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What to do in Hong Kong Airport with family on a layover

Entertainment at every age: Your 120-minute transit itinerary

If you are travelling with family, the gap between connecting flights in Hong Kong is a perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and stock up on vital supplies before the next leg of your journey. Here’s what to do in Hong Kong International Airport on a layover with family.

1. Start your adventure

  Allow 10 minutes

 

When you have two hours on your hands and a family to keep entertained, what’s there to do? At Hong Kong International Airport, the answer is plenty. The area around Gates 40-80 should be your first stop, where there’s a selection of restaurants and shops to visit. And don’t forget the airport lends out free infant strollers – just contact ground staff when you land.

 

Be sure to sign up to HKIA’s new loyalty programme, HKairport RewardsOpen a new window, which allows passengers to earn points and rewards for their spending at the airport. 

2. Seek out magical souvenirs

Allow 20 minutes

 

On the hunt for a gift or two? Head to the East Hall, where you’ll find the flagship The Magic of Hong Kong Disneyland store, featuring toys, games, souvenirs and everything else you’d expect from a shop that celebrates all things Disney. 

 

Looking to keep the family happy on the next leg of your journey? Head to the Toys & Games shop for entertainment options or The Peninsula Boutique, which is filled with the hotel group’s finest delicacies: delicious chocolates, crumbly cookies and other tasty treats.

3. Family-friendly eats 

Allow 30 minutes

 

The best family-friendly options are found in the Food Court near Gates 40-80. The question will be what everyone is in the mood for.

Is it burgers, chips and dips? O’Learys has plenty of Western comfort food options – and it’s also located next to the expansive terminal windows, providing an amazing view of planes taxiing. If you’re looking for something quick yet comforting, Gordon Ramsay Plane Food To Go offers a variety of classic British dishes which are freshly made-to-order but quick to arrive. 

 

Perhaps the whole family is clamouring for Hong Kong specialities? If so, opt for one of the pastries, breads or local snacks at King Bakery. Or for quality Chinese delicacies, head to Wing Wah Bakery, where you’ll find traditional custard mooncakes, wife cakes, bridal cakes and more.

4. Recharge and take an art tour

Allow 20 minutes

 

If you’ve got younger children to tire out before your flight, there are two Digital Fun Zones in the terminal: the Wonder and the Buzz. Here, you’ll find LED walls showing movies and TV shows, screens and motion detectors with Hong Kong and airport-themed AR and VR games, and digital tablets for children to play educational games. 

 

For some family-time pre-flight, unwind in HKIA’s newly introduced comfortable seating areas, which are located by a number of gates around the airport. Charge your electronic devices as you recharge in the contemporary partitioned seating space, enjoy some privacy in the cubicle seating area, or tuck into snacks in the dining area. 

 

Keep an eye out around the departures area: there are 19 pieces of art made by 10 Hong Kong artists displayed throughout.

 

And for the child in every one of us, there’s always plane-watching. The floor-to-ceiling windows are perfect for seeing aircraft, and the many airport vehicles and people that make up the ever-moving ecosystem of an airport.

5. All aboard!

  Allow 40 minutes

 

You need to get to your connecting flight gate 30 minutes before departure: and with a whole family in tow, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time. The automated people mover – the train shuttle in the basement – is a fast and fun way across the airport. Get a spot at the front windows to watch the journey through the tunnel.