24 hours in Hong Kong for less than HK$500

Hong Kong may be where money talks and finance rules, but you don’t need deep pockets to make the most of this great city. In our latest series, we break down how to spend a day in the city for under HK$500 – from free experiences to savvy local tips on exploring Hong Kong’s best neighbourhoods.  

Morning 

Breakfast

Start your day off in Central, the beating heart of Hong Kong Island. Amid glittering skyscrapers and Michelin-starred restaurants, you’ll find buzzing cha chaan tengs (Hong Kong diners) where locals drop by for a classic breakfast. Head to the fast-paced Cafe Seasons for a delicious morning bite, where silky scrambled eggs, macaroni soup and thick slabs of buttery French toast won’t cost you an arm and a leg. 

HK$60 

The Peak

After breakfast, navigate Central’s sky-high walkways and head to Exchange Square to board the number 15 bus to The Peak. The bus will wind its way along scenic roads on the tallest hill on the island before reaching The Peak Galleria. Enjoy the bird’s eye view of the city before taking a detour onto the Peak Circular Walk: an easy 90-minute, four-kilometre loop offering panoramic views of Hong Kong, as well as leafy, shaded hiking trails.

HK$13

Tram to Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun

Morning stroll over, head back down into Central on the number 1 minibus and discover another gem of the city: the tram (known locally as the ding ding). These affordable, slow-moving, electric vehicles have starred in countless movies and music videos, testament to their charm and cultural relevance. Jump on one heading towards Western Market before getting off at the eponymous station, easily recognisable by its terracotta-and-cream brick façade. 
 
Des Voeux Road and Ko Shing Street brim with shops – some dating back generations – that sell everything from spices and vegetables to tea and dried seafood. Pay a visit to the mahogany-fronted Yee On Tea Co. or Yu Kwen Wick, for its famed chilli oil, and look out for the shop cats standing guard. Don’t miss the rainbow lantern and scarlet lai see-filled stores on Queen’s Road West, near the intersection with Eastern Street. 

HK$15.30 

Afternoon

Lunch

Hungry? Wind your way back through to Sheung Wan’s Dim Sum Square , a popular family-run favourite and one of the best affordable restaurants in Hong Kong, welcoming locals and travellers alike. Dig into dim sum staples like char siu bao, gooey egg custard buns and lotus leaf-wrapped sticky rice served in bamboo steamers.

Roughly HK$100

Cat Street and Man Mo Temple

Amble uphill through Upper Lascar Row – affectionately known to Hong Kongers as Cat Street – and browse street stalls piled high with antiques, curiosities and knickknacks. Nearby, Man Mo Temple has shrines dedicated to gods of martial arts and literature. Inside, painted statues glow in the haze of the giant incense spirals hanging overhead. Donations are welcome, and you can purchase items to support the temple, or simply pay your respects. 

Free (unless you decide to buy souvenirs and/or make a small donation) 

Hollywood Road and Tai Kwun

Follow Hollywood Road up from Man Mo Temple into Soho, where art galleries, boutique stores and bars spill into the narrow streets. At the heart is the historical complex of Tai Kwun, a former police complex and magistracy turned cultural hub. The impressive architecture features a white facade filled with arched entrances, facing onto a picturesque courtyard. 

Make your way towards the back of the complex and drop into JC Contemporary, identifiable by its modern chrome exterior. This gallery regularly hosts free exhibitions showcasing the very best in international contemporary art, alongside ticketed exhibitions featuring renowned artists including Bruce Nauman, Pipilotti Rist and Takashi Murakami.

Free 

Evening

The escalator and the Star Ferry

Featured prominently in Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express and Batman: The Dark Knight, Hong Kong’s beloved Central-Mid-Levels Escalator tops many guidebooks. Bear in mind that the escalator runs down in the morning and up in the evening – but you can still take the staircases that runs alongside. Snap photos as you descend through Soho, over Central’s busy streets and between buildings, until you reach the Star Ferry Pier at the end of its serpentine footbridges.  

As the sun sets and the city lights begin to flicker, board the Star Ferry – a wooden forest-green-and-ivory icon that’s graced postcards for well over a century. Prices vary depending on the time of day, but it’ll never cost you very much. Grab a seat right by the window as the boat putters across Victoria Harbour, and soak in the front-row view of the spectacular skyline as you head towards Kowloon.

HK$4+ (adult fare)

The Avenue of Stars 

With Hong Kong’s harbourfront as a perfect backdrop for photos, wander along the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade and explore the Avenue of Stars, where legends like Bruce Lee are honoured with statues. As you stroll, you’ll pass architectural landmarks including the Tsim Sha Tsui Clock Tower, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the glitzy K11 shopping mall.

Free

Temple Street Night Market

Walk 15 minutes north to Yau Ma Tei and you’ll find the newly refurbished Temple Street Night Market. Stalls offer classic Hong Kong street food staples, while local spots such as the famed Hing Kee claypot rice restaurant and Woosung Street Cooked Food market serve authentic flavours and a slice of everyday life. If you’ve spent more than HK$150, you’ve probably splashed out. 

HK$150 

Post-dinner drinks

Kowloon is packed with cool cocktail bars and hole-in-the-wall gems, but few match the vibes of Bad Liquor and Coffee Club in Yau Ma Tei. Tucked away in a nondescript building, this retro hangout channels 1980s Hong Kong with wood finishings, a crackly old television and a cocktail list championing the city’s flavours. 

HK$120 per drink

Total cost: HK$462.3