Hong Kong is a busy city of around 7 million people that offers a blend of Eastern and Western culture. It has a high population for its size and is recognized as the fourth most densely populated region in the world behind Macau, Monaco, and Singapore. However, it is more than just an urban sprawl – Hong Kong has beaches, numerous islands, and offers world-class hiking. Indeed, 40% of its land mass is designated as national park so it’s not difficult to get out into Nature. As well as some stunning natural and man-made scenery, Hong Kong is renowned for its diverse cuisines and long list of activities for such a relatively small place. For example, night-time activities including horse racing at Happy Valley and watching the Symphony of Lights on Victoria Harbour. Although most people think of Hong Kong as an island, it’s actually made up of three main areas – Hong Kong island, Kowloon (the area of mainland separated by just a kilometre of water from the island), and the New Territories (by far the largest part of Hong Kong, which includes Lantau Island and all the land that stretches from Kowloon to the border with China). So, let’s go and explore Hong Kong with BusyKidd‘s team!
Getting to Hong Kong
Image Credit: Depositphotos
The direct flight from Singapore to Hong Kong takes approximately 4 hours and is offered by Singapore Airlines and Scoot, as well as Hong Kong’s national carrier, Cathay Pacific. Singapore Airlines was voted the ‘World’s Best Airline’ at this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards, with Cathay Pacific close behind in third place, so the journey between Singapore and Hong Kong is likely to be pleasant as well as relatively short. Additionally, although it’s hard to beat Changi Airport as a great airport for departure or arrival, Hong Kong International Airport was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’ at the 2024 World Travel Awards, so you can expect a comfortable experience at both ends of your journey.
Where to Stay in Hong Kong
Hong Kong offers something for every budget and taste when it comes to accommodation. You can choose to stay in the heart of the city or away from the hustle and bustle, beside the mountains or coast, and close to nightlife or theme parks. Although Hong Kong boasts over 320 hotels, we’ve chosen eight of our favourite family options, across five locations.
The Salisbury YMCA, Tsim Sha Tsui
Image Credit: The Salisbury YMCA via Facebook
If you want the location of The Peninsula without the hefty price tag, The Salisbury YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui could be a great accommodation option. Situated immediately next to The Peninsula, The Salisbury YMCA has outstanding views of Victoria Harbour (depending on the room’s floor and aspect), well-equipped rooms, and a 6-lane indoor swimming pool. Guests can dine inside the hotel, at the Mall Café or the fancier Haven restaurant, or simply step outside to explore a host of dining opportunities in Tsim Sha Tsui. Hong Kong island is just a short hop away aboard the legendary Star Ferry.
Dorsett, Wan Chai
Image Credit: Dorsett via Google reviews
Families who like to stay in the heart of a city will love the Dorsett’s location opposite the famous Happy Valley Racecourse. This vibrant area offers easy access to numerous shopping, entertainment and dining options, and the hotel provides a free shuttle bus to Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Central. Although this hotel might appear to be more aimed at adults than children, it is actually a very family-friendly establishment with plenty of attention provided to children. For example, the hotel has a candy store in the lobby, provides a mobile e-book station for bedtime stories, child-sized bathrobes and slippers, and even hidden sweets in the bedroom drawers.
Hyatt Regency, Sha Tin
The Sha Tin Hyatt Regency is located in the Sha Tin district of the New Territories, about a 25-minute taxi journey from Tsim Sha Tsui. Although it’s less central than many other hotel options, the Hyatt Regency boasts a spacious site with large rooms with modern décor,
an ample swimming pool, and an extensive and well-equipped children’s playground. The hotel also boasts multiple award-winning restaurants, including Sha Tin 18 (famed for its Peking duck), and the Tin Tin Bar. The hotel’s main restaurant offers a la carte dining as well as four daily buffets: breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Image Credit: Hongkongdisneyland.com
If you want to give your kids the full Disney experience (or perhaps experience it yourself!), Hong Kong Disneyland offers three good hotel options: Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, Disney Explorer’s Lodge, and Disney’s Hollywood Hotel. Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel is a 5-star resort whilst its two sister hotels fall under the 4-star bracket. Although all of them offer the advantage of convenience if you’re planning to spend time at Hong Kong Disneyland, each has a different core theme. Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel has a palace theme and includes rooms such as the Cinderella Ball Room and Sleeping Beauty Room, as well as a maze garden. Disney Explorer’s Lodge has an adventure and exploration theme and features four gardens themed around the Disney classics ‘The Jungle Book’, ‘Finding Nemo’, ‘Up’, and ‘The Lion King’. As its name suggests, Disney’s Hollywood Hotel is themed around Hollywood, with décor from the 1930s and 1940s, but with numerous references to Disney characters and in particular Mickey Mouse. Whichever hotel you choose you’re bound to have a ‘magical’ experience!
Ocean Park
For families who’d like to maximize their time at Ocean Park (and it’s so extensive that it really does require more than one day to do it justice), there are two hotels which offer an extremely convenient location: Hong Kong Marriott Ocean Park Hotel and The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel. The Marriott hotel is a 4-star resort whilst The Fullerton is rated as 5-star and is closer to Ocean Park itself. Apart from their ratings and proximity to Ocean Park, the hotels can be differentiated by their ambience. Hong Kong Marriott Ocean Park Hotel is inland and has well-presented rooms decorated in modern style with subtle references to wildlife; The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel is located on the coast and offers stunning sea views and more minimalist décor.
Travelling Around Hong Kong
Hong Kong is served by one of the most extensive and most diverse public transport systems in the world. This means that, wherever you want to head in the city, you can get there very efficiently. Where else in the world can you travel by bus, minibus, taxi, tram, funicular railway, cable car, train, metro, and ferry? This range of options makes Hong Kong a fascinating option for kids and adults who are interested in transportation (see below under ‘Things to Do in Hong Kong’). As you can pay for every type of transport using a contactless smart payment card known as an Octopus card, we highly recommend you purchasing one. This is easy to do as you can buy them at 7-Eleven stores (located at Hong Kong Airport as well as all across the city), Circle-K stores, and MTR stations (the metro system is called the MTR in Hong Kong).
Where to Eat in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a gastronome’s delight as it offers the best cuisines from across Asia as well as many options from Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world. As it’s located within the Canton province of China, Hong Kong offers some of the world’s best Cantonese cuisine, including dim sum, roasted duck and pork, and delicious seafood. Thanks to Hong Kong’s cosmopolitan nature, you can also try authentic food from Asian countries such as India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as European countries such as Italy and France. As Hong Kong has too many excellent family dining options to cover, we’ve selected five that are worthy of special mention.
Dim Sum at the London Restaurant, Mong Kok
You don’t have to look very far to find a dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong. And you can choose from every level of dim sum restaurant from the most basic ‘dai pai dong’ (basic food stall) to the swankiest restaurant that serves champagne and perhaps offers a fusion version of the classic little bites. However, if you want a true dim sum experience you should surely eat dim sum in a restaurant that serves the food in a traditional manner in an authentic atmosphere. The London Restaurant in Mong Kok fits this bill as it’s a no-nonsense restaurant where you can experience the noise of chatting and clinking cutlery whilst the staff display dim sum dishes on mobile carts so that you can choose the dishes that take your fancy.
Seafood by the Sea at Chuen Kee Seafood, Sai Kung
If you’d like to see a different side to Hong Kong other than the hustle and bustle of ‘the Big Smoke’, it’s well worth the 30- to 45-minute journey to see the village side of the city. Sai Kung began as a fishing village in the distant past and is now a community where expats and local mix and enjoy the more tranquil setting and fresher air of the New Territories. Sai Kung offers many restaurants, as well as a growing number of excellent coffee shops, but many people come to enjoy the seafood which is often straight off the boat. Many restaurants here offer delicious food as well as space for kids to run around if they want to burn off some energy. Chuen Kee Seafood is one of several restaurants that are right on the harbourfront and offer diners beautiful views of the harbour and the islands beyond.
Al-fresco dining beside Temple Street Night Market
Temple Street Night Market is a great place to visit to buy the latest electronic gadgets as well as clothing and gifts. When the sun goes down this open-air market becomes a bustling neon-lit shopping paradise that is exciting for kids and adults. It’s also a great place to eat outdoors at the side of the street and have a unique Hong Kong experience dining at one of the many food stalls that erect tables on the pedestrianized streets after about 7pm. At these numerous restaurants you can try dishes such as chicken satay, chilli crab, razor clams, beef noodles, fried oyster cake, and sweet and sour pork.
A dinner buffet at I-O-N, Kwun Tong
Like Singapore, Hong Kong is a famous for its hotel dinner buffets, which are popular with families because everyone gets to choose what they eat (and how much!). Located within the Nina Hotel in Kowloon East, I-O-N Kwun Tong offers a sumptuous buffet that includes everything from roast beef and baked cod to sushi and pizza. Desserts include mango sticky rice and bread and butter pudding.
Dependable pizza at The Pizza Project, Peel Street, Central
If you’re stuck for food options, or the kids are fed up with trying adventurous food, you can never go too far wrong with the ever-dependable pizza. Nearly every child likes pizzas, whether it’s the margherita gateway option or the meat feast or fancy burrata choice. The Pizza Project in the Central district of Hong Kong island offers a simple one-page food menu that avoids the confusion that kids face when they see a more extensive list of options. You can choose from the traditional pizza types or opt for something more experimental, such as the carbonara pizza that includes pancetta and quail eggs. The Pizza Project desserts include tiramisu and white chocolate mousse, so those with a sweet tooth will not leave disappointed.
Things to do in Hong Kong
With so many activities to choose from in Hong Kong, it’s impossible to do justice to the variety and quality of entertainment in the city, but here are just a handful of our favourite activities for families.
Travel on Multiple Forms of Transport in a Morning
Hong Kong is the perfect place for kids who love transport, thanks to the unique range of transportation options available. It’s possible to travel on as many as nine or ten types of transport in a morning or afternoon, and that’s not including the world’s longest escalators in the Mid-levels area of Hong Kong that help to transport people to and from work. However, if you have to choose just three types of transport to experience, we would recommend the following: street tram (known affectionately as the ‘ding ding’ because of the sound the bell makes before it departs each stop), which covers the width of Hong Kong island; the Peak Tram, which is a cable-drawn funicular railway that transports you up the extremely steep journey from Central to the top of The Peak (where the wealthiest people have traditionally lived in Hong Kong); and the Star Ferry, crossing the harbour between Tsim Sha Tsui and Hong Kong island, which is one of the most iconic ferry journeys in the world.
Observe Pink Dolphins in the Wild
Image Credit: Hong Kong Dolphinwatch via Facebook
The pink dolphin is one of the world’s most endangered marine creatures. Although they are found in a few locations across Asia, it’s only in Hong Kong’s waters that the dolphins have a truly pink colour (they are greyish in colour in most places and white near mainland China). Today only about 50 pink dolphins live near Hong Kong, but luckily you can still see them on tours organized by various operators. Guests can be picked up in Kowloon and ferried to Lantau where the sea-based adventure begins. Pink dolphin tours only operate in the mornings as that’s the best time to see these unique creatures.
Spend the Day at the Beach
Despite its reputation as a busy city filled with skyscrapers and rushing people, Hong Kong offers a surprisingly large number of beaches where time seems to move at a slower pace. You can travel to Sai Kung in the New Territories to see some relatively unspoilt beaches that still have changing facilities, snack kiosks and lifeguards. Examples of recommended beaches include Hap Mun Beach, Trio Beach, Ham Tim Beach, and Clearwater Bay Second Beach. Alternatively, if you’re staying on the island, you might prefer a shorter journey down to the well-maintained beaches in the south, such as Repulse Bay, Big Wave Bay, Shek O, and Stanley Main Beach. Wherever you go, you’ll be surprised at the contrast between the city and these little oases.
Enjoy the Magic of Hong Kong’s Theme Parks
Image Credit: Oceanpark.com.hk
Hong Kong’s famous theme parks – Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park Hong Kong – might be what have initially attracted to a visit to Hong Kong. If so, you might have an itinerary that is based primarily upon enjoying these world-class attractions. However, even if you haven’t planned your holiday around these theme parks, you might want to consider a visit to one or both to allow your kids to decompress from cultural activities or simply enjoy the magic of these places of wonder. Hong Kong Disneyland offers exciting rides such as Hyperspace Mountain and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, as well as the Iron Man Experience, a 3-D motion simulator. It always boasts a recently opened attraction called Arendelle – The World of Frozen. As well as seeing many of the classic locations from the hit film, such as Arendelle Castle, kids will get the chance to meet some of their favourite characters including Anna, Elsa, Hans, Olaf and Sven.
Ocean Park Hong Kong is more of a theme park with a strong educational element.
It offers a great range of activities for all the family including rides for kids of all ages, including the Crazy Galleon, The Rapids, and Wild Twister. Ocean Park also has a large aquarium and extensive zoo that includes Hong Kong’s only giant pandas. Right beside Ocean Park, and accessible via a 15-minute walk, is Water World, a huge water park that boasts over 25 attractions including a lazy river, wave pool, numerous waterslides, and cabanas for relaxation.
Ride the Peak Tram and see the Kowloon Skyline
Image Credit: Thepeak.com.hk
One of the most enjoyable modes of transport in Hong Kong is the Peak Tram, which has been operating continuously for nearly 150 years. Kids will be full of excitement when their carriage on this funicular railway is pulled by cables up the extremely steep slope. At the top of the hill, known as The Peak, you can explore some of the many walking trails or take a rest and dine at one of the restaurants that include Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. You can also enjoy one of the finest views in Hong Kong from the Peak’s viewing platform. Here you can experience unobstructed views of the Kowloon skyline and take those all-important family photos to remind you of your trip to Hong Kong!
Hong Kong is an exciting city that offers a diversity of experiences, attractions, and cuisines. It’s so much more than just a busy, crowded city. Indeed, Hong Kong offers activities for people of all ages and thus makes a great destination for a family holiday.
Cover Image Credit: Oceanpark.com.hk
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