segarci1

I have an upcoming trip to Asia, including a 4-hour layover (afternoon) in Hong Kong. Is there any sightseeing I can expect to do during this short stopover? A round-trip on the express train and a short walk around town perhaps? Should I have any entry/exit concerns (US passport)?

I was hoping for something along the lines of the transit tour offered in Singapore (requires 5 hour layover, runs multiple times a day).

Thanks for any useful advice.

sg

rhkkmk

no

Cicerone

Well, with 4 hours you may not really have a whole lot of time in actual fact but you could try. If you do go into town, leave yourself about 45 minutes on your return to get through immigration, security and get out to your departure gate for your onward flight. This does NOT count the travel time back to the airport from the city, so IMO you need at least 1.5 for travel and immigration/security. So between that and the time it will take after you land to get from your gate, through immigration, out of the airport and into town, you might have about 1.5 hours in town. Not sure it is worth it.

No visa is required for US passport holders to enter Hong Kong, so you don't have any issues there. Make sure you have you onward boarding pass before you think about heading into town. You may have to go to a transit counter in the airport if your originating airline in the US could not or would not issue you a boarding pass for your onward flight. Go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/aguide/transit.html for info.

You can check your hand luggage for HK$35 (US$4) go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...gage.html#left for info. The "Meeters and Greeters Hall" is the main arrivals area, the Left Luggage area is on the far right of the hall as you exit the baggage claim/Customs areas.

There is a transit tour, but you need 5 hours, so I don' think you can do it. Take a look at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/...g_138539.jhtml I have not taken it.

You can also just take the Airport Express train into town yourself, takes about 25 minutes and for a same day round-trip ticket costs HK$100 (about US$13). Go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...airportex.html for info. A taxi would take about 30-40 minutes and to Central would cost about US$40-50 each way.

Take the Airport Express to the Hong Kong Station which is on Hong Kong Island. From there with your limited time, you might want to walk to the Star Ferry pier, about 500 yards away by elevated pedestrian overpasses (follow signs which say "Star Ferry&quot and then take the Star Ferry over to the Kowloon side. You can walk along the water-side Esplanade here. This will give you a chance to see the famous skyline and ride the Star Ferry, two things every tourist should do, IMO. If you want a nice place for lunch or a snack, there is a place to sit outdoors and take in that great view just to the right of the Star Ferry exit on the ground floor of the Ocean Terminal shopping centre:

Habitu the Pier
Shop 63, Ground Floor
Ocean Terminal
Tel: 852-3101-0901

Other places for a bite would be to have tea at the Peninsula hotel in the lovely white marble lobby just a block or two from the Star Ferry (no view but very elegant, go to peninsula.com), or a drink or meal at either the lobby bar or the Harbourside restaurant at the Intercontinental hotel which has THE view, go to http://www.ichotelsgroup.com. This is a bit further down Salisbury road along the water from the Peninsula Hotel.

After that, you probably need to head back across the water via the ferry and get back to the airport.

Another thought would be to skip going into town entirely and take the new cable car from Tung Chung up the mountain to the Big Buddha and some excellent views if it is a clear day. The Buddha is interesting, there are some average restaurants around, but if it is a nice day the views really make up for it and you can get a little walking in. The cable car base is about 5 minutes from the airport. You can take a taxi for about US$2-3. You can also take the S1 bus from the airport, fare would be probably US$1. (You can also take the Airport Express, but this requires a change to the MTR and takes a half hour for what is really a 5 minute car ride.) I personally would take a taxi out and maybe the bus back. The cab driver won't be crazy about the short fare as he is expecting to take you into town for a big fare; but he can't legally refuse to take you, if you get any smoke from him about where you want to go, find the dispatcher and have him straighten the driver out. For info on the cable car, go to http://www.np360.com.hk/html/eng

Cicerone

Sorry, to correct my own post, the restaurant Habitu the Pier is to the LEFT as you exit the Star Ferry piers, the Ocean Terminal shopping center is huge and takes up the whole pier on the left, it is kind of hard to miss. There is often a cruise ship parked in front.

segarci1

Cicerone, thank you for your long and thoughtful reply!

sg

watakeet

It's more worthwhile to stay on Lantau Island than rushing to the city and back. You can visit the Big Buddha as suggested or Tai O Fishing village which should be fun. Do take the blue cab from airport as it's solely for Lantau and the driver won't get mad. But taking S1 bus is really easy and cheap. Either way is fine.

rkkwan

If it's 4 hours from the scheduled arrival of 1st flight to scheduled departure of the 2nd, then no, there's really nowhere worth going.

Do <b>not</b> try taking the cable car to Ngong Ping (Po Lin Monaster, Big Buddha) as it's unreliable and lines may be long, and even a taxi ride up there takes too long.

Yes, you can take the Airport Express train to the city, but you don't see that much from the train. Basically ride out and back. If you do try, make sure you buy the same-day return ticket, which is same price as one-way.

I'd just stay at the airport.

travelmug

Keep in mind the airport is not small, and it is located quite far from the city. 4 hrs is really too short. There's plenty to do inside. Relax and have some dimsum!

segarci1

Thanks again for the additional suggestions from all. I will play it by ear... an early arrival might open opportunities, etc.

Staying on Lantau might be the thing to do. Tai O village sounds interesting.

Re-checking my (tentative) itinerary, daylight (late afternoon/early evening) may turn out to be the important factor.

Yes, There's always duty-free shopping and a leisurely dimsum (yumm!) supper to do at the airport

sg

segarci1

I had just one more thought/question after writing my last reply...

Is there such a thing as a dimsum supper? ... Would dimsum be available in the evening in HK (at least at the Airport)?

sg

rkkwan

Time to get to Tai O is the same as getting to Po Lin Monastery. At about 40 minutes each way by taxi, just not enough time.

Cicerone

Dim Sum is officially served as lunch/brunch food. You would not find it being served in the late afternoon or evening in Hong Kong restaurants. It is possible, although I think unlikely, that you might find it still being offered at dinner time at the airport, there is one Chinese restaurant within the transit area which apparently serves it at least sometime during the day, go to
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/s...inese_ahye.htm. I don' really eat at the airport, although I have eaten at Grappas (Italian, quite good, there is an outlet in Hong Kong as well). For info on all restaurants in the airport, go to http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/skymart_v2/index.htm.

There is lots of other good Chinese food and other food, even at the airport. You won't go hungry.

tweety817

I advise you to stay at the airport. My plane was an hour late to take off from HK because of security. (This August)

jsiegendorf

I was going to post a similar question. I have an 11-hour layover in Hong Kong. Is there anything people can add to the suggestions above?

Thanks

Jason

Cicerone

Yes, you have time to do the THIRD thing every tourist should do IMO, which is to take the Peak Tram to the Peak (unless it is foggy or raining). From the Star Ferry on the Hong Kong Island side, walk, take a taxi (five minutes about HK$15) or take the Star Ferry bus (#15C double decker brown bus with an open top) to the tram base on Garden Road and take the tram up for a great ride. Assuming your 11 hours is not on a Sunday or a public holiday, lines should not be bad at all. Have a gawk, possibly a meal, possibly walk the 2-mile loop around Lugard/Harlech Road from the tram station and back for some very good views (or go up to the actual Peak by taking Mt Austin Road about 500 feet straight UP, its a hike but on a clear day worth the views, esp of the back side of the island). For a meal, try Cafe Deco upstairs and inside the Peak Galleria Mall for great views, the Peak Lookout (back outside terrace is a must) for good food and limited views, a splash out at the Pearl on the Peak, or just have a coffee and sandwich at the Pacific Coffee Company right over the Peak Tram tracks which has The View really (and free internet). Then either take the tram back down, or for a different ride with a very good view as well, go into the bus station below the Peak Galleria Mall and take the #15 bus down to Central.

There are some self-guided walking tours of various parts of Hong Kong put together by the Hong Kong tourist association, take a look at http://www.discoverhongkong.com.

If you want (and it is still daylight), you may even have time to go to Stanley, which would give you a great ride as well up and over the hills, and a chance to see the back side of Hong Kong Island which is very green and has beautiful bay, sea and island views. From the Central bus terminal or any point along Connaught or Queen’s Road, take the #6, 6A, 6X or 260 bus to Stanley (no changes required, bus ends in Stanley and the driver will get out. The ride over takes about 45 minutes, so plan accordingly. The 6 would be far preferred, as it gives the best ride up and over the mountain and the best views, the 6A, 6X and 260 go through Aberdeen tunnel and you miss some of the best views IMO; sit upstairs in the very front or on the right for slightly better views going out). Have a walk along the little shoreline, have a good meal (Boathouse or Stanley Thai are good, others are good too), do some shopping in the covered market for souvenirs or discount Nikes, etc. Then take the 6, 6A, 6X or 260 bus back.

You could also do the ferry, the walks, or go to Stanley first and then go to the Peak, saving the Peak for dusk, when it is really the most beautiful, IMO. This would all depend on when you arrive, and when your departing flight is.

Tea at the Peninsula or Mandarin would also be a nice idea assuming you are there in the late afternoon. The Penn is on the Kowloon side near the Star Ferry and the Mandarin is on the Hong Kong side near the Star Ferry.

If you want more detailed suggestions, give me your flight time and interests. There are museum options as well, and of course shopping options.

For info on the Peak Tram and the Peak Tower, go to http://www.thepeak.com.hk/full/en/index.php.

Peninsula hotel - http://hongkong.peninsula.com

Mandarin Oriental at mandarin-oriental.com

Cafe Deco at http://www.cafedecogroup.com/cafed/v_deco.asp

Peak Lookout
121 Peak Rd
Tel: 852/2849 1000

Pearl on the Peak
Level 1, Peak Tower
128 Peak Road
tel: 852-2849-5123

To start the Lugard/Harlech Road loop or to go up Mt Austin Road to the Peak, standing with Victoria Harbor behind you, the Peak Tram station on your right, the brown Peak Galleria Mall on your left, and the Peak Lookout Restaurant in front of you, look to your right and see the three streets leading off to the right of the Peak Lookout Restaurant. Mt Austin is the one in the middle. Lugard and Harlech and the other two. To go up to the Peak proper, take Mt Austin and just keep walking up, the road winds around and around. There is only one major intersection about 20 minutes up, and there is a huge white stone marker pointing to “Victoria Peak Gardens”, here you stay on the main road and do not bear to the right. When you reach the very top there is a covered pavilion and a few little paths you can take for other views. The walk up takes 30-40 minutes, depending on how fast you can take the hill.

To do the Lugard/Harclech loop, take the street on the furthest right, which is Lugard, and just follow it around as it circles back to the Peak Tram station where you started. (At one point during the walk it turns into Harlech Road, but you won’t even notice.) This takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to walk.

jsiegendorf

Cicerone,

Thanks for the wealth of information. It is all extremely helpful!! We are landing in Hong Kong at 11:25am and departing at 10:15pm on Monday, Dec 11. The Peak sounds wonderful. Persuming we will be somewhat jetlagged, I think fresh air and tea will be top of the list. Museums are probably off the list, and shopping is a low priority. A ferry ride sounds good too. Thanks for all the input so far.

Jason

laceytreigh

Hi everyone,
This is very interesting reading. My husband and I are visiting HK next May. We are cruising on the Gemini so unfortunately only have 12 hours in port.(9am - 9pm) We will be there on a Wednesday and now I have a better idea of what we can do. I have been told the sound and light show on the harbour at 8pm is not to be missed, we will need to be back on board by then anyway so should have a good vantage point for it.
We might have to come back and see more on another trip!! Thanks for the info.
Tracey.