A busy city street

Planning Your Trip

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From soaring skyscrapers set against a bustling harbor to incense-perfumed Taoist temples and afternoon English tea service, it’s no surprise that Hong Kong has earned the title of “Asia’s World City.” Packing for such a diverse locale is no easy feat — here’s what you’ll need for your stay in Hong Kong.

A large living area with a dining space and large windows
A large living area with a dining space and large windows
Planning Your Trip
What To Pack

Gift-giving is an important part of Hong Kong culture — impress your hosts or business associates by remembering to pack a few small gifts. Tokens from back home like coffee, tea or regional candies go a long way in showing your appreciation for their hospitality.

Business Travel

As the longstanding financial capital of Asia, Hong Kong is decidedly more formal than other cities in the region. Even in the city’s warm climate, conservative business attire is expected.  

 

  • A well-tailored dark blue suit is the standard coat of arms for businessmen in Hong Kong, and even outside of the boardroom, most restaurants and clubs require a jacket and tie.

  • A dark skirt and heels are the norm for women's wear, even in the summer.

  • Make sure you have a plentiful supply of business cards — failing to offer one may suggest you don't want to make the person's acquaintance.
Exploring the City

From the neon-lit streets of Mongkok to the quiet calm of Kowloon Park, there’s a lot of ground to cover in Hong Kong. Be prepared for all the city has to offer by packing versatile basics.  

 

  • Fill your bag with lightweight and breathable layers. It'll likely be warm and muggy outside, but the air-conditioned indoor spaces can get chilly.

  • Always carry an umbrella. Rain in Hong Kong is often sudden and unpredictable.

  • Opt for comfort over style when choosing your shoes — the city's cobbled, hilly streets are best tackled in flat sandals or sneakers.
Day Trips

Beyond Hong Kong’s city limits lie sandy white beaches and sacred spiritual sites. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and soak in some of the region’s stunning natural wonders.

 

  • Pack your swimwear for a trip to Sai Kung, home to four of the region's most pristine beaches.

  • While you'll want to dress comfortably for things like the 268-stair climb to see the Big Buddha on Launtau Island, remember that many attractions are also religious sites, so modest layers are a good idea.

  • If traveling with kids, save room in your luggage packing for a few compact rain shells instead of heavy jackets.
A bedroom and living area separated by a partial wall
A bedroom and living area separated by a partial wall
Planning Your Trip
What To Reserve

Hong Kong is home to some of the region’s finest dining, most luxurious spas and world-class golf. Here’s what to book in advance so you don’t miss out on the best the city has to offer.

The Hong Kong peninsula’s vibrant Cantonese culture has paved the way for the city to become a top-notch dining destination. From sleek restaurants with stunning views to hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, there’s something for every taste. For a decadent dining experience, book a table at the sky-high restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Tin Lung Heen, where chef Paul Lau Ping Lui serves classic Cantonese fare against a backdrop of city lights. For a more casual but still lively experience, make a reservation at ChomChom, a Vietnamese restaurant that’s widely considered to have the city’s best pho.  

There’s a lot to explore in Hong Kong, and chances are you’ll need a break (or two). Take your luxury spa experience to new heights at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, set on the 116th floor of the hotel. Wind down after a busy day with the lava shell body treatment, which incorporates heated lava shells to soothe tired muscles, and a Y lift intensive facial, a unique treatment that redefines facial contours while smoothing fine lines. Or simply soak in the indoor infinity swimming pool while taking in the stunning views of
Victoria Harbour below.

While this bustling metropolis may be best known for its vibrant urban culture, there’s lots to do just beyond the city limits too. Spend a day exploring the traditional villages and unspoiled beaches of Lantau, Hong Kong’slargest outlying island and home to the infamous Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Follow in the footsteps of some of the region’s best chefs and head to the Chinese-Portuguese enclave of Macau, where the cobblestoned village of Coloane is home to open-air restaurants that are favorites of the foodie set.

While the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club dates back more than 100 years, it’s just recently that the city has established itself as a destination for golf. For a true championship-like test of your handicap, head to the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club, which features two contrasting sets of nine holes. For a slightly less challenging round, tee it up at the North Course at the Jockey Club on the island of Kau Sai Chu, which is considered to be one of the best public courses in the region.

Night View from The Ritz-Carlton Suite
Night View from The Ritz-Carlton Suite
Planning Your Trip
Itineraries

Hong Kong is a dynamic city where history and culture converge — a place where starkly modern skyscrapers are set against a backdrop of lush scenery. Revel in the sights and sounds of this international city with one of these three unique itineraries.

A Perfect Weekend

There isn’t much you can’t find in Hong Kong, one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities: a bounty of celebrated chefs, one of the most exciting art scenes on the planet, and a shopping scene that rivals that of New York. What’s more, despite the fact the city is home to more than 7 million people, there are innumerable opportunities to unwind. About 40 percent of Hong Kong is protected from development, and spectacular scenery is never far away.

Skyline View

Morning

Take a morning swim. An easy way to wrap your head around the scale of this bustling city: a morning swim at the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. From the 118th-floor indoor infinity pool, the highest in the world, you can gaze at the city’s iconic buildings and mountains.

 

Midday

Browse the city's best art. When Hanart Tz Gallery opened in 1983, it became a trailblazer in the thriving local art scene, launching the careers of many artists from across china and putting the city on the international art world’s radar.

Wander the Gagosian. The works of everyone from British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor to abstract painter Cy Twombly have been showcased at American art dealer Larry Gagosian's hong kong gallery, a light-filled space in the historical Pedder building.

 

Afternoon

Walk down Hollywood road. Old and new hong kong come together on Hollywood road, a trendy shopping area that is still home to dozens of old antique shops. Don’t miss the oldest, Honeychurch, which sells suitcase-friendly souvenirs along with Meiji-era furniture.

Get lost in the grand PMQ. In a former life, this 197,000-square-foot mall was a police barracks. Now it is home to ceramic stores, high-end fashion boutiques, art exhibits and eateries where you can enjoy everything from beef tartare and Chinese noodles to cold-brew coffee and condensed milk ice cream.

Relax in Blake Garden. While it is just a few minutes’ walk from the crowds, the small urban park of blake garden feels like a total escape from city life. You’ll see locals practicing tai chi, playing basketball and enjoying a quiet stroll under the trees.

 

Evening

Dine on fresh catches. Neighborhood seats are among the hottest in the city thanks to the precision of hong kong-born chef David Lai, who has worked with Alain Ducasse and uses the city’s best catches from local markets in his french dishes.

Unwind with a cocktail. Bartenders around the world make pilgrimages to enjoy the cocktails in this city. One of their first stops: the dimly lit j. Boroski mixology, where they can enjoy burnt orange and thyme negronis with freshly cut ice under the bar’s handsome leather-lattice ceilings.

Morning

Catch the best view in the city. Chances are you’ve seen a postcard of the victoria peak panorama. Take the funicular up to the top to admire the waterways, colorful skyscrapers and grassy mountain ranges.

 

Midday

Enjoy wildlife and kung fu. The 33-acre Kowloon park is loaded with a few hours worth of activities for the family: spot exotic birds in the aviary, take a dip in the swimming pool, navigate a maze of manicured plants, and enjoy a picnic by the lotus pond. Go on Sunday to spot performers showing off kung fu moves.

Taste local snacks. The neighborhood of Tai hang is peppered with stalls that serve a variety of specialty cuisines. Head straight to the unassuming Beng Kee for comforting satay beef noodles and creamy hong kong-style milk tea.

See the city's oldest temple. Walk inside Man Mo Temple, and you’re welcomed with an overflow of red and gold ornaments, the warm scent of incense, and epic shrines to the Cantonese gods of literature and war.

 

Afternoon

Take a break. There's a lot to explore in this town, and you’ll need to take a few breaks. At the hotel, book the lava shell body treatment, which incorporates soothing heated shells and aromatic oils to restore tired muscles.

 

Evening

Enjoy a decadent meal. Dishes at the newly opened Rhoda are anything but boring: you’ll find asparagus topped with a pile of truffle shavings, smoky buns made with dark beer, and tart chicken wings loaded with a kick of vinegar.

Experience the city's wild side. After sundown, it’s pretty much impossible to miss Tsim Sha Tsui, a promenade in the Kowloon area, as it’s lit up with the neon lights of a night market. Explore the frenetic stalls, which sell both food and home goods, and catch the symphony of lights, a nightly laser show that begins around 8 p.M.

A Culinary Tour

The Hong Kong peninsula is nothing short of foodie paradise. Walk the city’s energetic streets, and you’ll find locals eating pretty much any time of day (and night, for that matter). To get a true taste of the city, experience both the old-school authentic institutions — which serve chewy noodles, piping hot buns and towers of delicious dim sum — and the new guard of restaurants, which are defining the future of Hong Kong cuisine. Along the way, sip plenty of sophisticated creations from the city’s white-hot cocktail scene.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Hong Kong Afternoon Tea at Club Lounge

Morning

Pick up some fresh pastries. Opened in 1942, hole-in-the-wall Kee Tsui cake shop specializes in traditional Chinese baked goods. Go for the crisp pastries filled with sweet bean adzuki bean paste and served fresh from the cooking irons.

Get your caffeine fix. Instead of hitting one of the ubiquitous chain coffee stores, jump-start your morning with a to-go drink from Maison, a stylish café that serves strong Vietnamese coffee, iced-blended matchas (green tea powder) and inventive iced teas.

 

Midday

Peruse this hands-on museum. Work off some calories while browsing Liang Yi, hong kong’s biggest private museum. It’s a 20,000-square-foot trove of rosewood altar tables, ornate dressers and other Chinese antiques. Most unusually, you can touch, sit on and otherwise interact with the pieces of the collection.

Eat some of the world's finest dim sum. Many dim sum restaurants purchase frozen product but every shrimp dumpling and custard tart from the renowned Lin Heung is prepared, painstakingly, by the masterful hands of chef Wong Kam Shing and his staff. There will probably be a wait, but it’s worth every minute.

 

Afternoon

Sample the street food. Even if you don’t have room to sample all the bites at the stalls of causeway bay — ranging from kid-friendly crisp, buttery egg waffles to more daring traditional tripe dishes — the colorful scene provided by the vendors is enough reason to visit.

 

Evening

Give your go-to drink a break. The sisters who run the woods have applied the seasonal dining movement to cocktails. Don’t miss one of their more daring concoctions, the mushroom bourbon, which gets its earthiness from oyster mushrooms.

Take a detour to Vietnam. Bartenders around the world make pilgrimages to enjoy the cocktails in this city. One of their first stops: the dimly lit j. Boroski mixology, where they can enjoy burnt orange and thyme negronis with freshly cut ice under the bar’s handsome leather-lattice ceilings.

Morning

Skip the morning eggs. For breakfast, many locals enjoy congee, a savory porridge often topped with green onions, shredded chicken and sesame oil. You can find it at many stalls but the gingery bowls at sang kee congee are particularly flavorful.

 

Midday

Visit an awe-inspiring monument. Take a ferry to Lantau island and then a glass-bottomed cable car to the town of Ngong Ping to view the big Buddha, a 112-foot-tall statue constructed of 202 bronze pieces. It’s big enough that, on a clear day, you can spot the relic from Macau.

Try a traditional vegetarian meal. A vegetarian meal doesn’t have to be boring. The Ritz-Carlton, hong kong is keeping up with the wellness food trend of the plant-based diet and offering the organic salad bar as well as the ultimate vegan burger at the lounge & bar. Those healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian options can satisfy the most discerning diners.

 

Afternoon

Satisfy your sweet tooth. The parfaits from Oddies have become a bit of a phenomenon in hong kong and on Instagram. They’re indulgent and anything but simple: fresh fruit, sweet sauces, various ice creams like caramelized banana, and a giant waffle assembled in a to-go cup.

Travel by Escalator. One way to get around the hills of the central district. The world’s largest covered escalator system, which stretches about a half-mile. Hop off at any stop for bars, restaurants and shopping, or ride it to the top, which takes about 20 minutes standing.

 

Evening

Indulge before dinner. Get dinner off to a solid start with a glass of champagne at the hotel’s seven-seat almas caviar bar. Top an order of blinis with the house special namesake, Almas Persicus, a rare caviar from the Caspian sea.

Dine with a view. Chef Paul Lau Ping Lui of Tin Lung Heen, the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant on the 102nd floor, has two Michelin stars. Experience the six-course degustation menu with dishes such as soy sauce abalone, fried rice with crab claws, and salted lamb with spring onions.

Explore hong kong's nightlife. The city barely sleeps. For live music and local beers, try peel fresco, a charming music venue that hosts local jazz and blues acts. For late-night noodles, try the stalls on Yiu Tung street. Or, after 10 p.M., visit Yau Mei Tei, a fruit market that sells exotic offerings, including flavorful durians, until dawn.

Cultural Treasures

There’s far more to Hong Kong than the five-star dining and luxe shopping that the city is known for. Rich in history and tradition, it’s also home to a burgeoning cultural renaissance, as a new wave of artists, musicians and entrepreneurs infuse the city with a vibrant energy. Explore the galleries, museums and spiritual sites that call the region home.

A dining room with large lighting fixtures overlooks a city through a wall of windows

Morning

Explore nature. Start your day with a climb up dragon’s back, one of the best urban hiking trails in Asia. A short hop from the bustle of the city, the trail provides stunning views of Tai Tam and the South China Sea.

 

Midday

A dining must. Refuel after your hike with a traditional dim sum feast at lin heung tea house, a hong kong institution since 1926. Indulge in the rice balls wrapped in banana leaf and filled with sugar and peanuts.

Modern treasures. Shop the curated wares at the PMQ. This multi-use, open-air mall is home to more than 100 local designers and artisans. Set in a former police station, the space regularly plays host to design fairs, pop-up fashion stalls and art exhibitions.

 

Afternoon

Plum perfection. Grab a drink at one of the restaurants in the PMQ before heading out. The lively atmosphere at Sohofama makes it the perfect place to sip on a signature plum sour.

Art attention. Experience an art gallery in total darkness. The brainchild of Stephen Chang, the empty gallery in Aberdeen is a 3,000-square-foot multi-media space where the lack of light encourages visitors to focus their attention on the art

 

Evening

Harbor icon. Set sail on a traditional red-sailed junk. Sip on a glass of champagne as you watch the sun go down and the skyline light up.

Cantonese heights. Dine on some of the city’s best Cantonese fare at Tin Lung Heen, the Michelin-starred restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton. The chef’s degustation menu provides a one-of-a-kind dining experience.

 

Morning

Meet Buddha. Discover the city’s spiritual background with a climb to the tian tan buddha statue. Perched atop 268 stairs, the bronze statue is a commanding 112 feet tall and draws pilgrims from all over the world.

 

Midday

Sacred space. Opposite the statue, the Po Lin Monastery is considered one of the region’s most important Buddhist sanctums. Dine at the monastery’s vegetarian restaurant and enjoy a moment of tranquility in its lush garden.

Picture perfect. Hone your photography skills in Tai O. This quaint fishing village is home to the Tanka people, a community of fishermen who’ve built their houses on stilts above the tidal flats of Lantau Island. The bright colors and vibrant community makes for some stunning snaps.

 

Afternoon

Tea is served. Enjoy an afternoon tea, English style. Tea service at café 103 at the ritz-carlton is a modern affair, where pastries and savory bites are served on polished silver tiers and expansive views of victoria harbor can be found around every corner.

 

Evening

A night at the opera. Built-in 1930, the refurbished Yau Ma Tei Theatre stages weekly performances of Cantonese opera, a performance art that blends Chinese legend, music and drama.

Cocktails with a view. Have a nightcap at the tallest bar in the world. Situated on the 118th floor of the international commerce center, Ozone is known for its inventive cocktails and delicious Asian tapas.

Morning

Natural pleasures. Stroll through victoria park. On any given day, this urban green space is great for people watching, as groups of seniors practice tai chi in the morning and droves of locals take respite from the bustling city.

Breakfast customs. Start your day the traditional way with a bowl of congee. Also known as rice porridge, it’s common breakfast fare in hong kong. Head to sang kee for the crab congee, but get there early — it’s usually sold out by lunch.

 

Midday

Hong kong history. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the region at the hong kong museum of history. From the han dynasty to the major metropolis it is today, hong kong’s storied past is worth exploring.

Snack time. Enjoy an egg waffle at Lee Kung Kee. One of the first food stalls to grab the attention of the mighty Michelin powers, Lee Kung Kee serves up some of the city’s best versions of this iconic snack.

 

Afternoon

A relaxing tradition. Unwind with an oriental massage. This traditional Chinese treatment, available at the spa at the Ritz-Carlton, uses deep acupressure to release blocked energy and rebalance the body.

 

Evening

A dinner to remember. Dine on creative Chinese fare at bo innovation, a lively restaurant where dishes like crab soufflé topped with Jiangsu vinegar take center stage.

Cheers! Cap your evening off at one of the city’s lounges that specialize in specific spirits. Scotch lovers flock to lof10, a discreet basement bar offering a wide selection of rare Japanese whiskeys.