Planning a Trip to Hong Kong: Our Travel Essentials

theordinaryallure
Sep 5
4 min read

Planning a Trip to Hong Kong: Our Travel Essentials for a Super Cool, Zero-Stress Adventure

Hong Kong is a crazy mix of different architectural flavours, an urban jungle worth seeing and a super cool destination that you will love if you know what to look for. This guide will be your new bestie for your next trip to Hong Kong. ✨

🫶🏻 Good to know: if Hong Kong is just a stop on your China itinerary, this guide will be extra helpful—because a lot of the tips you can find for mainland China (here our travel essentials) don’t really apply to HK.

Before You Go: Everything You Need to Know

Beyond the obvious—booking flights and hotels (we used Skyscanner, airline websites, and Booking)—here’s what you need to tick off before heading to Hong Kong.

✈️ Documents & Visas

Double-check the entry requirements for your passport—always! Even for places where you might need to stop over!

📱 Must-Have Apps

Forget most of the stuff we said about mainland China—Alipay & WeChat Pay only work in HK for residents. Here’s what you actually need:

Trip.com: perfect for booking ferries, last-minute tickets & tours. Super user-friendly.
Uber: a great alternative to local taxis, which often ask for cash.
Google Maps: works quite well!
Translation apps (like Google Translate): English is widely spoken, but you never know!

📲 SIM Card or e-SIM?

You’ll need internet to get around—trust us. Two options:

Physical SIM: cheaper, but you’ll need to buy it there. It might also require a VPN to access your usual apps. (Hong Kong has fewer restrictions than mainland China—Google works!—but never say never.)
e-SIM: more expensive but super convenient, and no VPN needed. I used Airalo with unlimited data—100% recommend!

💡 Pro tip: don’t forget travel insurance. Better safe than sorry, babe.

Hong Kong 101: Extra Tips for a Smooth Trip

⚡ Adapters & Voltage

Voltage is 220V (yes, your Dyson works!), but plugs are different (G and D types). Bring a universal adapter.

💵 Cash or Card?

Cards work almost everywhere, but you’ll still need cash for taxis, markets, and getting from the airport into the city. Withdraw some as soon as you land!

🫰🏻 Prices

Heads up: Hong Kong is pricey—especially compared to mainland China. It’s not unusual to drop €100+ per person for a cute dinner in trendy areas like Central. That said, street food is lit 🔥 and you can always find affordable, no-frills spots.

🪩 Nightlife

Dinner at 9pm? Not a thing here. Kitchens close early, and even bars start shutting down around midnight or 1am (clubs are a different story though). Plan accordingly! Also, if you want to go to the super cool bars ranked in the World's 50 Best (HK has the number one ranked bar), remember to go early and get yourself in the virtual queue: leave your number and use WhatsApp to monitor how many people are still ahead of you!

🗓️ How Many Days Do You Need?

Minimum 4–5 days to enjoy the city without rushing. More days = more joy.

Where to Stay

Hong Kong plaza with skyscrapers and palms

These are our fave neighborhoods:

🍸 Central (Hong Kong Island): super cool, heart of the nightlife—but pricey AF.

🥃 Sheung Wan & SoHo: packed with cute boutiques and cafes. Slightly more affordable than Central, but be warned—you're on a hill, and even short distances can feel like a hike.

🍝 Wan Chai (Hong Kong Island): great location (close to Central), lots of international restaurants and cute evening spots. More hotel options, lower prices. We stayed at The Fleming—10/10 recommend!

🛍️ Causeway Bay (Hong Kong Island): a little further from Central, but great for shopping and good-value hotels.

⛵️ Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon): gorgeous views from the Avenue of Stars, more budget-friendly options. Expect traffic, crowds, and tons of tourists.

🍙 Mong Kok: more local vibes, full of street food and markets. Great budget pick—just stay close to the MTR!

Weather & What to Pack

When to Go:

🌸 Spring (Mar–May): ideal temps, humidity creeping in, chance of rain.

☀️ Summer (Jun–Sept): hot, humid, tropical vibes. Expect sudden rain showers—but also sunny days. SPF, linen fits & a rain jacket = must-haves.

🍂 Autumn (Oct–Nov): transitional season. Bye-bye humidity, hello fresher weather—but anything can happen.

❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb): chef’s kiss. Mild temps, though skies can be a bit grey. We had sun in January, but it can get windy!

👗 What to Wear:

Comfy but cool. Think: minimal chic, walkable sneakers, layered outfits. You’ll walk a lot—and uphill too.

Getting Around

🚄 From the Airport (Hong Kong International – Chek Lap Kok)

We recommend:

Taxi: follow the signs to 3 color-coded queues (red, green, blue) depending on your destination. Easy, well-marked, and staff are super helpful.
Airport Express Train: buy tickets at a counter (longer line) or machine (quicker).

Either way—you’ll need cash to pay.

🫶🏻 Good to know: you can call an Uber, but it costs about the same as a taxi. Pickup is a bit of a trek from arrivals—not ideal with heavy luggage but life saver if you do not have cash.

🚖 Taxis & Uber

Great for city rides and not too expensive. That said, traffic is real—so only use when really needed. Check Google Maps to see if the MTR is faster!

Ⓜ️ Public Transport

HK’s public transport is fab. Get yourself an Octopus Card (available at 7-Eleven) and load it up. You can even use it at convenience stores and budget restaurants.

If you have time, hop on one of the double-decker trams—they’re adorable and found in Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay.