Hong Kong needs no introduction. This small country is the favourite destination of tourists, young and old alike, and families looking for exciting getaways for their kids.
It has much to offer tourists by way of an impressive skyline dotted with skyscrapers, an array of man-made attractions, natural beauty by way of its marine parks, beautiful beaches and an English-speaking population in the backdrop of a typical bustling metropolis to top it all.
City attractions start from the airport itself. We had gone there for Christmas, the airport wore a very celebratory look to welcome tourists. The entire city seemed to have a very celebratory vibe.
There was never a dull moment in our entire 7-day itinerary with a complete list of things to do in Hong Kong!
The city boasts of a very efficient transport system, is well-connected to the airport, safe and reasonably priced.
Day One
Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
We landed in Hong Kong in the afternoon. There was a long list of things we wanted to do and see, we set out on our adventure in the evening starting with the 'Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade' with its famous Avenue of Stars along the waterfront with beautiful vistas of the South China Sea.
Life-like statues of prominent celebrities like Bruce Lee are a hot favourite among tourists who queue up to take pictures with the legend. Some art installations are also erected along the harbourfront.
My Tip -
The entire promenade is a Pedestrian-only zone and it buzzes with people in the evening, you can start walking along the Central Star Ferry pier to get beautiful views of Victoria Harbor. The area has to be seen and experienced for the glorious views of the Hong Kong skyline.
Since we were there around the new year, the entire harbourfront had been lit up.
Victoria Harbour, all lit up to usher in the New Year
Day 2
Peak Tram
This is a funicular railway ride lasting about 8 to 10 minutes to Peak Tower, a commercial hub at 396 meters above sea level.
One can reach the Peak Tower by other means of transport as well, but going by the Peak tram is exhilarating as the tram glides at a sharp incline past tall skyscrapers and the entire city skyline begins to unfold in front of you.
Peak Tram to the Peak Tower
The stylish outer facade of the Peak Tower is matched by the dazzling interiors replete with restaurants, shopping arcades and beautiful vistas of the city from the top. The iconic Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is also located here.
Stunning views from the top of the Peak Tower.....
My Tip -
What you need to watch out for are the long queues, first to board the tram and then at the Peak Tower itself. The crowds thicken as the day progresses. So, try to reach as early as possible.
A word of advice about the wax museum. If you've seen the first wax museum in London, then you can give this one a miss. This is not a match to the original in terms of the overall experience. Our kids had not seen a wax museum earlier, so missing it was out of the question. They thoroughly enjoyed the outing, so it was worth its while!
You can spend the rest of the day wandering about the beautiful open terraces around the Peak Tower, look at the city from the top and wait for the beautiful sunset over the South China Sea.
Day 3
Disneyland
This was the big day that we had all been eagerly waiting for. To Hongkong Disneyland.
We started early to catch the Disneyland Resort Line from Sunny Bay Station. The Disney line runs every few minutes, is still always crowded and the ride on this cute train with windows cut out in Disney shapes is absolutely thrilling.
What can I say about Disneyland? If you're travelling with kids, then they would probably know everything beforehand.
There are one-day and two-day passes available and scores of other options to buy tickets. Although a one-day pass is sufficient to see all the attractions and enjoy all the rides.
Things to remember about Disneyland are,
One, Disneyland is huge, so it's best to depend on the Disney train to move around. Walking can be very time-consuming and exhausting. So, follow the train route and timings for a hassle-free trip.
Two, the Disney Parade timings keep changing, please check the timings of the parade on the day of arrival. You definitely wouldn't want to miss this colourful spectacle.
Three, some attractions like Mystic Manor and Grizzly Gulch have really long queues. I have seen families dividing their waiting time in queues between family members which makes a lot of sense among all the crowds.
And lastly, and most importantly, the nighttime fireworks show is spectacular. However tired you might be, waiting for that show is totally worth it!
The last train from Disneyland leaves when the fireworks show is over. The train is overcrowded and everyone around is tired from the excitement of the day but the thrilling moments spent during the day in this fantasy land are priceless!
Day 4
Macau
After the euphoric trip to Disneyland, we prepare for yet another exciting trip to Macau on Day 4.
Macau is 60 km from Hong Kong and like HK, it is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. One can take a ferry or a bus to Macau which takes about 40 minutes to reach.
The moment the bus reaches the outskirts of Macau, the towering engineering marvels all around are sure to make you gasp in awe. No wonder it's called the 'Vegas of the East'.
The swanky and stylish Macau!
A lot of people opt to stay in Macau to explore its many casinos. We had planned only a day trip, so we started our outing with The Venetian, a Venice-themed resort and casino.
The Venetian is a mammoth structure with sprawling shopping arcades, restaurants, casinos, and a look-alike Venetian canal with gondolas and the works.
At the Venetian - Don't miss the crowds in the background!
The Venetian is lively at all times; on the day of our visit an Ice Exhibition was going on 'Ice World with the Dreamworks Gang'. The ice exhibition was absolutely delightful. They created amazing artwork and characters out of ice.
You can check the Venetian website for more such events ahead of your visit to Macau and plan your trip accordingly.
Apart from the Venetian, there is Fisherman's Wharf on the outer harbour of Macau. It is the largest themed entertainment complex in Macau. One of the most interesting sights in the complex is the Roman Amphitheater which is a replica of the Colosseum of Rome. There is a multitude of attractions in the complex, you need a full day to explore it at leisure.
We ended our Macau outing on a euphoric high.
My Tip -
Macau is every bit swanky and is known for its many malls and casinos, But there is more to Macau. It also has a lesser-known 'Historic Centre of Macau', a UNESCO World Heritage, with cobbled streets, Buddhist temples and old colonial structures.
If you plan to stay in Macau, then you can walk around the city to the various attractions. Most popular casinos have shuttle bus services to ferry tourists around.
Day 5
We had planned to go to Ocean Park, Hong Kong. Like Disneyland, this is a must-see attraction, especially if you're travelling with kids. We had heard a lot of good things about the park, its cable car ride and the signature night show of the park. The best time to visit this park is from October to December when it's sunny and dry.
Unfortunately, on the day we had planned to go, it was rainy and very cold.
Spending a day out in an open park was not an inviting prospect.
We had to skip Ocean Park, much to the disappointment of our kids.
In an ideal scenario, this park should be included in your 7-day itinerary.
We were staying on Waterloo Road, there was a Ladies' Market across the street. We spent the day shopping in the market which had a wide variety of goods, bags, clothes, shoes, souvenirs et al.
Day 6
Lantau Island
After a very dull Day 5, we woke up to clear skies again on Day 6, so we decided to head to Lantau Island. Lantau is the largest island in Hong Kong and the route by road to Lantau takes approx. 1 hour.
Lantau is known for Po Lin Monastery and its Bronze statue of Tian Tan Buddha. This statue is 34 meters tall and erected on a hilltop. The best way to get to the top is by Ngong Ping 360, a glass-bottomed cable car that takes you to the base of the steps leading to Big Buddha. One can easily spend an hour around the base of the Buddha, looking at the beautiful mountain scenery, the South China Sea, and some stunning sculptures all around the base.
The monastery around the statue has beautiful artworks displayed all over.
Take a short stroll along the base of the Big Buddha to reach Wisdom Path, a scenic place lined with 38 tall wooden monuments. All of them are inscribed with verses of the Heart Sutra and are arranged in an '8' pattern symbolizing infinity. The place is very serene and the walk is pleasant.
My Tip -
One has to climb 268 steps to reach the base of the Big Buddha! But it's entirely worth the effort.
Lantau Island can easily be a full-day outing, there is a fort and some beautiful beaches. Cheung Sha is a white sand beach and the longest one in Hong Kong.
Day 7
Victoria Harbour Cruise
This was our last day in Hong Kong and also happened to be New Year's Eve. We had made bookings for a Victoria Harbour Dinner Buffet on the Harbour Cruise Bauhinia.
The buffet spread was lavish, and the cruise and the live music and performances were stupendous, making the entire experience unforgettable. The iconic skyline of Victoria Harbour was lit up to usher in the new year.
The cruise parked itself along the Victoria Harbour for stunning views of the fireworks.
So, plan a family trip to Hong Kong. It's safe, vibrant, every bit touristy, and worth all your time and money!
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