I am currently looking for plane flights to Beijing in August and most include a 1-3 hour layover in Hong Kong.
Is it possible (and is it worth the time-crunch) to head out and visit one Hong Kong destination in that time?
If so, any recommendations on travel routes and destinations? I'm hoping for a sightseeing or a shopping stop and was thinking about taking the MRT out of the airport. Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't be attempting to look at anything if you only have 1-3 hours to fill in. If you are continuing on an international flight won't you have to be at the airport two hours before your onward flight anyway in order to allow time for security etc.

The MTR does not run from the airport, you have to take Airport Express Train (at least part of the way). Out at back by the train to the city takes just over an hour, so any layover of less than 2 hours would not be worth trying to go into the city, IMO, as you really would not have time to do anything, and most likely might not even have enough time to make the trip out and back. By the time you get off the plane, get through Immigration, do something with your carry on bags, get cash, buy a train ticket, get on the train, etc you will have eaten up a lot of time, and then you have to leave time to repeat the process on the way back.

What time of day is the layover?

If you have 3 hours, you MIGHT be able to do it, but really, given the potential for long Immigration lines and security on your return trip, it might be a bit chancy. All you might be able to do is see the skyline of Hong Kong from the harbour (albeit quite a sight and that would really by my recco). Take the Airport Express to the Kowloon Station, then either take a cab to the Peninsula Hotel or the Star Ferry piers (fastest and easiest, would cost about US$8 and take less than 10 minutes) or take the MTR to the Tsim Sha Tsui, exit Door E, and when you come up to the street level you will be on Nathan Road, walk straight ahead toward the water, cross Middle Street, the Peninsula Hotel will be on your right at the intersection of Nathan and Salisbury. You can cross the street and get to the water by crossing Nathan Road and walking away from the Penn to the next light to cross Salisbury. Go to the harbour, gawk as long as you can, and then start the return trip. If you have time, lunch at the Harbourside restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel on the water will give you more time to take in the view. To return, you could ride the Star Ferry over and then walk about 5 minutes to the Hong Kong Station for the Airport Express and take the train back to the airport. (You could also just take the train from the airport to the Hong Kong Station and take the Star Ferry over and back, rather than going via Kowloon and taxi/MTR.)

Shopping is not really worth you time to be honest if you are going to Beijing where there are lots of interesting things to buy anyway.

There is a transit tour for people with layovers, but you need 5 hours, take a look at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/...g_138539.jhtml I have not taken it.

Info on the Airport Express is at http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/a...airportex.html. You can find info on storing your carry on luggage there as well.

There is no way you can go out to anywhere. Find out if Cathay Pacific sells a daypass at its lounges (which are world famous attractions at their own right), or how much they cost.

[If you're already have access to an airline club, then just use them.]

Or try a lounge chair near Gate 32 and elsewhere. Here's a photo:

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p163727794/?photo=216741333

We had a 4 hour lay-over in September and thought "OMG what are we going to do???". Well, actually the time flew visiting all the stores, etc. OK because of that, the 2 hour wait on the return flight was boring. (Been there, done that) but hey that's just part of air travel.

Okay, forget about buying a daypass for CX's lounge. No such thing. Either you're flying F/C on CX or you have qualifying status.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will see if I can get a Cathay lounge pass. Thanks for all the suggestions. Next time I'll try to plan for a few days in HOng Kong.

As for other attractions at HK Airport aside from numerous shopping opportunities, there is a foot massage/quick massage place near Western hall. If you manage to get to the landside (won't recommend if you have less than 2 hours), there is an amazingly good dessert parlour Hui Lau Shan on the arrival floor.

Picking up from this old topic - what about an 8 hour layover? Any suggestions?

What time does your flight arrive and next flight depart? What time of year? (It's friggin hot now, but in December you might want to to a walk.)

Nothing like being vague is there?!!!!

If I take the British Airways/Qantas option, it arrives in HK at 07:10 on Sunday 28th October and flies out again that afternoon at 16:15. I reckon there's a dead 5 hours there even allowing for baggage reclaim, check-in for the onward flight and immigration/security.

You can go to the city - get a sameday roundtrip on the Airport Express to Hong Kong station. Enough time to go up to the Peak and ride the Star Ferry and get back to airport.

Or you can take the S1 shuttle to Tung Chung, and then take the NP360 Skyrail aerial tramway to Ngong Ping to see Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha. Being a Sunday makes this a little less attractive as there are often significant lines for the Skyrail and it's a lot more crowded up on Ngong Ping than weekdays.

I presume you'll have boarding pass to the connecting flight and the luggage to be checked through.
HK Airport is super-efficient. You'll have close to 5-6hrs to spend. If you're arriving in the morning, I would consider dim-sum brunch as the first stop.

Looking at the website (I've not booked yet as I've checked out other options from London to Jakarta but this looks the best bet pricewise and convenience), the whole trip would be with Qantas as a code share with BA, so I assume that luggage would be checked-in all the way to Indonesia at Heathrow as has been the case with other similar long haul flights I've taken where there is a stop-over.

A good view of Hong Kong would be sufficient - just enough to say that we've "been" there and were able to do something constructive with the lay-over.

There is the option of a later flight with BA that has a 2 hour layover but I would take the ealier flight as long as I can make good use of the time.

Sorry to hijack someone else's thread.

If you're flying business class, I recall Cathay louge (which you can use as OneWorld alliance) has a travel spa.

Anyway, I'm quite fond of chinese foot massage--excellent way to address swollen legs after a long-haul. There is one place inside the airport, though there are plenty of choices in Hong Kong proper.

~7:10 arrival at HKG.

~7:40 ride Airport Express to Kowloon (buy the same day $100 roundtrip ticket to Hong Kong)

~8:00 take one of free shuttle bus from Kowloon AE station to one of the hotel stops - say the K2 to Sheraton or K3 to the Peninsula: www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/ae_compli_e.htm#shuttle

~8:30 stroll along the harborside promenade "Avenue of the Stars" in front of the Intercontinental

~9:00 Star Ferry to Central (go up to the nice 3rd level public area on the Central Pier to view the harbor some more)

~9:30 Bus #15C to Peak Tram station

~9:30 Peak Tram to The Peak

~10-11:00 stroll around The Peak

~11:00-12:00 Early Lunch at Cafe Deco or elsewhere on The Peak.

~12:00 take Bus #15 or Minibus #1 down to Central

~1:00-2:00 (window) shopping at the ifc mall

~2:00 ride AE back to airport

Very leisurely, and you still have almost two hours at the airport.

Thanks for all the assistance and information.

Unfortunately, W9London, I've had to trade my business class ticket in so that I can bring my wife on this business trip.

You are an excellent husband!!

Another kudos for such a considerate husband! Don't worry, you and your wife can still get some good foot massage--there were lots of signs on both Kowloon and Central. Hope you enjoy the layover.