The Best Dog-Friendly Beaches, Hikes & Parks In Hong Kong

A handy guide for the Hong Kong fur-rent on all the best dog-friendly spots in the city…

We live in a city where we can go from concrete jungle to actual jungle in the blink of an eye – there’s so much to see and do. And what we lack in backyards and outdoor space, we make up for in amazing hikes, waterfall wonderlands and weekend getaways that we can take our furry friends along to. That being said, it can be tricky to pinpoint the best beach or pooch-appropriate eatery to share a pint with our pup and throw a frisbee that won’t land in some poor beach-goers lap.

So, with many of us here at Sassy either fostering or having adopted our best friends, we decided it was time to put together a handy guide for both you and your hound. Here’s how best to make the most of everything that Hong Kong has to offer you and your pup.

Read More: The Best Hikes In Hong Kong To Do With Your Dog

Jump To:
Dog-Friendly Beaches
Dog-Friendly Parks
Dog-Friendly Hotels & Staycations
Emergency Animal Hospitals
Dog-Friendly Transport

Dog-Friendly Beaches In Hong Kong

Sai Kung & Tai Long Wan

Sai Kung is a doggy paradise, laden with fabulous beaches and great hikes. There are plenty of activities and areas for both you and your furry friend to explore. Head over for a relaxing day of short walks and snacks by the pier, or grab a taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion and hike through Sai Kung East Country Park to Tai Long Wan where you can enjoy white sandy beaches and breathtaking views. Once there, pitch a tent and spend the night under the stars with your pooch, ready to take the speedboat back to Sai Kung in the morning.

Read More: Your Guide To Tai Long Wan

Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui Chau)

The largest island in Kiu Tsui Country Park, take a sampan or ferry from Sai Kung waterfront, where you will see a gazetted beach on one side of the jetty (this one is not dog-friendly), but on the other side, there is a beach where dog owners often swim with their pups.

Long Ke Wan

Take a taxi from Sai Kung to East Dam (or drive and park at Pak Tam Chung and taxi from there) and follow the path over to Long Ke Wan. An easy hour (approx.) hike, this beautiful beach is well worth the trip! Make sure to bring a taxi number with you to get back from the dam on your way home.

Shek O Back Beach

Tucked away behind village houses, Shek O Back Beach is totally dog friendly. You’ll often find owners swimming and playing with their pups along this isolated, long stretch of beach and enjoying a cool beverage from Ben’s Back Beach Bar on the weekends.

Grass Island (Tap Mun)

Take a taxi to Wong Shek Pier, book a speed boat or take the ferry (ferries leave from Wong Shek Pier in Sai Kung about once every two hours) over to Grass Island and enjoy a small beach where pups can play in the cool waters. Watch out for cows!

Silvermine Beach

Grab a ferry to Mui Wo and spend the day at Lantau’s Silvermine Beach! There are plenty of beaches for both you and pup to cool off in as you trek toward Discovery Bay – and if you make it all the way, treat yourself to a seaside meal at one of the island’s great outdoor dining spots.

Read More: The Best Dog-Friendly Restaurants, Cafes & Bars In Hong Kong

Stanley Main Beach

Stanley is always a great day out – especially with your pup in tow! Popular with tourists, skip the busy market and head over to Stanley Plaza, walk the promenade and grab a bite to eat at one of the many dog-friendly restos. Before heading home, be sure to head on over to Stanley’s Main Beach (just by the watersports centre) or Stanley Back Beach to cool off in the waves.

Read More: Your Guide To The Best Beaches In Hong Kong

Cheung Chau Beach

If you’re looking for a place that has options, Cheung Chau offers great walks, short hikes (check out the Mini Great Wall along the way for extra tourist bonus points!) and a swimming area for the tail-waggers. Dogs can roam freely and dip in and out of the water while owners catch a few rays and soak up the sunshine. If you get peckish, there are also some fab seafood restaurants where local fishermen bring in their catch, which are then cooked fresh.

Lamma Power Station Beach

It can be tricky to find new places to walk the dog on the weekend, even more so finding somewhere they can run around off-leash without getting in harm’s way! But Lamma Power Station Beach is a quiet, pup-friendly area that lacks traffic and is perfect for a good game of fetch. A short walk from Yung Shue Wan Village (which has many dog-friendly bars and restos to stop in for lunch), take the Lamma Island ferry which leaves from Central every half hour and follow the signs to the beach from there.

Read more: The Best Hong Kong Day Trips

Dog-Friendly Parks In Hong Kong

West Kowloon Art Park & Pet Zone

Found on the west side of arts and cultural hub West Kowloon Cultural District, the Art Park offers a spacious green area which you and your furry friend will love. In addition to the pet-friendly Art Park and nearby waterfront promenade, there is an off-leash Pet Zone where pups can play freely. Owners are required to keep their dogs on a leash when outside the Pet Zone.

West Kowloon Cultural District, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, www.westkowloon.hk

Tamar Dog Park

Situated towards the Wan Chai end of Tamar Park, there are two sizeable pet gardens which make for a great space for your pup to burn off some energy. The two gardens both have a grassy area, rather than just concrete – always a bonus in Hong Kong!

Tamar Dog Park, Harcourt Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Quarry Bay Promenade

Walk your pup up the seaside walkway and let him loose in the pet garden. Open 24/7 and one of the largest dog parks in the city, your dog can run and play for hours on end whilst you ogle at the panoramic views of this city you call home.

Quarry Bay Promenade, Hoi Yu Street, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong (open 24 hours)

Sheung Wan Dog Park (Central and Western District Promenade)

Situated near the Macau Ferry Terminal, this dog park is a popular spot for friends to gather and have a couple of drinks whilst the dogs are free to play. Stroll along the harbourfront walkway all the way down to the piers, and stop for a pint or two at Pier 3 on your way back.

Sheung Wan Dog Park, Chung Kong Road, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong (open 24 hours)

Cyberport Waterfront Park

Finding a park that isn’t only made from concrete can be challenging in Hong Kong, so with open spaces, greenery and stunning harbour views, Cyberport is a great place to let your pooches run loose whilst you picnic in the sun.

Cyberport Waterfront Park, 100 Cyberport Road, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong (open 7am to 11pm)

Penfold Park Sha Tin

Open all year round, Penfold has quickly become one of HK’s favourite dog parks, attracting people and pets from all over the city to come and roam the lush open fields. The perfect space for pups with heaps of energy, this beautifully landscaped park is more than worth the journey.

Penfold Park, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong 

Kennedy Town Shipping Docks (Instagram Pier)

Pup owners have claimed the far end of Instagram Pier as an unofficial ‘dog park’, where dogs can roam off-leash and away from heavy machinery. This spot is popular for evening dog walks, but at this end of the pier there are gatherings every evening (most pet owners will head down there between 6pm and 7pm), making it the perfect opportunity for your furry friend to socialise and make new friends.

Kennedy Town Shipping Docks, 8 Fung Mat Road, Sai Wan, Hong Kong 

Butterfly Valley Road Pet Garden

If you’re on the hunt for a park that’ll literally have your pup jumping through hoops to get there, this western Kowloon Dog Garden boasts 7,000 square metres of concrete and grass, complete with an activity area, doggy drinking fountains and plenty of shady areas to take a rest in.

Butterfly Valley Road Pet Garden, 2 Butterfly Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong (open 7am to midnight)

Kennedy Town Dog Park

Newly opened just further down from Instagram Pier and towards New Praya in Kennedy Town, this dog park is an ideal spot for dogs off-leash who need a little more monitoring and playful pups ready to socialise. Not just concrete (a luxury for parks in the city!), this is a great spot for a quick run around early morning while owners finish off their coffee.

Read More: Your Neighbourhood Guide To Kennedy Town

Kowloon Tsai Park

Amongst the playground and sports facilities of Kowloon City is a small dog garden that’s great for a bit of exercise before a spot of lunch.

Kowloon Tsai Park, 13 Inverness Road, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Hong Kong (open 24 hours)

Read More: Top Hong Kong Pet Shops For Dog And Cat Food, Supplies, Toys & More

Dog-Friendly Hotels & Staycations

• The Murray (catering to dogs up to 10kg)
• The Landmark Mandarin Oriental (catering to dogs up to 4.5kg)
• Ovolo Hotels (currently operating as a quarantine hotel)
• The Ritz Carlton, Hong Kong
• Alva Hotel by Royal
• Hyatt Centric Victoria Hotel
• Rosewood Hong Kong
• Silvermine Beach Resort
• Concerto Inn Lamma Island

Emergency Animal Hospitals

Make sure to call ahead before you make your way there.

Hong Kong Island

• East Island 24hr Animal Hospital, 256 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong, 2915 3999, www.eastislandvets.com.hk
• Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Hong Kong (VSH), G/F – 2/F, 165-171 Wan Chai Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, 2408 2588, www.vsh.com.hk
• Pets Central 24 Hour Hospital (North Point), 66 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, 2811 8907, www.pets-central.com
• 9Lives Veterinary Emergency Centre, Shop 4-6, G/F, Shun Fai Building 19, Hau Wo Street, Kennedy Town, 2334 2334, www.9lives.com.hk

Kowloon

• Macpherson Animal Clinic, G/F, 26, Sai Yee Street, Mong Kok, Hong Kong, 2781 2386, www.macpherson.com.hk, www.facebook.com/macphersonac

New Territories

• Victoria 24hr Veterinary Clinics (Yuen Long), Shop 11, G/F, Hing Fook Building, Phase II, 8 Man Hop Path, Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2477 8929, www.victoriavetshk.com
• Tai Wai Small Animal and Exotic Hospital, 69-75 Chik Shun Street, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2687 1030, www.taiwaiexotic.com

Dog-Friendly Transport

If you don’t own a car, figuring out how to get your doggo from point A to point B can be a big question mark when you can’t take them on the MTR and buses. Here are some pet-friendly options to help you get to where you want to go:

Taxis

Some taxis in Hong Kong will allow pets in their vehicles, you just need to ask. It is not uncommon to get charged an extra fee of around $10 for the privilege of transporting your furry friend, but it’s totally worth the convenience, right?

Uber

Some Uber drivers will also allow pets. It’s good practice to text the driver who accepts your ride request ahead of time to let them know that you intend to travel with a pet as not every driver is okay with it.

GoGo Van

GoGo Van is a great option when you want to move large things from place to place. But did you know it also offers a pet shuttling service? When you book a ride, you can specify that you’re transporting pets and you’re good to go!

99Bus

99Bus is an organisation started by a Hongkonger who just wanted to take his dog around town with ease. The service has stops all over town, but with only a handful of set routes. If you’re close to a stop and headed somewhere along the route, this is a very convenient option. Check out the website for route information and ticket prices.

Ferries

Most ferries in Hong Kong will allow pups on board, but there are rules around this. Dogs are only allowed on regular and slow ferries, and they must be kept on a leash or in a carrier and be muzzled at all times. Head here to check out the most up-to-date rules and regulations for taking pets on the ferry with you. Also, note that any public beach with a lifeguard on duty is off-limits for pooches.

Lik Speed Boat Service

Hong Kong has so many amazing beaches that are perfect for a picnic, a swim and a good game of fetch, but sadly, a lot of them aren’t that easy to get to! Lik is offering up a solution for dog owners looking for more than just a small stretch of beach for their dogs to run around on, with a speedboat service that will take your directly there! Get in touch to enquire about prices.

Editor’s Note: This post was published on 8 July 2016 by Lexi Davey, and was most recently updated in January, 2021.