Visiting Hong Kong but tight on money? While it’s known for being a luxurious, expensive city, there are many things you can do for free or for very little money. (Left: Image by Johnny Adams. Right: Image by @hkmoa.)
Hong Kong is a wonder of a place. An island often known for its bustling city, skyscrapers, and luxury shops, it’s easy to believe a trip to Hong Kong would be an expensive one. Although after working in Hong Kong for a few months, I realised the city has a multitude of experiences to offer that are basically free. With an impressive public transport system that connects the whole city, roaming around Hong Kong is a breeze. Here are some experiences I’d highly recommend you check out:
1. See the city skyline on the Star Ferry
Price: Around HKD 5
Image by Johnny Adams
Image by Johnny Adams
Image by Johnny Adams
The Star Ferry is an icon in Hong Kong. The boat ride takes you from the buzzing and attraction-filled Tsim Sha Tsui, known locally as TST, to Central Ferry Piers on Hong Kong Island, which links you to the financial hub and high-end shopping area.
Hong Kong has an unbelievable skyline sitting along the water, and many residents I met in the city still can’t help but pause and take in the beauty of the view when passing by, despite living there for years.
On this 10-minute boat excursion, you will see iconic buildings, like the HSBC and Bank of China skyscrapers, as a foreground to green mountains and Victoria Peak. See the view in the day to appreciate a mix of island, mountains, and city, and experience it at night to see the colourful city lights. Anytime is a good time for riding the Star Ferry.
Use your Octopus Card (Hong Kong’s public transport card) to tap yourself on the ferry. You can add your Octopus Card to your phone’s e-wallet or pick up a physical one at the airport. The Star Ferry runs from 6:30am to 11:30pm, every six to twelve minutes.
2. Be amazed by the ‘A Symphony of Lights’ show
Price: Free
‘A Symphony of Lights’ is something I still can’t quite get over, despite seeing it multiple times in Hong Kong. It amazes me that the Hong Kong Tourism Board organised 42 buildings along the water on Hong Kong Island to participate in a permanent light show, where buildings light up and emit laser beams in a synchronised fashion to music from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. To add on to the galore, for special occasions, there will be pyrotechnics as well.
To experience the light show, take a stroll to either Kowloon Public Pier or Avenue of Stars, where you can see handprints and signatures of famous stars from the Hong Kong film industry, such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, imprinted on the promenade. Whilst visiting the avenue, you will have the chance to take a photo with the iconic Bruce Lee bronze statue. The experience is hard to miss on your Hong Kong holiday, as the show happens every night at 8pm.
If you were a fan of the ‘A Symphony of Lights’ show, for those visiting Hong Kong between 10 December and 4 January, you can attend the ‘Winter Wonderland in Central’. In honour of Christmas, eight iconic buildings in Central will be lit up with holiday-themed projections.
3. Ride a Ding Ding
Price: Around HKD3.30
The ‘Ding Ding’ is the Hong Kong double-decker tram. The carriage is endearingly named after the ding ding warning sound it makes. Being Hong Kong’s first large-scale transportation system, the tram is a historic part of the city and has been running since 1904.
Ride the Ding Ding and roll through the different districts on Hong Kong Island, witnessing street life bustling around you. See the buzzing Causeway Bay shopping area, historical sites like the Old Legislative Council Building, and spot horses galloping in Happy Valley Racecourse on a Wednesday night.
The Ding Ding operates on different lines, but I’d recommend the route travelling from Central to Causeway Bay.
4. Say “Hello” to the monkeys at Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens
Price: Free
The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens is a one-of-a-kind park. It was built in 1860 and completed in 1864, making it the oldest park in the territory. Located in the heart of Hong Kong city in Central, visitors can spend a morning or afternoon in the park viewing lush plants and creatures.
With 5.6 hectares to explore, the Zoological part of the gardens is different from what other cities offer. A free park to enter, be prepared to be in awe of monkeys and apes living in their enclosures. Admire Bornean orangutan families, swinging gibbons, and other mammals, and learn about them through informative displays. Home to birds, mammals, and reptiles, the Zoological Gardens also has conservation programs in order to protect their creatures.
After walking around, relax at the Fountain Terrace Garden, a magnificent, tiered jet fountain which was originally built in 1864 and then rebuilt in 2010.
5. Ride the Central Mid-Levels escalator
Price: Free
Have you ever wanted to walk on the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world? Now you can, by visiting the Central Mid-Levels Escalator. A unique part of the city’s history, the escalators were built in 1993 and make up an 800-metre-long system. They’ve even been featured in famous movie scenes, like Chungking Express and The Dark Knight.
The escalators are reversible—in the morning from 6am to 10am, they move downwards to Central, and from 10am to midnight, the stairs move up to Mid-Levels, transporting 78,000 pedestrians daily.
Despite it being part of the locals’ daily commute, it has become a popular tourist attraction. Ride this travelator system to view Hong Kong life, as it transports you through alfresco restaurants, lively bars, and local shops.
6. See the city from Lugard Road Lookout
Price: Free
Don’t miss out on the stunning panoramic view of Hong Kong from Lugard Road Lookout. You can either take the Peak Train or the bus there. Contouring around Victoria Peak Hill, Lugard Road is a traffic-free road and gives you beautiful glimpses of Hong Kong from a vantage point.
I’d highly recommend a sunset walk, or it can also be a part of a hiking day trip, as the road is connected to the hiking loop called the Peak Circle Walk.
7. Feel inspired at the Hong Kong Museum of Art
Price: Free
The Hong Kong Museum of Art is a beauty of a building located on the waterfront in TST. The museum was established in 1962 and was the first public art museum in the city.
Free to enter, the museum is home to antiques, calligraphy, and modern art from Chinese and international artists. Depending on the exhibition, galleries can be interactive, with photobooths and digital quizzes taken to see which exhibition you should visit.
If you aren’t keen on spending time viewing art, the Hong Kong Museum of Art is still worth a visit. You can spend time sitting in the exhibition halls and viewing the city skyline by the waterfront through elegant floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Hong Kong has so many free or next-to-free experiences to offer. A trip to the city does not have to break your bank. Time to load up your Octopus Card and enjoy your time exploring the city.
