Hong Kong: Too much hustle and bustle, or worth a visit?

Instead of Singapore, we chose a rather unconventional stopover in Hong Kong on our Bali trip. After all, we thought, when would we ever come to Hong Kong again?

Noise, crowds, food markets, and temples in the middle of skyscrapers. That’s Hong Kong in a nutshell. To be honest, we weren’t particularly impressed at first. It feels like stepping into a completely different world. There’s a lot going on, the streets are busy, and on top of that, it’s extremely hot. Carrying our heavy backpacks for the upcoming Indonesia trip in the high humidity definitely didn’t make things any easier.

We spent a total of two days in Hong Kong. Planning wasn’t easy at first, as it’s a huge city with countless things to see, and at the time we found only a few detailed travel reports. That’s why we’ve put together our activities here, to hopefully save you a lot of research time and unnecessary headaches.

Must-see in Hongkong

Here you’ll find all the activities we did during our two days in Hong Kong, as well as the sights we visited including our personal feedback. We mainly got around by MTR and on foot. For better orientation, you’ll find a map below with all the locations marked.

The Nunnery (Chi Lin Nunnery)
A large Buddhist temple with a beautifully landscaped garden right in the middle of the city, surrounded by skyscrapers. The complex is built in traditional Tang Dynasty style and offers a peaceful escape from Hong Kong’s busy streets.
Wong Tai Sin Temple
It is another city temple. Since real ceremonies take place here, it was extremely crowded during our visit, and overall we found it quite touristy. If you only have time to visit one temple, we would definitely recommend the Nunnery (Chi Lin Nunnery).
Wellington Street
A great place to immerse yourself in the local culture and try authentic food. It’s a famous food street with many local restaurants and street food markets.
Tsim Sha Tsui
The famous waterfront promenade with stunning views across the harbor toward Hong Kong’s iconic skyline. Every evening at 8 p.m., the famous Symphony of Lights laser show takes place here. You can watch it by the water while enjoying a waffle from Mammy’s. For us it was the perfect way to end the day.
Star Ferry
For only about €1.50, you can take the Star Ferry in the evening and enjoy great views of the city and its glowing skyscrapers. The ferry offers a short harbor crossing that also brings you quickly to the other side, where most hotels are located. We took it right after visiting Tsim Sha Tsui, which was a perfect way to end the evening.

Exploring the City
There’s so much going on in Hong Kong that even a simple stroll through the streets becomes a little adventure. Everywhere there’s something to discover. From colorful markets and street food stalls to world-famous boutiques.
IFC Mall
A large shopping mall located in Hong Kong’s financial district.
Harbor City
Another large shopping mall, from whose terrace you get a stunning view of the sunset. We experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets ever here.
Sneaker Street
A must-see for all sneaker lovers. Depending on the exchange rate, you can buy popular sneakers here, often at a significantly lower price.

Restaurant Recommendations

BEP Vietnamese Kitchen – Delicious Vietnamese food, but quite busy during lunchtime.
Mammy’s – Popular waffles, perfect as a snack while watching the laser show. Due to high demand, it can take a while, so plan some extra time (Michelin recommended street food).
Dining Ground Central Market – Affordable and tasty meals. The Central Market has a food court with plenty of options.
Wellington Street – This street is full of authentic restaurants and food stalls.
Detour – A small, charming café. Ideal for breakfast or a coffee break.

Tips for an Easier Trip to Hongkong

E-SIM
We booked an eSIM through Holafly. Make sure not to make the same mistake we did. Don’t get an eSIM for China, as it won’t work in Hong Kong. Since Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China, there is a separate plan available.
Climate/AC
Hong Kong is very warm and humid. However, as soon as you enter indoor spaces, the air conditioning is very strong. We occasionally decided against going into restaurants simply because it was too cold for us. Even though it can be annoying, you should always carry a light warm layer that you can put on when needed.
Currency
In Hong Kong, the local currency is the Hong Kong Dollar (HK$). At the time of writing (January 2026), 10 HK$ are roughly equal to 1 €, so don’t confuse it with US dollars.
Public Transport
Getting around Hong Kong is easy and affordable using public transport. You can buy single tickets at counters or machines. If you plan to use public transport frequently, the Octopus Card is a convenient alternative. It’s a rechargeable card that lets you pay easily for buses, trains, ferries, and even at some shops.
Agoda
The booking platform Agoda is a great option for finding accommodations throughout Asia. In general, the deals here are often slightly cheaper than on traditional booking platforms.
Credit Card
For payments in Hong Kong, we used a Barclays credit card, which we have also used reliably and conveniently on all our other trips.

Our Conclusion on Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a bustling metropolis with a lot to offer and discover. Even though the city with its noise, crowds, smog, traffic, and glowing signs everywhere can feel overwhelming at first, it is definitely worth a visit.

From views over an apparently endless skyline to hidden food stalls and markets, there’s so much to experience. It feels like stepping into a completely different world, both culturally and culinarily. For us, it was our first long-haul trip, and we were initially quite overwhelmed. In hindsight, however, we really enjoyed it and would love to visit again with the experience we have now.

Accommodations in Hong Kong

One of the downsides is that accommodations in Hong Kong are relatively expensive. From our own experience, we can recommend not skimping when choosing your stay and spending a bit more. We had originally booked a cheaper place for around €40 per night, but we left immediately. From mold on the ceiling and blood stains on the sheets to a horrendous, sharp cleaning-chemical smell, the accommodation was a complete nightmare.

Fortunately, we were able to book a last-minute deal at the 99 Bonham. The hotel usually costs around €200 per person per night, placing it firmly in the higher price range. Thanks to the last-minute booking, we got a lower rate. Despite the higher price, we can highly recommend this hotel. It was very clean and beautiful, the service was excellent, and the view of Hong Kong’s skyline from the rooftop terrace was worth every penny. Additionally, the rooms are spacious, which is often not the case with cheaper accommodations that consist of tiny studio apartments. Below, you’ll find further accommodation suggestions for every budget.

Cheaper accommodations €

There are certainly cheaper accommodations in Hong Kong. However, due to our negative experience, we do not recommend them and won’t suggest any. Even after extensive research, we couldn’t find any well-reviewed and comfortable options. And you can believe us – normally, we are the type of travelers who always try to get the most value for our money.