Short answer: with 7 days, spend five nights in Hong Kong for the harbor, the Peak, Kowloon’s markets, the Big Buddha on Lantau and an island or a ridge hike, then a night in Macau, returning over the bridge straight to the airport. With 10 days, add a second night in Macau and three nights on Lantau, close to the beaches and the airport. With 14 days, either slow right down, with bases on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in Sai Kung, or add four nights in Taipei, a flight of about an hour and a half away. You never need a car: the MTR, ferries, trams and buses reach everything.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Hong Kong travel guide into day-by-day plans, with travel times between the stops and the best area to sleep in each night. To choose your dates, read our best time to visit Hong Kong guide; for the highlights in a few minutes, see our top places to visit in Hong Kong. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything here was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops (nights) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong and a taste of Macau | 7 | Hong Kong 5, Macau 1 | First trip: skyline, food, temples, one big hike |
| Hong Kong, Macau and Lantau | 10 | Hong Kong 4, Macau 2, Lantau 3 | Adding Portuguese-era Macau, beaches and island walks |
| Hong Kong in depth | 14 | Hong Kong Island 4, Kowloon 3, Sai Kung 2, Macau 2, Lantau 2 | Hikers, food lovers, slow travelers |
| Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei | 14 | Hong Kong 6, Macau 2, Taipei 5 | Two cities and a contrast of cultures |
Hong Kong International Airport, on Lantau, is one of Asia’s biggest hubs. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge starts right beside it, which is why these routes end in Macau or on Lantau: you can go straight from your last stop to the airport without crossing the city again. Macau has its own entry rules and currency (Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted there); see our Macau travel guide before you go.
Travel times between the main stops
| Leg | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport – Hong Kong Station (Central) | Airport Express, about 6 a.m. to nearly 1 a.m. | about 24 min | MTR |
| Tung Chung – Ngong Ping (Big Buddha) | Ngong Ping 360 cable car | about 25 min | Ngong Ping 360 |
| Sheung Wan – Macau (Outer Harbour) | TurboJET ferry, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. | about 60 min | TurboJET |
| Hong Kong Port (near the airport) – Macao Port | Bridge shuttle bus, 24 hours, every 5–30 min | about 40 min | Highways Department; shuttle bus operator |
| Central – Lamma or Cheung Chau | Outlying-island ferry from the Central piers | about 30–60 min | Approximate |
| Tsim Sha Tsui – Central | Star Ferry, every few minutes | a short harbor crossing | Approximate |
| Central – the Peak | Peak Tram from Garden Road, or bus 15 | short ride | Approximate |
| Hong Kong – Taipei | Flight | about 1.5 h | Approximate |
The ferry is quicker from Central and Sheung Wan; the bridge bus is usually cheaper and best if you are on Lantau or heading to the airport. As of fares effective 25 April 2026, TurboJET economy costs HK$194 on weekday daytime sailings, HK$212 at weekends and holidays, and HK$242 at night. Ferries stop when strong typhoon signals are up.
7 days: Hong Kong and a night in Macau
Five full days cover Hong Kong’s big sights without rushing, and a night in Macau gives you its old city after the day-trippers leave.
- Day 1, the harbor: Airport Express to Kowloon or Hong Kong station (free shuttle buses run to major hotels). Walk the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and the Avenue of Stars, and watch the skyline light up after dark. Sleep: Tsim Sha Tsui, or Central and Sheung Wan.
- Day 2, Central and the Peak: The Star Ferry to Central, the Central–Mid-Levels Escalator, Tai Kwun and PMQ, Man Mo Temple and Cat Street in Sheung Wan. Ride a “ding ding” tram, then go up the Peak in the late afternoon and walk the flat, 3.5 km Peak Circle Walk at sunset. Sleep: same.
- Day 3, Lantau: MTR to Tung Chung and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car (25 minutes; HK$295 round trip in a standard cabin as of October 2026) to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then the bus to Tai O, a fishing village of stilt houses. Sleep: same.
- Day 4, Kowloon: Wong Tai Sin Temple, Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden in the morning; the Mong Kok markets (Ladies’, Goldfish, Flower and the Bird Garden) in the afternoon; Temple Street Night Market after dark. Sleep: same.
- Day 5, the Dragon’s Back or the islands: Hike the Dragon’s Back ridge down to Big Wave Bay or Shek O, or ferry to Lamma for the car-free trail between seafood villages. Evening in West Kowloon at M+ (open until 10 p.m. on Fridays, closed Mondays). Sleep: same.
- Day 6, to Macau: TurboJET from Sheung Wan (about an hour). Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, Monte Fort and the Macao Museum (closed Mondays), egg tarts on the way. Sleep: Macau peninsula, near the historic center.
- Day 7, Taipa and home: A-Ma Temple early (it opens at 7 a.m.), then Taipa Village and the Taipa Houses, and the bridge shuttle bus to the Hong Kong Port, next to the airport (about 40 minutes).
Swap it: traveling with kids? Swap the hike for Ocean Park or Hong Kong Disneyland. If the cable car is closed for servicing or storms, take the bus from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. More on both places: Hong Kong and Macau.
10 days: Hong Kong, Macau and Lantau
This route adds a slower Macau and finishes on Lantau, the green island that holds the airport, the Big Buddha and Hong Kong’s longest beaches.
- Days 1–4, Hong Kong: The harbor and Tsim Sha Tsui; Central, Sheung Wan and the Peak; Kowloon’s temples and markets; and the Dragon’s Back with a swim at Shek O. Sleep: Tsim Sha Tsui or Central (4 nights).
- Day 5, to Macau: Ferry from Sheung Wan. The historic center: Senado Square, St. Dominic’s Church, the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Monte Fort, then Guia Fortress for sunset. Sleep: Macau peninsula (2 nights).
- Day 6, Taipa, Coloane and Cotai: The light rail to Taipa, the Taipa Houses and Taipa Village, lunch in Coloane Village, and an evening show among the Cotai resorts.
- Day 7, to Lantau: Bridge shuttle bus to the Hong Kong Port, then a bus via Tung Chung to the south Lantau coast. Afternoon on Cheung Sha or Pui O beach. Sleep: Mui Wo or south Lantau (3 nights).
- Day 8, Ngong Ping and Tai O: The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, then Tai O’s stilt houses and a boat trip to look for pink dolphins.
- Day 9, island day: A ferry from Mui Wo to Cheung Chau for its fishing harbor, temples and beaches, or a walk on the Lantau Trail.
- Day 10, home: The airport is a short bus ride from Tung Chung.
Swap it: prefer city nights to beaches? Sleep your last three nights back in Central and use the Airport Express (about 24 minutes) on the final morning, with Lantau as a day trip.
14 days: Hong Kong in depth
Three-quarters of Hong Kong is countryside, and two weeks lets you see that side: country parks, geopark coastlines and outlying islands, between bases in the city. It suits October to March, the best hiking weather.
- Days 1–4, Hong Kong Island: Central, Sheung Wan and the Peak; the trams and Happy Valley (Wednesday night racing in season); the south side’s Repulse Bay and Stanley; and the Dragon’s Back. Sleep: Central, Sheung Wan or Wan Chai (4 nights).
- Days 5–7, Kowloon: Markets and temples; West Kowloon’s M+ and Hong Kong Palace Museum; Sham Shui Po for street food and fabric markets; and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery above Sha Tin. Sleep: Tsim Sha Tsui or Yau Ma Tei (3 nights).
- Days 8–9, Sai Kung: A boat trip to the hexagonal rock columns of the UNESCO-listed Hong Kong Global Geopark, the hike to Tai Long Wan’s beaches, and a seafood dinner on the waterfront. Sleep: Sai Kung (2 nights).
- Days 10–11, Macau: The historic center on day 10; Taipa, Coloane and Cotai on day 11. Sleep: Macau (2 nights).
- Days 12–13, Lantau: Bridge bus back; the Big Buddha and Tai O, and a beach day at Cheung Sha. Sleep: south Lantau or Tung Chung (2 nights).
- Day 14, home: A short bus ride to the airport.
14 days: Hong Kong, Macau and Taipei
Taipei is about an hour and a half away by air and makes a natural pairing: night markets, temples and hot springs instead of skyscrapers and harbor views. Fly into Hong Kong and home from Taipei’s Taoyuan airport, or the other way round.
- Days 1–6, Hong Kong: The 7-day Hong Kong plan above, with an extra day for Sai Kung or Cheung Chau. Sleep: Tsim Sha Tsui or Central (6 nights).
- Days 7–8, Macau: The old city, then Taipa and Coloane. Sleep: Macau (2 nights).
- Day 9, to Taipei: Bridge bus to the Hong Kong Port beside the airport and a flight of about 1.5 hours; the Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35–40 minutes. Sleep: near Taipei Main Station (5 nights).
- Days 10–13, Taipei: The National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Longshan Temple and the night markets, plus day trips to Jiufen and to Beitou’s hot springs.
- Day 14, home: From Taoyuan.
For more of Taiwan, see our Taipei guide and our Taiwan itinerary.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong, first trip | Tsim Sha Tsui | Harbor views, every price level, fast links to the airport and the island |
| Hong Kong Island | Central and Sheung Wan; Wan Chai or Causeway Bay for better value | Walk to the Peak Tram, ferries and nightlife; Sheung Wan has boutique hotels; the TurboJET terminal is in Sheung Wan |
| Kowloon on a budget | Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok | Close to markets and street food; smaller rooms |
| Sai Kung | Sai Kung town | Waterfront restaurants and boats to the geopark |
| Lantau | Tung Chung for the airport; Mui Wo or south Lantau for beaches | Next to the cable car and airport, or quiet guesthouses by the sea |
| Macau | The peninsula’s historic center; Cotai for resorts | Heritage sights on foot, or big resorts with free shuttle buses |
Rooms are small and expensive by international standards. According to the Inland Revenue Department, a hotel accommodation tax of 3% has applied since 1 January 2025, and most hotels add a 10% service charge, so check whether quoted rates include both.
Alternatives by interest
Hikers
Come between October and March and plan a walk every other day: the Dragon’s Back, the Lamma Island trail, the Lantau Trail, Sai Kung’s coast to Tai Long Wan and Tai Mo Shan, at 957 m Hong Kong’s highest peak. Summer hikes are hot and humid; carry plenty of water and start at dawn. More ideas in our hiking guide.
Food lovers
Base yourself in Sheung Wan or Yau Ma Tei and eat your way through dim sum breakfasts, roast goose, wonton noodles and dai pai dong street stalls, Temple Street’s open-air seafood and Sham Shui Po’s snacks. Add Macau for two nights for Macanese cooking and egg tarts, and Sai Kung or Lamma for seafood by the water.
Beach lovers
The swimming season runs about May to October, with the sea near 27 °C in September, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. Gazetted beaches have lifeguards and shark nets in season. Spend nights on Lantau (Cheung Sha, Pui O), in Sai Kung (Tai Long Wan) and on Cheung Chau, and keep a day for Shek O and Repulse Bay.
Families
Stay in Tsim Sha Tsui, near the MTR, and plan one big outing a day: Ocean Park (with its own MTR station), Hong Kong Disneyland, the Ngong Ping cable car, the Peak and a Star Ferry ride. Macau’s Coloane has a giant panda pavilion and quiet beaches.
Art and museum lovers
Give West Kowloon a full day for M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum, add Tai Kwun’s galleries, the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin, and time your trip for March, when Art Basel usually comes to town.
Tips for planning your route
- Pick the season. October to early December is the most reliable time: dry, sunny and warm. The rainy season normally runs April to September, and about four-fifths of the year’s rain falls from May to September; typhoon signals are most likely from July to September.
- Plan around a typhoon signal. When Signal No. 8 or higher is up, ferries stop, many shops and attractions close and transport is reduced. Keep indoor plans ready and a spare day before your flight in summer.
- Get an Octopus card. It works on the MTR, buses, trams, ferries and minibuses and in many shops; MTR gates also take contactless bank cards and QR codes.
- Check the cable car. Ngong Ping 360 closes on some servicing days and may stop in rainstorms or thunderstorms.
- Go early to the Peak. Afternoon and weekend queues for the Peak Tram are long; go early, or take bus 15 up and the tram down.
- Watch the holidays. Lunar New Year (6–9 February 2027) and the first week of October are the busiest periods for hotels and the Macau ferries.
- Use in-town check-in. Passengers of some airlines can check bags at Hong Kong or Kowloon station from 24 hours to 90 minutes before departure, leaving the last day free.
Hong Kong itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days too long for Hong Kong?
No. Three days cover the city highlights, but a week lets you add Lantau, a hike, an outlying island and a night in Macau, which is where many visitors find their favorite moments.
How many days do I need in Macau?
A day trip covers the historic center; one or two nights let you add Taipa, Coloane and the Cotai resorts at night without rushing.
Should I stay in Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island?
Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon is the easiest first base, with the skyline view and the widest choice of hotels. Central and Sheung Wan are better for nightlife, the Peak and the Macau ferry, but cost more.
Ferry or bridge to Macau?
Take the TurboJET ferry (about 60 minutes) from Sheung Wan if you are staying in the city. The bridge shuttle bus (about 40 minutes from the Hong Kong Port near the airport) is usually cheaper and best for Lantau or on your way to a flight.
Do I need a car in Hong Kong?
No. Public transport is fast, cheap and covers the whole territory, and taxis are plentiful. Parking and traffic make driving pointless for visitors.
What happens to my itinerary if a typhoon hits?
Under Signal No. 8, ferries, many shops and attractions close for a day or so, and flights may be delayed. Swap outdoor days for indoor ones, avoid crossing to Macau that day and keep a buffer before your flight.
What is the best month for a Hong Kong trip?
November is hard to beat: dry, sunny and warm, with clear views from the Peak. October and December are close behind; October is warmer, December cooler.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. Airport Express times and in-town check-in come from the MTR; cable car times, fares and suspensions from Ngong Ping 360; Macau ferry times and fares from TurboJET; the bridge crossing time from the Highways Department and the shuttle frequency from its bus operator; Macau opening hours from the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s World Heritage site; M+ hours from the museum; climate, sea temperatures and warnings from the Hong Kong Observatory; holidays from GovHK; and the hotel tax from the Inland Revenue Department. Outlying-island ferry times, the Hong Kong–Taipei flight time and sight descriptions come from general references and are approximate. Timetables, fares and rules change, so check with the operator before you travel.
Data: Wikidata (CC0)