Hong Kong

Written By Alex Hall

Hong Kong is dense, vertical and surprisingly easy to get around. I spent three nights on Hong Kong Island in early December 2025, staying in North Point on the harbor between Japan and Thailand.

What I did

  • Spent three nights on Hong Kong Island in December 2025.

  • Stayed at the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour in North Point, with harbor views from the higher floors.

  • Based on the local, residential east side of the island rather than Central.

  • Enjoyed December weather, which is dry, clear and mild.

Where to stay

  • North Point: a local neighborhood with wet markets, old tram lines and a new waterfront promenade. It is also cheaper and calmer than Central. I liked the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour here.

  • Causeway Bay: one or two MTR stops away, for shopping and food.

  • Central: about 10 to 15 minutes away, the best base for a first short visit.

  • Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon: for the harbor view across to the island.

Where I stayed

Getting there and around

  • Airport: the Airport Express train reaches Central in about 24 minutes. A taxi to North Point takes 35 to 45 minutes.

  • In the city: the MTR, trams and the Star Ferry are the real way around. Get an Octopus card or use it in Apple Pay.

  • Ferries: the North Point pier runs to Hung Hom and Kowloon City.

  • Taxis: red for urban areas, green in the New Territories, blue on Lantau.

What to eat

  • Dim sum: har gow, siu mai and char siu bao. Morning yum cha is the move.

  • Roast meats: char siu, roast goose and crispy pork over rice.

  • Wonton noodles.

  • Cha chaan teng classics: pineapple bun with butter and Hong Kong French toast.

  • Egg tarts.

  • Claypot rice, a winter dish that is perfect in December.

What to drink

  • Tea: Hong Kong milk tea, strong and silky, and yuenyeung, the coffee and tea mix, at a cha chaan teng.

  • Cocktails: Hong Kong has some of the best bars in Asia, from Central to Sheung Wan. Many serve cocktails with local ingredients.

  • Wine: Hong Kong has no wine tax, so wine bars in Central and Wan Chai are a good value for what you get.

  • Beer: Tsingtao and Blue Girl are the classics, and local craft brewers like Young Master are worth a stop.

  • Spirits: baijiu and Chinese rice wine with a banquet meal, and whisky is serious here too.

Don't miss

  • Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram.

  • The Star Ferry and the Symphony of Lights at 8pm.

  • The tram through Chun Yeung Street market in North Point.

  • Lantau: the Big Buddha and Tai O fishing village.

  • Temple Street Night Market and Mong Kok.

  • Dragon's Back hike.

Day trips and side trips

  • Macau by ferry or bridge.

  • Lantau Island by MTR and cable car.

  • Sai Kung or Lamma Island for a seafood lunch.

Festivals and events

  • Chinese New Year: across Hong Kong, usually in late January or February. Parades, fireworks and a night market.

  • Hong Kong Marathon: usually in January or February. Thousands run through the city.

  • Hong Kong Arts Festival and Art Basel: usually in February and March. Big arts events across the city.

  • Hong Kong Rugby Sevens: Hong Kong Stadium, usually in March or April. A big party as much as a tournament.

  • Cheung Chau Bun Festival: Cheung Chau, usually in May. Bun towers and parades on a small island.

  • Dragon Boat Festival: across Hong Kong, usually in June. Races on the harbor.

  • Hungry Ghost Festival: across Hong Kong, usually in August or September. Street offerings and opera.

  • Mid-Autumn Festival: across Hong Kong, usually in September or October. Lanterns in Victoria Park and the Tai Hang fire dragon dance.

  • Wine and Dine Festival: Central harbourfront, usually in October or November. Food stalls and wine tasting.

  • Clockenflap: Central harbourfront, usually in November or December. The city's biggest music festival, with rock, pop and electronic acts against the skyline.

Music and dance

  • Cantopop: the local pop sound, heard in malls and karaoke rooms.

  • Cantonese opera: performed at the Temple Street night market and in theaters.

  • Jazz and electronic: live jazz bars across Central and Wan Chai, and club nights in Lan Kwai Fong.

  • Dancing: Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai are the clubbing districts, and salsa and Latin nights run in Central. Lion dances and the Tai Hang fire dragon dance appear at festivals.

Photography spots

  • Victoria Peak: blue hour for the classic skyline.

  • Tsim Sha Tsui promenade: the island skyline from across the water.

  • Quarry Bay: the stacked apartment blocks of the Monster Building.

  • Dragon's Back and Lion Rock: sunset.

  • Drones: heavily regulated, and most of the harbor area and airport zone are restricted.

My experience

Hong Kong felt fast but organized, and North Point showed me a calmer, more local side than the Central postcard view. December had the clearest air, which is ideal for skyline photos. I would recommend it for a three or four day stop, especially if you like food and city views.

Cost of living

  • Overall: Hong Kong: $$$$, about as expensive as New York.

  • Coffee: about $5

  • Local lunch: about $9

  • Dinner for two at a nice restaurant: about $90

  • Beer or cocktail: about $7 / $14

  • Ride across town: about $10

  • Mid-range hotel: about $180 a night

  • Furnished one-bedroom in a good area: about $2,500 a month in North Point

  • Daily budget: about $100 budget, $220 comfortable, $450+ luxury

Hotels and rent are what hurt in Hong Kong. Food can be cheap if you eat at local cha chaan tengs and noodle shops, and the MTR and Star Ferry keep getting around inexpensive. Prices are approximate in US dollars as of 2026.

Working remotely

  • Wi-Fi: Among the fastest in the world, with 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps common in hotels, apartments and cafes. Power is very reliable.

  • Coworking and cafes: Hong Kong is a single city base. The Hive, Garage Society and WeWork have locations, and cafes in Sheung Wan, Wan Chai and North Point work well with a laptop.

  • Time zone: UTC+8, 13 hours ahead of US Eastern (12 hours in summer, and a couple of weeks off at the daylight saving changes).

  • Visa for longer stays: US citizens get 90 days visa-free. There is no digital nomad visa. Check current rules.

  • Nomad rating: 3 out of 5. Superb internet and safety, held back by the cost and tiny apartments.

Good to know

  • Language: Cantonese and English are official, and Mandarin is common. English signage is everywhere and English is widely understood in the city.

  • Currency: Hong Kong dollar. Cards work widely, and an Octopus card covers transit, convenience stores and many restaurants.

  • Plugs: Type G, UK three-pin, 220V. Bring an adapter.

  • Entry for US citizens: Visa-free for tourist stays. Hong Kong has separate rules from mainland China. Check current rules.

  • Best time to visit: October to December is dry, clear and mild. Summer is hot and humid with typhoons.

  • Getting around: The MTR is fast and clean. Taxis and Uber work.

  • Apps: Uber for rides. Foodpanda and Keeta for food.

  • SIM/eSIM: Tourist SIMs from CSL, SmarTone or 3HK are sold at the airport and 7-Eleven. An eSIM works too.

  • Water: Tap water is considered safe, though many locals drink bottled or filtered.

  • Tipping: Not expected. Many restaurants add a 10 percent service charge. Round up for taxis.

Useful phrases

  • Hello: Nei hou

  • Thank you: M goi (for service) or do je (for a gift)

  • Please: M goi

  • How much?: Gei do chin?

  • The check, please: M goi, maai daan

Nightlife

Hong Kong nights are compact, vertical and fast. Bars stack on steep streets and in towers, and rooftops with harbor views are the signature. People work late and go out efficiently, with happy hours before 8 pm that US visitors will appreciate.

  • When people go out: Dinner is around 7 or 8 pm, bars get busy from 9, and clubs run from about 11 pm to 3 or 4 am. Friday and Saturday are the big nights.

  • Where the action is: Lan Kwai Fong in Central is the crowded bar street, SoHo above it is quieter, Wan Chai has dive bars and live music, and Tsim Sha Tsui has rooftops with the harbor view.

  • The music: Top 40, hip hop and house in the clubs, with live bands in Wan Chai and Cantopop at karaoke.

  • Good to know: Drinks cost about the same as a major US city, and happy hours help. Dress smart casual, since rooftop bars often turn away shorts and flip flops. The MTR stops around midnight, so plan on a taxi or Uber. Check your bill at tourist bars for surprise charges.

Meeting people

  • Social scene: Hong Kong is fast moving and international, with a big expat scene. Central, Sheung Wan and Wan Chai are the best areas for meeting people, through coworking spaces, run clubs and hiking groups.

  • Apps: Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and Meetup are used, and WhatsApp is the main way to organize plans.

  • Etiquette: A handshake or a nod is a normal greeting. Be on time, plans are often made through WhatsApp, and splitting the bill is common.

  • Stay smart: Meet in public places, watch your drink, and be careful with touts who invite you into upstairs bars.

Staying safe

  • Hong Kong is very safe. Watch for pickpockets in crowds, especially Mong Kok.

  • National security laws apply, so avoid political protests.

  • Summer brings heat and typhoons. Check the forecast before hikes.

Alex Hall
Previous

Guatemala
Next

India