Hong Kong in 5 Days: A Backpacker's Itinerary

The Ultimate 5 Days Hong Kong Itinerary

Day 1: Learn the History via a Free Walking Tour

The first thing you have to do in Hong Kong is to learn the history of the island firsthand from the locals so that you will understand the dynamics of the city better when you start exploring. How do you do that?

Free walking tours, of course! My recommended Hong Kong free walking tour is HK Free Walk, and if you have a chance, ask for Michelle when she is guiding. She was an awesome guide and gave me many tips on what to eat and how to avoid unnecessary costs when going up Victoria's Peak.

Spend the first day doing the walking tour and, at night, around 7 PM, stop by the Tsim Sha Tsui clock tower (Tsim Sha Tsui MRT station) and walk towards the harbor to watch the light shows. The show starts at 8 PM daily. The skyscrapers in Hong Kong are best seen at night during the light shows.

Day 2: Go and Explore Hong Kong's Urban Area

Day two will be all about urban exploration, getting to places for the best photo opportunities possible. The first stop is the Central Business District, where the famous Bank of China skyscraper is located. Get off at Admiralty MTR station, and you will find yourself right under the shadow of the iconic sword/chainsaw-shaped Bank of China building. Walk around the area for an hour or two to witness the architectural wonder of the Hong Kong skyscrapers.

After reaching the business district, make your way to the MTR station and take the Peak Tram up to the Peak Tower. From there, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Hong Kong.

Next, take the MTR to Tai Koo Station and walk west towards the crowded red building called Yink Fat Building. Walk inside the building and look up!

Last but not least, take the MTR to Choi Hung Station and enter the Choi Hung residential area. Go up the parking lot to the basketball court for the best photo spot of the Rainbow buildings.

Photo by Dhilung Kirat

To reward yourself for your hard work of walking around the city all day, treat yourself to amazing food and beers at Hollywood Road, where numerous bars and restaurants are located.

Locations of photo spots in Hong Kong are shown below:

Day 3: Let's Go Hiking Around The Mountains of Hong Kong

Photos by ChInG_*

Today will be dedicated to hiking. There are two options available depending on how long you would want to spend hiking. If you want a short, easy hike that lasts half a day (2 hours of hiking), go for the Dragon's Back trail. The trail will reward you with a panoramic view of the natural surroundings of the city. Simply take the MTR to Chai Wan and start walking up the ridge.

If you want to spend a whole day hiking, go for the Lion Rock trail. This trail gives you a much more rewarding view of the city and the island itself, one of the best views you can get of Hong Kong city. The hike should take around 5 hours round trip. For more details on the direction, visit this page.

Day 4: Go Up and Witness the famous Tian Tan Big Buddha Statue

Today is all about getting yourself to the Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddha statue). Wake up early in the morning and make your way to Tung Chung MTR station. You can take the Ngong Ping Cable Car up the mountain from there.

During the cable car ride, you will be able to see stunning views of the mountain and the Big Buddha from a distance. Once you have reached the top, you can walk for 10 minutes to reach the monastery.

After seeing the Big Buddha, you can continue and hike Lantau Peak, the second-highest peak in Hong Kong. The hike starts right by the Big Buddha and takes about 3 hours to complete the round trip. The summit will offer you yet another nice view of the entire island.

Day 5: Visit Disneyland or Go on a Shopping/Eating Spree

You can spend your last day at Disneyland if you have never experienced it before, or you can go shopping or eat your way through the shopping areas such as Causeway Bay or Sheung Wan.

Even if you are not into shopping like me, some electronics, like DJI drones, are much cheaper in Hong Kong than anywhere else, so you might reconsider when you see the prices of the things you have always wanted to buy (like I did, haha!).

Why go to Hong Kong?

Looking from the outside, Hong Kong may seem like a densely populated city, but there is so much more to this city than you would think. I should know, I made the mistake of not visiting Hong Kong earlier with the same notion.

For one, the technological and architectural marvel of the city is in a league of its own. Secondly, Hong Kong has been a harbor city throughout most of its life, and with a combination of its oriental cultural foundation and British influence, Hong Kong is one of the countries that can blend the East and the West into its own identity. Lastly, and surprisingly, the hiking this city offers will surprise even the best of us adventurers.

When To Visit Hong Kong?

Winter (Nov - Jan) is preferable, as the temperature is mild and dry, which is perfect for hiking and exploring the city's extremely dense streets. Summer, on the other hand, is very hot and humid, making exploration tiresome and hiking difficult.

How to Get to Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is a big hub for traveling in East Asia, so you will have plenty of options to fly into Hong Kong from where you are. I would recommend browsing through Skyscanner or Expedia before comparing prices so you can get the cheapest flight possible.

How To Get Around Hong Kong?

The city is connected via MTR (Mass Transit Railway), which offers a fast but non-scenic way to explore the city. Trams are the most scenic way to see the city but can sometimes be slow and bumpy. Buses are also widely connected and can offer the best of both worlds.

Whichever you choose, get an Octopus card, a debit-style card that you can top up and use with almost all modes of transportation (except taxis) and convenience stores like 7-Eleven. You can get the card from the MTR kiosk at the airport when you arrive.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Hong Kong?

Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Hong Kong without having to switch out your physical SIM card.

Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Hong Kong:

Wifi is widely available in Hong Kong, so a SIM card may not be needed for such a short trip. However, CSL seems to have the most coverage if you are interested in buying one, with easy online top-ups or vouchers available from convenience stores. They also offer a good 3-day, 2GB data package for HK$38. For more information, visit this page.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Daily Budget

Traveling here can be quite expensive and isn't necessarily budget-friendly, though there are still options to manage costs. You can expect to spend around $50 - $70 USD per day per person, including food, accommodation, and transportation.

Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.

What to Pack for Hong Kong?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Hong Kong:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Hong Kong in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.