Hong Kong for Families With Kids by Asia-Pacific Guides Ltd

Asia Pacific Guides™ Hong Kong for Families A guide to the city's top family attractions and activities Click here to view all our FREE travel eBooks of Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Bangkok

Introduction Hong Kong is the Far East's most popular city destination and a great city for families with kids, boasting a wide range of attractions and activities that can be enjoyed by kids and teenagers of all ages. This mini-guide will take you to Hong Kong's best and most popular family attractions, so you can easily plan your itinerary without having to waste precious holiday time. Index 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Rating:

Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay Aberdeen, Ocean Park and the South Coast Tsim sha Tsui and Kowloon The New Territories Sha Tin (Shatin) Sai Kung Peninsula Lantau Island and environs Lamma Island Other family rides and activities

= Not bad

2 4 5 7 8 8 9 11 11

 = Worth trying

 = A real must try

Attractions in Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Hong Kong Park

Hong Kong's most quaint park forms a lovely green lung, right amidst the skyscrapers. Inside the park, Flagstaff House, Hong Kong's oldest existing colonial building, currently houses the beautiful Museum of Tea Ware, which displays enthralling collections of tea related artifacts, including the world's oldest known extant teapot.

From exit C-1 of MTR-Admiralty: Cross the road with the pedestrian bridge and continue via the stairway, next to Pacific Place, to Supreme Court Road, where the entrance to the park can be found.

Rating:   24/7 (The Museum of Tea Ware is open daily, except Tuesday, 10am5pm, while the Edward Youde Aviary is open daily, from 9 am to 5 pm). Museum of Tea Ware Edward Youde Aviary

Entry is free

Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens Rating:  Daily, morning till evening Website

Entry is free

The tramway stop (Admiralty) is right next to Pacific Place same instructions as above.

Other worthy attractions within the park include the Edward Youde Aviary, the Forsgate Conservatory and the Tai Chi Garden. Although they are not as impressive as some other zoos and botanical gardens in metropolitan cities across the globe, Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are definitely worth the visit, especially the "botanical" section, where you can familiarize yourself with beautiful plants and flowers unique to this part of the world, and relax a bit near the fountain, before moving onwards…

The gate on the corner of Garden Road and Upper Albert is the easiest to get to: From exit J-2 of MTR-Central, cross Chater Garden towards Bank of China (BOC) Tower, cross Queen’s Road Central and climb along Garden Road, pass St. John's Cathedral to the gardens. Bus No. 3-b travels to the gardens (drop of at 10 Kennedy Road) and has stops along Connaught Road Central, in Central (Jardine House and City Hall) Bus No. 40 comes here from Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), with a stop outside Pacific Place

Victoria Peak, the Peak Tram and Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Rating:   Daily, 24 hours a day Sky Terrace: Daily, 10 am - 11 pm Madame Tussauds: 10 am - 10 pm The Peak Tram: 7am – 12midnight Bus/Minibus: 6am – 12midnight Entrance to the compound is free, but transportation is not, neither is entrance to the "Sky Terrace" or to Hong Kong Madame Tussauds

"The Peak", as it is commonly known, is probably Hong Kong's most popular tourist attraction, boasting world-class views of the city and Victoria Harbour, which look as if they were taken from a postcard… The view at night is particularly beautiful, when the city's countless skyscrapers and neon-signs flash in millions of dazzling lights... When reaching "The Peak", you can opt for the Sky Terrace, which offers a breathtaking 360° panoramic views of the city and the waters around it, or visit Hong Kong's Madame Tussauds… There are also more than a few shops, cafés and restaurants around here, as well as some surprisingly quaint and easy walking trails (You can read about them here

To get to Victoria Peak: You can either ride the 120 years old Peak Tram (a real "must do"), or take the bus (very scenic road), but the best option is to combine them both… (One way tam + one way bus). The Peak Tram can be boarded at the Lower terminus, on 33 Garden Road, daily, 7am – 12midnight (See the guide-map to Peak Tram Lower Terminus) Bus No. 15 runs daily, 6am – 12 midnight. It departs from "Central" (next to the Star Ferry Terminus) and passes through the bus terminus at Exchange Square (next to Central MTR station) and Admiralty (MTR Admiralty Station, exit C-1) Green minibus No. 1 departs from the bus interchange, next to Hong Kong Station Exit A1 (direct link through Central MTR), daily, 6:30 am - 12 midnight.

Riding the "Ding Ding Tram" and the Central-Mid Levels Escalators) Rating:   Trams run daily, from before 6 am until midnight, and they tend to get very crowded during peak hours. The "Ding Ding Tram" charges a flat rate of HK$ 2.30 for an adult and 1.20, no matter how long your journey is… Route maps Central-Mid Levels Escalators:  Daily, 6am - 12midnight (downhill until 10am, and then uphill, from 10am till midnight,) Entrance is free

Hong Kong Tramways, or the "Ding Ding Tram", as it is locally nicknamed, has been rattling along the north shore of Hong Kong Island since 1904, passing through the central business and-shopping districts of Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Happy Valley and Shau-kei-Wan, and providing easy access to most of the city's shopping malls and attractions… Simply opt for the top deck and enjoy your HK$ 2 ride.

The system is 13 km long and runs on a double track along the northern coast of Hong Kong Island, from Kennedy Town in the West to Shau Kei Wan in the East, with plenty of stops in: Sheung Wan (Western Market), Central (Along Des Voeux Rd C), Admiralty (Outside Pacific Place), Wan Chai (Along Johnston Road) and Causeway Bay (Hennessy Rd, as well as Percival St.)

This is one of the world's longest escalator systems, and one of Hong Kong's "must dos"...

From MTR-Central: Take exit D-1, turn right to Pedder Street and right again to Queen's Road Central and walk along it for a few minutes (while crossing to the other side), before turning left to Cochrane Street, near Central Market

Built in the early 1990s, it was meant to relief the traffic congestion between Mid-Levels and Central, by pedestrianising the area, and although it did not fully succeed in doing so, it is certainly better than nothing... You can use the escalators to get to SoHo and other attractions around Hollywood Road.

Times Square Rating:   Daily, 10am – 10pm Free entry

Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence Rating:   2569 1500  Daily (except Thursdays that are NOT on public holidays), 10am - 5pm Website

Times Square, one of Hong Kong's 10 most popular tourist destinations, is a colossal shopping mall that offers its visitors more than 300 shops, spread across its 16 floors…

If coming by the tramway: Drop off near the corner of Pottinger Street and enter Pottinger near Man Yee Building . At the end of the small street cross Queen's Road Central and start climbing the stone stairs, turn right to Stanley and left to Cochrane. Exit A of MTR-Causeway Bay leads directly to the mall. If coming by tram: Drop off at the stop on Percival Street, turn to Russell and in two minutes you will get to the mall.

Most of the well-known international brand names can be found here, alongside a decent choice of good restaurants and cafés, and there are free live entertainment and art exhibitions, every now and then… This fantastic museum occupies the ramparts of Lei Yue Mun Fort, which was erected by the Brits in the 1880s to protect the eastern entrance to Victoria Harbour, and was one of the world's mightiest coastal forts, back at that time. The main galleries showcase "600 years of coastal defence in Hong Kong and the South China Coast", including hundreds of interesting exhibits and historical objects, while the "Historic Trail" takes visitors through the remains of the British fort, including the Batteries, the Ditch, the Gunpowder Factory and the Torpedo Station... By tram: From Shau Kei Wan Terminus, walk down Shau Kei Wan Main Street East to the end (where a bridge crosses above the street), turn right (diagonally) to Tung Hei (the street that runs below the upper bridge) and walk along it till you see the entrance to the museum your left By MTR: From MTR-Shau Kei Wan, via exits C, or B-1, through the small garden, left to Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and onwards, as explained above.

Aberdeen, Ocean Park and the South Coast

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

The floating restaurants in Aberdeen

Aberdeen's floating restaurants offer their customers a truly unique dining experience and although they are one of Hong Kong's most worn tourist cliché s, they are well worth visiting...

Getting here: Diners are taken by small boat to the restaurants, from either Shum Wan Pier, or Aberdeen Promenade:

Rating:   Daily, lunch and dinner (Top Deck also operates as a 'night spot' until fairly late, but is closed on Monday. Jumbo Kingdom is open from morning on weekends). Website: Top Deck Website: Jumbo Kingdom

Surprisingly enough, Top Deck, the alfresco rooftop resto-bar on top of Jumbo Kingdom, seems to be a slightly better choice than its older and better known downstairs neighbor, both in terms of food and ambience.

Bus No 70 travels to Aberdeen Promenade from Central and Admiralty, while nos. 38, 42 and 72 come here from Hennessey Road in Causeway Bay. To Shum Wan Pier Drive: You can take 75 from Central, or 72-A from Causeway Bay

 2552 3331 (Top Deck)  2553 9111 (Jumbo Kingdom)

Ocean Park Rating:   Daily: 10am – 6pm  3923 2323 website

Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay Rating:   24 / 7 Free entrance

Ocean Park, one of Asia's most popular and successful amusement parks, occupies a mountainous peninsula near Aberdeen and boasts dozens of attractions and rides: From ocean-and-sea related attractions, such as some of the world's best aquariums and Dolphin shows, to the colossal roller coasters and the Giant Panda habitat exhibition, and from the magnificent cable car ride to one of the world's longest escalators and other adrenaline boosting rides...

Citybus No. 629 comes here directly from Admiralty (next to MTR-Admiralty, exit B).

Stretching along the road from Aberdeen to Stanley, these are two of the best beaches on Hong Kong Island. Deep Water Bay is the quieter of the two, offering its visitors nice views and peace of mind, while Repulse Bay is somewhat more bustling and also boasts a café or two nearby...

Bus Nos. 6, 6A, 6X and 260 come here from Central (6 is significantly slower than the three others, but what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in passing through a beautiful road).

Kwun Yam Shrine and the "Longevity Bridge" are nestled along the southernmost end of Repulse Bay's sandy strip, next to Hong Kong Life Guard Club and the small promenade, and although the temple looks more like a mini Luna-park than a place of worship, it is certainly worth a visit. In any case, try to avoid the beaches on weekends and public holidays, as they are packed !

Even if you come from the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour, it makes more sense to take the MTR to Admiralty and continue from there with bus No. 629, than to board any other bus route.

All four routes depart from Exchange Square Bus Terminus and have stops on Connaught Road Central (outside City Hall), as well as outside MTR-Admiralty (next to exit C-1). No. 260 also stops at 7 Gloucester Road in Wan Chai (outside the Immigration Tower) Bus No. 973 comes here from Tsim-shaTsui but is quite slow, which means it makes more sense to take the MTR to Admiralty and continue from there with one of the above buses.

Offering 50% off and 'Buy 1, get 1 free' discounts at nearly 100 of Hong Kong's top restaurants, shops and spas, the Hong Kong Card includes plenty of quality dining options, and is really easy to use…

Family attractions in Tsim sha Tsui and Kowloon

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Tsim-sha-Tsui Waterfront, Avenue of Stars and Symphony of Lights show

Facing Victoria Harbour and one of the world's most imposing city skylines, The Avenue of Stars is Hong Kong's answer to Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and boasts floor plaques of celebrities of the city's thriving film industry, including legends like Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.

Salisbury Road / Tsim sha Tsui Waterfront

Rating:   Symphony of Lights, daily, at 8 pm Avenue of Stars is open 24 / 7 Free entrance

If coming by Star Ferry from Central / Wanchai: Turn right as soon as you leave the terminus and walk along the water. From MTR-Tsim sha Tsui: Use exit J

This is also one of the best places to watch the "Symphony of Lights" from: Awarded the world's "Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show" by Guinness World Records, this nightly light, sound and laser show is featured on 37 key buildings on both sides of the Victoria Harbour.

Hong Kong Museum of History Rating:   Daily, except Tuesday, 10 am - 6 pm (till 7pm on Sundays and public holidays) Entrance is not free Website

Hong Kong Science Museum Rating:   Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays : 1pm - 9pm Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays : 10am - 9pm Closed on Thursdays (except Public Holidays) Entrance fee applies Website

This fabulous museum tells "the Hong Kong Story", from the Devonian period 400 million years ago until reunification with China in 1997.

Chatham Road South, Tsim sha Tsui (few minutes' walk from Tsim-sha-Tsui MTR (via exit B-2 : see map)

Eight galleries, loaded with thousands of exciting exhibits, including antiques and pieces of art, as well as 3D dioramas and interactive multimedia displays, make the visit to the museum a rich experience, even for the young. Hong Kong Science Museum boasts 16 galleries, with hundreds of exciting exhibits (many of which interactive) that cover almost every aspect of science and technology, including light, sound, motion, electricity & magnetism and what not…

Chatham Road South, Tsim sha Tsui (Next door to Hong Kong Museum of History – See above)

The museum's "jewel in the crown" is its colossal Energy Machine (the biggest of its kind in the world) which demonstrates how the potential energy of a dropped ball converts into other forms of energy throughout the track.

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Hong Kong Space Museum Rating:   Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday : 1 - 9 pm Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday : 10 am - 9 pm Closed on Tuesdays (Except Public Holidays) Entrance fee applies Website  2721 0226

Rating:   Daily, almost 24 hours a day Entrance is free Website

Harbour City Rating:   Daily, 10 am – 9pm (restaurants and cinemas remain open until later)

Website

There are two main halls in the museum: The Hall of Space Science and the Hall of Astronomy, where you can learn a lot of interesting stuff about space science and keep your little ones (and yourself) busy with a whole shebang of interactive displays...

The museum is located on Tsim sha Tsui Waterfront, halfway between Star Ferry Terminal and the Avenue of Stars. If coming by Star Ferry from Central / Wanchai: Turn right as soon as you leave the terminus and walk along the water. From MTR-Tsim sha Tsui: Use exit J

The egg-shaped planetarium accommodates the Stanley Ho Space Theatre, which features a range of spectacular OMNIMAX films about nature and astronomy.

Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre

Entrance is free

Hong Kong Space Museum is a great place for families with kids, although others will probably enjoy it just as much...

Kowloon Park is an oasis of green If coming by Star Ferry: Walk out of the tranquility, right next to Nathan Road's terminus, cross Salisbury Road, turn right never ending hustle and bustle… and almost immediately left, to Canton Rd. Walk along it, pass 1881 Heritage, turn Inside the park, there are a few spots right to Haiphong Road and you will see worth visiting, including the Aviary, the park on your left. the Chinese Garden and the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre, which From MTR-Tsim sha Tsui: Leave the station occupies the historic 1910 buildings of through exit A-1, turn left to Nathan Road, the former Whitfield Barracks and and left again, to the staircase that leads focuses on the city's architectural and to the park. cultural heritage. Harbour City, one of Hong Kong's largest and most popular shopping malls is home to 700 retail outlets that sell everything, from branded boutiques, such as Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada and Hugo Boss, to prestigious department stores, such as Lane Crawford, and more than a few good cafés and restaurants.

Located along Canton Road (main entrance is on the corner of Canton and Peking). If coming by Star Ferry: Walk out of the terminus, cross Salisbury Road and turn left to Canton Road. After a few minutes' walk you will see the entrance on your left From MTR-Tsim sha Tsui: Use exit A-1 (via Haiphong Rd), or exit E (via Peking Rd).

The 3rd floor of Ocean Terminal is occupied by the LCX: A colossal fashion store for teenagers and young adults that provides a comprehensive one-stop experience of shopping, leisure and entertainment... The See Hong Kong Sightseeing Pass is truly GREAT for those of you who wish to make the most of their precious holiday time… You can jump aboard the Big Bus for an open-top ride around Hong Kong’s famous landmarks, or ride the world’s famous Peak Tram, visit one (or more) of Hong Kong's many museums, enjoy a scenic balloon flight, or take a dim-sum cooking class and much more…

Sky100 Rating:   Daily, 10am – 10pm (last entry at 9pm) 100/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

 Customer Hotline: (852) 2613 3888 

Hong Kong highest man-made observation deck, overlooks the city from the 100th floor of Hong Kong's highest skyscraper, International Commerce Centre, 393m above sea level, and gives tough competition to Victoria Peak (The upper terminus of the famous "Peak Tram" and the observation decks are also perched 400m above sea level, more or less...) Bullet elevators take you in just 60 seconds from the 2nd floor to the 100th floor, where you can get stunning 360 panoramic views of most of the metropolis, and enjoy a whole range of other activities, such as a multimedia tour of Hong Kong's history and culture (including 3D projections and touch screens which show you interesting stuff about HK's history), Audio-visual guided tour devices, with commentaries in several languages, and cutting-edge telescopes which can recreate day and night views and fireworks scenes with special effects…

Website At the time of writing, ticket costs HK$ 150 for an adult, or HK$ 105 for a child (3-12) / senior (HK$ 125 / 90 respectively if you order online, which is advisable anyway, because it saves you the hassle of standing in the sometimes long queue lines), and there is also a "family combo ticket" which is even cheaper. Getting there: The entrance to the lifts is from the 2nd floor of Elements Shopping Mall: The mall is directly connected to MTR Kowloon Station, along the orange marked Tung Chung Line (Exit C). If coming from Tsim sha Tsui: Take the MTR from East Tsim sha Tsui Station to Austin (one station), exit through D-2, turn left and immediately right, to Austin Road West, and walk for five minutes, till you see the Elements Mall on your right.

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Family attractions in The New Territories

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Hong Kong Wetland Park

Located on the edge of the internationally known Mai Po Marshes, Hong Kong Wetland Park is one of the city's nicest conservation areas, where visitors can discover the wetlands in a comfortable and enjoyable way.

Citybus No. 967 comes here from the city : It departs from Drake Street (MTR Admiralty – exit B) and has stops in Central (Connaught Road Central: Outside Statue Square, as well as next to Wing Lung Bank)

Rating:   Daily (except Tuesday), 10am – 5pm  3152 2666 Entrance fees apply Website Ticketing info Directional map

Paths and boardwalks take visitors through different wetland environments, and the park also boasts one of the best (and largest) Wetlands-themed visitor centres on earth, with plenty of beautifully exhibited stuff.

The Light Rail (LRT) also come here: Route No. 705 departs from Tin Shui Wai KCR (along the purple marked west rail line): Drop off at Wetland Park Station, cross the pedestrian's bridge, descend to the right and walk a few minutes, till you see the entrance to the park on your left.

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Family attractions in Sha Tin (Shatin)

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Hong Kong Heritage Museum

This is Hong Kong's largest and possibly most interesting museum.

From Shatin KCR Station: Walk through New Town Plaza (adjacent to the station) out to Sha Tin Centre Street, where you turn right and walk along the street all the way to the Riverside Park, where the museum is (Quite a colossal monolith, you can miss…)

Rating:   Daily, 10am – 6pm (closed on Tuesdays, unless they fall on public holidays) Entrance fees apply Website

New Town Plaza & Snoopy's World Rating:   Daily, 10am – 10pm (restaurants and cafés are open later) Entrance is free Snoopy's World Dining options at New Town Plaza

As it name suggests, it focuses on the heritage and culture of Hong Kong, and the New Territories in particular, and boasts many exciting and even interactive exhibits, which make the visit memorable even for those who museums are not their cup of tea… From a kids' friendly gallery, via 3-D models of villages across old-times Hong Kong, Chinese Opera Hall (with plenty of flamboyant costumes, to the stunning art collection of T.T.Tsui

You can also come from Che Kung Temple KCR Station: Exit A leads to a pedestrian bridge across the river, and the entrance to the museum is on the other side.

This colossal shopping mall boasts almost 400 shops and restaurants, including some good non-chain shops that sell local and Chinese stuff at relatively reasonable prices.

New Town Plaza is right next to Sha Tin's KCR Station.

If you happened to be here with the tots, don't miss Snoopy's World: A lovely outdoor playground which is all about Snoopy and his Peanuts gang, and for a nice unwind, go up to the 7th level of Phase 1, where there is a rooftop-garden with a musicalfountain and some nice "alfresco" restaurants.

The Menu@ Level 7 ("alfresco" restaurants on the roof) is on the 7th level of Phase 1

Snoopy's World is on the balcony of Phase 1, Level 3 (of New Town Plaza)

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City Art Square, next to Sha tin City Hall, and a stone's throw from New Town Plaza, accommodates statues of 19 internationally known artists.

Family attractions in Sai Kung Peninsula

Name and details

What is there to be seen

Port Shelter Bay and its picturesque islands

Sharp Island (Kiu Tsui) is one of the largest and most picturesque islands in Port Shelter Bay. It is entirely occupied by a declared nature reserve, and other than extremely scenic views, it boasts two superb beaches, namely Kiu Tsui Beach (the more "organize") and Hap Mun Wan (the more "pristine", with finer sand and better swimming conditions).

Rating:   Daily, all day / Free entrance Information about Kiu Tsui Country Park (Sharp Island) Info about Sharp Island's Geo Trail

How to get there and what to see next

There are also more than a few fascinating geological formations across the island, thanks to which the place has been declared part of Hong Kong Geopark. Both beaches are served by a regular "kaito" service from Sai Kung Townr (departs from the Public Pier, just a short walk from the bus terminus – click here for details).

Lovely nature walks and an open-air museum: Sai Kung Country Park Rating:   Daily, all day Entrance is free Info on Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail, including map and photos Info on Pak Tam Chung Family Walk, including map

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Sai Kung Peninsula, one of Hong Kong's greenest and less urbanized areas, accommodates two large country parks, namely Sai Kung East and Sai Kung West, which cover a total area of about 7,500 hectares and boasts beautiful beaches, forested hills and even an abandoned 19th century Hakka Village that has become an open museum, where you can see how village life was in the old days... (Sheung Yiu Folk Museum) Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Centre, next to the entrance to the parks, is like a small museum (recommended) and next to it there are some nice, easy and well signposted trails.

To Pak Tam Chung (北潭涌), where the Sai Kung Country Park Visitor Centre is : From Sai Kung: Take green minibus Nos. 7, or 9, or KMB bus No. 94 On Sundays and public holidays you can take KMB bus No. 96-R from the interchange next to MTR-Diamond Hill (Citybus No. 698-R also operates on Sundays and public holidays only, and you can catch it in Sai Kung Town). From the visitor-centre: Keep walking along Tai Mong Tsai Road for a few minutes and turn right to a small path, called Pak Tam Chung Nature Trail, where the open museum is.

If you feel like a more serious walk, you can do the first stage of MacLehose Trail, via Chong Hing Water Sports Centre and the "Astropark", to Long Ke Wan (Bay) – One of Hong Kong's most beautiful and secluded beaches.

Family attractions around Lantau Island

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Hong Kong Disneyland

Hong Kong Disneyland hardly needs to be introduced and although it is the smallest Disneyland park on earth, it is well worth visiting, as it boasts most of these features that made Disneyland parks so popular, including the early 1900s American town street, Adventureland ("Jungle River Cruise" and "Tarzan's Island"), Fantasyland ("Dumbo carousel", "Snow white grotto" and "Sleeping Beauty Castle"...) and Tomorrowland ("Space Mountain" roller coaster, and "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters"). What's more, it is probably the only Disneyland in the world which you can comfortably cover in a day.

Take the MTR from Hong Kong Station (linked to MTR-Central), or from MTR-Lai King (if coming from Kowloon) and travel to MTR-Sunny Bay, where you change trains and continue to Disneyland.

Rating:   Daily, 10am – 8 / 9pm Entrance fees apply Website  1-830-830

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Ngong Ping, the "Big Buddha" and Po-lin Monastery Rating:   Daily: 10am – 6pm (9:30am – 6:30pm on Weekends & Public Holidays) Entrance fees apply Info on the combo ticket of Lantau Bus Co.

Ngong Ping and its environs form one of Hong Kong's most popular attractions. Po Lin Monastery was built in the picturesque highlands of Lantau Island almost a century ago, but it was the colossal statue of the seated Buddha that came up in the early 1990s and turned this area into one of Hong Kong's hottest destinations…

Info on Ngong Ping Pricing and Packages

Later on, the famous cable car came up (providing almost 6km of scenic ride) and the kitschy "tourist village"… But there are still more than a few nice walking trails around the area, for those who want to get away from it all

Noah's Ark

Whether biblical stories speak to you or not, this recently opened theme park is certainly a place worth visiting.

Rating:   Daily, from 10 am to 6 pm (Closed every first and third Wednesday of the month except public holidays) Entrance fees apply Website

Built by Chinese evangelical billionaires, who hoped it will promote values of peace, harmony and nature loving, it boasts what is currently the world's only full-sized replica of Noah's Ark, alongside life-size sculptures of almost 70 pairs of different animals... Otherwise, there are quite a few activities for the whole family here, including multi-media presentation, describing the big flood and Noah's journey, touch-screens and interactive devices, and Noah's Adventureland, where the young ones can enjoy different rope course challenges.

Getting there: Best you can do is to purchase the "special pass" of Lantao Bus Co, which gives you one-way cable-car ride + unlimited bus rides across the island (How to get to the cable-car terminal / bus-terminal) Info on the combo ticket of Lantau Bus Co.

Park Island Transport Company operates a ferry service from Central (Pier No. 2 – near "Star Ferry" and MTR-Central), to Park Island, where the theme park is located. There are quite a few ferries a day, so you won't have to wait too long before you catch one (timetable + directional map) The same company also operates a bus service from MTR-Tsing Yi (along the orange marked Tung Chung Line). Buses depart every 10 minutes from the stop near exit C (timetable + directional map)

The See Hong Kong Sightseeing Pass is truly GREAT for those of you who wish to make the most of their precious holiday time… You can jump aboard the Big Bus for an open-top ride around Hong Kong’s famous landmarks, or ride the world’s famous Peak Tram, visit one (or more) of Hong Kong's many museums, enjoy a scenic balloon flight, or take a dim-sum cooking class and much more…

Family attractions around Lamma Island

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Sok Kwu Wan, Fisherfolk's Village (floating museum) and Mo Tat Wan

Lamma Island's southern side boasts some very scenic views, as well as some nice walking trails, and a few picturesque bays and beaches…

Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Ltd (HKKF) operates the ferry line from Central to Sok Kwu Wan. There are more than 10 ferries a day, each direction, from 7:30 am till 11:30 at night

Rating:   Every day, all day (Fisherfolk's Village is open daily, 10am - 7pm) Ferries timetable (to/from Central) Ferries timetable (to/from Aberdeen) Fisherfolk's Village (floating museum)  2982 8585

Sok Kwu Wan is known mostly for its seafood restaurants, which attract a big crowd (including many tourists who come to Lamma only for a seafood dinner), although I personally think the cafés in Yung Shue Wan are more characterful (and possibly better, in terms of the food). Fisherfok's Village floating museum features a unique experience and is well worth visiting. As you've probably guessed by now, it is actually built on floating rafts and boasts all sorts of interesting exhibits, including Chinese junks, sampans, dragon-boats and fishing-rafts... What's more, some of those "hands-on displays" allow visitors to participate in all sorts of daily fishermen activities.

For more information, including the up-todate timetable, visit their website, or call them on 2815 6063 Chuen Kee Ferry Ltd operates the line from Aberdeen to Sok Kwu Wan, via Mo Tat Wan. Ferries run daily, from 6:40 am to 10:50 pm For more information, visit their website or call them on 2982-8225 / 2375-7883

Do you know? We have a whole range of free eBooks and minicity-guides about Asia's most popular city destinations... Click HERE to view and download them.

Mo Tat Wan is a tiny village, nestled along a picturesque bay, about half an hour walk from Sok Kwu Wan. There is a lovely seafront restaurant here, called The Bay and plenty of peace and serenity (also nice walking trails).

Other family rides and activities

Name and details

What is there to be seen

How to get there and what to see next

Dolphin watching trips

The Chinese White Dolphin (Or IndoPacific Humpback Dolphin) lives around the Pearl River Delta and South China Coast and is popularly known as Hong Kong's Pink Dolphin, thanks to its pinkish skin (Result of blood vessels near the skin surface that help those dolphins to better regulate their body temperature).

Departure is from the lobby of Kowloon Hotel in Tsim sha Tsui.

Rating:   Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, 9am Entrance fees apply Website  2984 1414

Hong Kong Dolphinwatch has been operating Dolphin watching cruises since 1995 and is considered the best.

"Hop on - Hop off" Open-top bus  Daily, throughout the day,

Rating: ,

1) Website (Big Bus Tours)

2) Website ("Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus")

Fees apply

Although Hong Kong is one of the world's easiest cities to tour on your own, open-top "Hop-on Hop-off" sightseeing bus tours are still a fairly popular way to discover the metropolis, especially if you are on a stopover and don't have all the time in the world... But even if you do have the time, you can still jump on one of these buses and get some great photo ops from the open top... Currently, there are two major hop-on, hop-off bus operators in Hong Kong, namely Big Bus Tours and NWFB: The first one is an international operator of open-top bus tours, while the second is one of Hong Kong's largest public transport companies. Big Bus Tours operates its open-top buses on three routes which cover most of Hong Kong's "must-sees": One runs through Kowloon, while the second focuses on Hong Kong Island and the third covers Stanley and the south coast. Their single "open day ticket" includes them all, as well as some other extras, like a ride on the historic Star Ferry, the Peak Tram and a short cruise aboard a traditional Sampan boat in Aberdeen (Click here for the exact itineraries). Big Bus Tours also offers a one hour Open-top Hong Kong Night Tour which takes passengers through Kowloon's major evening-spots, like the Avenue of Stars (where the tour starts from), Hong Kong Coliseum, Temple Street's Night Market and Mong Kok... Ticket costs US$ 25 for an adult or a child, which is not such a bargain as you can easily explore all those places on your own, for much less... Well noted for its bright Bazooka-pink color, the "Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus" is also a "hop-on, hop-off" double decker, operated by NWFB, one of Hong Kong's biggest public transport companies. They currently offer two routes that pass through most of the attractions within the central part of Hong Kong Island (Central, Sheung Wan, Wanchai and Causeway Bay), but don't go to Kowloon, or to places like "the Peak", Ocean Park and Stanley on Hong Kong Island. Their buses leave from Central (Star Ferry) every fifteen minutes, between 10am and 6pm, and passengers can listen to an English commentary about the various sites along the route... (you also get a small complimentary map) All in all, the "Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus" covers only a small part of Hong Kong and although it is the cheapest among the two, Big Bus Tours seems to be giving much more value…

Crossing Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry Rating:   Daily, 6:30 am – 11:30 pm Entrance fees apply Info on regular tickets Hopping passes / Harbor-tours

Featured on National Geographic's "top 50 experiences of your lifetime” list, crossing Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry is one of those tourist clichés you have to do, to say you've been to Hong Kong... The old green-and-white ferries have been plying the waters of Victoria Harbour for well more than a century and have long become one of Hong Kong's best known icons. Particularly popular among tourists, who can get a zillion great photo ops of the city's world's-famous skyline... You can either use the ferry as a "hop on, hop off" (unlimited rides for a specified period) or you can opt for the much-cheaper single ride ticket... Then there are daytours, night-tours and, of course, the ultimate "Symphony of lights tour" (Which is really the "crème de la crème"...) Ferries depart from: Tsim-sha-Tsui, Salisbury Road / Wan Chai Ferry Terminal / Central (5 minutes' from MTR-Central)