Welcome back to part 2 of the weekend trip, where I had the time of my life. Hong Kong has so much to offer I couldn’t fit all of it in the day 1 post. Hong Kong is an excellent place for students, and although some might find it expensive, you can still enjoy it on a budget. Don’t worry; I have you covered for saving tips as well!
We didn’t want the cost of life in Hong Kong to hold us back from having a great time, and I don’t want you to either! This post will continue my previous blog post and combine our last two days to give you tips and tricks for visiting Hong Kong!
TLDR: Our Full Itinerary for the Best Life Hong Kong
Day 1:
Morning
- Choi Hung Estate
- Nan Lian Garden
- Chi Lin Nunnery and Sik Sik Temple
Afternoon
- Kowloon Walled City Park
- Hau Wong Temple
Evening
- Avenue of Stars
- Mong Kok District
- Temple Street Night Market
Day 2:
Morning
- Explore SoHo
- Try Egg tarts from Bakehouse
Afternoon
- Tim Ho Wan Dumplings
- Victoria Peak Tram
Evening
- Lan Kwai Fong for nightlife
Day 3
Morning
- Horse Race!
Afternoon/Evening
- Flea Market (optional)
- Symphony of Lights
Much of our travel was through something other than the Hong Kong bus tour; we used the Octopus card and travelled around whenever we wanted.
SoHo Experience – Free
We headed straight to “SoHo” on Hong Kong Island to begin our day. It is fascinating how life on Hong Kong Island reminds you so much of being in London.
You can see the colonial remnants, from the trams to the buses; they’re everywhere.
An escalator takes you through SoHo, where you can explore the streets filled with boutiques, street vendors, restaurants, and cafes.
It’s pretty hard to be bored here with your life. Hong Kong Island is a perfect day for relaxed shopping and “mooching” around. You can easily spend a few hours just admiring the juxtaposition of culture.
A MUST do is take the double-decker trams (Ding Ding)! These are the cutest parts of life: Hong Kong Island style. They are easy to take and can still be used with the Octopus Card.
Moreover, the trams go throughout the island, so if you are tired of walking but still want to see the area, just hop on and stay for however long you’d like!
Bakehouse Egg Tarts – $1.54 USD
After our hard work of window-shopping and admiring the buildings, we had to try the famous egg tarts. Trying this tasty treat will change your life. Hong Kong has perfected its version of the egg tarts, and one we were recommended to try was from the bakery Bakehouse.
Did you know that the egg tarts have English and Portuguese origins? It is believed to have been brought to Guangzhou province in China through colonisation in 1513 and when Hong Kong became a British colony in the 1840s.
The egg tart has evolved into two types – the Cantonese (Guangzhou) Style and Macau style. To be entirely honest, I’m not sure which kind we had, but based on descriptions, I believe we tried the Macau style.
Bakehouse has simply been the best egg tart I have tried in my life. Hong Kong island has several bakeries scattered throughout and the chain Bakehouse all around, and I highly encourage you to try it!
The Bakehouse had a line outside before we could grab ours, but that’s always a good sign in life. Hong Kong Island’s Bakehouse is a must-try!
Victoria Peak Tram – $11.26 USD
If you are short on time like we were and can’t invest in a long hike, doing the Victoria Peak tram is nothing short of beautiful.
I will warn you that the tram was still busy even at the earliest opening (8 am). This is a classic “touristy” spot, so brace yourself for busy crowds.
I would recommend purchasing your tickets beforehand on websites for discounts for the Sky Terrace – it can be up to USD 18 – but the view is worth it.
Once you’re at the top, you feel like a giant seeing tiny people living life. The view from Hong Kong Island from this area is amazing. If you’re into hiking, you can even hike to this spot and skip the fee for the tram!
Lan Kwai Fong Nightlife – Depends
As students, we had to explore the nightlife in LKF. The bustling party street shows you a different side to their life. Hong Kong island is where LKF is and is accessible by the metro.
Hong Kong nightlife can be expensive, so I should have given a price for this. The costs vary depending on whether you enter accessible areas, buy drinks beforehand, or pay at the door.
Unfortunately, you will have to pay to enter in most places unless you enter between their free periods. So it totally depends on your plans!
Symphony of Lights – Free
Next on this list is to watch the Symphony of Lights! It’s just a 10-minute show, and you can get an excellent view for free if you arrive early and scout for a seat.
It runs every night, so you don’t have to schedule it into your itinerary too rigidly. You can also book a ferry ride for a little more of a fancy life. Hong Kong has ferries that run, and you can book it on the day or in advance.
We did it without the ferry, and it was perfect! The Symphony of Lights is a light show that depicts a snapshot of their life. Hong Kong Island’s buildings are the “actors” in the show, and the lights are projected onto their exterior.
You can get a great view from the harbour, and there are many seating areas, such as benches or even on the harbour’s edge.
Horse Race – $1.28 USD
My favourite part of life in Hong Kong was the horse races! This is so much fun and happens every Sunday and Wednesday (you should check the specific days in advance).
I had never been to a horse race in my life. Hong Kong hosts them regularly; we thought it was the perfect opportunity to go! It can be as cheap as a dollar to attend, but if you decide to bet – you might lose some more money…
I did not expect to enjoy it so much, but being able to choose where you sit and then going down to the field when the horses are racing is such an incredible experience. You witness firsthand how intense the bettings are and the competitors’ commitment.
Not to mention, the horse race grounds are also so beautiful. There are two main fields: Happy Valley and Sha Tin Day (we went to the latter).
You can spend hours at the horse race because it goes on for 12 rounds. So that’s an entire day dedicated to horse race-watching!
Time of my Life: Hong Kong <3
It is safe to say I had an extraordinary time during this weekend of my life. Hong Kong did not let us down with so much to do.
As I mentioned, you can easily make it a cheap(er) trip by doing some of these low-cost activities.
Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you want to do any of these activities – or if you already have!
Thanks for reading, I appreciate it 🙂