Hong Kong
Asia · Hong Kong · HK
Hong Kong is a city of glass towers that climb out of a deep natural harbour, where the green ridgelines of the surrounding hills press against one of the densest skylines in the world. The Star Ferry slices across Victoria Harbour between Kowloon and the island, and the cable-hauled tram of Victoria Peak carries visitors up to the finest viewpoint in the region. Below the towers the city keeps its older life vividly alive: temples wrapped in incense smoke, markets stacked with dried goods and electronics, and street kitchens sending out dumplings, noodles and egg waffles to hungry crowds at every hour. Beyond the centre, outlying islands offer fishing villages, sandy coves and easy ridge walks, while concerts, bars and late night food stalls keep the city humming until dawn. Compact, efficient and endlessly busy, Hong Kong rewards the first-time visitor and the returning regular with equal generosity.
Overview
Hong Kong is a country in Asia. Its capital is Hong Kong and the international dialling code is +852. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Chinese and English. Local currency is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Hong Kong International Airport. We also list 1 city in Hong Kong: Hong Kong.
Star Ferry Crossings and the Skyline from Victoria Harbour
The Star Ferry has shuttled across Victoria Harbour since the days of the wooden boats, and the short crossing is still the best way to understand how Hong Kong works. From the deck of the green and white ferry the towers of Central rise like a wall of glass above the water, and the night lights turn the whole scene into a glittering mirror show. The ding of the bell, the salt air and the rocking wake make the ride feel like a journey rather than a commute. Most passengers cross filming the skyline from the same angle their parents photographed from the old piers. The ride is cheap, and it connects the hearts of both sides of the city. The harbour glows at its best in the half hour after sunset, when the buildings switch on their neon and the ferries criss-cross in the reflected light.
Along the Peak Tram Tracks and the Ridgeline Walks Above the City
The Peak Tram climbs Victoria Peak on two steep cables that have been hauling passengers since the 1880s, and the ascent tilts the carriage backwards as the city windows slide past. A walk on the Lugard and Harlech roads loops the summit ridge, giving a slow turning view of the harbour, the islands and the sea beyond. The descent on foot through the wooded slopes of the Peak drops past colonial-era houses half buried in ferns, a quiet counterpoint to the crowds at the top. On clear days the panorama runs from the mainland peninsulas to the far islands of the South China Sea. Even a misty morning has its charm, when the towers poke through the cloud and the ridge feels cut off from the city below. The tram queue at weekends can be long, so early starts or slightly odd hours buy a quieter ride.
Temples, Fortune Sticks and the Street Food of the Old Quarters
Beneath the glass of the towers, the old quarters of Hong Kong keep their incense-scented streets and stall-built markets. The Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road fills with coils of hanging incense that twist and unfurl toward the painted beams of its two gods of literature and war. Shoppers crowd the markets for dried seafood, jade, herbs and gadgetry, and the hawkers of the food streets stack trays of fish balls, egg waffles, roast goose and congee at fold-up tables. Temple Street's evening stalls sell trinkets, fortune-telling and cheap street opera under strings of bare bulbs. The neighbourhoods around the markets move at a pace the rest of the city matches only on its busiest days. A bowl of wonton noodles eaten at a counter with a spoon of chilli oil sums up the whole experience: fast, fragrant and perfectly satisfying.
Outlying Islands Beyond the Ferries and the Waterfront Villages
A short ferry ride from the centre drops the pace entirely. Cheung Chau's narrow main street pedals past seafood restaurants, and the island's crescent beaches draw weekend swimmers with the old waterfront temple behind them. Lamma Island clears the high-rise towers for coastal paths that weave past tin-roofed villages, tofu factories and bayside tables where fishermen unload the day's catch. Tai O on Lantau keeps a stilted village built over the tidal channels, where the smell of salted shrimp hangs above the wooden walkways and the boats head out to catch its famous croakers. Peng Chau and the outer islets offer church ruins, ferry timetables and sea wind in place of shopping malls. Each island keeps its own rhythm and its own hours, and together they show the quieter personality of a city that elsewhere never stops moving.
Neon Canopies, Double-Decker Trams and the Golden Afternoon Markets
The old double-decker trams that rumble along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island are among the cheapest and most atmospheric rides in the world, clanging through the streets of Wan Chai, Causeway Bay and North Point. Riding the upper deck gives a slow window on the neon canopies, the painted shophouse signs and the stacked balconies of the older apartment blocks. The golden afternoon markets along the way spill bolts of cloth, fruit, flowers and dried goods onto the pavements, and the bakeries send out the soft, warm aroma of pineapple buns and Portuguese tarts. The tram is not the fastest way across town, but it is the most alive, and a full end-to-end run takes half an hour of layered urban life. It connects the old harbourfront districts the way the metro never quite can, and the ride is a ritual every visitor should try at least once.
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- Capital
- Hong Kong
- Currency
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Calling code
- +852
- Internet TLD
- hk
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Hong Kong.
Which nationalities can enter Hong Kong?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Hong Kong?
For the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and India currently enter Hong Kong visa-free for tourism, and 5 more origins are visa-free too. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is the capital of Hong Kong, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Hong Kong?
You pay with Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) in Hong Kong. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Hong Kong?
The languages we list for Hong Kong are Chinese and English. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Hong Kong?
The dialling code for Hong Kong is +852 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Hong Kong?
Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in Hong Kong is the airport we cover for Hong Kong.
Which cities in Hong Kong do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Hong Kong: Hong Kong (capital).