There is no need for a guide in Hong Kong. With one day, I'd start by going to the Peak. The walk around the loop up there is about an hour and well worth with. He should ride the Star ferry, and walk along the Espalade (on the Kowloon side). A dim sum lunch somewhere would be nice, or perhaps a splurge on high tea at the Pen.

If he is really nervous to be on his own, he should try asking the concierge at the hotel to set him up with a guide for the day.

wandering is just so easy in HK, its just like at home..

go to the peak. ask his hotel for a simple tour if he does not want to do anything alone, that would be easiest. make sure he rides the star ferry

I've not been to Hong Kong. However am researching info about what to see / do for a friend who's putting together an itinerary on short notice (he's leaving on Thurs for HK). It does seem that HK is an easy DIY city, yet can understand if I had no opportunity to plan, that would feel more comfortable w/ guide.

Have found a lot of info on Trip Advisor.
A couple guide companies mentioned by contributors on TA are 'Big Foot Tour' >>>
http://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g294217-d2197549-Reviews-Big_Foot_Tour-Hong_Kong.html

- and -

J3 Private Tours >>>

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g294217-d2182318-Reviews-J3_Private_Tours_Hong_Kong-Hong_Kong.html

..... additional threads which may be of help >>>

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g294217-i1496-k3661818-Hong_Kong_Tour_Guide-Hong_Kong.html#

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowTopic-g294217-i1496-k4928267-Itinerary_for_first_2_days-Hong_Kong.html#36839623

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You don’t need a tour guide for Hong Kong. Most bus tours will not take you to, or allow you to spend enough time in, the places you really would want to go. English and widely and well spoken and signage is in English. It is an extremely safe city in terms of crime (there is very little) The weather unfortunately does not look great for tomorrow, clouds and some rain, but that should not interfere too much with his plans, other than views at some points like the Peak.

Some ideas are below:

1. The above notwithstanding, one bus tour he might want to do is the hop-on-hop off bus. There are two operators who run buses, see www.rickshawbus.com and http://www.bigbustours.com/eng/hongkong . There are tours of both sides of the harbour (Hong Kong Island and Kowloon/Tsim Sha Tsui). He can get the buses for the Hong Kong Island tour from near the Star Ferry pier which is near the Airport Express Station on Hong Kong Island. (I am not sure I would bother with a tour of the Kowloon side given his limited time.) I also have to say that with only 10 hours or so in Hong Kong, I am not sure I would suggest spending more than 2 of it on one of these buses.

2. The only guide I would actually recommend Jason Wordie, who gives excellent, historically-based tours. You may be able to arrange something for tomorrow. See www.jasonswalks.com

3. Take the Peak Tram to the Peak. See http://www.thepeak.com.hk/en/home.asp for info generally on the Peak and the Peak Tram. This is very easy to do. The #15 bus also makes the trip and has no lines, and is 1/3 of the price. But I would take the tram at least one way. I like this just before dark so you can get day and night views, but if he has a 9 pm departure, that might be cutting it close.

4. Take the Star Ferry across the harbour from the Tsim Tsui Tse side to Central (or reverse, depends on which side he starts on. Very easy to do. As mentioned above, also walk the sidewalk on the Kowloon side which fronts the harbour (called the Esplanade). Depending on where his hotel is, he may be able to do this once during the day and then again at night to get the different views. See http://www.starferry.com.hk/

5. Take the street tram (not to be confused with the Peak Tram) on Hong Kong Island. The are fun and a great way to see the city sights. They are double decker and if you sit upstairs you can get a real bird’s eye view of the street life of the city. Really an half hour or more spent on one would IMO be time well spent. Costs HK$2.20 for a ride of any length. Get on in the back, get off (and pay) in the front. From Central, trams running east (to the right as you face the harbour, go to Wan Chai, North Point and points east), trams running west go to Kennedy Town.

6. I would definitely recommend trying to see a bit of one of our local “wet” markets, selling vegetables, fruit, meat, seafood. An easily accessible market area for tourists is the Graham Street/Peel Street area in Central, not far from the Star Ferry. Part of this area is described on the Hong Kong Tourist Authority website walks page, see http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/touring/hkwalks/index.jhtml. This can easily be combined with a walk along Hollywood Road and a visit to the Man Mo Temple and a walk up to Soho, with lunch or dinner in Soho. Peel and Graham Streets from Queen’s Road Central to Caine Street and the cross streets of Gage St and Wellington are all interesting streets with butchers, live chickens and seafood, fruit, veg, dry goods, flowers, dried fish, medicine shops, tea shops and general market stalls and shops. On Peel Street is an interesting shop selling all kinds of temple goods like paper money, incense, as well as kites and other stuff, it’s at 21 Peel Street. At the top of Peel Street where it intersects with Staunton is a little temple on the left built into the stairs. At the very top of Peel where it ends at Caine Road is the famous shed of the old man who repairs umbrellas, see if he is open. He is about 85 and has been doing this for his whole life. For US$2 he will repair broken spokes on your umbrella; only in Hong Kong!

7. Afternoon tea at the Peninsula, the Mandarin, the Ritz-Carlton or Sevva restaurant (Ritz has The View, Sevva’s is pretty good too, the Penn has the palm trees and orchestra and the Mandarin has the Tai-Tais (i.e., the ladies who lunch). You can find websites for the hotels on your own, the website for Sevva is http://www.sevvahk.com/

8. If weather is bad, or if he just likes history, the Hong Kong Museum on the Kowloon side is easy to do on his own. See (http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/History/index.php)

9. A dim sum meal, mentioned above, is a good idea. Try to avoid lunch hours as places are mobbed on weekdays. Go before 12 Noon (like 11:45 am) or after 2:30 pm to find far fewer crowds and lines. Some suggestions are below:

Lock Cha Teashop
Ground Floor
The K.S. Lo Gallery, Museum of Tea Ware
Hong Kong Park
Tel: 2801-7177
10 am – 10 pm
http://www.lockcha.com/

OVOlogue Gallery and Restaurant (regional Chinese and dim sum at lunch)
62-66 Johnston Road
Wan Chai
Tel: 2527-6088
http://www.ovologue.com.hk/

Lung King Heen
Four Seasons Hotel
8 Finance Street, Central
Tel: 3196-8888
Fourseasons.com

This is not traditional Cantonese, more fusion Asian. Has 3 Michelin stars and prices to match. Some tables have a harbour view. For a splurge, go there.

West Villa Restaurant
Ground Floor
Gee Tuck Building
16-20 Bonham Strand
Sheung Wan
Tel: 2543-3990

Room 101-102 Shop No.208
1st Floor, Lee Garden Phase 2 2nd Floor, Cityplaza II
28 Yun Ping Road 18 Taikoo Shing Road
Causeway Bay (near Sogo) Tai Koo (Tai Koo MTR)
Tel: 2882 2110 Tel: 2885 4478

Maxim's Palace City Hall Chinese Restaurant
2/F, Low Block City Hall,
Central
Tel: 2521-1303
http://www.maxims.com.hk/en/index.asp

This restaurant is in the City Hall building, very close to the Star Ferry. They have carts, and is one of the few places left which uses dim sum carts. Very popular with locals and tourists. Note that the harbour view that this restaurant used to have is quite diminished by the fact that land reclamation works is going on in front of the building for about 200 yards out to the new waterfront. While the food is still fine, the view really isn’t, so I would not bother with a harbour view table.

The Square
4th Floor, Exchange Square, Block
Central
Tel: 2225-1163
http://www.maxims.com.hk/en/index.asp

One Michelin star.

Dragon King
12th Floor World Trade Center
280 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Tel: 2895 2288
http://www.dragonking.com.hk/ (Chinese only)

Good dim sum in a pleasant setting with a nice harbour view

Metropol Restaurant
4th Floor, United Centre
95 Queensway
Admiralty
Tel: 2865-1988
http://www.heichinrou.com/info_metro.html

Has dim sum carts. Good food and good value. No views. It is across the street from Pacific Place Mall and easily reached by MTR or the Tram.

Zen
Pacific Place Mall
88 Queensway
Admiralty
Tel: 2845-4555

In a shopping mall at one end of Hong Kong park, not far from the Peak Tram, a good break for lunch. In a modern setting. No carts, no view, but extremely popular, a booking is recommended.

Dragon-I
The Centrum Upper Ground Floor
60 Wyndham Street
Hollywood Road, escalator area
Tel: 3110-1222
http://www.dragon-i.com.hk/

Very chic dim sum with the ladies who lunch in Hong Kong. The restaurant has a nice terrace, no views, but still quite pleasant.

Summer Palace
Island Shangri-La Hotel
Pacific Place Shopping Centre
Supreme Court Road
Tel: 2820 8552
shangri-la.com/en/property/hongkong/islandshangrila/dining/restaurant/summerpalace

One Michelin star. Very good dim sum in a quite opulent setting (think lots of gold and red, with silent waters arranging your napkin on your lap). For a splurge.

If he wants ideas for India, post a new thread on that....

Just started researching similar, will have about 30 hours in HK between flights. Thanks so much for all the information! Will be back with more questions as I get further into this, I'm sure.

I am so glad I found this!!

Cicerone - Wow - great information!!!!