Hong Kong - Things to Do in Kowloon

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The Kowloon Peninsula lies north of Hong Kong Island directly on Victoria Harbour. It is the most densely populated part of Hong Kong and offers many highlights for visitors. The southern part in particular, with many Kowloon attractions, is popular with tourists.

Kowloon – Sights in Hong Kong’s District

In our Kowloon guide, we show you the things to do, such as the Avenue of Stars and the Symphony of Lights spectacle, but also more off-the-beaten-path highlights like Garden Hill or Wong Tai Sin Temple. A stay in Kowloon is definitely worth it, and you can easily explore the district on your own in 2 days.

Accommodation in Hong Kong – Our Hotel Tip

Located in the heart of Kowloon, Hotel Ease Mong Kok is just a minute’s walk from the Yau Ma Tei Station on the MTR train. The rooms are spread over 20 floors and offer great views of the city skyline. They are equipped with private bathroom, air conditioning, TV, safe and a small desk. A good starting point to explore Hong Kong.

Find more hotels in Hong Kong in other parts of Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island here.

1. Clock Tower

Along the promenade at Victoria Harbour, near the Star Ferry terminal and the MTR station Tsim Sha Tsui, you will find the Clock Tower. It is the remaining part of Kowloon’s original railway station and dates back to the early 20th century.

Today, the Clock Tower is a landmark of Hong Kong and a popular photo spot, as its colonial architecture stands out from Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. The 44-meter-high tower has stood here since 1915 and was the only building spared when Kowloon Station was demolished, due to numerous protests.

2. Salisbury Garden

A bit further along the promenade, you will come across Salisbury Garden, which lies between Victoria Harbour and Salisbury Road, hence the name. The garden was opened in 1997 and is part of the Art Square, which was expanded in 2014. Here you will not only find Salisbury Garden, but also the Hong Kong Space Museum, the Hong Kong Cultural Center, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

In its current form, Salisbury Garden was reopened in 2017 after renovation and can serve as a small stopover after the Clock Tower and before a visit to the Avenue of Stars. It is especially quiet here in the morning and the garden is a lovely place to relax and enjoy the view of Hong Kong Island.

3. Avenue of Stars and Garden of Stars

The Avenue of Stars is the counterpart to the Walk of Fame in Hollywood. For years you could see handprints of Hong Kong stars on the ground here. Since the renovation, which lasted until February 2019, the Avenue of Stars has shown a different face.

Starting at Salisbury Garden, you can now see various handprints of stars such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and many more in the railing directly along the promenade. Every few meters there is another handprint, and you can also see a few statues, such as the one of Bruce Lee directly in front of Starbucks.

In addition, there is now also a staircase leading up to the Garden of Stars, where you can discover a few more sculptures. These include, for example, sculptures of cameramen and the director’s chair.

We personally found the old version a bit nicer, but the new design with the handprints in the railing along the Avenue of Stars, with a view of the skyline of Hong Kong Island, definitely has its charm. You can find more information in our article about the Avenue of Stars.

4. Symphony of Lights

Since 2004, Symphony of Lights has been on display every evening at Victoria Harbour. The best view is directly from the promenade at the Clock Tower, when every evening at 8.00 PM for about 10 minutes more than 40 buildings take part in the multimedia show. It’s a perfect way to round off a sightseeing day in Hong Kong with the sound and light effects. The show is free of charge.

5. Star Ferry Ride

Another highlight in Kowloon is definitely a ride on the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour. It does not matter whether you simply use the Star Ferry to get to Central Pier on Hong Kong Island or book a round trip.

A ride is definitely worth it, which is why many visitors count it among their Hong Kong highlights. You can find more about the ferry, prices and piers in our article about the Star Ferry.

6. Kowloon Park

Formerly used as a military site, the first part of Kowloon Park was opened to the public in 1970. Today, the park stretches over 13 hectares and is a recreational area in Tsim Sha Tsui.

There are many areas to relax, water features, sports facilities, a fitness trail, a swimming complex, the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre and also many different bird species in Kowloon Park, such as the flamingos in the next photo.

Kowloon Park is open daily from 5.00 AM to midnight and is a great option if you want to relax for a while during your visit to the Kowloon sights.

7. Chungking Mansions

Chungking Mansions are not really a Kowloon attraction, but many people still visit them at least once. They are also located at the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station as well as on Kowloon’s main thoroughfare, Nathan Road.

Inside you will find many shops, places to eat and also money changers. In addition, you can find budget accommodations that you can reach via elevators. As a result, Chungking Mansions have become a place of cultural diversity in Hong Kong. Personally, we do not think Chungking Mansions are necessarily worth a visit, but many tourists still want to take a look inside. If you still have some time left in Hong Kong, feel free to check it out.

8. Sky100

The Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck is located on the 100th floor of the International Commerce Centre in western Kowloon. The easiest way to reach it is by taking the MTR to Kowloon or Austin stations, although you will then have to walk a bit further. You will find the entrance to Sky100 inside the Elements shopping mall, where everything is signposted.

Opened in 2011, this is Hong Kong’s highest observation deck, with fantastic views over Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and, in good visibility, you can even see Macao in the distance.

Sky100 is open daily from 11.00 AM to 8.00 PM, and the entrance fee on site is 188 HKD (about €22.20). You can also order tickets online in advance for the same price. Once you reach the entrance, an elevator takes you up to the 100th floor in about 60 seconds.

The observation deck offers a 360-degree view of Hong Kong and you can take your time to explore everything at your leisure. A drink in the on-site restaurant is usually included in the ticket price. It is one Kowloon attraction you definitely should not miss.

9. Wong Tai Sin Temple

In the north of Kowloon, you will find Wong Tai Sin Temple. The entire temple complex covers an area of 18,000 m² and attracts both local worshippers and tourists. You can easily reach it by MTR via Wong Tai Sin station.

Wong Tai Sin Temple is a Taoist site dedicated to the saint Wong Tai Sin (who bears the epithet “the great immortal Wong”) from the 4th century. On the grounds, you can explore many places, such as the main altar, the Nine Dragon Wall, or the Good Wish Garden (see next photo).

Open daily from 7.00 AM to 5.00 PM, you can visit Wong Tai Sin Temple free of charge. It is best to take your time, as the large area is truly very impressive.

10. Nan Lian Garden

Nan Lian Garden is located near Diamond Hill MTR station and is a classical Chinese garden covering 3.5 hectares. Opened in 2006, it is a popular place for locals to relax.

The design is inspired by the Tang dynasty, with lots of water, hills and wooden structures. The golden pavilion stands out in particular and also makes a great photo spot. It is open daily from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM and admission is free.

Connected to it is the Chi Lin Nunnery, a monastery and large temple complex that you can also visit. There you can see more wooden structures or learn something about Buddhism.

11. Garden Hill

Garden Hill is another viewpoint in Kowloon, where you will mostly encounter Hong Kong residents and fewer tourists. You can reach Garden Hill on foot from Sham Shui Po MTR station. From there it is about 10 minutes. Take Exit A and turn right onto the street. Follow it to the end, continue left and then turn right again toward Mei Ho House. Here you can turn right in and you will then see a staircase.

After climbing the stairs, where you can stop again and again for some nice views, you will eventually reach the top of the hill. From here, depending on the direction, you have various views over Kowloon and, in the distance, even of Hong Kong Island.

You can visit Garden Hill all day long. We were only there in the afternoon, but you can also enjoy the view over Hong Kong at night from Garden Hill.

12. Ladies Market

You will find over 100 stalls at Ladies Market, which stretches for one kilometer along Tung Choi Street. The best way to reach the market is via Mong Kok MTR station. Except on Sundays and public holidays, Ladies Market is open to visitors daily from 04.00 PM to 12.00 AM.

On-site you can buy anything that comes to mind, from clothing and accessories to souvenirs and various food options. For us, it is one of the best night markets in Hong Kong. A must-visit when you are in Kowloon!

13. Temple Street Night Market

The night market on Temple Street takes place daily from 04.00 PM to 11.00 PM. The best way to reach it is by MTR via Yau Ma Tei or Jordan stations. From there it is only a few minutes on foot before you can see the countless vendors with their stalls.

Temple Street Night Market stretches over 5 blocks and on-site you can buy almost anything, from antiques to clothing, electronics or jewelry. So if you want to stroll over a night market in the evening, Temple Street Night Market is the right choice. Keep in mind that you should always bargain when you want to buy something.

Hong Kong: Tours and Tickets

Do you prefer to travel with a guide who knows the area very well? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way you can get to know Hong Kong in a completely different way. GetYourGuide offers a wide selection of exciting tours for Hong Kong.

How to Get to Hong Kong

To travel to Hong Kong, there are many options. The most used is certainly the airplane, because not only from the Asian countries, but also from Europe and America there are direct flights to Hong Kong. Various airlines such as Emirates, Finnair, Cathay Pacific fly to Hong Kong and you can get a good overview on Skyscanner. There you can also easily compare prices.

The second option, if you are coming from China, is the train. There are connections to Hong Kong from Shanghai, Guangzhou or even Beijing. The boat would be another variant, e.g. from neighboring Macau, if it was your first destination. For more information about getting to Hong Kong and tickets that you can book conveniently before your trip, check out our partner 12go.asia.

Have you explored Kowloon in Hong Kong yet? Do you know any more things to do in Kowloon? We welcome any feedback.