Uncovering Hong Kong: A 2-Day Itinerary

I’ll admit it. My only reference to Hong Kong before visiting was Jackie Chan in the Rush Hour movies. I also have nannied for a family whose mom comes from Hong Kong. But besides that, I did not much about this place. From my limited knowledge of Hong Kong, I only expected to see skyscrapers. However, I quickly realized how wrong I was. Yes, there are numerous skyscrapers but that is not everything there is to see here. Hong Kong has a bit of everything to satisfy the plethora of likes of its visitors. 

The only reason why I booked a flight to Hong Kong was because it was the cheapest roundtrip flight from Bangkok. I searched for things to do while I was waiting to board my flight. To my surprise, I found out that Hong Kong has over 250 islands, lots of hiking spots, beaches, fun nightlife, and much more! Reading all of this made me extremely excited to explore. 

Stunning views from Lantau Island and Victoria Peak

I spent 2 full days in Hong Kong and I wished that I had stayed longer to explore all it has to offer. If you are planning your trip to Hong Kong or figuring out what your next destination should be, I recommend coming here. This guide includes detailed information on everything you need to know before visiting and things to do for two full days in Hong Kong. 

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Currency

Hong Kong's currency is called HKD. If you want to know the current conversion rate, you can look up “HKD to ___” (your country’s currency) on Google. 

There are a lot of places where you can use your credit card, especially at touristy places such as Victoria Peak, but I still recommend having HKD cash to pay for public transportation and local stalls. At the airport, you will find several money exchange services. You can look them up on the airport’s website.  I exchanged my money at the Global Exchange shop. Do note that they charge a small fee, but I think it’s convenient and worth it.

Daily Budget

Hong Kong is notoriously known for being one of the most expensive destinations in Asia, but I found the prices doable when I visited last month. I would say budget between $50 - $70 for your daily budget including accommodation.

When it came to accommodation, I stayed with a friend so we split the price of the room. For a really nice hotel room, we paid $170 USD for 3 nights, which ended up being $28 USD per night per person. 

Tip: When booking your accommodation, make sure to check hotels often as they might give super discounts. I booked mine through the Agoda app and we got a 30% discount on our room!

There is no need to break the bank when eating in Hong Kong! If you eat at a local restaurant, prices start at around 30 HKD, which is $3.84 USD. The most expensive meal I had in Hong Kong was at a Shabu restaurant inside a mall and for unlimited everything (yes, that included meat) we each paid 190HKD, which is $24 USD. 

You can get anywhere in Hong Kong by using public transportation, which helps with your daily budget. Do note that if you take the fast train from the airport it will cost you significantly more than if you take the bus. 

For tours, I only did the Victoria Harbour tour and for $26 it included unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) while cruising for 75 minutes. I purchased mine through the Klook app. Aside from that, I don’t think it is necessary to purchase any tours to explore Hong Kong, which will help you cut back on costs. 

Staying Connected

If your phone is unlocked, meaning that you paid it all off, you will be able to use an e-sim card. For this trip I used Holafly and I had zero problems. I had a good connection everywhere I went, even when I went hiking. If your phone is locked, there are many stalls at the airport selling sim cards. 

Transportation

When you arrive at the airport, I recommend purchasing an Octopus card. You can use this card on trains and buses as well as convenience stores and tourist landmarks such as Victoria Peak. The cost of the card is 200 HKD. The card in itself costs 50HKD so you will have 150HKD to use as you please. Before leaving Hong Kong make sure to return your Octopus card to get reimbursed 50HKD!

Public transportation in Hong Kong is efficient and inexpensive. You can use the Google Maps app to navigate its bus and train system. 

Stunning view from the train on my way to Lantau Island.

Note: The airport bus runs 24/7 so if you stay out past midnight you can take the bus to your accommodation (if it is en route to the airport) to avoid paying a lot for a taxi. 

Where to Stay

I stayed at Hotel Ease Access in Lai Chi Kok after finding a super deal on the Agoda app. I found this hotel to be located perfectly because it was just around an hour away from the airport and around 20-30 minutes to most touristy places. I recommend staying at this hotel. It is just an 8-minute walk from the nearest train station, it was super clean and there is staff 24/7 who are willing to help. My friend forgot to bring a converter to charge their phone and they lent us a travel converter for free. The only downside was that the double twin bedroom was a bit small so it might be uncomfortable if you come with big luggage.

Hong Kong Day 1 Itinerary

We will kick off Day 1 by going to Hong Kong Island to check out all the touristy places. I recommend walking between the attractions that you’ll see because one thing about Hong Kong is that you will find the most interesting things where you least expect them.

Hong Kong Park

Start your day by taking a relaxing stroll around Hong Kong Park. It is a really beautiful park that has waterfalls, turtles, and an array of different plants and trees. I recommend staying here for around 1 hour so that you can enjoy your time there. 

It is a 4-minute walk to the Victoria Peak tram station. 

Victoria Peak

Perhaps Hong Kong’s most iconic tourist destination, Victoria Peak lives the hype. The view from up there is astonishing. It truly took my breath away! Visiting Victoria Peak is a must in your Hong Kong itinerary. I suggest staying around 1 hour to enjoy the view and have some delicious lunch while overlooking Victoria Harbour and the city. 

Views from The Peak

How to get there? 

There are two ways to get there: by tram or by walking.  If you take the tram, you will pay $20 for a roundtrip ticket + the entrance ticket to see the view of Victoria Peak and they accept credit cards, cash, and your Octopus card! I recommend taking the tram as it saves you a lot of time and energy so that you can keep exploring the rest of the city.

If you decide to walk, do note that it will take you around an hour and it is mostly uphill so make sure to bring water and comfy shoes.

Walking on The Peak

After eating lunch at Victoria Peak, you can enjoy a nice stroll around the premises. Once you get out of the Victoria Peak building, you will see a sign (as shown in the picture below) showing 3 different scenic routes you can take. I took the Harlech Road Fitness Trail (the yellow line) and it was very peaceful, with not many people, and it offered a different view of the city. If you have time I recommend taking one of the scenic routes!

Man Mo Temple

Following your nice stroll around The Peak, you shall make your way to Man Mo Temple. The temple was built in 1847 and it is dedicated to the God of Literature (Man) and the God of War (Mo). Despite it being a small temple, the architecture inside is simply astonishing. I recommend donating to the temple and picking up some incense to pay your respects.

Make sure to wear appropriate clothing to visit this temple and cover your shoulders and knees. 

Graham Street / 11 Peel Street 

Near Man Mo Temple you will find Graham Street, famously known for its many shops, cool graffiti, and market. Here you will find a bit of everything. I recommend walking around and going wherever your heart desires.  

Victoria Harbour

Seeing Victoria Harbour at night was hands down one of the highlights of my trip! It was just simply too magical. I booked a boat tour through the Klook app. It started at 7 pm and it included unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) while cruising for 75 minutes. An hour into our boat ride we stumbled upon a drone show and it was super cool seeing it live for the first time. 

Victoria Harbour is pretty regardless of the time of day. However, I recommend going at night as it’s not as hot, you get to see the whole city light up and you get a drone show. 

After you are done with the boat tour, you can walk around the harbor and head back to your accommodation. 

Hong Kong Day 2 Itinerary

For nature lovers, day 2 will surely blow your mind. You’ll venture off to Lantau Island, where you’ll see a different side of Hong Kong. 

Lantau Island 

Lantau Island is where Hong Kong’s airport is located. Despite that, it has so many hiking spots and beaches. It is a perfect escape from the city and touristy areas. There are many things to do on this island but I’ll recommend that you visit the following places.

Sunset Peak 

Sunset Peak has stunning, jaw-dropping views! I kept stopping every 10 minutes or so to enjoy the view (and catch my breath) because it was simply too pretty. To reach Sunset Peak, you take the bus and it leaves you right in front of the starting point. Google Maps said that the hike takes 30 minutes, but because of its steepness and stairs, I would allocate much more time, around 3-4 hours to hike to the top, rest for a while, and come back down. 

Note: This is a pretty hard hike, especially if you go during the hot season. I hike and run regularly and I was struggling quite a lot too since it’s all uphill with just stairs. Bring comfortable shoes, water, and a light lunch to have while overlooking the beautiful view. 

Pui O Beach 

After hiking, you can take the bus to the south part of the island and stop by Pui O Beach where you can relax and enjoy a nice meal. This beach was nice and not crowded at all which made it easier to relax after that intense hike. 

Just as it did with me, Hong Kong will show you an unforgettable time filled with priceless memories. With its vibrant culture, stunning sights, and delicious food, Hong Kong makes for a great destination. I hope that this 2-day itinerary helps you plan your trip to this amazing country and make the most out of your limited time there.