10 Best Budget Things in Hong Kong
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Updated: 30th May 2016
A couple of weeks ago, I finally got to visit Hong Kong, and the team at Travelex set me on a mission to discover the sights, sounds and buzz of this special region… but on a budget!
To me, budget travel is not about saving every penny; it’s about getting the best experience at the best price. The aim was luxury for less.
Think sunset cocktail cruises, rooftop bars, three-course dinners with the best views of the city and street food picnics, all for under $100… I know, right? I was expecting Hong Kong to be mega expensive, but luckily, you can enjoy heaps of top experiences here without splashing the cash.
Best things to do in Hong Kong on a budget
I’ve got to be honest: A weekend was not long enough to explore everything that Hong Kong has to offer. I would have loved to visit more of the Islands, so if you are planning to visit, maybe make it a three—or four-day weekend.
(*All prices 2016 in Hong Kong Dollars, check current exchange rates here = AUD | USD | GBP)
1. VICTORIA PEAK
Cost: Free or Tram HK$40 return
‘The Peak’ offers an incredible view of the city skyline in Hong Kong. To get to the peak, you can either hop on board the vintage tram, which regularly runs up and down or save yourself the cash and hike up to the top. Grab some street food and enjoy a lavishly cheap picnic with the city’s best views.
I headed to the peak both in the morning and at night, and the views were miles better at night. Hong Kong is one of those cities that comes to life after dark. For a slightly better vantage point, you can pay to access the Sky Deck. I didn’t, as I think the views are pretty epic without the extra expense.
2. STREET FOOD
Cost: HK$30+
After reading a few Hong Kong food guides, I knew that coming to this city and skipping on the street food would be a sin, especially when it came to Dim Sum. Though the city is scattered with incredible eats at low prices, some of the most popular spots and markets include Kowloon Market (great for fresh fruits) and my favourite, Sham Shui Po.
3. HIT UP THE MUSEUMS
Cost: HK$30 (Weekly Pass)
Hong Kong has its fair share of museums, and though it isn’t as famed for its art collections as many other mega-cities if you are after a dose of art or culture, the weekly museum pass is a steal, gaining you access to five of the largest in the city. The Hong Kong Museum of Art offers a fascinating collection of pieces dating back through the centuries which you are unlikely to find in most locations.
4. TAKE IN VICTORIA HARBOUR
Cost: Free
Victoria Harbour is one of Hong Kong’s most famous attractions. By day, you can wander the Avenue of Stars (currently closed for refurbishment), which is dedicated to some of the region’s most famous or hop on the cheap Star Ferry to cross over to Hong Kong island with a waterway view.
By night, the free ‘Symphony of Light’ show draws in the crowds. A host of buildings on the island side light up, and lasers shower the city in light.
5. NEON SIGN BARGAINS
Cost: Your call!
The legendary neon signs of Hong Kong are slowly disappearing, but these bright lights still make the streets stand out. Shopping in this city can range from expensive malls to bartering at street markets. Just hunt down the lights and get ready to shop.
Two of the most famous streets for market shopping are Temple Street Night Market which is by far one of the most touristy (and buzzing) where you can stock up on clothes, antiques and electronics or Ladies Market which are more Chinese in feel and stocks a huge selection of clothes for both ladies and guys.
6. VISIT THE TEMPLES
Cost: Free +
There are many temples to take your pick from throughout Hong Kong. Lantau Island and the Big Buddha may be the most famous, but I didn’t have time to hit it up during this visit. I did take the MRT to Wong Tai Sin Temple, which had an incredibly spiritual feel to it, even with the mix of praying locals and tourists. As an added bonus, there is a peaceful garden to enjoy here, and it is a great starting point to take a hike to another famous viewpoint, Lion’s Rock.
7. BEACH OR ISLAND ESCAPES
Cost: Price of a transport ticket
When you think of cities like Hong Kong, beautiful beaches are not the first thing that springs to mind. Whilst I skipped this tip due to rain/time, each outlying island, which are a short ferry ride away, can provide something different. This list of the best beaches in Hong Kong is well worth checking out if you have the time to pack some sand and waves for your visit.
8. SUNSET CRUISES
Cost: HK$195
Heading back to Victoria Harbour to grab an evening boat cruise is something I can’t recommend enough. You can either go for sunset, the Symphony of Lights or after dark for dinner.
I went with Aqua Luna for the sunset cruise, which has the added bonus of being on a converted traditional Junk Boat. Throw in a free drink, and you have a beautiful hour of sunset and sipping as the high rises’ bright lights start to shine through the darkness of the mountainous backdrop.
9. DINNER & COCKTAILS WITH A VIEW
Cost: HK$100+
The highest bar in the world sits atop the Ritz Carlton, with incredible views of the city below. Cocktails can be pricey here, but you are paying for the view.
However, if you are after dinner, not all restaurants on rooftops cost a bomb. I ate at Hooray Bar & Restaurant in Causeway Bay, which had some great views of central. Lunch menus started from $88, and dinner mains were $188.
10. SNAP SOME IMPOSING ARCHITECTURE
Cost: Nada
Hong Kong, with its limited space and rising population, has a whole heap of housing estates towering into the air. On first glance, you might label them ugly, but if you take a deeper look, there are plenty of patterns, symmetry, and beauty to be found in these high rises. Take a trip on the metro and find some unique angles to capture the city from, and you’ll also discover heaps of local hangouts to enjoy food and atmosphere for less.
Getting there, around & Where to stay
If this all sounds a little hectic for a short stopover, my friend Erika wrote up everything she managed to cram into her 24 hour Hong Kong Layover. So if you only have one day here take a look.
Fly in with… Hong Kong has heaps of budget airlines serving it, but if you are a OneWorld points collector, you can get some great bargains with Cathay Pacific. I took a return flight from Bali (5 hours) using points, and it was 21 GBP on top.
Check into… Accommodation can be pricey, but if you want to be pretty centrally located, then you might want to check out Bishop Lei International, where I stayed. Three nights on a Booking.com deal cost 150 GBP, but for a private room, rooftop pool, and a few steps from the bars and action of Lan Kwai Fong, I thought it wasn’t a bad price for a notoriously expensive city.
Getting around… Grab yourself an Octopus card which can be used on buses, trains, trams and some ferry services. It can also be used to pay for goods in many shops. Find out more info here. Taxis are also not that expensive at all here (HK$8 – 1km) so may be a better option if you are time short.
Awesome Blog. I love the pictures you have taken. I have planned my trip to Hong Kong in September. I have booked tickets for my travel and stay at the hotel online and saved some amount by getting good discount. Tips you have mentioned in the blog will be very helpful to guide me. Thank you for sharing this article.
Hey there,
Detail explained about Hong Kong Weekend tour. It is a very wonderful problem-solving approach to write this post. This is very much informative for me to read more about different Hong Kong package. In my experience in Hong Kong, it is expensive, but the sprawling metropolis is packed with cheap eats which can be enjoyed.
Thanks for sharing this article…
Thanks MJ!
Great post – thanks!
Hi, it is Elvis come from Hong Kong, I’m working in Jade market over 30 years more and I can introduce and share more history of Jade in Hong Kong to you.
I am gonna visit Hong Kong soon. Thanks for sharing this info :)
Hi Dan,
What are the best places to stay and convenient to visit places using public transportation?
Does HK have budget airlines to Taiwan and Seoul?
The public transport is very good in HK so you won’t have a problem getting around. And yes, I believe Jetstar and DragonAir (the cheaper arm of Cathay) fly as well as plenty of other local, low-cost airlines I saw when at the airport.
I LOVE the night skyline picture, it looks incredible! I’ve been dreaming of going to Hong Kong for ages but the cost has so far put me off. Liked this article and maybe I’ll one day get to apply the budget tips too :)
Thanks Helena, honestly I thought it was going to be super expensive like Singapore but if I had stayed in a hostel as well it would have been a pretty cheap trip. It’s certainly a lot cheaper than people expect.
This article is very helpful to guide me there!! Thanks for making it.. :)
You are welcome. Safe travels!
Some very helpful tips! Traveling to Hong Kong for the first time in a few months. Some great things to check out. :)
Have an awesome time – it’s such a buzzing city!
Hi!
Amazing pics and well described!
Just one thing: the Peak is not in Victoria Park (which is causeway bay).
For the Peak you have to go to Central Station and take a tram (preferably around 8.30am-9am to avoid the terrible queue of tourists).
But again thank you 😊
Oooops, I’m getting my peaks and parks mixed up – thank you for noticing will get that fixed up :)
Wish I had read this before I visited Hong Kong! You’re so right though, it definitely comes alive at night! So glad you included the ozone bar at the ritz Carlton, that was definitely a highlight for us despite the pricey cocktails!
The views are worth the costs, did you get to stay at the hotel too? Safe travels :)
This is one of the best blog on Hong Kong I’ve seen so far. Great photos and insightful write ups. Well done. Repinning this with pride on my pinterest board http://www.pinterest.com/lopezrw/tbl3-hong-kong
Hey Ricky – thanks so much for sharing :) Safe travels!
Man I want to visit Hong Kong so badly! Your photos are amazing :)
Cheers Emily! Surprised you haven’t made it there yet… stopover time I think :)
What lovely pictures. Nicely written blog. It’s an exhaustive guide for anyone who wants to visit Hong Kong. It is very close to my country India and I hope to make it there someday, especially after reading your blog. So much to do here!
Thank you! Have a great trip when you make it there :)
Love your photos Dan, especially the puddle one! I was in HK a few months back and while I found it expensive I definitely think there are ways to do it on the cheap. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Thank you! For sure, I found some things crazy expensive (you gotta shop right!) but enjoyed hunting out the bargains too. Safe travels :)
Love the views that you found there! Those are probably the first places I’d go. Good to know that some come at a price though. Thanks for sharing!
It really is a stunning sky line from up the top, and its free :) Safe travels.
Wow, I absolutely love your pictures! Hong Kong has lately sneaked on my list of cities to see when I travel east and this confirms it. Do you know which low budget carriers fly from Hong Kong to Bali if I can’t get a connecting flight??
Thank you so much! It really should, even if just for a few days it’s a great city to visit. I think Dragon Air (the budget version of Cathay) have flights maybe twice a week from Bali to HK. Otherwise, the other budget airlines I think are not direct. Safe travels :)
As usual, your pictures are pretty awesome! (And your video too!)
I really hope I’ll have the chance to visit Hong Kong soon!
Thanks Mel! Maybe you can take a stopeover there on the way back to the UK :)
Hi Dan!
I would also recommend that folks consider taking Bus 15 up to the Peak. Sit on the upper deck in the very front. Great views on the way up and down! Other great options are Chi Lin nunnery (free) and 10,000 Buddahs (also free). Take the star ferry across the harbor. Best HK $3.80 you will spend. As usual, loving your photos!
I like your recommendations – I plan on a stop over there next time i go back to the UK so I can visit some of the Islands and other peoples suggestions so thank you :)