- Ideal trip length
- 3 to 5 nights
- Best time to go
- October to December
- Time zone
- GMT+8 (Hong Kong Time)
- Currency
- Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Entry update
Many passports, including Singapore, UK, US and Australian, can visit Hong Kong visa-free for short stays. No new arrival requirements had been confirmed when I checked.
About Hong Kong
Hong Kong packs a great deal into a small space. Within an hour you can move from a dim sum lunch in Central to a hilltop trail above the sea. The harbour is the city's centrepiece, best seen from the Star Ferry or a high hotel room. Few places in Asia match its concentration of excellent hotels, bars and Cantonese restaurants.
The art scene has grown fast, anchored by M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon. Art Basel fills the best hotels each spring. Beyond the towers, outlying islands and country parks cover much of the territory, which surprises many first-time visitors. Hong Kong works well on its own or as a stop between longer journeys, and pairs naturally with Macau.
When to go
October to December brings dry, sunny days and comfortable temperatures, ideal for hiking and harbour views. Winter and spring stay pleasant, though March and April can be misty. From June to September it is hot and humid, with a risk of typhoons.
Places to go
My picks in Hong Kong
The hotels I'd start with, and who each one suits.
2 MICHELIN KeysForbes Five-Star
The Peninsula PenClub
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Hong Kong
3 MICHELIN KeysForbes Recommended
Rosewood Elite
Rosewood Hong Kong
Hong Kong
2 MICHELIN KeysForbes Five-Star
Four Seasons Preferred Partner
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Hong Kong
2 MICHELIN KeysForbes Five-Star
Mandarin Oriental Fan Club
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Hong KongBefore you go
Arriving
Getting there
Hong Kong International Airport is well connected worldwide. The Airport Express reaches Central in about 25 minutes, and most luxury hotels offer car transfers.
Getting around
The MTR is clean, fast and simple, and the Star Ferry is a short, scenic harbour crossing. Taxis are plentiful, though some drivers speak little English.
Visa and entry
Many passports, including Singapore, UK, US and Australian, get visa-free visits of up to 90 days, or 180 days for British citizens. Check the official source before you travel.
Checked November 2026
Money and culture
Money
Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted. An Octopus card, or Octopus on your phone, covers transport and many small purchases.
Tipping
Most restaurants add a service charge, so extra tipping is optional. Rounding up taxi fares and small tips for porters are appreciated.
Local customs
Dim sum is a shared, unhurried meal; tap two fingers on the table to thank whoever refills your tea. Queues are taken seriously.
On the ground
Language
Cantonese, English and Mandarin. English is widely used in hotels, signage and business.
Plugs and power
Type G, the three square-pin British style, as in Singapore and the UK.
Safety
Hong Kong is very safe, day and night. In typhoon season, follow your hotel's advice whenever warning signals are raised.
Hong Kong: quick answers
When is the best time to visit Hong Kong?
October to December. October to December brings dry, sunny days and comfortable temperatures, ideal for hiking and harbour views. Winter and spring stay pleasant, though March and April can be misty. From June to September it is hot and humid, with a risk of typhoons.
How long should I spend in Hong Kong?
3 to 5 nights is a good length for a first visit. Tell me what you enjoy and I'll shape the route around it.
Which luxury hotels do you recommend in Hong Kong?
My picks are The Peninsula Hong Kong, Rosewood Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong and The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong. Each hotel page has my write-up, what guests say and the benefits I can add.
Do I need a visa for Hong Kong?
Many passports, including Singapore, UK, US and Australian, get visa-free visits of up to 90 days, or 180 days for British citizens. Check the official source before you travel.
Updated November 2026
More ways to experience Hong Kong
Seabourn
Intimate all-suite ships, with winter seasons in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Explore Ultra luxuryRegent Seven Seas Cruises
Spacious all-suite ships with an inclusive approach, and a growing programme across Japan and Asia.
Explore LuxuryExplora Journeys
Contemporary ocean residences with a European feel, arriving in Asia from September 2027.
ExploreI plan Hong Kong around neighbourhoods and tables, choose the right side of the harbour, and keep a day for the hills.
- Benefits arranged before you arrive.
- One point of contact from start to finish.
- Hotels matched to how you travel.