the golden pavilion - nan lian gardens - hong kong

large tian tan buddha statue in hong kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong in brief:

Capital : in absolute terms, Beijing
Wide : 1 104 km²
Official language : Chinese (mainly Cantonese), English
Currency : Hong Kong Dollar (HKD, in 2019: €1 = approximately HKD9)
Religion : 50% irreligious, 35,3% Taoists, Confucians or Buddhists, 11,6% Christians
Independence : from the United Kingdom in 1997
Diet : multiparty system
Administration : special administrative region of the People's Republic of China
Population : 7,5 million inhabitants
Visa for French people : no up to 90 days
Average daily budget : 55 € / person
Time difference with France : 6h in summer, 7h in winter
Best period : from October to March
Flight duration : 18 hours on average (flight Paris → Hong Kong, with 1 stopover)
Electrical outlets : voltage – 220 V; plug type(s): G
Telephone code : + 852

Why visit Hong Kong?

Taking advantage of a few days of rest, we wanted a place to visit that was not too big, where some days would be enough to get a good overview. Hong Kong, which we wanted to combine with a visit to nearby Macau, was the ideal plan.

Its name literally means "perfume port" or "fragrant port" in Cantonese. Despite all the aspects (own passport,
currency, government), Hong Kong is not really a country in its own right, but remains a region, admittedly, quasi-autonomous, of the People's Republic of China. This difference in system was one of the conditions set by the British for a return to China, one country, two systems.

Indeed, Hong Kong was an English colony for over 150 years, then returned to China in 1997. Experiencing an economic boom from the 60s, it was only from the 70s that its economy took off with the place of finance taking on more importance. Today the 3rd financial center in the world, Hong Kong is a rich city, and it shows, I have never seen such a concentration of luxury cars. But be careful, the city is not just that.

“A hazy view of the Central district”

“Hong Kong is surrounded by water, so there are lots of nature and swimming spots.”

Hong Kong is also a Chinese land, with its traditions, but due to its cosmopolitan side, it integrates a mixture of cultures. We come across many Chinese temples recalling sometimes Taoist and sometimes Buddhist roots.

But with the English influence, there are also churches and, to a lesser extent, you can also come across a mosque or Sikh temples. Hong Kong is also a mixture of modernity and its colonial past, the visible remains of which are scattered here and there across the main island.

Hong Kong is also a region between land and sea, surrounded by mountains and bordered by wild coasts, making it an excellent place for nature walks and relaxing on the beach.

WE love

Easy to visit on your own (good transport network)
Lively, interesting
The unexpected varied landscapes (mountain, sea, city, village)

We are less of a fan

A bit crowded, sometimes stifling
Not a fan of the food
Weather that can be capricious (see the best period below)

Preparing your trip: advice before you leave

Here is a summary of some essential information to know before any stay in Hong Kong.

Do I need a visa for Hong Kong?

If you are a French national, the answer is NO, it is not necessary to obtain a visa for Kong Kong (unlike mainland China where a visa is required), because the Immigration Department The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region itself manages the entry and exit of foreigners.

However, this exemption is valid for a stay of less than 90 days.

For a trip of less than 90 days

A visa is therefore not necessary if you hold a passport from one of these countries:

Germany, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, South Korea, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Spain, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Great Britain, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, St. Lucia, Sweden, Switzerland, Swaziland, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In any case, it remains mandatory to present a passport valid for at least 6 months after the exit date. If for some reason your passport is damaged or dog-eared, find out more, because Hong Kong could refuse you entry.

Please note: if you go to China then to Hong Kong then return to China, a Chinese visa double entries is necessary.

Small peculiarity: if you are flying to Hong Kong and your flight includes a stopover in mainland China (France > China > Hong Kong), you will need to ensure that your stopover in China allows the 72-hour visa-free rule, in which case you do not need a visa to enter and stay on Chinese soil for 72 hours and can continue your flight to Hong Kong without a visa. (the city being considered “international”).

Stay of more than 3 months:

To stay more than 90 days in Hong Kong (work, internship, studies …) you need a visa as aexpatriate, even if it is temporary.

In this case, I invite you to check the current entry and stay conditions and to seek advice from the Consulate of France in Hong Kong.

Transportation in Hong Kong

Coming to Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world (8th in 2017 with 72 million passengers). It is one of the main entry and exit points in Asia and has successfully replaced (voted 8 times the best airport in the world, the last time in 2011) the old Kai Tak airport, which was located in the heart of Kowloon until 1998 (planes landing very close to the buildings in the center!).

If you want to go directly to Hong Kong from France, there is a good chance that you will have to make at least one stopover in Beijing. From what I have seen, Air China offers unbeatable prices for the France – Hong Kong route with prices starting from €350!

Good value for money, you have the local company Cathay Pacific which offers direct flights (about 12 hours of flight) for about €750. This is a good reference, the company is classified 5 stars Skytrax and has been voted the best airline in the world 4 times (the last time in 2014).

Air France also offers direct flights although a bit more expensive (around €900).

Here we go !

With at least one stopover, you have the company Finnair which offers attractive prices, Lufthansa with promotions can go below 400€. Otherwise, you always have the Gulf companies Emirates, Qatar Airways and especially Etihad, which can offer flights from €450 depending on the period.

It is also possible to come to Hong Kong by train from mainland China via Shenzhen, the neighboring city to Hong Kong. The railway lines connect now directly Hong Kong to Shenzhen, whose railway station is interconnected with Hong Kong's metro lines.

Coastal area, you might have the opportunity to visit Hong Kong via cruise, it is also possible to come by boat from nearby destinations like Macau.

Search for a flight to Hong Kong

Getting around Hong Kong

Hong Kong is very well connected. Between its underground metro network, express train, tram for the railways but also buses and taxis, there is everything you need to navigate from one end of the region to the other.

During 2 stays in Hong Kong, we had the opportunity to test all the transport options offered by Hong Kong.

Road transport

The bus network is well developed and convenient for covering long distances, especially in areas where there are no subways. This is also the option we took to reach the city center (Jordan district) from the airport during our first stay (the longest), count 39 HK$ to do it (4 €).

To get between Repulse Bay and Stanley (4 km) it cost us HK$4,9 (just over a euro).

If you want to see the cost from one point to another, you can use this site (also works on your mobile).

You can of course take taxis. But although the latter run on LPG (like in Thailand), the prices are less attractive and quite expensive. We tested it once for a long distance on Lantau, to get from the cable car, under construction that day, to the main temple (Po Lin) where the great Buddha is located. 22 km journey for around 170 HK$ (19 €).

Taxi pick-up starts at 24 HK$ (on Lantau, it's 19 HK$) then the rate is degressive according to the amount reached by the meter, but roughly, count between 6 and 8 HK$ per kilometer.

To give you an idea of the prices of taxis in Hong Kong you can look on this online calculator.

If you plan on renting a car (which, unless you also plan on visiting neighbouring mainland Chinese cities or Macau, is of little interest to me), remember that despite the handover to China, Hong Kong still drives on the left.

The island ofHong Kong has been linked to since October 2018 Macau et Zhuhai by a marine road bridge of several dozen kilometers. Partly above ground above the sea and undergroundMarine, passing through the Pearl River estuary, the latter is controversial because in addition to the impact on the local ecosystem (there are dolphins in particular in theEstuary), its usefulness compared to its enormous cost remains questionable.

Rail transport

The Mass Transit Railway or MTR is the Hong Kong metro, it is the most convenient and rather cheap (roughly 10 HKD per trip or about 1€). You can take an Octopus subscription card to reduce the cost and avoid buying tickets from the machine each time. The network is well developed and covers a good part of the main sites in the center.

Hong Kong metro map.

The old tram leading to Victoria Peak.

You can still test the famous tram in the Central part of Hong Kong. Using so-called "double-decker" trams (with one floor), these only run on the northern part of the main island, Hong Kong Island, connecting it from east to west in the most developed districts. There is also a fast train connecting the airport to the city center, but the latter, although significantly faster, is also more expensive than the bus ($110 from Hong Kong one way or €12).

Finally, as a bonus, but after all, it is also on rails, there is also a funicular, the Peak Tram (built in 1888!), which connects the Central district to the top of Victoria Peak.

Shipping

Being on the seaside, you can sail via one of the four lines across Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula (the mainland part of Hong Kong) by ferry via the historic Star Ferry company (operational since its creation at the end of the nineteenth^e century).

From the Central (Hong Kong Island side) and Kowloon (mainland) piers, you will also find several ferry services providing daily connections to the other islands of Hong Kong, including the Lantau Islands (home to the airport, Disneyland, the temple at Tian Tan Great Buddha), Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Lamma.

The famous Star Company ferries.

Ferries also go to the so-called New Territories district but also to Macau and some cities in mainland China (e.g. Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Zhuhai).

To summarize, you have 3 main platforms to use them:

China Ferry Terminal. Located next to Harbour City Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. This is the way to get to Macau. Prices range from HK$150 to HK$171 (daytime) to HK$211 (nighttime).
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal (aka Sheung Wan Terminal). Located on the 3rd floor of the Shun Tak Centre (building next to the wharf, near the IFC towers) on Hong Kong Island. Same rates as the previous one.
Sky Pier. it is the pier next to Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island. Its use is exclusive to tourists. One-way fare is more expensive at HK$270.

entrance china ferry terminal tsim sha tsui hong kong

Towards the entrance of China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Book a hotel in Hong Kong

With a density of nearly 7 inhabitants per km², I'm not telling you much given its reputation that in Hong Kong, space is expensive. And even more so in high season. Be prepared to pay amounts around 50-60 €, even for a small room of just 10-12 m²…

However, depending on the area, you can find charming little hotels and at least well located ones. The hotel below was our choice during our first stay, for 6 nights. It was located in the Jordan district, not far from Tsim Sha Tsui, a rather lively area in the evening between restaurants and the night market (temple street).

It is still possible to find youth hostels, but they are not common and the prices remain proportional to Hong Kong.

Tempo Inn

I mentioned it in my article on Hong Kong, en As such, the room is nice considering the size (11 m²!) but a little noisy because of the ventilation pipe overlooking the street, but it is a lively area in the evening... The price was not given (it's Hong Kong...) because for that, we paid €57 per night! Yes yes… Good after must see that we were still in the high season, otherwise the price is halved.

Assuming an improvement, they opened a new branch on the 4th floor of the same building, titled Tempo Inn – Cozy.

Book Tempo Inn @ David Mansion

When we returned to Hong Kong only two months later (coincidence of the calendar!), it was as part of a stopover to go to the USA (yes, because if you are a regular reader, you can't really know that we went there since I don't talk about it, because it's off topic given my target audience...)

So we looked for other areas to sleep in, depending in particular on what we still had to visit after our first stay.

Homey Hotel Central

On the way there, we decided to stay in the heart of the city center, in the Central district (which lives up to its name) and it is at Homey that we were staying. More expensive than the Tempo Inn tested 2 months ago in the Jordan district (To Kowloon), it was still much better in terms of quality/price (€72 per night). Convenient location close to a metro station. The room was very clean, well insulated, so quiet and a little more great (12 m²), a luxury!

Book the Homy Hotel Central

For our last trip to Hong Kong, we decided to treat ourselves to a room for €85. And we changed districts again, heading this time towards Wan Chai, not far from the Central district where we were just before.

Burlington Hotel

Coming back from the US, I wanted something a little cozy, to recover from the jet lag. (pretty hard coming from so far away). Despite the small size of the room (11 m²) which remains within the Hong Kong standard, the Burlington is a small shop hotels rather luxury targeted.

And it's quite successful, with its location in the heart of the neighborhood. Wan Chai, the view from our room was not bad at all! A little extra also for the smartphone provided free of charge as in luxury hotels (we had the right to it Macau). The only drawbacks are that there is no small fridge and although there is a nice little reception downstairs, there is no restaurant. (so no small already).

Book the Burlington Hotel

Book your hotel in Hong Kong with Booking

Health and Safety in Hong Kong

Do I need travel insurance?

Hong Kong is not necessarily a destination where travel insurance seems essential. However, travel insurance, especially if you are going to Asia for several months, can be more than welcome in the event of a mishap, because credit card insurance is limited.

The maximum amount for healthcare costs covered by traditional credit cards may prove insufficient (around €10 compared to €000 for dedicated travel insurance) and does not cover civil liability.

I advise you ACS Travel & Expatriation Insurance Solutions.

I would like to point out that if you subscribe to the insurance via the link, I will receive a small commission. This is a simple way to help keep the site running, because insurance is preferable anyway and it will therefore be beneficial for both you and me.

What vaccines and what do I need to know for my health?

No vaccinations are required for nationals of European countries. As always, it is best to be up to date on universal vaccinations (DTP, whooping cough, hepatitis B). Hepatitis A and typhoid fever may be useful if staying for a long time.

Normally, tap water is drinkable. However, to avoid the inconveniences of acclimatization and diet, you can always take bottled water as a precaution, especially if you have a sensitive stomach.

Street Foods (street food) do not normally pose any particular hygiene problems, but here too, if you have a sensitive stomach, prefer dishes prepared in indoor restaurants.

An address to remember in case of problems:

Queen's Mary (Hong Kong): +852 28 55 38 38

For your safety

Hong Kong is one of the safest areas in the world, with low crime and few particular dangers for women travelling alone.

Pratical information

– Emergency numbers –

Police, emergencies: 999

Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on China (there is no specific one in Hong Kong)

What to see and do in Hong Kong?

Let's summarize the main attractions of Hong Kong here.

Kowloon. It is the area attached to the continent facing Hong Kong Island. (the rest being part of the New Territories). This is where the commercial area of Tsim S Tsui, the promenade along the bay, facing Hong Kong Iceland. You have several museums like Hong Kong Museum of History, the cultural center of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Space Museum or even Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Center, located on the edge of a public park.

Another interesting park, north of Kowloon, Nan's gardens Lian and its golden pavilion, facing the Chi Lin Nunnery. Another interesting temple is the popular Che Kung.

A glimpse of the Nan Lian Gardens.

Walking in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Neighborhood Expect Kok, finally, is a lively area, made up of narrow streets and popular for shopping. In fact, there are several famous markets there, such as the vast “Ladies Supermarket", specializing in stalls of clothing for these ladies, while the Flower Supermarket offers, as you might expect, flowers but also plants. If you are sporty, it is along Avenue Fa Yuen Street which you should take a look at, as it is lined with sports and sneaker stores.

Finally, towards Jordan, you have the Temple night market Street, which offers a mixture of stands selling trinkets, food and even fortune telling. It's also a popular area in the evening for its street food stalls, teahouses and casual restaurants for a night out with friends. During the day, there's the Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market.

Restaurants near Temple Street.

At the Yau Ma Tei fruit market.

Island of Lantau. This is where you will arrive in Hong Kong, and it would be a shame to miss it. If you have children, you can always visit the Disneyland park located there, but its main attraction lies in its Buddhist temple, perched in the mountains.

Po Lin Monastery is best known for its large seated Buddha statue. (34 m) built in the early 90s. To get there in an original way, you can take a cable car that leaves from the village of Tung Chung. If you are a walker, there is an 8 km trail leading there, taking you through nature.

To see a different side, head to the fishing village of Tai O on the west side of the island. A path will take you through this village famous for its dried fish and its shrimp paste production. (used for sauces). Continuing towards the mountain, above the Chinese cemetery, you will have a viewpoint (Fu Shan viewing point) on the bay, where the new bridge connecting Hong Kong to Macau. This is a spot where you might be lucky enough to admire white dolphins from afar.

view po lin monestary - lantau island hong kong

View of Po Lin Monastery from the Big Buddha.

In Tai O village. It's still better with sun!

pink dolphin tai o - lantau island hong kong

Do you see the tip just a little lower left of the boat?

Lantau has a network of trails for walking, the most famous being soberly called Sentier Lantau, a mountainside path with superb views over the entire island. To the south, you can relax on the black sand beach of chicken O Beach.

Hong Kong Island. This is the main island where the Central district is located, the business center par excellence. Around it, you will find several neighborhoods, each with their own attractions. Small Chinese here, old colonial building there. You can also wander through the many staircase alleys, sometimes hiding street art, small art shops, cafes.

You can also admire the view from Victoria Peak, dominating the skyscrapers of the modern district.

central mid-levels escalator - hong kong

A street with an escalator.

Here I am speaking first of all for the northern part of the island. To the south you will find several bays and beaches to relax on.

The best known ofbetween them being Repulse Bay, a large beach that attracts people in particular because of its unusual building at its entrance, which has an opening through the building called "dragon hole", typical of Hong Kong. These openings would be the point of passage of the dragon, symbol of good fortune, between the mountain and the sea, according to the principle of Feng Shui.

Another bay with a certain charm is Stanley, with its colonial monument, Murray House and its souvenir market, Stanley Market.

Repulse Bay Beach.

Stanley Bay.

The other islands, the north of the new territories. Among the other islands, there is Lamma Island, appreciated for its hiking trail crossing the island. The rest is a lot of green spaces, national parks, beaches, in short, nature, often ignored but also neglected due to lack of time, people preferring to focus on the "city" aspect of Hong Kong which generally remains their primary attraction (including me).

Destinations

Kowloon

Lantau

Central

Lamma

Repulse Bay + Stanley

Sai Kung

Things to see / things to do

Nan Lian Gardens, Chin Lin Nunnery, Temple Street, Yaumatei Tin Hau Temple

Po Lin monestary, Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O village

Statue park, tram, Man Mo temple, Victoria peak

Beaches, hiking, fishing village

Beaches, Tin Hau and Kwun Yum Statues, Murray House

Wild national park in the northeast of the country

Route suggestions

To help you get started, here are some suggestions for a quick visit:

If you only have 3 days:

I would say that this is the minimum to devote to Hong Kong. Because of course, it is not very "big" in terms of territory, but there is still a lot to do (for the record, Hong Kong is smaller than Bangkok and its 1 km²!). The idea in this case is to focus on visiting the most representative districts of the city.

1er day: go at the discovery of Kowloon, strolling along Nathan Avenue Road, in the heart of the shopping district of Tsim S Tsui. Following to the bay, where the old clock tower is located (there was a station once), you will pass in front of the superb hotel Peninsula then the History Museum. You will then arrive at the promenade, from where you will see the iconic view of the line of buildings located in the Central district, on the main island of Hong Kong. Next door is the Avenue of Stars, the Asian version of the famous “Walk of Fame » from Hollywood. In the evening, stroll around the Temple night market Street before having a drink in a bar at the top of a skyscraper and enjoying the view of Hong Kong

2nd day: Cross the bay (if you sleep on your side Kowloon) and discover the business districts in Central. Eventually, go to the neighborhood causeway Bay, where the old Chinese Man Mo temple is located. You can also throw a eye in the Western Market where you will come across trams. Then head out to admire the view of the famous HSBC bank headquarters from Statue Square public park. Take a look at the neighborhood hipster de Wan Chai and find the murals or soak up the more relaxed atmosphere, between cafes and shops.

Finally, take the funicular to climb to the top of Victoria Peak, from where you can see the view of the entire central area and the bay separating Hong Kong Iland de Kowloon.

3nd day: The last day, dedicate it to the other islands. Mainly at Lantau, to see the Po Lin Buddhist Temple and the Tian Tan Giant Buddha. Next, head to the small fishing village of Tai O, which offers a glimpse of Hong Kong of yesteryear. If you have time, end the day on the side of Repulse Bay story to see at least one beach, or otherwise in Stanley, quiet area by the sea (south of Hong Kong Island). In the evening, you can head to the Lan Kwai Fong district, a hotspot for nightlife in Hong Kong.

Bam, here comes Hong Kong.

The HSBC tower seen from the park.

The Peninsula Hotel.

From 5 days:

In addition to the places listed below, you could add 2 days as follows:

4nd day: Isle of Lamma, there are several beaches, but the island is especially appreciated for its hiking trail, crossing the island from one side to the other. Especially considering the boat schedules, you will practically need a full day to do the tour.

5nd day:You can visit Chi Lin Monastery Nunnery and the beautiful garden facing it, Nan Lian Garden, known for its golden pavilion known as “absolute perfection” (just that). The rest of the day, you can either explore one of the previously mentioned districts in more depth or head to one of the national parks, the closest to the garden being Lion Rock Country. Park. For the best views of Hong Kong, you might want to head a little further afield. At the rural park of Leaves kung To the east, trails will take you past viewpoints on coasts bordered by wild beaches, waterfalls with natural swimming pools and cliffs with volcanic rock formations, basalt organs.

A view of the seaside west of Lamma Island.

On the terrace of the Nan Lian gardens.

See the article on our 5 days in Hong Kong (first stay)

12/12/2017

Hong Kong in 5 days: itinerary and must-see discoveries

5 days to discover Hong Kong, that's all we had during this first stay in this special administrative region of China, enough to see the essentials even if coming back a few months later was not too much!

Climate:

The climate of Hong Kong is called subtropical climate with dry winter. Basically, it is characterized by two distinct periods:

From December to March: cIt is the cool and dry season. This corresponds to winter (temperatures by night can go below 10°C), and as the name of the climate suggests, it is a rather dry winter, especially in January and February. It may be cloudy, but usually without rain. The weather remains good and the temperatures, cool at night, remain pleasant during the day.
From April to September: cIt is the rainy season, and hot. It is generally gloomy, hot, and even heavy weather, because humid and rainy, with possible mist. At the height of the season, from June to September (temperatures exceeding the 30°C), it is also the typhoon season (especially July and August).

If you read carefully, you will notice that they are missing months. In fact, October and November, although not a season in their own right, still stand out from these two variations of the local climate.

At this time, the rains become less frequent, but the atmosphere is still warm during the day.

When is the best time to visit Hong Kong?

The best time to discover Hong Kong is therefore between the months of October and until March, like a good part of Southeast Asia after all.

The optimal period is the month of December, when you should have a maximum of blue skies and pleasant temperatures between 15°C and 20°C. After seeing that it is the best, it is also the high season, and to a lesser extent, October November as well.

If you want a little less visitors but still want to enjoy some good weather, then January and February are your dates to choose.

kowloon quays - hong kong — Cloudy weather in March.

Hong Kong
Macau

Hong Kong

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Hong Kong

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	18	18	20	24	28	30	31	31	30	27	24	20
T°C Min	13	13	16	19	23	25	26	26	25	22	18	15

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	5	9	11	12	15	19	18	17	15	7	5	4
Sun**	5	3	3	3	4	5	7	6	6	6	6	6

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

HONG KONG ISLAND Weather

Macau

Jan.

Feb.

Mars

Apr.

May

June

Jul.

August

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Macau

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
T°C Max	18	18	21	25	28	30	32	31	30	28	24	20
T°C Min	12	14	16	20	24	26	26	26	25	23	18	14

	Jan.	Feb.	Mars	Apr.	May	June	Jul.	August	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
Rain*	5	10	12	12	14	18	16	16	12	6	5	4
Sun**	4	3	2	3	4	5	7	6	6	6	6	5

* Average number of rainy days
** Average daily sunshine (in hours)

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

MACAO Weather

What budget for Hong Kong?

Hotel – Hong Kong is not particularly known for being cheap in terms of accommodation. However, it is still possible to find budget hotels, with tiny rooms but hey, that's part of the Hong Kong experience!

For simple guesthouses, possible within 20 €
For rooms in basic hotels, from €30
To The decent and mid-range hotels, from €50
For the highest end, expect to pay at least €90

Meals – food - The food in Hong Kong is pretty much based on Chinese specialties, which is not my strong point. But with its mix of cultures and 40 restaurants, Hong Kong offers a wide range of cuisines. If you look hard enough, you should find what you're looking for, whatever your tastes! And unlike accommodation, food is not the most expensive thing in Hong Kong.

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

A bottle of water costs on average HK$8 (€1)
A meal costs on average HK$50 per person (€5)
A local beer 50 HK$ (5 €)

Transport - Transportation is easy and varied, as well as affordable. Whether the MRT (metro), or buses, not to mention taxis, obviously more expensive, but allowing freedom of timing and location, Hong Kong is very well served.

Opt for the Octopus card, that makes travel easier by avoiding having to take out cash (buses being payable at the exact amount for example), in addition to offering a discount on the normal rate (of the order of a HK$ less depending on the route).

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

Subway fare: 5-12HK$
Train from International Airport to downtown: HK$100
Local bus: depending on distance, average around HK$2 to HK$5
For taxi rides, expect to pay an average of HK$8,5 per kilometer plus HK$24 for a pick-up fee.

In a metro station.

Small budget
^€ 35-40
jour
60 € for 2

12 € per person

6 € per person

Free activities

Medium budget
^€ 60-70
jour
75 € for 2

30 € per person

15 € per person

6 € per person

Comfortable budget
^€ 90+
jour
100 € for 2

45 € per person

20 € per person

15 € per person

Minimum daily budget suggestion / person – €55 (Note: budget for a budget holiday, with hotel in single room, meals mainly in simple restaurants and use of public transport mainly and few paid visits)

Articles about Hong Kong

My articles about my stays in Hong Kong.

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Any opinions, suggestions? Leave me a comment!

Asia Country Guide Hong Kong

Roman

30/06/2019

Romain B.

When I discovered Thailand in 2006, I certainly didn't expect to settle down there 2 years later! Since then, I've been based in Bangkok and I regularly travel throughout Asia. I share my stories, photos, advice on expat life in Thailand and on Asian countries, for those who want to discover the land of smiles, who are looking for a bit of adventure and those who dream of Asia (or those who just want to dream ;-)

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yt-remote-session-name	Session	The yt-remote-session-name cookie is used by YouTube to store the user's video player preferences using embedded YouTube video.
ytidb :: LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY	never	The cookie ytidb::LAST_RESULT_ENTRY_KEY is used by YouTube to store the last search result entry that was clicked by the user. This information is used to improve the user experience by providing more relevant search results in the future.
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visitor_id	1 year 1 month 4 days	Set by Pardot, this cookie is used for visitors. The cookie contains a unique ID and identifier for the account which is derived from the Pardot tracking code placed on the site.
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Hong Kong

Hong Kong in brief:

Why visit Hong Kong?

WE love

We are less of a fan

Preparing your trip: advice before you leave

Do I need a visa for Hong Kong?

For a trip of less than 90 days

Stay of more than 3 months:

Transportation in Hong Kong

Coming to Hong Kong

Search for a flight to Hong Kong

Getting around Hong Kong

Road transport

Rail transport

Shipping

Book a hotel in Hong Kong

Tempo Inn

Homey Hotel Central

Burlington Hotel

Book your hotel in Hong Kong with Booking

Health and Safety in Hong Kong

Do I need travel insurance?

What vaccines and what do I need to know for my health?

For your safety

What to see and do in Hong Kong?

Destinations

Things to see / things to do

Route suggestions

See the article on our 5 days in Hong Kong (first stay)

Hong Kong in 5 days: itinerary and must-see discoveries

Weather / When to go to Hong Kong?

Climate:

When is the best time to visit Hong Kong?

Hong Kong

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

Macau

Average precipitation per month (in mm)

What budget for Hong Kong?

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

SOME POINTS OF REFERENCE:

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Articles about Hong Kong

Romain B.

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