Planning a 3-Day Tour of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is an internationally famous travel city with a metropolitan atmosphere, great skylines, fantastic shopping venues, and some of the best museums around. If you have 3 days to spend there, you can choose to visit some of the places that interest you most.

Here are some ideas to help you plan your 3-day tour of Hong Kong, and our recommendations for things to do.

Suggested Itinerary

Our itinerary provides a good balance of attractions over three days.

• Day 1: Victoria Peak, Aberdeen (optional: Repulse Bay, Stanley Market);
• Day 2: Lantau Island: Giant Buddha, Tai O Village;
• Day 3: Dragon's Back and Tsim Sha Tsui.

Remember this is only a sample itinerary. If you are traveling with us, you can modify the trip according to your interests.

Day 1 – Hong Kong Island Sightseeing

Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

A great idea for starting your tour of Hong Kong is to view the city from above – by visiting Victoria Peak. Then in the afternoon, you can take the opportunity to get closer to local people in Aberdeen or Stanley.

Morning: Visit Victoria Peak to Enjoy the Scenery of Victoria Harbour

For sightseeing in Hong Kong, Victoria Peak's view of the sea and city is quintessential. You have 2 options for reaching the peak: Take the relaxing Peak Tram (7 to 8 minutes) or hike (1 to 1.5 hours).

Peak Tower is the destination, from where you can admire fantastic views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong's skyline. Also visit Madame Tussauds Hong Kong in the tower.

At noon, go to one of the luxury restaurants in Peak Tower, where you can have lunch as you take in the harbor views. If you are traveling with us, your guide will also recommend to you some restaurants down the mountain.

Afternoon: Aberdeen or Stanley Market

In the afternoon, come into closer contact with local people in Aberdeen or Stanley.

Aberdeen in Hong Kong

Aberdeen is one of the earliest residential areas of Hong Kong and used to be a fishing village. It is now famous for its floating village and floating restaurants. Here, you can experience the lifestyle of fishermen from 'old Hong Kong'.

Ride on "sampan" fishing boats to visit the harbor area of Aberdeen. Then enjoy a seafood dinner in a floating restaurant.

Alternatively, Stanley Market is another place popular with local people. You may find a lot of interesting goods there, such as ornaments, paintings and handicrafts.

You are recommended to visit the market with a guide, for you can get some useful advice if you are going to buy something. It should be a good experience just to walk around.

Evening: Night View of Victoria Harbour

A night view of Hong Kong

Enjoy free time for the rest of the day. At nightfall, how about visiting Victoria Harbour shore to enjoy sunset and night views? At 8 pm, the Symphony of Lights show is laid on in the harbor. This popular tourist attraction is an entertaining way of learning about various buildings in Hong Kong.

Summary: During your first day, you will catch some must-see attractions, enjoying the scenery and experiencing locals' lives. Refer to our Hong Kong Island tour for further details.

Day 2 – Lantau Island Cultural Experience

Morning: Giant Buddha

Giant Buddha in Lantau Island

In the morning, we will drive to Lantau Island, with beautiful scenery all along the way. The top attraction in Lantau is Po Lin Monastery and the largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha statue in the world – the Giant Buddha.

For one of the best views of the Buddha – a view from above – ride on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car.

Enjoy a vegetarian lunch in the monastery after visiting.

Afternoon: Tai O Village and Ngong Ping Village

Tai O is a village in Lantau Island with beautiful scenery. It is a good place for imagining the lives of Hong Kong people long ago.

Ngong Ping nearby is a cultural village with Buddhist theatres, specialty restaurants, tea houses and markets. Buskers also perform Chinese kungfu, juggling, and Cantonese opera in the village.

Optional: Theme Parks

Ocean Park in Hong Kong

If you are traveling with young kids who may not so interested in cultural attractions, a good option may be to spend a day at one of Hong Kong's popular theme parks: Ocean Park or Disneyland.

Hong Kong Ocean Park is a popular theme park with animal performances, exciting rides and interesting exhibitions. Visit the Waterfront Section in the morning to see pandas, then enjoy some thrilling rides in the Summit Section, or watch marine animal performances.

Hong Kong Disneyland is not the largest in the world, but its small size lends itself to one full happy day out. It has two distinctive areas not found elsewhere, so no matter whether you have visited other Disneylands or not, Hong Kong Disneyland is worth a visit.

Summary: Day 2 is a cultural day, when you can learn about traditional customs of Hong Kong, and imagine how Hong Kong used to be. Check out our Lantau Island tour for more information.

Day 3 – Dragon's Back and Tsim Sha Tsui

Morning: Dragon's Back Hiking

In the morning, to escape the urban environment and enjoy natural beauty and exercise, we suggest hiking along Dragon's Back. The trail is about 30 minutes' drive from Hong Kong Central.

Dragon's Back is internationally renowned. From the trail, you could also easily access Big Wave Bay Beach, one of the Top 10 Hong Kong Beaches, on Hong Kong Trail Section 8. See Hong Kong Island Hiking for more information about the trail and transport there.

Optional: Hong Kong Park

If you are still feeling tired from yesterday's journey, or the weather isn't suitable for hiking, we recommend Hong Kong Park,which is a free and pleasant city park, with some relaxing indoor activities.

The park has a greenhouse with 2,000 plant species, a large world-class open aviary under a net canopy, and 19^th-century British buildings. Also visit the Hong Kong Museum of Teaware,with a free ceramics museum, excellent architectural sightseeing, a tea shop, and a cafe.

Afternoon: The Golden Mile on Nathan Road

Nathan Road of Hong Kong

In the afternoon, ride a Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui.

For local culture and shopping in HK, Nathan Road is a tourist magnet. People from various cultures mingle there, with a variety of low- and high-end stores lining both sides of the road. Start in front of Chung King Mansions and walk north.

If you become tired of walking, you can visit Kowloon Park behind the Masjid, or sample some street food.

Summary: On day 3, enjoy nature or take some time to relax,then enjoy some shopping. Apart from shopping, there are other things to do in Tsim Sha Tsui. Hoping you will have some great experiences in these 3 days.

Enjoy Your Tour of Hong Kong with Us

Tour Hong Kong with China Highlights

Here's hoping the itinerary above will give you some ideas for your tour of Hong Kong. If you are traveling with us, you can simply tell us what you like, then we will customize a tour for you. You can enjoy a hassle-free journey with a guide who speaks your language and a private vehicle.

See more Hong Kong tours. Pick out a tour you like, as the starting point for creating your own unique trip. Just tell us your preferences and start discussing 1–1 with a dedicated travel advisor.