DAY 1
As soon as you’re ready to hit the town head straight to the base of Victoria Peak. The Peak Tram is the way to go if you’ve got time.
It’ll cost you about $15 dollars for a return trip, and there’s always a bit of a wait, but it’s well worth the time and money. Your ticket will also give you access to the viewing platform which offers pretty amazing views of Hong Kong’s famous skyline.
There’s a couple of restaurants and a few souvenir shops but not a lot else at the peak. If you have the time, I’d also recommend making the effort to go to the actual peak. It’s only about 15 minutes further and not many people know or bother to go. Just north of the SkyTower (to the right) there’s a road (Lugard Road) that winds its way further up the hill, past Victoria Peak Gardens, to the very top of the mountain. When I went there was hardly anybody around – a few randoms having wedding photos but otherwise I had the mountain to myself with 360° views.
When you’re done with Victoria Peak – head back down the mountain and make your way to Man Mo Temple – one of Hong Kong’s oldest. It’s only a 15 minute walk away, along Hollywood Road, or a quick, cheap cab trip.
Check out the shops and stop for lunch in one of the fancy restaurants on the roof of the IFC Mall, or BYO from somewhere downstairs and enjoy the fancy free furniture and fabulous views.
After lunch make your way down to Pier 7 to take the famous Star Ferry across to Kowloon. A round trip will cost you about $15 but you’ll be rewarded with pretty spectacular views of the city. Try to get a seat upstairs for the best view.
The ferry will drop you off right in the thick of it – at Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade. Walk along the Avenue of the Stars – Hong Kong’s answer to Hollywood’s Walk Of fame – and enjoy the views across the harbour of the city.
When you’re ready, head up Nathan Road to explore some of Hong Kong’s famous markets.
There’s Goldfish Markets, Bird Markets, Jade Markets – you name it. First on my list would be Tun Choi Street Market – or the Ladies’ Markets.
It’s all rip-offs and cheap electronics but it’s a pretty lively place to check out. Further up Nathan Road you’ll come to Temple Street Night Markets. It’s one of the biggest in Hong Kong and runs parallel to Nathan Road in Yau Ma Tei.
From food and clothes to bags, watches and pirate DVDs – these markets have it all. Things kick on until about 2200 so there’s no rush.
If you’ve got the energy head back down to the harbour to catch the Symphony of Lights at 2000. It’s a 15 minute light and music show – where lasers are beamed on around 40 of the city’s skyscrapers. 
Guinness World Records rate it as the world’s largest permanent light-and-sound show. The best way to see the show is the 45 minute cruise on the Aqua Luna – one of Hong Kong’s last remaining red-sailed junk boats. 
$45 dollars will buy you the cruise and a free welcome drink of your choice. It’s pretty kitsch but lots of fun and the views are priceless. The cruises run through the day and into the evening – but the Symphony of Lights one is where it’s at.
For more information on Victoria Peak click here.
Click here to find out more about IFC.
For Star Ferry prices and schedules, click here.
To find out more about Aqua Luna cruises, visit the company’s official site.
DAY 2
Head over to Lantau Island to check out the big Buddha. It’s an easy 30 minute ride on the MTR (it’s over near the airport), and there are pretty cool views of the sea and the Islands.
You can also do a hike if you have the energy, it only takes a couple of hours but it was pretty fun.
In the afternoon head back to Central and hop on a double-decker tram up to Times Square. The tram trip is half the fun as it rattles up Des Voeux Road, Queensway, and Hennessy Road towards Causeway Bay.
This place really comes into its own after dark – but it’s buzzing day and night.
If you’ve got the energy it’s not a bad walk back to Central, otherwise, hop on another tram or the MTR.
When you’re ready for dinner head back over to SoHo and Lan Kwai Fong and check out the thousands of bars, cafes and restaurants heaving with expats and locals alike. It probably won’t be an early night.
Day THREE
After running around all day like a madman – today provides the perfect opportunity to shift gears and get out of town for a bit of R&R.
For a few dollars on the public bus, and about an hour on the road, you can make your way to Stanley. It’s is a little town on the southern side of the island – where the rich Brits used to holiday. It’s a small, laid back beach town – that sort of feels a little like the south of France.
There’s plenty of bars and restaurants and the famous Stanley Markets.
Repulse and St Stephen’s Bays are also close by and make for great swimming spots. Yes, you can swim at the beach in Hong Kong! Maybe make a b-line for Stanley, have a long lunch and hit some of the beaches in the afternoon.
Later that day, head back into town and get freshened up for a fancy dinner.
I’m not a foodie by any stretch of the imagination, but a friend took me to Hutong, over on Kowloon and I had a great time. The restaurant offers breathtaking views while you enjoy your northern Chinese cuisine.
The restaurant is on the 28th floor at 1 Peking Road and it’s popular, so make your reservations early.
For reservations and menus at Hutong check out the restaurant’s official site.
Click here for transport information for Stanley.
Cheeky Extra day
If you have an extra day up your sleeve you have a few options:
Dragon’s Back Hike
Hiking the Dragon’s Back has been on my bucket list for a long while and it’s definitely something I’ll be looking at squeezing in next time I’m in Hong Kong. It’s an 8.5 kilometre hike Shek O road near Tei Wan village to Tai Long Wan. The walk takes about six hours and supposedly offers fantastic views of Shek O, Tai Long Wan, Stanley, Tai Tam, and the South China Sea.
Check out China
I’ve always been pretty interested in heading over to the mainland to check out China but have never managed it. Both Shenzhen or Guangzhou are easy day trips from Hong Kong but beware, it is a bit of a mission. You’ll need to organise visas and change currency and the rest.
Macau
You can also get to Macau fairly easily. Fast ferries leave from pretty much the centre of town and drop you in the centre of Macau. Ferries fares start at about $30 one way, leave every 15 minutes and run just about all night-long. The journey takes between 60 and 75 minutes – depending on the weather/sea conditions.
It’s a cool little place and pretty manageable by foot. There’s not a great deal to do if you’re not into gambling but the remnants of the island’s Portuguese colonial history are pretty cool to see.
Theme Parks
If you’re not really up for a big adventure – check out one of Hong Kong’s theme parks.
Both Disneyland Hong Kong and Ocean Park are close by and provide a fun day out.
Ocean Park is like a Seaworld rip off with rusty old roller coasters jutting out over jagged cliffs. It’s pretty cool, if only because it’s not something you’d usually do.
For schedules and prices for Tubojet – which runs from Hong Kong to Macau, click here.
Visit Hong Kong Disneyland’s official site for directions, opening hours and entry prices.
For information on how to get to Ocean Park, click here.
Regarding accommodation in Hong Kong I’ve only stayed in the Island Pacific (because I usually stay with my friend). The hotel, in retrospect, is probably a little far west of the action, but transport links are fantastic in Hong Kong and taxis are affordable. The hotel cost a little more than $100 a night (way back when) and has fantastic views and an OK pool.
If money wasn’t an option, I’d be looking at the Intercontinental or The Peninsular both on Kowloon. Both look like fabulous hotels. Prices start at about $400 a night and run into the thousands- so it’s not that cheap but both are great brands and have fabulous views.
Island Pacific’s official page can be found here.
Check out the Intercontinental here.
And you can find out all you need to know about the Peninsula on the hotel’s official website.