Catch the next sale fare to Hong Kong! Hong Kong's one of our favourite destinations as every now and then, you'll be able to catch sale fares from Singapore Air or Cathay Pacific for around 200, if these sale fares aren't available, Scoot and Jetstar also has round trip airfares to Hong Kong for about 250 SGD. From Hong Kong, you can also fly with Hong Kong Express to Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and Thailand.
You may also be interested in: Travel Hacks - How to score cheap flight tickets from Singapore?
With that price, it is great as a long weekend getaway to get some shopping, eating, sightseeing, or even hiking done! Here, we'll share our itinerary for a 5D4N trip to Hong Kong (with alternatives)!
Day 1: (hotel - Food hunt - Central to Mid-Level Escalators - Victoria's Peak)
Since we tend to try to make the full use of our time, we like to travel on red-eye flights and landing in Hong Kong in the early mornings or late at night. Another way is to coincide your arrival around noon where the hotel check-ins open and you'll be able to get into your rooms and freshen up for the day!
On our first day, we often keep it light because it is the day where we have to get a lot of our admin done (transfers, check in, get data, transport options, etc). So the first stop is to get to our accommodation! We love the Kowloon side of Hong Kong as it is more "budget-friendly".
There are two hotels that we have stayed in and enjoyed during our past visits to Hong Kong and would definitely recommend them!
Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong
This accommodation requires a longer walk from the closest MTR station - Olympia Station. However, it is relatively bigger than most rooms in Hong Kong, modern, and more luxurious than others in the same price range (about $91 SGD per night).
Read also our review on Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong
Silka Seaview Hotel
This property requires a shorter walk to the nearest MTR - Yau Ma Tei Station and there are a plethora of eateries around it. It is located right next to Mido Cafe, the oldest Cafe in Hong Kong. The only downside is that the rooms are quite small, and nothing much to shout about. But for the location, yes yes and yes! (about $89 SGD per night)
After checking in, it is time to grab some food! If you choose to stay at Silka Seaview, Mido Cafe is right next door! :) Otherwise, there's the famous Australian Diary Co. is a 5-minute walk away!
For other must-eat foods in Hong Kong, read also: 13 Hong Kong must-eats!
Shopping in Hong Kong Local Markets
Even though Hong Kong is famed for its luxurious malls, step out of your comfort zones and head over to their local markets! Even if you don't buy anything, it is still an interesting sight!
Kowloon to Hong Kong Island
Thereafter, we'll usually head to the further regions to explore first, leaving the closest to the last as in that way, if we have a few hours to spare, we can always head nearby for some last minute shopping! So its time to go to the Hong Kong Island side! Besides the many luxury shopping malls at the Hong Kong Island, some must-see attractions are the Central-Mid Level Escalators, Victoria Harbour, Avenue of Stars, and Victoria's Peak!
Central to Mid-Level Escalators
Found in Central, Hong Kong, the Central to Mid-Level Escalator is the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system. It was built to help locals to get from the street-level (Queen's Road Central) to the mid-levels (Conduit Road). The escalator is not just one long escalator, it is in fact, a series of 20 escalators with 3 travellators that are connected by foot bridges. To get from start to end, you'll take around 20 to 25 minutes! Besides taking a joy ride up the escalator, explore the areas near the escalator as many quirky cafes and souvenirs stores have popped up over the years!
After ride up, should you want to get down, you'll actually have to walk down! But, there's still Minibus Number 3 on Conduit Road (about 20 metres from the end of the escalator) that will take you down to IFC mall.
Victoria's Peak
There are various ways to head up to Victoria's Peak but taking the Peak Tram is by itself, and interesting experience for those who have yet to try funiculars. At the top, you'll be able to get a great view of Hong Kong's skyline and dine at some of the finest restaurants with great views! The Madame Tussads Wax Museum is also located at the Peak.
To find out more about Victoria's Peak and how to get there, read our blog post: A Trip to Victoria's Peak, Hong Kong.
Day 2 (Day Trip out of Hong Kong to Macau - Victoria Harbour)
Day Trip from Hong Kong to Macau
Besides the attractions within Hong Kong, many travellers to Hong Kong also take day trips out to nearby Macau. Macau is a great destination for history and culture buffs as you'll get to admire the post-colonial architecture that would transport you to Europe (particularly Portugal).
Read more about Macau, including how to get there at Visiting Macau - A day trip from Hong Kong!
Victoria Harbour
After the entire day of exploring Macau, you may want to catch the light show at Victoria Harbour! It runs daily, with the exception of days with bad weather.
An alternative to Macau? Visit Shenzhen!
For those who have already been in Macau and don't wish to repeat the same destination, you may want to consider another day trip from Hong Kong to Shenzhen! There you'll find more affordable and varied shopping options!
Find out more about how to get to Shenzhen in our blog post: Day Trip to Shenzhen, How to get to Shenzhen from Hong Kong?
Day 3 (Hiking and Exploring Cheng Chau Island - Night Markets)
Cheng Chau Island
After visiting all the cityscapes, it is time to get out of the city! Head to Cheng Chau Island to catch a breather, take in fresh air, and basically just explore!
Cheng Chau Island is still relatively unexplored by many travellers. Most people think of Hong Kong as the bustling metropolis, not exactly a beach or island adventure. But there's a lot to explore! Being in a densely populated area for holiday can sometimes feel slightly suffocating... Instead of being amidst the crowd, take a 40-minute ferry to Cheng Chau Island. From Hong Kong Island's Central Pier, take the ferry easily with your Octopus Card. By fast ferry, it costs around HK$28 to HK$38 (S$4.80 to S$6.60). Otherwise, visit in luxury by taking the AquaLuna Traditional Junk Boat Cruise.
When you're there, you can basically just walk around the village, or rent a bicycle to cycle at the side of the promenade. Some of the attractions include:
Tung Wan Beach
Mini Great Wall
You can find many hiking trails in Cheung Chau Island. Most of these trails are well-suited for beginners as they involve slight inclines and are basically a walk along the coast. One of the more challenging one is the "Mini Great Wall".
Cheung Po Tsai Cave and The Reclining Rock
The Cheung Po Tsai Cave was the hideout for olden day pirates to store their stolen stash. The character played by Chow Yun-fat in the ever popular The Pirates of the Caribbean: At the World's End, and the setting in which it was shot is actually inspired by the Cheung Po Tsai Cave.
Even though there isn't any more treasure to be found in the cave, it is still interesting to explore the winding passages in the Cave and imagining yourselves as a pirate! A torch is definitely required should you want to visit the cave!
Near the cave, you'll also find the Reclining Rock. If you look closely, you'll see five eroded rocks. The biggest rock then perpetually looks like it is about to fall off the cliff, hence its name as the Reclining Rock.
For Cheung Chau Island, you can pretty much do-it-yourselves. Should you want to have a more guided experience, consider joining a guided tour.
Temple Street Night Market
If you're still not too tired, head to the Temple Street Night Market. Even though it is kind of touristy, it is still fun to head over to look at the various souvenir stores at the market and sample the street food that is displayed before calling it a day!
Alternatives to Cheng Chau Island?
If you are looking for nature or want a more intense hike, consider some of these! The middle of your trip is where your bodies have adapted and can go for an adventure!
1. Dragon's Back Trail
This is one in our to-do list and is a popular hiking trail for many adventurous souls. This is one of the tougher hikes so do train up before you head for the trail!
2. Tai Mo Shan
Hong Kong, though known for a city that is overcrowded and full of concrete skyscrapers do also have lots of nature. Of which, hiking is another good way to explore the city. Many of the hikes in Hong Kong are relatively easy and are suited for beginners. For a more challenging hike, head up to Tai Mo Shan!
The entire hike up Tai Mo Shan is a total of three hours but as you can see in the picture, we did not manage to complete it due to threatening weather. The end of the hike should bring you to the Ng Tung Chai Waterfall, while passing by the Shan Fat Waterfall (which we would definitely want to visit the next time!).
As for all hikes, there is definitely some risk involved. Do ensure that ample research about the trails, including checking online for the weather conditions as well as the route closure notices (if any). For those who wish to have a guide to bring you up, you can book the Tai Mo Shan Waterfall Hike online.
3. Lion's Rock
Lion's Rock Country Park is situated at Hong Kong Island and is the easiest trail to get to by public transport.You can either take the MTR to Won Tai Sin or Diamond Hill and walk an hour to the start of the trail. Should you wish to save your energies for the actual hiking path, take a taxi that will cost about 30 HKD (tell your driver to bring you to Lion Rock Peak or the Lion Pavilion).
Before you start your journey, do make sure you head for a toilet break! There are NO toilets along the walk so do make sure you've cleared your systems before the hike!
This hike is one of the easiest hike of all as there are no turns and you pretty much just have to follow the path straight up. It takes approximately 3 hours to reach the peak where you'll get a good view of the cityscape!
Day 4 (Hong Kong Disneyland)
Hong Kong Disneyland
So after all that hiking and exploring, now it is the time for you to enjoy and chill out! There's nothing better than heading to the HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH - Disneyland! :)
We also do encourage you to stay over at a Disneyland resort to get additional perks! Although pricey, we stayed for a night and utilised all the facilities of the resort. It does help to have somewhere you can hide in when you get really drowsy in the late afternoons. We also manage to see the park closing fireworks without having to squeeze with everyone back on the MTR or buses!
There's also an indoor and outdoor pool at the hotel so you can get some exercise without having to worry about the weather! Also, if you are travelling in a group of four, it does make sense to stay at the Disneyland hotel because it costs about 322 SGD, which makes it only about 80 SGD per person for the convenience and to have the FULL DISNEY EXPERIENCE! :)
Read also our tips to visiting Hong Kong Disneyland and why you should stay at a Disneyland Hotel!
An alternative to Hong Kong Disneyland? Ocean Park Hong Kong
For those who desire more thrilling rides, you may wish to consider heading to Ocean Park Hong Kong, especially since it is now more accessible! They have a MTR station right outside the theme park!
Read our full guide on Hong Kong Ocean Park Guide and Travel Tips.
Day 5 (Lantau Island - Ngong Ping 360, Big Buddha, and Po Lin Monastery)
After checking out of Disneyland Hotel, and maybe enjoying a bit of the pool, you may want to head to nearby Lantau Island for your last stop before travelling to the airport.
Ngong Ping 360
The best way up to Lantau Island is via Ngong Ping 360, a cable car to the Ngong Ping region. Get the Crystal Cabin where possible. It is more expensive but how often do you get to sit in a cable car with your feet seemingly dangling off the ground?
Big Buddha
Wear a pair of good walking shoes as there will be a lot of walking and climbing!
For more details on how exactly you can get to Ngong Ping, read our post on Ngong Ping 360, Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong.
So here's our itinerary for 5D4N in Hong Kong with a mixture of fun, shopping, and adventure! :)
Breakdown of expenses for our Hong Kong Holiday
1. Air Tickets - $234 on Jetstar
2. Travel Insurance - $30 for 5 days
3. Hotel - $322 Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (1 night) + $280 Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong or Silka Seaview Hotel (3 nights) / 2 = $300 for accommodation
4. Data - $9.15 3G or 4G Sim Card for 5 days
5. Transport - $60 Estimated MTR transport for 5 days, $20 Airport Express Round-trip Transfer to Kowloon
6. Activities and F&B - $300 estimated
Total = 953.15 SGD
Hong Kong is probably not the cheapest long weekend getaway, but with 1,000 there's so much that you can do without having to scrimp and save!
Should you wish to reduce this amount further, do check out Hong Kong's shoebox apartments in which you can shave off a few hundreds off your accommodation!
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