation options for travelers. But when you are planning
Hong Kong’s Shopping & Street Markets
Shopping is one of the most famous attractions for travelers who plan to visit Hong Kong. The very roots of this global city is international trade, so you can find a huge
Travel Itinerary: 24 Hours in Hong Kong
Only have 24 hours in Hong Kong? Grab our itinerary of must-sees!
Don’t Miss! Top Places to Visit in Hong Kong
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Travel Itinerary: 1 Week in Hong Kong
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Travel Itinerary: Weekend in Hong Kong
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Top Rated Hotels & Hostels in Hong Kong
The vibrant and international city of Hong Kong is a prime destination for travelers who seek a taste of Asia with the amenities of a world-class city. When planning a visit
Don’t Blow Your Budget – Unique (and cheap) Hong Kong Accommodations
Hong Kong is famous for many things, including high prices for accommodations. This means that you could end up blowing your travel budget for a hotel room the size of a
Hong Kong History Museum: Photo Tour of an Awesome (and sometimes FREE) Museum
While there are so many activities and tours in Hong Kong, one of my favorite activities is visiting the Hong Kong history museum. I first discovered this museum during my first
Tai O Fishing Village on Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Located on the far side of Lantau Island, far away from the hustle of Hong Kong city, Tai O is an old fishing village famous for both its stilt houses, and
Hong Kong Beaches & Islands
When you picture tropical islands and beautiful beaches, you typically don’t think of Hong Kong. However, there is more to when visiting Hong Kong than just the busy city. In fact,
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