Few cities blend old and new as effortlessly as Hong Kong. British colonial history meets Cantonese heritage in soaring skyscrapers, incense-wreathed temples, and bustling dai pai dong street stalls. The city’s backbone is the harbor—Victoria Harbour—framed by a skyline that glows like a circuit board at night.

Beyond the city core, Hong Kong spills into mountains, beaches, and fishing villages. Ride the historic Peak Tram, glide above forests on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, wander neon alleys in Kowloon, and taste your way from silky wonton noodles to roast goose. Add a day trip to Macau—UNESCO streets lined with azulejos and egg tarts—to complete the picture.

Practical notes: Pick up an Octopus card for easy MTR and bus travel. Expect compact portions and shareable plates; dim sum brunch is a social ritual. The best seasons are October–December and March–April for clear skies and comfortable hikes; summer is hot and humid with spectacular thunderstorms.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a city of layers: dried seafood lanes in Sheung Wan, SoHo’s creative buzz, quiet cloisters at Chi Lin Nunnery, and markets selling everything from jade to gadgets. Start on Hong Kong Island for history and skyline moments, then cross to Kowloon for night markets and noodle nirvana.

• Top sights: Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, Man Mo Temple, Tai Kwun, PMQ, Nan Lian Garden, Wong Tai Sin Temple, Temple Street Night Market, Mong Kok markets.
• Nature escapes: Lantau Island’s Big Buddha and Tai O, Dragon’s Back hike, Shek O and Big Wave Bay beaches, outlying islands with seafood shacks.
• Dining highlights: Dim sum halls, roast meats (char siu and goose), wonton noodles, claypot rice, milk tea, and mango desserts. Old-school tea houses meet buzzy contemporary kitchens.

Where to stay:

• Iconic luxury with harbor views: The Peninsula Hong Kong or design-forward The Upper House.
• Family favorites near Hong Kong Disneyland: Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and Disney Explorers Lodge.
• Stylish budget picks: Hop Inn or Hop Inn on Carnarvon.
• Heritage hostel with a local neighborhood vibe: YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Hong Kong or Hotels.com Hong Kong.

Getting there: Fly into HKG. Compare fares on Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Airport Express to Hong Kong Station takes about 24 minutes (~HKD 115); taxis to Central run ~35–45 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Touchdown, Victoria Harbour, and Tsim Sha Tsui Night Lights

Afternoon: Arrive and transfer to your hotel. Drop bags, then stroll the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Avenue of Stars for your first look at Victoria Harbour’s skyline. Ride the historic Star Ferry across to Central and back—short, scenic, and deeply Hong Kong.

Evening: Catch “A Symphony of Lights” at 8 pm from the TST waterfront. Dinner nearby: try Mak Man Kee in Jordan (silky wonton noodles), Sun Hing Chang for claypot rice, or Yat Heen for Cantonese classics. For a view-led nightcap, the Peninsula’s Felix pairs skyline panoramas with cocktails.

Day 2: Central, Sheung Wan, and Victoria Peak

Morning: Coffee and pastry at Bakehouse in Wan Chai or NOC Coffee Co. in Central. Walk Old Town Central: Graham Street Market’s produce stalls, PMQ’s indie designers, and Man Mo Temple for coils of incense and quiet reflection.

Afternoon: Join a guided city immersion that includes the Peak Tram and a dim sum tasting: Top-Rated Hong Kong Tour: Peak Tram, Dim Sum & Cultural Sights. Priority boarding is a time-saver, and you’ll get context for neighborhoods along the Mid-Levels Escalator.

Evening: Dine in SoHo. Options: Yardbird (yakitori with a cult following), Ho Lee Fook (playful modern Cantonese), or Sing Heung Yuen (tomato noodle dai pai dong if you want ultra-casual). For cocktails, try COA (agave temple) or Penicillin (sustainability-focused). Reserve where possible.

Day 3: Kowloon Temples, Gardens, and a Michelin Street Food Night

Morning: Start at Wong Tai Sin Temple, where Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian traditions intertwine. Continue to Chi Lin Nunnery and the adjacent Nan Lian Garden—Tang-dynasty-style architecture, koi ponds, and photogenic wooden bridges.

Afternoon: Sham Shui Po is your street-level lens on local life: Apliu Street (gadgets), Yu Chau Street (beads and buttons), and the fabric arcades. Snack along the way: Kung Wo for fresh tofu pudding, Kee Tsui for traditional pastries, and Tak Hing Fish Ball for curry fish balls.

Evening: Dive into Kowloon’s food scene with a guided tasting walk focused on family-run greats and Bib Gourmand bites: Small Group Kowloon Michelin Rated Street Food and Culture Tour.

Late: Browse the Temple Street Night Market for trinkets, tarot, and neon photos. If you skipped the tour, assemble your own crawl: One Dim Sum in Prince Edward (book-worthy), Sister Wah in Tin Hau (beef brisket), and Hui Lau Shan for mango sago.

Day 4: Lantau Island—Ngong Ping 360, Big Buddha, and Tai O

Morning: MTR to Tung Chung, then float above subtropical hills on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. At the top, climb to the Tian Tan (Big) Buddha and visit Po Lin Monastery, pausing for a vegetarian set lunch if you’d like.

Afternoon: Continue to Tai O Fishing Village for stilt houses and salty sea breezes. If you prefer a seamless day with transport and a boat ride in Tai O, book: Lantau Island Day Trip: Giant Buddha & Cable Car with Pickup.

Evening: Return to the city for roast meats: Yat Lok in Central (glazed goose and crisp skin) or Joy Hing in Wan Chai (char siu over rice). Dessert idea: egg tarts from Tai Cheong Bakery.

Day 5: Macau Day Trip—UNESCO Streets and Portuguese Flavors

Morning: Bring your passport. Ferries from Sheung Wan take ~1 hour; buses across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge take ~45–60 minutes plus border checks. For a guided overview including St. Paul’s, Senado Square, A-Ma Temple, and time to taste Portuguese-Macanese dishes, book: Seat-In-Coach: One-Day Macau City Tour from Hong Kong.

Afternoon: Snack on egg tarts (the flaky kind Macau is famous for) and try African chicken or Minchi at a classic tavern. History buffs can duck into the Maritime Museum; casual strollers will love the tile-lined lanes behind Senado Square.

Evening: Return to Hong Kong. If energy allows, glide past the skyline on the Star Ferry once more, or unwind with congee and you tiao at a late-night cha chaan teng.

Day 6: Hike, Beach, and Wan Chai–Causeway Bay Eats

Morning: Fuel up with coffee at % Arabica in IFC or The Coffee Academics. Hike Dragon’s Back (trailhead via MTR to Shau Kei Wan, then bus 9) for ridgeline views of Shek O and the South China Sea. It’s a half-day classic—moderate and breezy.

Afternoon: Cool down at Shek O or Big Wave Bay beach; grab a casual seafood or Thai lunch near Shek O Village. Head back to town for shopping in Causeway Bay (Times Square, Fashion Walk) or a stroll through Victoria Park.

Evening: Dinner picks: Under Bridge Spicy Crab in Causeway Bay (piles of fried garlic, addictive heat), Samsen in Wan Chai (boat noodles and crab fried rice), or Luk Yu Tea House in Central for old-world tea house vibes. If it’s racing season (typically most Wednesday nights Sep–Jun), consider an evening at Happy Valley Racecourse for a very-local night out.

Day 7: Last Bites, Culture Fix, and Departure

Morning: Dim sum send-off: try DimDimSum in Jordan or a hotel favorite if you’re staying along the harbor. Walk Tai Kwun (the restored Central Police Station compound) for heritage galleries and contemporary art, then browse PMQ for design-forward gifts.

Afternoon: Final harbor gaze from Tamar Park or the Central Ferry Piers before heading to HKG. Airport Express is the fastest route back (~24 minutes); taxis are convenient if you’re traveling with luggage or from the south side.

Evening (if you have time the night before): Celebrate with a night yacht cruise across Victoria Harbour’s illuminated skyline: STARLIGHT: Victoria Harbour Night Yacht Tour.

Practical Food & Coffee Map (by neighborhood)

• Central & Sheung Wan: Mak’s Noodle (wonton), Yat Lok (roast goose), Tai Cheong Bakery (egg tarts), COA/Penicillin (cocktails).
• SoHo & Mid-Levels: Yardbird (yakitori), Ho Lee Fook (modern Cantonese), PMQ cafes for light bites.
• Tsim Sha Tsui & Jordan: Mak Man Kee (wonton), Sun Hing Chang (claypot rice), Felix at The Peninsula (views).
• Mong Kok & Sham Shui Po: One Dim Sum, Kam Wah (pineapple buns), Kung Wo (tofu pudding), Apliu Street snacks.
• Wan Chai & Causeway Bay: Joy Hing (char siu), Samsen (Thai), Under Bridge Spicy Crab (seafood heat).

How to Book and Get Around

• Flights: Compare prices and schedules on Trip.com and Kiwi.com.
• Local transport: Use the MTR for speed and clarity; most rides are HKD 6–25 with an Octopus card. Taxis are plentiful and metered; red cabs cover most urban areas.
• Macau day trip: Ferries run frequently (about 1 hour each way); HZMB buses are fast but require shuttle transfers and border checks. Bring your passport and allow extra time for immigration.

Optional curated experiences you can swap in: If you love flexible, insider-led touring, consider this personalized walk that adapts to your interests and pace: Hong Kong Day Tour: City Landmarks & Highlights.

Seven days here give you both the city’s pulse and its quiet edges—skylines and incense, noodles and sea air. Keep this itinerary handy; it’s built to revisit and remix, whether you return for more hiking, more markets, or another dim sum marathon.