2 Days in Hong Kong Itinerary

Our 2 day Hong Kong itinerary gives you great ideas of what to do in Hong Kong in 2 days. From top attractions to restaurants and more, we’ve got you covered.

2 Days in Hong Kong itinerary

A Hong Kong stopover is the ideal way to break up a long journey to Asia, or for those travelling between Australia and Europe.

Visiting Hong Kong with Kids

Hong Kong is such an exciting city to visit. There’s a lot of fun Hong Kong sightseeing to be done, the city has amazing food and shopping and it’s easy to get around.

However visiting Hong Kong with kids can often feel daunting – and you may not imagine that this bustling modern metropolis is a particularly child friendly city.

But there is a surprising amount of fun things to do in Hong Kong with kids and trying to narrow it all down and decide what to do in Hong Kong in 2 days can be tricky.

Fitting it all in

If you do only have two days in Hong Kong, here we help you out with our Hong Kong 2 day itinerary.

Because there are so many Hong Kong attractions to choose from, we’ve given options below so you can plan your own Hong Kong tour itinerary depending on the type of holiday you want.

Hopefully our Hong Kong trip plan will help you understand what you can manage to fit into your time here.

We have tried to mix up some of the top Hong Kong tourist attractions for families, such as Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park, with some more cultural places to visit in Hong Kong, like visiting the Big Buddha and sampling some of the local Hong Kong dim sum.

 

Note that we have included some of the most popular Hong Kong places of interest here. If your travel plans include a weekend in Hong Kong, these attractions will likely be very busy, so plan accordingly.

Whatever you choose to do during your two days in Hong Kong, you are sure to have a fun and memorable trip! Enjoy!

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Hong Kong Travel Itinerary: Day One

On day one of our Hong Kong sample itinerary we are going to tick off one of the big Hong Kong top attractions – you can choose between Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong or visiting the Big Buddha.

There will be time in the afternoon for some downtime back at your hotel before heading out in the evening for a Hong Kong harbour cruise.

Morning – Hong Kong Disneyland / Ocean Park / The Big Buddha

Chances are if you are heading to Hong Kong with kids, they are going to want to visit Hong Kong Disneyland.

If you have already visited other Disney parks, or Mickey Mouse isn’t your thing, then Ocean Park is Hong Kong’s oldest and best-loved amusement park and is a good alternative for where to go in Hong Kong for a fun day with the family.

If you prefer to add something more cultural to your Hong Kong city tour itinerary, then taking the cable to visit the Big Buddha on Lantau Island is another of our top things to do in Hong Kong.

In 48 hours in Hong Kong, you will probably only have time to visit one of these – so read more below to see which one suits you best.

Hong Kong Disneyland

One of the highlights of visiting Hong Kong with kids is taking them to the Disney Hong Kong park. With a whole host of Disney characters to meet, rides to enjoy, a Lion King show, the Fantasy Parade and fireworks, you are guaranteed a day of fun and much excitement from the kids.

There are seven themed lands to explore, including Fantasyland, Toy Story Land and Adventureland, with all the favourite rides such as It’s a Small World, Mad Hatter Tea Cups and Space Mountain to enjoy, as well as some that are unique to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Star Wars fans are in for a treat in Tomorrowland, with Jedi training on offer and the chance to meet Chewbacca, BB-8 and R2D2.

If Disneyland is a Hong Kong must see for you, here is some quick advice: buy tickets online before you go (click here to buy discounted Hong Kong Disneyland tickets) get there early (before opening time if possible), try and fit in all the rides first, don’t miss the Lion King show or the parade and download the app.

Click here to read our top tips for Hong Kong Disneyland, including how to avoid the crowds.

Ocean Park

Part aquarium, part zoo, part amusement park, Ocean Park is one of the most popular places to go in Hong Kong with families.

The Grand Aquarium is home to a wide array of sea creatures, such as sharks, stringrays and turtles, while the Polar exhibits showcase walruses, sea lions, seals and penguins. Then of course there is everyone’s favourite – the Pandas!

Ocean Park Rollercoaster

When the kids have had enough of ogling the animals, there is a cable car to ride and plenty of adrenalin-inducing rollercoasters and thrill rides – even for the really little ones.

Ocean Park is hugely popular with both local families and tourists who visit Hong Kong. Many tourists arrive by the busload, so be prepared for it to be busy.

As with HK Disneyland, good advice for visiting Ocean Park is to get there early, pre-book your tickets online (click here to buy discounted Ocean Park tickets), go straight to the aquarium as soon as the gates open then visit the pandas, take the Ocean Express up the mountain and save the cable car for the way down.

Click here to read our Tips for Visiting Ocean Park with Kids to learn how best to avoid the crowds.

The Big Buddha

Visiting the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island always features on people’s Hong Kong bucket lists. More commonly known as the ‘Big Buddha’, taking the cable car over to see this famous landmark is one of the best things to do in Hong Kong.

This Hong Kong must visit attraction is one of the largest seated Buddhas in the world at 34 metres high, and is made entirely of bronze.

The Big Buddha Hong Kong with kids

If you are on a Hong Kong family trip with small children, bear in mind that you have to climb 268 steps to reach the Buddha – but the feeling of being so close to this enormous Buddha once you get to the top is worth it.

Half the fun in visiting the Big Buddha is getting there – a 25-minute cable car journey aboard the Ngong Ping 360, offering spectacular views out over the South China Sea.

Note that as the Big Buddha is one of the most popular things to see in Hong Kong, there can be long queues for the cable car. I advise you to get there early and pre-book your tickets online. Click here to buy discounted Ngong Ping 360 tickets.

You can end the daytrip with a visit to Tai O Village – Hong Kong’s oldest fishing village, where you can take a boat ride alongside the famous stilted houses.

Click here to read more about Visiting the Big Buddha in Hong Kong.

Afternoon – Relax!

Chances are, if you have spent the day at Disneyland Hong Kong, Ocean Park or visiting the Big Buddha, you are all going to be exhausted.

Take a load off and chill out at your Hong Kong hotel for a couple of hours and save some energy for heading out in the evening to explore some more.

Dinner with a View

Hong Kong has one of the most spectacular skylines in the world, and this is most appreciated at night when all the skyscrapers are lit up.

Whether you choose to book a babysitter for the evening or take the kids along too, there are many Hong Kong restaurants with a view to choose from. Two of our favourites include Chinese restaurant Hutong and Café Grey Deluxe at the Upper House hotel for European Dining.

Evening – Junk Boat Harbour Cruise

Another of our favourite things to do in Hong Kong at night is to take a junk cruise on Hong Kong harbour, and take in the spectacular skyline from the water.

Aqua Luna Hong Kong

Both the Duk Ling and the Aqua Luna offer evening harbour cruises, including ones that coincide with the Symphony of Lights show at 8pm every night. You can board these junk boat cruises in either Tsim Sha Tsui or Central Piers. If this is too late for your little ones, both these boats also offer afternoon cruises.

Click here to buy discounted tickets for the Aqua Luna cruises.

If a harbour cruise is outside of your Hong Kong budget, you could just take the Star Ferry across the harbour a couple of times for similar views at a fraction of the cost!

Hong Kong Trip Itinerary: Day Two

On day two of our Hong Kong travel guide, you are going to head up The Peak to enjoy the best views in Hong Kong, then explore the city using all kinds of fun public transport.

Morning – The Peak Hong Kong

The Peak is the most visited tourist attraction in Hong Kong, as it is renowned as where to visit in Hong Kong for the best views.  Tourist flock here to take in the harbour views from its viewing platform at 428m above sea level.

The most fun way to reach the Peak is to take the Peak Tram, but you want to go early to avoid the queues. The journey aboard the world’s steepest funicular railway is less than five minutes long, covering just 1.4 kilometres – but climbing almost 400 metres in this time.

View from the Peak Hong Kong

The angle of the tram is so steep – 27 degrees at its most extreme – that you get the impression that the buildings are leaning into the mountain!

Click here to buy discounted tickets for the Peak Tram.

Once at the top, there is plenty to keep you occupied. There’s the Trick Eye Museum and Madam Tussauds, plus a playground all located within the Peak Galleria. Another (nicer) playground is a short walk up a steep hill at Mount Austin Park.

Another must do in Hong Kong is the walk around Lugard Road. This 3.5km walk has great views over Hong Kong, with less crowds than at the Peak Galleria.

The walk is flat, and is one of my kids’ favourite places to go scooting in Hong Kong. You can reward yourselves with a drink at an outside table at the Peak Lookout at the end.

Lunchtime – Dim Sum at City Hall

There are several dining options up The Peak, but you can’t visit Hong Kong without enjoying at least one dim sum blowout. So, for lunch you’re going to head to one of the must visit places in Hong Kong for dim sum, Maxim’s Palace at City Hall.

Set in an enormous banqueting hall, Maxim’s Palace is big, bright and brash and crammed to the rafters with noisy dim sum goers.

Things to Do in Hong Kong

It is one of only a few restaurants left in Hong Kong where dim sum is still served the traditional way – from steaming carts, piled high with bamboo baskets, pushed around by surly uniformed waitresses.

If you don’t know the names of the dim sum dishes in Chinese, just point and smile and hope for the best!

Click here for more suggestions for the Best Restaurants in Hong Kong for Dim Sum.

Afternoon – Explore Hong Kong with Public Transport

It’s time to get a feel for the real Hong Kong, and the best way to do this is to explore with public transport. Hong Kong’s public transport is not only cheap and efficient, but it’s fun too!

Ride the Star Ferry

Just a short walk from Maxim’s Palace at City Hall is the Central Piers, where all the Hong Kong ferries depart from.

The Star Ferry is one of the best ways to see the Hong Kong skyline, and is a fun ride for the kids. This iconic ride has been ploughing across Victoria harbour between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island for over a hundred years.

Ride the Hong Kong Trams

Another fun and atmospheric way to take in the sights of Hong Kong with kids is to take a ride on the famous Hong Kong trams. The trams are noisy, rickety, bumpy and old – and my kids love riding them!

Grab a seat at the front of the top deck for the best views, and enjoy the lurching and rocking movement and the distinct ‘ding ding’ of the bell as you perch above the crowds.

Hong Kong Trams

You can jump on a tram on Des Voeux Road Central (just a short walk from Central Piers where you alight from the Star Ferry) and ride it along to the Western Market. Here you can explore the dried seafood streets of Sheung Wan and call in at the Man Mo temple.

Discover Hong Kong has an excellent self-guided walk of this area on its website: Travel Through Time self-guided walk

Click here to read more about riding the Hong Kong trams.

Ride the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator

If you follow the first half of the Discover Hong Kong Travel Through Time self-guided walk mentioned above, it will bring you to The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator.

This is the longest system of escalators in the world, with more than 20 escalators and moving walkways winding their way from Central all the way up through Soho to the Mid-Levels.

Today it carries more than 60,000 commuters every day along its 800m length, running downhill from 6am – 10am, then uphill from 10.30am til midnight.

To ride the whole thing would take around twenty minutes, but you can hop on and off at each road that it bisects along the way. From a visitor’s point of view, it is a great way to get a feel of Hong Kong life, particularly through the Soho section where you have great views down over the bustling streets.

Dinner in Soho Hong Kong

Soho is one of the main dining districts of Hong Kong, so you will be spoiled for choice with restaurants in this area. It gets very busy (and rowdy) later on when the local population spills out of the offices, but if you head here for an early dinner, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a table.

Some of our favourite restaurants in Soho include Ho Lee Fook (Chinese), Chom Chom (Vietnamese), Posto Pubblico (Italian) Butcher’s Club Burger, or walk slightly further down the road to 77 Wellington Street to find Mak’s Noodle, Hong Kong’s most famous wanton noodle restaurant.

And that’s it for our Hong Kong itinerary blog post.

If you are looking for more fun ideas of what to do in Hong Kong with Kids – check out our article 10 Fun Things to do in Hong Kong with Kids. If you are looking for a family hotel in Hong Kong, then read on:

Where to stay in Hong Kong

There are plenty of family friendly hotels in Hong Kong to choose from and we have an entire article dedicated to sharing the best Hong Kong family accommodation with you. Click here to read our pick of the best family hotels in Hong Kong.

We have also highlighted a few of these Hong Kong family hotels below:

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

The Grand Hyatt has loads of great family friendly facilities, including a lovely swimming pool with poolside dining, kids pool, tennis courts and large outdoor playground. It has a good choice of restaurants, and kids are given ice cream tokens on arrival to redeem in any of them!

Rooms are large with spacious bathrooms and some have magnificent harbour views. The hotel is located in Wanchai, and although it is a bit of a walk to the nearest MTR station, it is easy to get taxis at the front door.

Click here to check prices and availability for the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

Island Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong

The Shangri-La is a gorgeous family hotel in a great location. Staff go out of there way to make you feel welcome here and the large rooms are beautifully decorated. The hotel has a good choice of restaurants and an outdoor swimming pool for cooling off in in the summer.

The Shangri-La is connected to the Pacific Place shopping mall, where you will find a selection of family-friendly restaurants and coffee shops, a fantastic supermarket for takeaway food and snacks, easy shopping and baby changing facilities.

There is also an MTR station in the basement of Pacific Place and tram stops right outside for easy public transport access.

Click here to check prices and availability for the Island Shangri-La hotel.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel

If you are planning to visit Hong Kong Disneyland, then staying at least one night at the Hong Kong Disneyland hotel can be fun. As you would expect, this Hong Kong hotel has lots of fun family facilities, including a swimming pool with a water slide, kids play room and the Bibbidy Boppity boutique where kids can get a Disney princess makeover!

The real advantage of staying at this HK Disney hotel is having breakfast in the morning with the characters. Everyone having breakfast in the Enchanted Garden restaurant has plenty of time to meet their favourite Disney characters and have photos taken with them, giving you more time to enjoy riding the rides and watching the shows later on in the park itself.

Do note that the Hong Kong Disneyland hotel is around 30-mins travel time from Hong Kong city centre.

Click here to check prices and availability for the Hong Kong Disneyland hotel.

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2 Days in Hong Kong itinerary

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3 thoughts on “2 Days in Hong Kong Itinerary”

  1. Thanks for this – it’s a possible stop over point for us next year so this will be invaluable! Looks like a fun time was had 😀

    Reply
  2. Great suggestions. Thanks, very helpful. We’re off to HK next week. Can’t wait. Still undecided about Disneyland. We’ve got three days there but feel there are so many other sights to see.

    Reply
    • Ooh – I hope you have a great time! I’m sure you will be busy with your sightseeing itinerary but do let me know if you have time for a quick coffee!

      Reply

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