Hong Kong in a Hurry: What to Do on Your Next Layover
Hong Kong has more to squeeze in than could ever been seen in a day, but this layover guide is the perfect place to start
Hong Kong may just be the perfect city to visit on a layover. Whether you have just a few short hours, a whole day or an overnight stopover, you can pack a lot of the city’s sights into a short trip. With so much to see and do, we recommend focusing on the city proper, unless you’re a regular visitor - and even then, there’s always something new to discover. For newbies, Hong Kong’s diverse, outlying islands or a quick trip to Macau are best left for a longer holiday to the region.
A layover in Hong Kong isn’t just easy to fill, it’s easy to plan, with thousands of international flights heading in and out of Hong Kong International Airport everyday. And even if all you see of Hong Kong is a glimpse from the plane window, you can still look forward to dining at world-class restaurants, designer shopping and relaxing in first-class lounges without stepping foot outside HKIA - which, by the way, is undergoing a huge expansion, set to be completed by 2031.
Getting around
Anyone who’s been to Hong Kong will tell you that it’s efficient to get around (as long as you aren’t trying to get a taxi through the Cross Harbour Tunnel). Leaving the airport is simple if you’re a visa-free national; just hop aboard the Airport Express (day return, HKD$15) which arrives in Central in under 25 minutes. Alternatively, a taxi is an equally stress-free option and most hotels offer airport pick-ups, but journey times can be up to an hour or more with traffic.
Within Hong Kong itself, the MTR is the speediest way to travel, with stations across the city. Just purchase and top up an Octopus Card and you’ll be on your way. You can also travel with extra views between both sides of Victoria Harbour on the iconic Star Ferry, or over on Hong Kong Island, ride the historic trams, known as ding dings, which run parallel to the harbour between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan.
Staying in
Before being disheartened by having a brief layover, which doesn’t allow enough time to leave the terminal, remember that Hong Kong International Airport is one of the best in the world. If you are leaving to explore, plan enough time to get back: around 45 minutes to return to the airport from the city, and at least two hours to check bags and navigate security, in case of delays.
Travellers certainly aren’t short of things to do in HKIA, but if you’ve just stepped off a long flight, relaxation will be top of your to do list - Cathay Pacific has a few major lounges in Terminal 1, including The Wing and The Pier, which have respective First and Business Class areas; The Deck and The Bridge. Home to every luxury, from bathtubs, shower suites and stretching rooms, to international buffets, sofa beds and private workspaces, they’re the ideal place to recover from your journey. If your finger is on the pulse, you’ll know The Wing at HKIA is undergoing renovation. Luckily, Cathay Pacific is changing the area known as The Deck into a fully-functioning temporary first class lounge. The multimillion dollar redevelopment of The Wing will be unveiled in 2026.
The Pier at Hong Kong International Airport
If your taste buds are ready to explore beyond the buffet, there are an incredible 14 outposts of Hong Kong’s Michelin-starred restaurants to try. Duddell’s, whose city venue fuses artistic presentation with fine dim sum dining, is airside in departures, or enjoy fresh Japanese flavours at Sushi & Sake Bar Taka - it’s two Michelin-starred sister, Sushi Saito, lies in Hong Kong’s Four Seasons and has a waiting list much longer than any layover. There are also homely wonton noodles at renowned Ho Hung Kee, refreshing HK-style milk tea and crispy buns at Tsui Wah Restaurant and authentic Shanghainese dishes at Michelin-starred brand Jardin de Jade. Finally, aviation geeks should go straight to Intervals, where a refined drinks menu pairs with excellent views from the Sky Bridge.
Refreshed and refuelled? The next ‘R’ on the list is retail. All the usual designer suspects can be found at Hong Kong Airport, from Alexander McQueen to Chanel, and you can pick up some souvenirs at Discover Hong Kong or Wing Wah Cake Shop, if your loved ones would prefer a traditional Hong Kong snack. If you need some reading material for the next leg of your flight, our pick is the large Monocle shop, an outlet of the global media brand, which sells elegant books, magazines and travel accessories.
Flying visit
Hong Kong Airport is conveniently located right next to Lantau Island, one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful, which is brimming with things to do on a brief escape from the airport. It takes a little effort, but if you have the time, make your way to Tai O fishing village, a peaceful outpost of forgotten Hong Kong, where colourful houses on stilts and excellent seafood await. For views, Tai O Lookout in the Tai O Heritage Hotel is a sleek but cosy restaurant with an afternoon tea menu of local specialties, such as fried rice with shrimp paste and mountain begonia cheesecake.
Elsewhere on Lantau Island, do as the tourists do and go sightseeing at Po Lin Monastery. Getting there couldn’t be easier, via the Ngong Ping cable car on Airport Island or in Tung Chung, and the 360° views will keep you pressed against the window. The 25 minute trip takes in views over the island’s greenery and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge before reaching Ngong Ping Village, home to Po Lin Monastery and the world-famous Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha). You will have to ascend 268 stairs to reach the statue, but the top offers impressive views and refreshments are readily available when you return to the village.
The Silveri Hong Kong MGallery
If straying too far sets your travel pulse racing, stick close to the airport in Tung Chung instead. Citygate Outlets is perfect for some post-flight retail therapy, with brands ranging from Ferragamo to Nike, while a short taxi ride away is Tung Chung Fort, a historic monument dating back to 1832. Tung Chung is also one the island’s most underrated food hotspots. Maison du Mezze, which sits within the Sheraton Hotel, serves up a modern twist on Middle Eastern cuisine, and excellent western favourites can be found at steak restaurant, The Upper Deck.
If you’re staying overnight, you could get some shut-eye within a lounge or the HKIA relaxation area, but why skimp on comfort? The Silveri by MGallery is both stylish and sustainable, with stretching views, a pool and The Pavilion, a dreamy cocktail bar overlooking Tung Chung - try the pineapple bun cocktail at sunset and thank us later.
Layover for longer
If you’ve decided a layover in this captivating harbour city is worth a little extra time, you’ve made the right choice. Whether it’s 48 hours or a full week before you need to leave, there’s an endless list of things to see and do. Tick off the city’s biggest sights starting in Tsim Sha Tsui, such as the Avenue of Stars and A Symphony of Lights, a dazzling light show which illuminates Hong Kong’s skyscrapers every evening at 8PM. Victoria Peak is another easy to visit attraction, and to avoid the crowds on The Peak tram, make like a Hongkonger and walk there, via the beautiful Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens and up Old Peak Road. You’ll be rewarded with unobstructed views and a workout to get your body moving after being at 10,000ft.
We could talk about the food in Hong Kong forever, and suffice to say it’s a key part of the city that everyone should prioritise when visiting. Whether you uncover a hole in the wall yum cha spot, grab a bite from the ever-dwindling dai pai dongs or opt for a classy affair at a Michelin-starred venue, Hong Kong’s food scene is incomparable. Some of our favourites, if you’re short on research time, are Sun Hing, for yum cha of old, where buns are still handmade in the back and dim sum-laden trolleys are wheeled precariously around; one Michelin-starred Roganic, where the farm-to-table food is innovative, creative and melt-in-the-mouth; and finally, Sing Heung Yuen, a dai pai dong that every local knows and loves for their warming macaroni and tomato soup.
It isn’t only Hong Kong’s food that’s in the spotlight either - the city’s bars are consistently ranked as some of the best in the world. Holding a spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, Bar Leone in Central is Italian in style and flavour, serving classic cocktails and tasty food. Vying for their spot, and placing 18th on the list in 2024, Coa is an agave-focused cocktail bar where mezcal and tequila have never tasted so good. Meanwhile, this city of skyscrapers unsurprisingly has some epic rooftop bars to boot, including Aqua Spirit, combining panoramic harbour views with chic Japanese tipples; and Ozone, one of the world’s highest rooftop bars, on the 118th floor of the Ritz-Carlton - they have an ever-changing menu of cool, inventive cocktails that are almost impressive enough to draw your eyes away from the view.
Hong Kong hotels
The Peninsula
We love The Peninsula - it’s a grand dame of old and no property can quite take her place. From riding in their signature green Rolls Royce fleet (which, we might add, has just gained six brand new, bespoke Rolls-Royce Phantoms) to resting your head overlooking the city, perhaps in a Superior Harbour View Suite; there’s no place like it. We also recommend making time to stop by Spring Moon, for some of the city’s most exquisite Cantonese fare, and work out any leftover in-flight tension with a massage at the spa.
Swimming pool at The Peninsula
The Upper House
This award-winning hotel is less city bolthole and more chic urban hideaway, placing it firmly at number five on the World’s Best Hotel’s list. Located in Pacific Place on Hong Kong Island, it sits unsurprisingly on the upper floors of the JW Marriot building. If sleek, clean apartments with all the mod-cons are your style, you’ll find Andre Fu hit the nail on the head here, with panoramic windows, soft lighting and contemporary art that works together seamlessly. There’s no pool, but The Upper House is all about service and location - you can be out in Hong Kong’s mayhem within minutes or have a private meal or massage in your room; the choice is yours. But we would strenuously recommend making time to try Salisterra’s flavourful Mediterranean menu.
