Hong Kong, Lantau & Macau

Destination 01

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon

10 places

Skyscrapers, harbor ferries, dim sum and trails above the city. Stay 3 days.

• Photo: SUHAS Dubey · Google

  Victoria Peak and Peak Tram

  Historic funicular up to the city's highest viewpoint over the harbor.

  Tip Walk the flat Lugard Road loop for the best free views.

  SeeCentral$$2.5 hrSunset
• Photo: Pat Chun Chan · Google

  Star Ferry

  Green-and-white ferries crossing Victoria Harbour since 1888 for a few dollars.

  Tip Sit on the upper deck for the skyline.

  DoTsim Sha Tsui$15 minNight
• Photo: Yasu kov · Google

  Man Mo Temple

  Smoky 1847 temple hung with giant incense coils, dedicated to gods of literature and war.

  Tip Walk down to Cat Street antiques afterward.

  SeeSheung WanFree30 minMorning
• Photo: Hideko Murakami · Google

  M+ Museum

  Museum of visual culture in West Kowloon with harbor-facing terraces.

  Tip Pair with the Hong Kong Palace Museum next door.

  SeeWest Kowloon$$2.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Kingston Chan · Google

  Dragon's Back

  Ridge hike above the South China Sea ending at Big Wave Bay beach.

  Tip Take bus 9 from Shau Kei Wan to To Tei Wan to start.

  OutdoorsShek OFree3 hrMorning
• Photo: Lewis So · Google

  Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

  Timber Buddhist complex built without nails beside a Tang-style garden.

  Tip Free entry; quiet on weekday mornings.

  SeeDiamond HillFree75 minMorning
• Photo: Masahiro Tokuno · Google

  Temple Street Night Market

  Night stalls, fortune tellers and claypot rice restaurants in Yau Ma Tei.

  Tip Come for claypot rice rather than souvenirs.

  ShopYau Ma Tei$1.5 hrNight
• Photo: 美心皇宮 (中環) · Google

  Maxim's Palace City Hall

  Huge banquet hall serving dim sum from push carts, with harbor-side windows.

  Tip Queue opens before 11am; arrive early on weekends.

  EatCentral$$75 minLate morning
• Photo: 甘牌燒鵝 · Google

  Kam's Roast Goose

  Small Wan Chai shop known for crisp-skinned roast goose over rice.

  Tip Expect to share a table.

  EatWan Chai$$45 minLunch
• Photo: Sofia Hyland · Google

  Ozone at The Ritz-Carlton

  Bar on the 118th floor of the ICC tower, high above the harbor.

  Tip Smart casual dress code; book a window table.

  DrinkWest Kowloon$$$$1.5 hrNight

Destination 02

Lantau Island

9 places

Hong Kong's largest island, with mountain trails, a giant Buddha and a fishing village. Stay 1 day.

• Photo: T dack I'm-heart · Google

  Ngong Ping 360

  Cable car from Tung Chung over the bay and hills to Ngong Ping plateau.

  Tip Crystal cabins have glass floors and shorter lines.

  DoTung Chung$$$30 minMorning
• Photo: Murugan Manokaran · Google

  Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha)

  Bronze Buddha 34 meters tall, reached by 268 steps.

  Tip Clouds roll in by afternoon; go early for clear views.

  SeeNgong PingFree60 minMorning
• Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Enochlau assumed (based on copyright claims · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Po Lin Monastery

  Active monastery with colorful halls opposite the Big Buddha.

  Tip Buy a vegetarian lunch ticket at the Buddha base.

  SeeNgong PingFree60 minMidday
• Photo: frankeyleung · Google

  Nei Lak Shan Country Trail

  Easy loop trail on the slopes above Ngong Ping with views over the Big Buddha, the airport and the South China Sea.

  Tip Start from Ngong Ping village; the north side has the best airport views.

  OutdoorsNgong PingFree1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: Francis Cheung · Google

  Lantau Peak (Fung Wong Shan)

  Hong Kong's second-highest peak, a steep climb with sweeping sea views.

  Tip Sunrise hikes start from Pak Kung Au around 4am.

  OutdoorsFree4 hrSunrise
• Photo: 樂luck see · Google

  Tai O Fishing Village

  Stilt houses over tidal creeks, dried seafood stalls and short boat trips.

  Tip Boat rides sometimes spot pink dolphins offshore.

  SeeTai O$2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Tal Mihalevski · Google

  Po Lin Vegetarian Kitchen

  Monastery dining hall serving set Buddhist vegetarian meals.

  EatNgong Ping$45 minLunch
• Photo: WiNG · CC BY 3.0

  Cheung Sha Beach

  Long sandy beach on Lantau's south coast with lifeguards in summer.

  Tip Bus from Tung Chung or Mui Wo stops along South Lantau Road.

  OutdoorsSouth LantauFree2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Platinum Guide · Google

  China Bear

  Long-running pub on the Mui Wo waterfront with outdoor tables facing the bay and the ferry pier.

  Tip Grab a pint while you wait for the Central ferry; the pier is steps away.

  DrinkMui Wo$$60 minLate afternoon

Destination 03

Macau

9 places

Former Portuguese enclave of colonial squares, temples and Macanese food. Stay 2 days.

• Photo: Michael M · Google

  Ruins of St. Paul's

  Stone facade of a 17th-century Jesuit church atop a grand stairway.

  Tip Visit early before tour groups fill the steps.

  SeeHistoric CentreFree45 minMorning
• Photo: Андрей Суриков / Andrey Surikov. Original uploader was Сура at ru.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5

  Senado Square

  Wave-patterned square lined with pastel colonial buildings and St. Dominic's Church.

  Tip Lit up at night and calmer after 9pm.

  SeeHistoric CentreFree45 minEvening
• Photo: ワエ · Google

  Monte Fort and Macao Museum

  Hilltop fort with cannons and a museum on the city's East-West history.

  SeeHistoric Centre$75 min
• Photo: WiNG · CC BY 3.0

  A-Ma Temple

  Temple to the sea goddess Mazu, older than the city itself.

  SeeBarraFree45 minMorning
• Photo: J. Patrick Fischer · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Guia Fortress

  17th-century fort, chapel and lighthouse on Macau's highest hill.

  Tip Take the short cable car up from Flora Garden.

  SeeGuiaFree60 minAfternoon
• Photo: Brent Chen · Google

  Taipa Village

  Old lanes of Rua do Cunha with snack shops, Portuguese houses and the Taipa Houses Museum.

  Tip Try pork chop buns and almond cookies.

  DoTaipa$2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Tinz Castillo · Google

  Coloane Village

  Quiet seaside village with the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and Hac Sa Beach nearby.

  OutdoorsColoaneFree1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: 你噢!Ne-yo · Google

  Lord Stow's Bakery

  Coloane bakery that made the Portuguese-style egg tart famous in Macau.

  Tip Buy them warm and eat by the water.

  EatColoane$20 minMorning
• Photo: Hisayoshi Honoki · Google

  Restaurante Litoral

  Long-running Macanese restaurant serving African chicken and minchi.

  Tip Book ahead for dinner.

  EatBarra$$1.5 hrDinner