Exploring Hong Kong on a small budget is very possible, despite the city's reputation as a modern city with seemingly endless dining and shopping opportunities. The thing to remember when living cheap in Hong Kong is that it’s often the little extras that cost money. A scenic bus tour is rarely free, but you can easily head out on foot and soak up the atmosphere of old Hong Kong for next to nothing.
Look out for lots of tourist perks while at the airport – tram tickets, free SIM cards and city maps are often available in the arrivals hall. Check out this handy guide on free things to do in Hong Kong so that you can make the most of your holiday, spending next to nothing while doing so.
- Half-Day City Tour
- Hong Kong Disneyland® Park Admission with Transfer
- Full-Day Macau Tour with Buffet Lunch
- Lantau Island Full-Day Tour
- Lamma Island Cruise
- Ocean Park Admission with Transfer
- City Sightseeing Tour with Victoria Peak Tram Ride
- Hong Kong Island Tour
- Guangzhou Day Trip with Giant Panda Encounter
- Evening Cruise, Dinner at Victoria Peak & Night Market Visit
Symphony of Lights Hong Kong is a classic performance that everyone must see at least once. Every night, this impressive spectacle combines interactive lights of 45 key buildings on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with musical scores by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. The Symphony of Lights showcase the vibrancy and glamorous night vista of Victoria Harbour, creating an all-round vision of coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights. It lasts around 10–15 minutes and is best seen from the Avenue of Stars promenade on Kowloon, or from one of Hong Kong's many rooftop bars. Read More...
- Opening Hours: Daily from 8pm to 8.10pm
- Location: Victoria Harbour, 18 Harcourt Rd, Admiralty, Hong Kong
There are well over 50 beautiful beaches to enjoy in Hong Kong and its surrounding islands. Whether you are looking for big waves for surfing, a secluded camping spot or family friendly weekend escapes, there's a beach in Hong Kong that suits your preference. As for getting there, plenty of buses and boats run daily from central areas and won’t cost you more than a few dollars. Read More...
Walking tour around historical Hong Kong
Comfortable shoes and clothes will be needed, but for immersing yourself in a new city, nothing beats taking to the streets armed only with a map (or smartphone) and a sense of adventure. Developed by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, there are several official Hong Kong Walks. You can choose to tour around Mong Kok, visit local markets and night markets, learn about the colonial edifices in Central and Sheung Wan, as well as the Ping Shan Heritage Trail in the New Territories.
Spending a night at one of Hong Kong’s best rooftop bars can set you back hundreds of dollars (and it’s a certainly great experience…if you can afford it). But enjoying the iconic cityscape of Hong Kong’s northern shore doesn’t have to cost a single cent. There are plenty of skyscrapers, shopping malls and mountain viewpoints that offer similarly stunning views for free. Read More...
The Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) is a 34-metre-tall bronze structure depicting Buddha sitting on a lotus platform. Located on the Ngong Ping Plateau, it's the centrepiece of the Po Lin Monastery. There are several interesting attractions to enjoy, including a tea plantation, a country walk called ‘The Wisdom Path’ and meditation retreats. You'll have to pay for a ferry ride to Lantau Island from Hong Kong, but entrance to the monastery is free. Read More...
- Opening Hours: Daily from 8am to 6pm
- Location: Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping Plateau, Tung Chung Town, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s parks and gardens offer many cheap or free activities to enjoy, but our favourite takes place every Sunday when you can enjoy 2 hours of classic kung fu action in Kowloon Park. It is a little bit touristy, meaning this isn’t a technical as authentic martial arts, but you will see some impressive displays of dexterity and even lion dances on special occasions. Read More...
- Opening Hours: Sunday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm
- Location: Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Price Range: Free
Hong Kong has some fabulous museums and you can enjoy many of them for free every Wednesday. The list of venues includes some of Hong Kong’s finest museums, such as the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Science Museum, Hong Kong Space Museum and Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum. It is worth noting that some museums, such as the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, are free to enter every day. Read More...
Tai chi class in Kowloon
A free activity that takes place around several Hong Kong parks every morning is tai chi, an ancient Chinese art form incorporating low impact martial art and meditation. There are many free classes starting just after sunrise in many centrally-located spots, including Kowloon Park. Feel free to take part, although it’s still enjoyable just to watch from the side lines and listen to the early morning birdsong.
- Opening Hours: Daily from 7am to 8am
- Location: Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Happy Valley Racecourse has long been Hong Kong’s premier horseracing track. It’s a great place to go and enjoy superb horseracing while soaking up some genuine Hong Kong culture. Tickets for the race course are HK$10, which will get you access to all public areas including the stand, betting hall and restaurants. Note that only visitors above 18 years old are allowed to enter the racecourse. Read More...
- Opening Hours: September–June: Wednesday and Saturday–Sunday from 5.15pm to 10pm
- Location: 2 Sports Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong
- Tel: +852 2895 1523
Star Ferry Hong Kong
There is no real need to take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour, but it lets you enjoy a sense of the living history that's still present in Hong Kong. Since 1898, ferries been shuttling busily between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Fares for Star Ferry start from HK$2.70 (HK$3.70 on weekends) per adult and HK$1.60 (HK$2.20 on weekends) per child aged 3 to 12.
- Location: Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Tel: +852 2367 7065
