Visiting Hong Kong for 2 days during a stopover: what to do?

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 19 July 2026

Visiting Hong Kong for 2 days during a stopover—that’s exactly what I decided to do at the end of a seven-week trip through Australia and Japan. Rather than flying straight back to France, I took advantage of a layover offered by Cathay Pacific to explore this fascinating city in 48 hours. And to be honest, I don’t think Hong Kong would ever have been on my travel list without this opportunity, mostly due to preconceived notions about China.

So, is visiting Hong Kong in two days worth it? I won’t keep you in suspense: it wasn’t love at first sight… but I was pleasantly surprised by many aspects of the city. With its dizzying skyscrapers, traditional temples, and bustling markets, Hong Kong offers a unique blend of modernity and tradition.

In this article, you’ll find a complete 48-hour itinerary, along with all my practical tips. And at the very end, don’t miss Kiki’s take on the trip… who clearly wasn’t a fan of Chinese cuisine!

Introduction to Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a fascinating city with a population of about 7.5 million spread across just 1,100 km². It is thus one of the most densely populated territories in the world. Furthermore, although officially a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong enjoys relative autonomy under the “one country, two systems” principle. This allows it to maintain its own distinct laws, currency, and economy. 

Just to clarify, Victoria Harbor is the large stretch of water that separates Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. It’s the natural harbor around which the city developed, and it’s the one you see in all the photos featuring the skyline and skyscrapers. So we spent those two days exploring Hong Kong, traveling between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Day 1: explore Hong Kong Island 

So we’ll start our tour of Hong Kong with Hong Kong Island, which is the city’s historic and financial heart.

Visit the Central District in Hong Kong

Central is Hong Kong’s main business and financial district. It is the city’s nerve center, home to skyscrapers, bank headquarters, multinational corporations, and luxury shopping centers.

Hollywood Road

We begin our tour of Hong Kong’s Central district on Hollywood Road. Built in 1844, it is one of the oldest streets in Hong Kong. It is famous for its art galleries, antique shops, and cafés.

Right in the heart of this street stands the Man Mo Temple, dedicated to the gods of literature (Man) and war (Mo). With its spiraling incense smoke and traditional architecture, the temple offers a haven of calm and a living testament to Hong Kong’s spiritual and historical past, contrasting with the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.

Go to the Peak Tower 

Next, we went to the Peak Tower, one of Hong Kong’s most iconic landmarks. This tower stands atop Victoria Peak, the highest point on the island. With its modern architecture, it houses the famous Sky Terrace 428, an observation deck offering spectacular views of the skyline, Victoria Harbor, and the surrounding hills. 

There are also restaurants, shops, and a few attractions there. 

The Peak Tower is easily accessible via the legendary Peak Tram, the historic funicular that climbs to the summit from Central. 

The view along the entire route is truly incredible! For more information, visit the official website. We recommend going early in the morning, because otherwise you might have to wait a long time to board the funicular.

Visit the North Point neighborhood in Hong Kong 

We leave Central and head to North Point, a neighborhood on Hong Kong Island located on the island’s northern coast along Victoria Harbor. It’s a lively, mostly residential area known for its local atmosphere and its large community of people originally from Shanghai.

In addition, there are several markets and lively little streets in North Point. You’ll find fruits, vegetables, meat, souvenirs, and antiques. There’s also clothing, luggage, and everything else you won’t need! 

The city didn’t seem dirty to us, but it’s clearly much rougher around the edges than Japan. Some markets can be surprising, especially when you see meat on display out in the open while it’s over 30 degrees outside. Welcome to Hong Kong!

Explore Victoria Harbour 

We took advantage of our visit to Hong Kong to take a walk along Victoria Harbor and admire Hong Kong’s famous skyline. 

The promenade along the harbor—or boardwalk—is very crowded and lively. It’s quite surprising to see so many people out and about. This intense bustle creates a unique feeling—almost strange, yet fascinating.

Finally, we went to the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, which is 60 meters tall and opened in 2014. It’s located right on the Central waterfront, along Victoria Harbor. 

Unfortunately, this is where Kiki started to feel sick, which prevented her from riding the Ferris wheel. This is also where you can take a ferry to Kowloon.

The most iconic is the Star Ferry, which crosses Victoria Harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. In service since 1888, it is an integral part of the city’s history.

The crossing takes only about ten minutes, but it offers an incredible view of the Hong Kong skyline.

Ferries depart every 30 minutes, making this trip convenient and a must-do if you plan to visit Hong Kong in two days. In fact, it’s often considered one of the most scenic ferry rides in the world.

Day 2: Exploring Kowloon in Hong Kong

Kowloon is therefore the district located directly across from Hong Kong Island, on the other side of Victoria Harbor.

It’s a fascinating mix of modern skyscrapers, bustling streets, and traditional markets, where you can experience local life in the heart of the city. 

Visit the Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong

The Wong Tai Sin Temple is an impressive and very colorful temple dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, a Taoist master revered for his powers of healing and divination. 

As soon as you enter, you’re struck by the red and gold banners, hanging lanterns, and traditional decorations. The atmosphere is both festive and spiritual. Worshipers come here to pray, burn incense, and draw fortune-telling sticks.

Feel free to take a stroll through the garden, too. It’s beautiful with all those colors. 

We absolutely loved visiting this colorful temple—and best of all, it’s free. So, if you’re planning a two-day trip to Hong Kong, be sure to stop by the Wong Tai Sin Temple.

Explore the Temple Street neighborhood 

Just a few minutes from Wong Tai Sin Temple, the Temple Street neighborhood offers a fascinating contrast between spirituality and urban life. There, you’ll find large shopping malls with plenty of arcade games. It reminded us of the capsule toy machines you can find all over Japan, whether in Tokyo or Kyoto.

But above all, you’ll find the Temple Street Night Market, a famous market. It usually opens around 5 p.m.

We were, however, a little disappointed by its size. The street isn’t very long. Having explored Osaka’s huge markets, we were used to seemingly endless aisles, which undoubtedly influenced our impression.

Explore the Diamond Hill neighborhood

Next, we went to the Diamond Hill neighborhood to enjoy some peace and quiet while visiting some gardens and a monastery.

Nan Lian Garden 

So we’ll start with Nan Lian Garden, a magnificent landscaped garden designed in the style of the Tang Dynasty.

A true haven of peace in the heart of Kowloon, it captivated us with its lotus-lined ponds, carefully arranged rocks, precisely pruned trees, and an elegant golden pavilion set in the middle of the water. 

In this park, the contrast with the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong is truly striking! If you’re looking for some peace and quiet during your visit to Hong Kong, don’t hesitate to come here!

Chi Lin Nunnery 

Right next to Nan Lian Garden, you can visit Chi Lin Nunnery, an impressive Buddhist monastery. It is famous for its traditional wooden architecture, built without nails in accordance with ancient techniques.

Its elegant buildings, prayer halls, and gilded statues create a solemn and serene atmosphere. 

Surrounded by meticulously maintained gardens, the site invites visitors to reflect and is one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful examples of traditional architecture.

A wonderful surprise during this 2-day trip to Hong Kong.

Visit the Mong Kok neighborhood in Hong Kong

In this neighborhood of Hong Kong, we discovered markets that were as fascinating as they were bewildering. First of all, the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden made a particularly strong impression on us, with dozens of caged birds hanging everywhere. The scene is surprising, almost intimidating, and leaves you with mixed feelings of curiosity and unease. 

Just a few blocks away, Flower Market Road offers a completely different sight. With florists lined up side by side, delicate orchids, slender bamboo, and an absolutely magnificent explosion of colors. 

Next, the Fa Yuen Street Market is a very lively street market. There are also open-air stalls selling inexpensive clothing, accessories, bags, gadgets, and everyday items. The atmosphere is quintessentially Hong Kong: crowded, noisy, and lively, with stalls spilling out onto the sidewalks. It’s a great place to soak up the local energy and pick up some bargains.

Finally, the Goldfish Market both intrigued and amazed us. In fact, you’ll find bags filled with live fish and other animals hanging outside the shops, and you can buy them right there on the spot.

A strange, almost surreal atmosphere that reveals a very unique side of Hong Kong.

How do you get around in Hong Kong? 

Be especially careful as a pedestrian: strictly obey traffic signals. Drivers go fast and don’t always stop if you start crossing too late. Rest assured, they’ll avoid you, but they won’t necessarily slow down. It’s better not to take any chances and wait for the right signal.

When it comes to transportation, the buses may come as a surprise. While drivers tend to drive fast and some vehicles aren’t exactly state-of-the-art, the system remains efficient. You’ll find both the double-decker buses that are iconic to Hong Kong and smaller minibuses.

Similarly, the subway is fast and very well organized, even though it’s often crowded. You have to line up in the designated areas on the platform before boarding.

It’s a little less strict than in Japan, but overall it runs very smoothly.

The Hong Kong Tram

The Hong Kong Tram, nicknamed “Ding Ding” by locals because of the distinctive sound of its bell, is a living symbol of Hong Kong. In operation since 1904, this double-decker tram network runs through the northern part of Hong Kong Island.

It connects iconic neighborhoods such as Central, Causeway Bay, North Point, and Shau Kei Wan.

It’s an affordable and tourist-friendly way to explore Hong Kong in two days.

The Octopus Card

The Octopus card costs 50 Hong Kong dollars to purchase (including a deposit). It’s very convenient—you can use it not only to pay for public transportation but also to make purchases at certain stores, such as 7-Eleven. You can easily purchase and recharge it at MTR stations or at 7-Eleven convenience stores. If you don’t want to buy one, you can also pay directly with your contactless credit or debit card by tapping it when entering and exiting the MTR. The fare is then calculated based on the distance traveled.

What to Eat in Hong Kong?

The food was undoubtedly my biggest disappointment in Hong Kong, even though I was thrilled at the prospect of discovering Chinese cuisine. However, I found it much greasier than what we’d experienced in Japan. In fact, my stomach didn’t handle it very well. And what about Kiki? Even her stomach—which is reputed to be “unbreakable”—couldn’t quite withstand this culinary immersion!

We also have to admit that we may have just been unlucky. In fact, despite trying several local restaurants, we were often disappointed by the quality. And it’s not always easy to know exactly what’s on your plate, especially when the menus aren’t translated.

Where to stay in Hong Kong? 

We stayed at the Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong. This modern hotel, conveniently located in North Point on Hong Kong Island, offered us stunning panoramic views of Victoria Harbor. It features restaurants and an outdoor infinity pool.

It’s in an ideal location. In fact, it’s just a 2-minute walk from the North Point subway station and the ferry terminal for Kowloon.

How to get to Hong Kong?

The easiest way to get to Hong Kong is by plane, arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). It is located about 30 minutes from downtown. From France, direct flights connect Paris to Hong Kong in about 12 hours. However, there are also many options with layovers. Once you arrive, the Airport Express provides a quick way to reach Central or Kowloon.

How long should you spend visiting Hong Kong? 

We spent two days in Hong Kong during a layover with Cathay Pacific. In our opinion, that’s more than enough time to explore the city’s main attractions. In fact, you can already see the must-see sights: the skyline from Victoria Harbor, take in the view from Victoria Peak, stroll through the bustling markets of Kowloon, and cross the harbor aboard the legendary Star Ferry.

Visiting Hong Kong in 2 Days: useful information

English is one of the city’s official languages, along with Chinese (Cantonese). As a result, most signs, menus, and tourist information are bilingual. Furthermore, in tourist areas such as Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, or popular markets, staff at hotels, restaurants, and on public transportation often speak English fluently. Even in small shops or less crowded markets, a basic knowledge of English is usually enough to make yourself understood.

As for facilities, in less touristy areas, you can still find “squat-style” toilets. Fortunately, in busier areas and shopping centers, the restrooms are more standard.

The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD), and credit cards are accepted everywhere. You don’t need to carry cash. Finally, be sure to bring a power adapter to charge your devices.

Finally, in Hong Kong, we often felt like we were the only tourists in certain neighborhoods, which drew quite a few curious stares. This was in stark contrast to Japan, where people are much more reserved.

Kiki’s review of his 2 days trip to Hong Kong 

Hong Kong is a unique city. Just like New York, there’s hardly any other city in Asia that captivates quite like this one with its distinctive skyline. And it was right here that a chapter unfolded that Kiki would undoubtedly prefer to erase from his resume. But what would a travel blog be without uncompromising honesty?

Kiki and Chinese Food

Kiki has a stomach of steel. He can eat whatever he wants. Sophie, on the other hand, has a body that rejects virtually all exotic dishes at an astonishing rate—with the exception, of course, of pizza and pasta. In Hong Kong, Chinese cuisine is, of course, the top choice. You can find it on every street corner. However, it can be a bit unsettling to see all that food being sold right on the street, with thousands of people and cars passing by right next to it. That’s what’s known as street food.

In any case, shortly after arriving in Hong Kong, Kiki started to have a stomachache. Did he miss the good Japanese food from the past few days? No, Kiki can eat anything, he thought. Unfortunately, his condition didn’t improve, so by the last day, he was completely exhausted. He couldn’t even keep up with Sophie on their sightseeing tours, which isn’t usually very difficult. And so he had to spend his final hours in Hong Kong confined to his hotel room. The myth of his indestructible stomach has now been officially debunked. Will Kiki eat Chinese food again? Of course!

Kiki and the Chinese

And Kiki has to mention one more thing about Hong Kong: the people. There are so many of them, everywhere, all the time. There’s probably not a single unpopulated area here. Need to cough? Do it into the crook of your elbow. Need to sneeze—preferably vigorously and maybe even loudly—in a deserted corner? Again, use the crook of your elbow. Or, you know, “relieve yourself” discreetly in a quiet spot? Even those intimate moments are generously shared with others. That’s why Kiki advises: after two days in Hong Kong, enough is enough!