Roni on the Run

Travelling to Hong Kong has been on my mind since I started travelling Asia 1.5 years ago, however only recently it worked out for me.

What I wasn’t expecting was how much there is to see and do. Realising I could easily spend weeks exploring the city, trying different foods, hiking and many more. I left Hong Kong after 4 days craving for more time there… I will definitely be back!

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Before I start the list I will give you some useful travel advice for Hong Kong which I used throughout my trip:

• MTR (Hong Kong Underground Train System) map and cost checker website here.
• Buy a public transport travel card called Octopus for most convenient and cheapest travel around Hong Kong. You can purchase your Octopus card at the MTR station or various stores such as 7-Eleven and Circle K. Octopus card will cost you HK$100 and it will include HK$50 travel balance and HK$50 deposit which can be refunded including any balance on the card before you leave Hong Kong (this service is available at the MTR station and HK$11 fee will be deducted if your card is less than 90 days old).
• Maps.me app for hiking trails and navigation App Store and Google Play.

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Now back to the good stuff! Here’s my 8 favourite things to do in Hong Kong on a Budget!

1. Hike to Lion Rock

Hiking to Lion Rock was definitely my favourite thing to do in Hong Kong. I would happily claim that this spot is the best for Hong Kong city views! But you can decide for yourself.

Best time to start hiking is in the morning, it’s less crowded and also not as hot. Aim to arrive to the top at midday. Hong Kong is often foggy and hazy in the mornings, this normally clears up by midday for the perfect views.

How to get there:

The base of the hike starts here:

MTR Kwun Tong Line (Green) to Lok Fu station Exit A. Then you have a choice to either walk 20 minutes to the start of the hike or grab a bus number 53 from the other side of the Lok Fu Plaza (get off at Tin Wang Court Wang King Court) followed by 5 minute walk to the start of the hike.

The hike will take between 1 – 1.5 hours up depending on your fitness level. Once you reach the Lions Head I suggest to continue 5-10 minutes further for truly spectacular views with lesser crowds and the perfect picture spot.

Entrance Fee: Free

2. Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery & Wisdom Path

The Big Buddha (officially known as the Tian Tan Buddha) is the second largest bronze sitting buddha outdoors, situated in Ngong Ping Village and is considered one of the most touristy Hong Kong attractions.

For me the best time to visit Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery was early in the morning on a weekday. I’m not particularly a fan of overly crowded tourist spots, so I choose to arrive before the crowds do.

I must warn you in advance, be prepared to walk up 268 stairs to reach the Tian Tan Buddha!  However, it is worth the 360 degree view of the Lantau Island valleys, mountains and the sea.

Po Lin Monastery stands opposite the Tian Tan Buddha, a must see ancient Buddhist temple located on the on Lantau Island. It’s one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist sanctums.

Wisdom Path is a further 15 minute walk which is also well sign posted. Once you reach the Wisdom Path you will find a series of 8-10 meter high collection of wooden structures laid into an infinity sign. The 38 wooden steles are engraved with Chinese version of the centuries-old Heart Sutra prayer.

How to get there:

MTR Tung Chung Line (Orange) all the way to Tung Chung Station Exit B. Bus stop is 5-7 minutes walk from the train stations here. Take bus 23 to the last stop, journey will take about 1 hour and it will take you directly to the entrance. Enter through the big white gates and you will shortly see the Big Buddha on your right.

Alternatively from Tung Chung Station Exit B you can walk 5 minutes to the Ngong Ping 360 cable car which will take you up to the Ngong Ping Village in 25 minutes. Be prepared to queue, it can be very busy.

Operating hours for the cable car: Weekdays 10am to 6pm and Weekends and Public Holidays 9am to 6:30pm

Personal tip:

I took an early bus which is a less traditional way up and this guaranteed my arrival before the first gondola reached the peak. On a budget, a bus is 10 times cheaper than taking the Ngong Ping 360 cable car.

You can still take a cable car to go down, before midday there shouldn’t be many people going down so there is a good chance you can grab yourself a private cable car without having to pay extra!

Entrance Fee: Free (excluding Ngong Ping 360 cable car = HK$160/HK$235 one way/return)

3. Sunset at Victoria Peak

It was on my bucket list to see Hong Kong from Victoria Peak at day and night. In addition to that I was also able to enjoy the stunning sunset from the peak, all for free! Aim to arrive at the peak for 6pm for the best sunset views.

From the peak you can observe Hong Kong Island and Kowloon separated by Victoria Harbour. The sun will set behind you, however you will get to enjoy the colours of changing skyline while buildings start to light up in different colours across the city.

How to get there:

If you’re a money savvy backpacker like me then choose to take a 1 hour bus from the Central Station or hike for 1 hour to the peak.

Take a bus 15 from Central Star Ferry Terminal 5 here or bus 1 from Hong Kong Park here to the last stop and follow the signs to the peak (10 minutes walk). The route is also very scenic.

To go up you can also take tram but be warned it is very busy (waiting times can be up to 2 hours) and it is also expensive. Take MTR to Admiralty Station Exit B and walk 10 minutes to The Peak Tram here which will take you to the Victoria Peak in about another 10 minutes.

Personal tip:

When you arrive to the Victoria Peak take a Lugard Road on the left of the Viewing Tower, follow the road to find your secret viewing spot. You can stop in multiple places along the way, however my favourite spot is here.

If you arrive early there is one more lookout point you can check out for a sea and mountain view here.

Entrance Fee: Free

4. Star Ferry across the Victoria Harbour

Star Ferry is actually a public transport, designed to take daily commuters across the river connecting Kowloon with either Centre or Wan Chai. However the route across the river is so beautiful that this mode of transport has become one of the tourist attractions in itself, whilst still being very affordable.

I would highly recommend to combine this trip with a walk along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.

How to get there:

Kowloon terminal here is closest to the Tsim Sha Tsui train station on the West Rail line, Exit L6.

Central terminal here is closest to the Hong Kong and Central Stations Exit A where most train lines will align.

Wan Chai terminal here is closest to the Wan Chai Station on the Island Line Exit A1.

Ferry Fee: one way HK$ 2.50-3.50

5. Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Victoria Harbour

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade I consider to be the tourist hotspot packed with lots of things to see and do. You can start your personal walking tour along the promenade from the Star Ferry Terminal in Kowloon on the West side heading East. On your way you will see the Clock Tower, Former Canton Railway, Avenue of Stars and Garden of Stars. If you have more time you can also check out any of the many museums in between, however I decided to skip them.

Clock Tower is a 44 meter landmark topped with another 7 meter lightning rod. There are stairs to the top of the tower however whilst I was there it was closed for maintenance.

Avenue of Stars is a replica of Hollywood Walk of Fame, honouring some of the most talented people in the Hong Kong film industry.

How to get there:

Kowloon Star Ferry terminal here is a good starting point for the promenade walk

Tsim Sha Tsui train station on the West Rail line, Exit L6 followed by 5 minute walk to the Victoria Harbour.

Entrance Fee: Free

6. Sunset at the Garden Hill

Garden Hill view point is my second favourite spot for the sunset in Hong Kong. It is much more accessible and you get a different perspective of Hong Kong since it’s located on the North of Kowloon. Garden Hill is a very popular photo spot for locals and travel photographers.

You can bring some food and drinks to enjoy while watching the sun setting over Hong Kong.

How to get there:

MTR station to Shek Kip Mei on Kwun Tong Line (Green) Exit D2 followed by a 10 minute walk to the start of a hike here. It will take another 15 minutes to walk up the stairs to the viewpoint.

Entrance Fee: Free

7. Hollywood Road Street Art

Lots of fantastic street art can be found all over Hong Kong. However some of my favourite murals are scattered around Hollywood Road:

Uma Nota mural painted by a street artist team Elsa Jeandedieu which can be found here.

Old Town Houses mural painted by Alex Croft is one of Hong Kong’s most photographed street arts can be found here.

Two giant Koi Fish swimming by Contemporary Artists Christian Storm who successfully combined geometric elements with Chinese culture in creating this impressive mural can be found here.

Entrance Fee: Free

8. Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden

Serene, peaceful and content are only a few words to describe what the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens convey. This eye-catching Buddhist complex is surrounded by tranquil garden of Bonsai trees with a lotus pond in the middle, however, the architecture solely consists of wood joined without a single nail. All this to preserve the harmony between humans and the nature.

How to get there:

Both Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Garden are joined together and can be easily accessed by going to the MTR station Diamond Hill on the Kwun Tong Line (green) Exit C2. Follow the signs until you arrive at the Nan Lian Garden first.

Personal Tip:

Arrive before 10am to experience the tranquillity of Chi Lin Nunnery & Nan Lian Gardens, just like with many other famous touristy spots it can get very busy.

Entrance Fee: Free

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Overall I really enjoyed travelling to Hong Kong. There’s plenty of things to do and see. Truthfully Hong Kong is not as expensive as everyone claims it to be! There are many ways to explore without having to spend a dime, with a little bit of research anything is possible. I hope this guide will help you pick up some tips and tricks how to see Hong Kong on a budget.