Top things to do during your Hong Kong stop-over

Hong Kong is a popular stop-over destination – for travels to Europe or the U.S., considering the international city is a wonderful travel spot. If you’ve got a few hours to spare and would like to spend some time exploring Hong Kong, below are the top things to do and places to see.

If you’ve got some time to grab a quick meal, heading to a traditional Hong Kong-style diner cafe is the way to go. A mixture of English cuisine and traditional Chinese influence, the foods at Hong Kong diners are a unique blend of sweet and savoury dishes. These diners are open for every meal of the day, with custom set menus for each mealtime.

For example, breakfast and brunch set menus usually run from 9:00am to 11:30am and serve sweet milk buns, ham and egg toasted sandwiches, congee, and milk teas. On the other hand, dinner menus offer rich and flavourful dishes such as baked chicken tomato rice, sweet and sour pork, roasted or BBQ-style meats, and wonton noodles. You can even find sweet snacks for afternoon tea like buttered French toast. These Hong Kong delicacies are popular favourites amongst both locals and travellers.

The Peak is one of the most scenic areas in Hong Kong, named after the western hill, Victoria Peak. It’s 552m above sea level and is the best place to see and enjoy Hong Kong’s beautiful and iconic skyline views. Not only can you check out the viewing deck, you can also visit the shopping centres at the top of The Peak to purchase some souvenirs and get some quick shopping done. The Peak also has a wide selection of restaurants offering all types of cuisines so you can grab a delicious meal while enjoying some scenic views.

The best way to travel to The Peak from the airport is to take the MTR subway and then transfer onto the Peak Tram. You’ll need to take the airport express to Hong Kong Station before walking half an hour or so to the Peak Tram (you can also catch a taxi). The Peak Tram will take up the mountain and through native forestry, straight to The Peak.

Hong Kong is famous for its wide variety of shopping streets, each dedicated to a specific craft or product type. Most run for several blocks and are set up like flea markets so you can browse and bargain to your heart’s content. Whether you’re an antiques collector, bird lover, electronics geek or even the biggest fan of dried seafood, there’s a shopping street in Hong Kong that suits your interest.

Some of the most popular shopping streets to visit in Hong Kong include:

• Flower Market: Located in Mong Kok, Flower Market has been running for over 100 years and is home to every kind of flower you can think of. Littered with hundreds of florist shops all selling fresh flowers and plants, the street makes for a beautiful place to explore if you’ve got a couple of hours to spare.
• Apliu Street Flea Market: If you’re a tech geek on the lookout for affordable, pre-loved electronics, Apliu Street Flea Market is the place to go. Found in Sham Sui Po, the flea market is packed with small stalls selling electronic goods for a fraction of their retail price.
• Ko Shing Street: Also known as Medicine Street, Ko Shing Street is the wholesale heart of traditional Chinese herbal medicine in Hong Kong. You can find all sorts of concoctions and herbs on this street, including ginseng and goji, as well as dried ingredients such as seafood.
• Ladies Market: Another popular shopping street in Mong Kok is Ladies Market. Selling all things clothes – from silk pyjamas to T-shirts – as well as accessories, there’s much to see at Ladies Market. Although most products are priced affordably, you’re always welcome to bargain with the stall owners at Ladies Market. 
• Temple Street: If you happen to be stopping over in Hong Kong at night, Temple Street is definitely a market to visit. Usually open between 2pm to midnight, Temple Street is famous for its tea houses, eateries, and local diners. The market also has live entertainment for you to enjoy while eating and shopping around.
• Fa Yuen Street: Fa Yuen Street is sneakers and sportswear galore located in the trendy Mong Kok area. It consists of over 50 stores selling authentic sports gear and is stocked with new sneaker arrivals as well as sneaker models from previous seasons.

Rest assured, even if you don’t have much time to spend travelling around Hong Kong, you can still enjoy exploring the airport. There’s much to do at Hong Kong International Airport, from eating delectable food, to shopping local brands, to relaxing in the themed entertainment zones.

As any international airport might, there’s a wide range of cuisines available at Hong Kong International Airport. Whether you’re after local Hong Kong food or something that reminds you of home, you’re sure to fulfill your food cravings at Hong Kong International Airport. Or, if you’re simply just feeling peckish, there’s a McDonald’s where you can snack on some unique items like soup pasta and chicken wings.

Hong Kong International Airport is also home to many brands and goods so you can enjoy some duty-free shopping while waiting for your next flight. The airport’s unique entertainment zones are also free for all patrons to enjoy, including the Buzz Zone (family-friendly entertainment), Wonder Zone (movie screenings and VR) and Recharge Zone (relaxing environment with cosy reclining chairs).

One of the things Hong Kong is most well-known for is its traditional street food. As the name implies, street food can be found on the side of the streets, usually in small stalls or even moving carts. The most authentic street food stalls are usually independent and found on the roadside (as opposed to established shops in shopping malls or MTR stations).

Some street foods you must try while visiting Hong Kong include shumai (a type of traditional Chinese dumpling usually with pork filling), curry fish balls, rice noodle rolls, and stinky tofu. With a wide range of traditional snacks to try, you’re sure to find something you love while taste-testing around the streets of Hong Kong.

Rest assured, even if you don’t have much time in the international city, you’ll be able to find stores selling traditional street food in every suburb. Even if you’re unable to leave the airport, you can pop into a convenience store and order some freshly made street food.

Paying a visit to Hong Kong this summer? Whether you’re looking to explore the city for a while or simply spend a few hours on a layover, there’s much to enjoy in the major Asian city. Rest assured, you can turn on international roaming and enjoy internet access in Hong Kong.

With Optus Daily Roaming on our Choice Plus plans, so you can stay connected when travelling overseas in over 100 destinations from $5 a day. 

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