Get your energy levels soaring on city breaks to Hong Kong, with dazzling neon, incense-filled temples and shops galore in a city that never sleeps.
Victoria Harbour and the South China Sea separate Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, part of mainland China. On Hong Kong Island, leafy Victoria Peak looms above soaring skyscrapers, and punters try and back the winning horse at Happy Valley Racecourse. The Star Ferry shuttles across the harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui, where major museums cluster along the pedestrianised waterfront. All over Hong Kong, darkened Buddhist temples create little pockets of peace among the modern bustle. The rural outlying islands attract visitors for their slower pace of life.
Best of Hong Kong city breaks for...
- Shopping: Stock up on Chinese jade trinkets, embroidered slippers and rainbow-hued silk shirts at busy Temple Street Night Market. Be prepared to haggle for a bargain!
- Families: At Ocean Park marine park, kids will love the cuddly, rare giant pandas An An and Jia Jia. Thrill-seeker? Check out the killer whales, or take the white-knuckle Dragon rollercoaster ride.
- Nightlife: Dress up and join Hong Kong's party animals on the cobbled lane Lang Kwai Fong, where wine-bars, international restaurants and tucked-away clubs will keep you dancing 'til dawn.
- Romance: Gaze into each other's eyes over dinner at a waterfront restaurant in Sai Kung. Pick out your seafood swimming in tanks for a freshly-made dish. Tasty!
- Active types: Hire a bike to explore lush Cheung Chau island, where no traffic is allowed on its quiet lanes. Discover the historic Pak Tai Temple, then whiz down to Tung Wan beach for a spot of windsurfing.
Getting into Hong Kong from Hong Kong International Airport
- The speedy Airport Express train takes 25 minutes to whisk you to Hong Kong Central Station, with a free shuttle bus to major hotels.
- Slightly cheaper, the double-decker Airbus travels to Central, and takes half an hour to Kowloon. Arriving at night? Don't worry, buses run 24 hours.
Getting around on city breaks to Hong Kong
- Ferry: Take the seven-minute Star Ferry journey across the harbour on Hong Kong short breaks. Boats sail regularly to all of Hong Kong's outlying islands.
- Public transport: Hong Kong's efficient, cheap and clean public transport criss-crosses the city, from sleek MTR underground trains and zippy minibuses to double-decker buses and rattling trams.
