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Hong Kong skyline, Victoria Harbour

Travel guide · Skyscrapers, dim sum and mountains by the sea

Travelling to Hong Kong

Skyscrapers facing the harbour, the Peak, night markets, dim sum and, half an hour from the centre, beaches and mountains. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: from March to May and from November to January
  • Where to eat: a cha chaan teng (local café) or a dim sum restaurant
Photo: Wilfredor · CC0

Hong Kong in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Hong Kong are from March to May and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).
  • To eat like a local: a cha chaan teng (local café) or a dim sum restaurant. Don’t leave without trying: Dim sum, Wonton mein, Char siu.

Hong Kong in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Hong Kong. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

November is one of the months when people search most for travelling to Hong Kong: book early. More destinations for November

When to travel to Hong Kong

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Hong Kong are from March to May and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in March · where to travel in April · where to travel in May

  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • from June to August

    Humid heat and downpours

    Summer is very hot and humid, with heavy rain and typhoons from July.

    What to do: The best time is October to December: dry and mild.

  • from July to September

    Typhoon season

    In July, August and September typhoons can pass through: transport and outdoor attractions close for a day or two.

    What to do: Leave a flexible day and check the local weather warnings.

    Best time: October to December

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

What to see in Hong Kong

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Hong Kong Island

    Hong Kong Island

    The financial heart, with the Peak, the trams, markets and temples among the skyscrapers.

    • Victoria Peak
    • Hong Kong Tramways
    • Man Mo Temple
    • Central–Mid-Levels Escalator
    Hong Kong Island guide
  • Kowloon

    Kowloon

    Across the harbour: night markets, neon, the Avenue of Stars and the Star Ferry.

    • Avenue of Stars
    • Temple Street Night Market
    • Ladies’ Market
    • Star Ferry
    Kowloon guide
  • Lantau

    Lantau

    The island of the Tian Tan Big Buddha, the Ngong Ping cable car and the stilt-house village of Tai O.

    • Tian Tan Big Buddha
    • Po Lin Monastery
    • Ngong Ping 360 cable car
    • Tai O
    Lantau guide
  • New Territories

    New Territories

    Green Hong Kong: trails, wild beaches, walled villages and the Geopark.

    • Sai Kung
    • Geopark
    • MacLehose Trail
    • Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
    New Territories guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Hong Kong Island

From Kowloon

From Lantau

From the New Territories

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in Hong Kong

To eat like a local: a cha chaan teng (local café) or a dim sum restaurant, and order dim sum or wonton mein. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Dim sum

    Har gow, siu mai and steamed pork buns.

  • Wonton mein

    Noodle soup with prawn wontons.

  • Char siu

    Lacquered roast pork.

  • Egg tart

    A little egg custard tart.

  • Milk tea

    Strong, with evaporated milk.

  • Egg waffle

    A bubble waffle, from street stalls.

The typical dish of Hong Kong, at home

Hong Kong egg tart
Photo: LNAM Haoi · CC BY-SA 4.0

Hong Kong egg tart

The egg custard tart of Hong Kong’s bakeries, with shortcrust or puff pastry and a smooth, glossy filling, less sweet than a Portuguese custard tart.

  • Serves 12
  • 1 h

Ingredients

  • Pastry: 200 g flour, 120 g cold butter, 40 g icing sugar, 1 egg
  • Filling: 3 eggs, 80 g sugar, 200 ml hot water, 80 ml evaporated milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla

How to make it at home

  1. Rub the butter into the flour with the icing sugar, add the egg and bring together into a dough. Chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Dissolve the sugar in the hot water and let it cool; mix with the eggs, evaporated milk and vanilla without overbeating. Strain.
  3. Line tart tins with the pastry.
  4. Fill them almost to the top.
  5. Bake at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, until the custard sets without puffing up.

The trick: If the custard puffs up, lower the oven: it should be as smooth as a mirror.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Hong Kong

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • It has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world.
  • More than half its territory is country parks.
  • Its double-decker trams have been running since 1904.
  • The Peak Tram climbs at such an angle that the buildings seem to lean.
  • Central’s outdoor escalator is one of the longest in the world.
  • People drive on the left, a British legacy.

Traditions of Hong Kong

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • January or February Lunar New Year

    A parade and fireworks over the harbour.

  • September or October Mid-Autumn Festival

    Lanterns and mooncakes.

  • June Dragon boat races

    Competitions along the coast.

  • May Cheung Chau Bun Festival

    Towers of buns on the island.

What not to do in Hong Kong

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t eat or drink on the MTR: there are fines.
  • Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in rice.
  • Don’t write anyone’s name in red ink.
  • Don’t miss the light show over the harbour, every night.
  • Don’t underestimate the humid summer heat.
  • Don’t forget an Octopus card for public transport.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about Hong Kong

What people search for most before travelling to Hong Kong.

What’s the best time to travel to Hong Kong?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Hong Kong are from March to May and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

What to see in Hong Kong in a week?

The essentials of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Lantau and New Territories. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Hong Kong?

Dim sum, Wonton mein, Char siu, Egg tart, Milk tea, Egg waffle. To eat like a local: a cha chaan teng (local café) or a dim sum restaurant.

What is the typical dish of Hong Kong?

Hong Kong egg tart. The egg custard tart of Hong Kong’s bakeries, with shortcrust or puff pastry and a smooth, glossy filling, less sweet than a Portuguese custard tart.

What should you not do in Hong Kong?

Don’t eat or drink on the MTR: there are fines. Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in rice. Don’t write anyone’s name in red ink.

Is it worth travelling to Hong Kong in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Hong Kong. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Wilfredor (CC0). Hong Kong Island, No machine-readable author provided. Ilmari Karonen assumed (based on copyright (CC BY 2.5). Kowloon, Wishva de Silva (CC BY-SA 3.0). Lantau, Typhoonchaser (CC BY-SA 3.0). New Territories, Underwaterbuffalo (CC BY-SA 4.0).