Let’s see how many activities you can tick off the ultimate Hong Kong bucket list…
From neon lights to rolling hills, Hong Kong is a treasure trove of cultural delights, delicious eats and once-in-a-lifetime sights. Whether you’ve lived here for years or are fresh off the plane, there’s always something new to discover! Have a free weekend on your hands? Save this link to experience the best of what the 852 has to offer. Here’s how to make most of this place we call home with our ultimate bucket list guide. How many have you ticked off?
Editor’s Note: Due to social distancing measures, some of these activities may not be possible right now. Nevertheless, they’re still definitely worth having on your list for when normality resumes!
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Eat
- Go for seafood on Lamma Island
- Order egg waffles (and other street eats!)
- Try one of Hong Kong’s best egg tarts
- Try at least three flavours of bubble tea
- Order off a dim sum trolley at City Hall
- Tuck into some traditional hotpot
- Book in for afternoon tea
- Chow down on local favourites at a Dai Pai Dong
- Try the tofu dessert at Honeymoon Dessert – or one of these other traditional desserts
- Eat at one of Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred restaurants (Tim Ho Wan is always a favourite!)
- Book in for a free-flow dinner that goes on until sunlight
- Duck in to one of these late night eateries on your way home
- Settle in for a beer at one of HK’s beach bars
- Cook your own meal at a Korean barbecue joint
- Go to a traditional “Cha Chaan Teng” for milk tea and pineapple buns
- Try your hand at a traditional Cantonese cooking class
- Have lunch at Tai O Fishing Village
- Have your dinner cooked by fishermen on a sampan in the Typhoon Shelter
- Book in for an “off-the-eaten-track” food tour
- Go shopping at one of the city’s wet markets
- Take on a Hong Kong food challenge
Drink
- Dance on the bar in Carnegies
- Drink your weight in bubbles at brunch
- Sip with a view at one of Hong Kong’s rooftop bars
- Enjoy a drink at one of Hong Kong’s hidden bars and speakeasies
- Party ‘til the sun comes up at Dusk ‘til Dawn
- Agree to karaoke (and then regret it)
- Check out Hong Kong’s live music scene
- Complete the 15 shot challenge at Geronimos
- Have a cheap night out at “club” 7-Eleven
- Make the most of Ladies Night
- Order “Hong Kong’s cheapest pint” at Beer Bay
- Party on a tram
- Try a local craft beer
- Experience a full weekend at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens (costumes encouraged)
- Drink beer from a bowl at Tung Po in Java Road Cooked Food Centre
- Plan the ultimate Hong Kong party
- Suffer through a killer Hong Kong hangover
Outdoor
- Go for a picnic at Victoria Peak Gardens
- Ride a bike on Cheung Chau
- Set sail around the harbour on the Aqua Luna
- Walk around the wetlands
- Take the morning trail up to The Peak
- Party on a junk
- Hike up 200 steps to see the Giant Buddha (then eat at the fabulous vegetarian restaurant at Po Lin Monastery)
- Kayak around Middle Island
- Join a Dragon Boating Team (or another sports team!)
- Take in the view from “The Smiler” at Ocean Park
- Cool off in a hotel swimming pool, when it’s over 32 degrees
- Watch the harbourfront fireworks at (Chinese) New Year
- Adopt (or foster!) a dog – and take them to these spots
- Lend a hand in a beach clean up
- Haggle at Ladies Market
- Scuba dive off Lantau
- Pick strawberries at one of Hong Kong’s organic farms
- Take a day trip to Macau and brave “the world’s highest” bungee jump
- Go camping
- Book in for yoga class with a view
- Go surfing at Big Wave Bay
- Bag a bargain at one of the city’s outlet malls
- Take the train for a day of shopping in Shenzhen
- Ride the Star Ferry at least twice in 24 hours
- Tackle The Twins and reward yourself with a beer in Stanley afterwards
- Hike to the top of Sunset Peak and stay overnight in a hut
- Conquer a section of The Wilson Trail
- Go cliff jumping in the New Territories
- Go squid fishing and cook what you catch on board
- Spend your weekend at the beach
- Go Paddle boarding in Stanley
- Spend the day in Tai Long Wan
- Sign up for a Hong Kong run or race
- Get away from the city with a day trip
- Explore PMQ and leave with a purchase you never knew you needed!
Cultural
- Make a wish and bang the drum at Man Mo Temple
- Volunteer at one of Hong Kong’s many charities
- Buy fresh blooms for a friend from the Flower Market
- Marvel at Hong Kong’s annual bun scrambling competition in May
- Look for treasures at the Jade Market
- Have your fortune told
- Put a hex on an ex and “beat your enemy” (Dai Siu Yan) under the bridges in Causeway Bay
- Shop for beads and cool jewellery bits in Sham Shui Po
- Spot pink dolphins with HK Dolphin Watch
- Pin your wish to the Wishing Tree in Tai Po
- Have a suit or dress tailor made
- Book a staycation with a view
- Bet on a horse at the Happy Valley Races
- Escape the city madness with a trip to the serene Chi Lin Nunnery
- Snap a pic of some Hong Kong’s cool street art
- Keep calm and sign up for tea meditation or “Cha Dao”
- Get spooked during a tour of HK’s most haunted spots
- See your favourite bands live at Clockenflap
- Take some snaps at these Insta-perfect spots
- Visit Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts
- Learn a new skill at an adult craft class
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 27, April 2017 and was last updated By Tania Shroff on 2, July 2020.
Featured image courtesy of Tin Iglesias for Sassy Media Group, image 1 courtesy of Mott32 via Instagram, image 2 courtesy of Anatoliy Gromov via Unsplash, image 3 via Getty, image 4 via Getty.
