In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Day 1 is Hong Kong Island: the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, free Tai Kwun and Man Mo Temple, the Peak Tram (HK$116 return; HK$182 with Sky Terrace 428) and the Star Ferry across the harbour (HK$5 on weekdays, HK$6.50 at weekends). Day 2 is Lantau: the Ngong Ping 360 cable car (HK$295 return in a Standard Cabin), the Big Buddha, Tai O, then dinner at Temple Street. Day 3 is West Kowloon’s M+ (HK$190) or the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HK$70), then Mong Kok’s markets and a harbour cruise. Book the Peak Tram and cable car online. Or book a tour: the 6-hour walking tour with the Peak Tram and lunchad (from HK$620, 4.9 stars from 303 reviews) covers day one’s sights with a guide.
The three days at a glance
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening | Main costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dim sum, Mid-Levels Escalator, Tai Kwun | Man Mo Temple, Peak Tram, Lugard Road | Star Ferry, Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront | Peak Tram HK$116 or HK$182 with Sky Terrace 428; Star Ferry HK$5 or HK$6.50; tram HK$3.30 |
| 2 | MTR to Tung Chung, cable car | Big Buddha, Po Lin, bus to Tai O | Bus back, Temple Street | MTR HK$24.30; cable car HK$295; buses HK$7.90 and HK$14 |
| 3 | M+ or Hong Kong Palace Museum | Kowloon Park, Mong Kok markets | Harbour cruise | M+ HK$190; Palace Museum HK$70 |
Fares are adult Octopus fares from the operators: MTR, Star Ferry, Ngong Ping 360, The Peak, M+, Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Transport Department’s routes and fares data. See public transport and the Octopus card guide.
Hong Kong Island from Victoria Peak. Photo: Diliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Day 1: Hong Kong Island and the harbour
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | Dim sum breakfast in Central or Sheung Wan |
| 10:00 | Central-Mid-Levels Escalator (runs uphill from 10:00) to Tai Kwun |
| 11:45 | Man Mo Temple and Hollywood Road |
| 12:45 | Tram ride and lunch |
| 14:15 | Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428 and Lugard Road |
| 17:30 | Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui |
Breakfast. Start with dim sum; the dim sum guide lists where.
Escalator and Tai Kwun. The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator runs downhill in the early morning and switches to uphill from 10:00, so ride it from 10:00. Tai Kwun, the restored police station, magistracy and prison compound on Hollywood Road, is free.
The Parade Ground at Tai Kwun. Photo: Wpcpey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Man Mo Temple. Walk west along Hollywood Road to Man Mo Temple, dedicated to the gods of literature and war, where spiral incense coils hang from the roof. Entry is free and the temple is open 08:00 to 18:00 (Tung Wah Group of Hospitals).
A gilded deer and incense burner inside Man Mo Temple. Photo: Benh Lieu Song, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Tram. The tram’s adult fare is HK$3.30, paid by Octopus as you leave (Transport Department data). For lunch, the roast goose guide and the cha chaan teng guide list places.
The Peak. The Peak Tram runs from 07:30 to 23:00. An adult return is HK$116, or HK$182 as the Special Combo with Sky Terrace 428 (open 08:30 to 22:00). The turnstiles do not take Octopus, so buy online or at the counter (The Peak). The Lugard Road circuit around the summit takes 40 to 60 minutes and is free.
A Peak Tram car arriving at the Peak. Photo: Mk2010, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Star Ferry. From Central Pier 7, the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui is HK$5 on the upper deck on weekdays and HK$6.50 at weekends and public holidays; the lower deck is HK$4 and HK$5.60 (Star Ferry). Finish on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.
Day 2: Lantau and Temple Street
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 08:30 | MTR from Hong Kong station to Tung Chung (HK$24.30) |
| 09:30 or 10:00 | Ngong Ping 360 cable car (25 minutes; opens 9:00 at weekends, 10:00 on weekdays) |
| 10:30 | Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery |
| 13:45 | New Lantao Bus 21 to Tai O |
| 16:30 | Bus 11 to Tung Chung, MTR to Jordan |
| 18:30 | Temple Street dinner |
Ride the Tung Chung line to the terminus, take Exit B to the cable car terminal and ride up. The Standard Cabin return is HK$295 and the Crystal Cabin HK$365; the cable car opens at 10:00 on weekdays and 9:00 at weekends, so a 09:30 start only works on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday (Ngong Ping 360). The Ngong Ping 360 guide has the options.
The 34-metre bronze Tian Tan Buddha is about 10 minutes’ walk from Ngong Ping Village, beside Po Lin Monastery. Visiting it is free. Po Lin’s vegetarian kitchen serves from 11:30 to 16:30 (Po Lin).
Bus 21 from the Ngong Ping terminus to Tai O takes about 20 minutes and costs HK$7.90 (HK$19.20 on Sundays and public holidays). At Tai O, walk the stilt-house village and take the 20-minute boat ride. Bus 11 returns to Tung Chung for HK$14 (HK$23.30 on Sundays and public holidays). The MTR from Tung Chung to Jordan is HK$18.70 by Octopus. Details and the tours are in the Lantau and Tai O guide.
Dinner is at Temple Street Night Market, a short walk from Jordan station.
Day 3: West Kowloon, Kowloon Park and Mong Kok
Take the MTR to Kowloon or Austin station for the West Kowloon Cultural District and pick one museum.
- M+ charges HK$190 for adults (HK$100 concession). It is open 10:00 to 18:00 Tuesday to Thursday and at weekends, 10:00 to 22:00 on Fridays, and closed on Mondays; the last admission is 30 minutes before closing (M+).
- Hong Kong Palace Museum charges HK$70 for general admission (HK$35 concession). It opens 10:00 to 18:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and 10:00 to 20:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, and is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays (Palace Museum). A special exhibition ticket is HK$150 for the run from 11 December 2026 to 5 May 2027.
Then take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui for Kowloon Park, a green stretch in the middle of the district, and on to Mong Kok (HK$5.90 from Tsim Sha Tsui by Octopus), where the Ladies’ Market, the Goldfish Market, the Flower Market and Fa Yuen Street’s sneaker shops are within a short walk of each other. Finish with a harbour cruise from Tsim Sha Tsui or Central; the cruise guide compares the boats.
Tours that fit this itinerary
A guided day costs more than going alone, but it joins the sights together. These cover the days above.
6-hour walking tour with the Peak Tram and lunch
From HK$620 · 4.9 stars from 303 reviews · 6 hours
Hong Kong 6-Hour Walking Tour: Landmarks & Highlights with Lunchad goes up to the Peak by the Peak Tram, visits landmarks and includes a mini food tour.
Priority Peak Tram, city walk and dim sum
From HK$620 · 4.4 stars from 593 reviews · 5 to 7 hours · pickup available
Hong Kong Day Tour: Priority Peak Tram, City Walk & Dim Sumad has priority boarding for the Peak Tram, a walk through Old Town Central, the outdoor escalator, Tai Kwun, Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple, and a dim sum tasting.
Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Tai O and Big Buddha
From HK$530 · 4.7 stars from 764 reviews · 5 hours
Hong Kong: Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Tai O & Big Buddha Tourad covers day two with priority cable car boarding, a guide and a coach between Ngong Ping and Tai O.
Victoria Harbour night cruise
From HK$80 · 4.3 stars from 2,445 reviews · 55 minutes
Hong Kong: Victoria Harbor Night Cruise Unlimited Drinksad sails along the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon coasts.
You can also reserve a Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 ticket on Klookad{rel=“sponsored nofollow noopener”}.
Money and getting around
An Octopus card covers the MTR, trams, the Star Ferry and buses; the Octopus guide has the card types and prices, and money in Hong Kong covers cards and cash. Exits matter on the MTR: stations have several, sometimes blocks apart, so check the exit before you go through the gates. A fourth day could be a day trip to Macau, Cheung Chau or Sai Kung.
Common questions
Is 3 days enough for a first visit to Hong Kong?
Yes for the main sights: Hong Kong Island and the Peak on day one, Lantau's Big Buddha and Tai O on day two, and West Kowloon's museums and Kowloon's markets on day three.
How much do the admissions on this itinerary cost?
The Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 Special Combo is HK$182 return for adults, the Ngong Ping 360 Standard Cabin return is HK$295 (HK$365 in a Crystal Cabin) and M+ is HK$190. That is HK$667 for the three, or HK$70 instead of HK$190 if you choose the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Tai Kwun, Man Mo Temple and the Big Buddha are free.
What should I book in advance?
The Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360 tickets and any M+ or Hong Kong Palace Museum special exhibition. The Peak Tram's direct-entry turnstiles do not take Octopus cards, so buy a ticket online or at the counter.
How do I get around?
Use an Octopus card on the MTR, trams, Star Ferry and buses. MTR fares on this route run from HK$4.90 to HK$24.30; a Central to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR ride is HK$10.60 by Octopus, the Star Ferry is HK$5 on weekdays (HK$6.50 at weekends and public holidays) and the tram is HK$3.30.
