Plan Your Next Vacation: The Best Time to Visit Hong Kong
Holidays are just around the corner and so you must be looking for an escape from the same old daily routine to spend some good time with family. Not yet decided where to go? Maybe a place that offers plenty of fun activities (for you to shed the excess workload from your desk job!) as well as scenic beauty so that you can have serene evenings and a relaxing atmosphere? Well, you can't leave cherry blossoms out of this picture!
Hong Kong is among the top tourist destinations with approximately 36 million arrivals yearly. Surprised? Well, it would make complete sense once you read through this guide to know the best time to visit Hong Kong as well as the thriving adventures that it holds in store for you! The popularity of Hong Kong as a tourist spot gained pace since it shifted to a service model in the latter part of the 1980s and early 1990s. Since then it has hosted a swarm of international tourists every year.
Hong Kong is well known for being a glamourous city and a favourite choice among shoppers for luxury shopping. A city-state rich in culture, it has a lot to offer from mouthwatering cuisines to an expansive skyline -- indeed a vibe difficult to define! You never know what the next street may present to you - be it an ancient temple, a shop selling the latest gadgets, or simply a man with a bird on a casual stroll. In addition to the urban and culturally rich city, there is another side to Hong Kong which is lush with forest-covered mountains, hiking trails, beautiful beaches, islands, and traditional fishing villages. As a Special Administrative Region of China, Hong Kong is an interesting blend of ancient Chinese culture and its own history independent from that of the Chinese mainland.
What is the best time to visit Hong Kong?
Identifying the best time to visit any place is the first and foremost step of vacation planning. Vaguely considered the climate of Hong Kong is subtropical, with very mild winters and hot, rainy and muggy summers. The months of December to February are mellowed, dropping to around 15֯ C (59֯ F) and warming at not more than 20֯ C (68֯ F). For a place imbibed with such rich landscapes in all the seasons, knowing the best time for you to visit Hong Kong could get a little tricky. However, you can always find tourist-friendly weather in Hong Kong.
Winter can be considered as an average time owing to cloud cover in the latter part of the season. Moreover, it can be windy and colder than usual. Springs are normally pleasantly warm, though there are chances it makes get cloudy. Autumn is the best season here, but still there looms a chance of a typhoon, whereas in November the temperatures begin to drop. All in all, the ideal time to visit Hong Kong is from mid-March to mid-April and then later in the year from mid-October to mid-November. You can refer to Trip.com to find the best travel packages for Hong Kong and use Trip.com Promo Code HK to avail of exciting discounts on your travel itinerary.
Keeping in mind the climate of Hong Kong, all future tourists should bring spring/autumn clothes like a sweatshirt, sweater, jacket, raincoat/umbrella and a hat when travelling during the colder months. As far as travelling in summer is concerned tropic-friendly clothing would be enough, in addition to a light sweatshirt for air-conditioned places and a raincoat/umbrella in case it rains.
Booking your flight tickets can take a toll on your pockets which is why it is best to book your tickets three to four months before the departure date. Hong Kong houses two international airports- Hong Kong H K Heliport and Hong Kong Intl. while the former is closest to central Hong Kong, at an approximate distance of 13 kilometres, the latter will keep you on the cheaper side. You can pick which airport suits your budget and schedule the best and book your tickets with Cheaptickets Discount Code to save more on your travel plans.
Where to stay in Hong Kong?
Once you land in the city, the most obvious task at hand is to find pleasant and affordable accommodation. Hong Kong is a compact city and the metro (MTR) is the easiest, cheapest and quickest mode of transport. There are two main areas preferred by tourists- Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, located directly across each other. There are individual advantages of staying on either side, and they both have a wide range of shopping and leisure options. Getting from one side to the other can be undertaken either on a ferry or the MTR.
If the purpose of your visit limited to pleasure or some sightseeing, Hong Kong Island, preferably adjacent areas of Central or Admiralty, would be an ideal pick. This site puts you close to Peak Tram, Hong Kong Park, some excellent shopping areas, several temples and the trendy Lan Kwai Fong district with indoor and outdoor dining options. Across the harbour from Hong Kong Island is Kowloon, home to several of the city’s best markets, like the famous Temple Street market and Ladies Market.
There isn’t a shortage of luxury hotels both in Hong Kong Island as well as in Kowloon but if you are tight on budget and want to have decent accommodation without spending too much, Kowloon has some value-for-money hotels in the three or four-star quality. Two popular hotels offering good deals are Eaton, Hong Kong and Nathan Hotel. These are just a quick metro ride from the harbour and a short walk to the Temple Street Market. If you plan on staying in budget accommodation, it would be difficult to find one on Hong Kong Island. The best bet would be Kowloon. There are many budget options along Nathan Road, running back from the waterfront to Mangkok. To ease up your pocket, even more, apply the Luxury Escapes Promo Code and avail travel packages handpicked by experts for a fun trip to Hong Kong at the lowest costs.
Best Things to do in Hong Kong
Whether you are visiting Hong Kong city for a vacation or your work, there are some irresistible activities to do and some major attractions you cannot afford to miss out on. If you were to ask the top 10 best places to visit in Hong Kong, it may be tricky to decide what goes in there because Hong Kong is an expressive city that speaks a universal language of fun mixed with, culture and traditions. It is ridden with places and activities that would make your trip memorable for a lifetime. A handful of those would be:
- Star Ferry- With roots dating back to the 1880s, it takes only a few Hong Kong dollars to ride in the famous Star Ferry, making it one of the best activities to be undertaken. The ferries leave every few minutes, all day long and well until late evening. If you get a chance to ride the ferry in the evening, you can also catch the Symphony of Lights shows. The laser beams striking the skyscrapers on either side of the harbour is a free attraction and one of the most popular things to do at night in Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong Skyline- Hong Kong skyline is counted among the most impressive skylines in the world. The dense skyscrapers on both sides of the city surrounded by mountains and harbour are not a sight to miss.
- The Peak- The best of Hong Kong can be viewed from Victoria Peak or just The Peak. You can ride to the top of this scenic viewpoint on a tram to take in the breathtaking sights of the skyscrapers, city, harbour and surrounding islands.
- Tian Tan Buddha Statue- Sitting 34 meters tall on Lantau Island’s Po Lin Monastery, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue ranks among the largest Buddha statues. The setting of the place is astounding, amidst the lush forest and overseeing the oceans and islands.
- Wong Tai Sin Temple- The newest and interesting piece of architecture, the Wong Tai Sin Temple is located in Kowloon. The temple was built to honour the Taoist god Wong Tai Sin who is regarded among the locals as the bringer of good luck.
- Temple Street Night Market- A stroll through this market is a must while you’re in Hong Kong. Located in Kowloon, this the ideal place to treat your tastebuds to the delicious dim sums and other delicacies. You can bargain on everything ranging from clothing to trinkets and electronics to household goods.
- Hong Kong Disneyland- Located on Lantau Island, Hong Kong Disneyland awaits your presence. It is a wonderful fantasy world populated with a plethora of Disney cast and characters. There are performances throughout the day and fireworks at night over the castle, making it a completely fun-filled package.
- Ocean Park- When talking of theme parks, the Ocean Park packs all the thrill you can handle in a day. Here you can enjoy a walk through the old Hong Kong, exciting roller-coasters, a Grand Aquarium and a look at the rare and exotic fauna.
- Dragon’s Back Hike- If you want to escape into the wild with your backpack, try out the Dragon’s Back Hike, Hong Kong’s infamous hiking trail offering spectacular views of the ocean, Big Wave Bay, Mt. Collinson, Stanley and Shek O. It offers a pleasant change of scenery into the lap of nature to the sounds of birds chirping and small waterfalls.
- Lan Kwai Fong- It is a heaven for foodies- the most popular dining area of Hong Kong is a connection of lively streets which make up the Lan Kwai Fong. You can dine in at the trendiest restaurants, especially at night; it’s a therapy to be eating on the open-air patios on the sidewalks and the crowds' buzz around.
How much should I budget for a trip to Hong Kong?
You should have a budget of around HK$1,085 ($140) per day for your tour in Hong Kong. An average tourist spends about HK$205 on meals, whereas local transportation costs about HK$55.
What month is the rainy season in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong experiences about 80 per cent of its total rainfall between May to September. July and August are usually the wettest months, while December and January are the driest of them all.
What is the best area to stay in Hong Kong?
Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and Sheung Wan are the top 5 places to stay while you're in Hong Kong. Here you can experience Hong Kong at its best.
When life gives you travel opportunities, make sure you add Hong Kong to your list of dream destinations. The perfect place to witness both the buzz of the city and the marvel of nature, it is the best place, to begin with. Yet, cherry blossoms top the list of things that you don't want to miss in Hong Kong! Read through to find the best places to observe Cherry Blossoms in Hong Kong.
Happy vacations!
Also read: What are the Top Places to Observe Cherry Blossoms in Hong Kong?