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In lists of the best skylines in the world, Hong Kong is almost always in first place – not without good reason! The view from the Avenue of Stars and Star Ferry Pier in Kowloon is very impressive, but it can get even better.
A visit to Victoria Peak – one of Hong Kong’s most beautiful views
Where? Exactly, on Victoria Peak – the highest and most famous mountain of Hong Kong Island. In this article we will tell you how to get to Victoria Peak, what you can visit up there and where the best views of Hong Kong are.
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.
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.
The Peak Tram
The Peak Tram Station is about a 20-minute walk away from the Star Ferry Central Pier in Hong Kong Island. Past the financial district and the Two International Finance Center, the second tallest building in Hong Kong, you just follow the signs a little way up the hill until you see the ticket counter.
On site you can buy your ticket for the Peak Tram, which runs to Victoria Peak every day from 7.00 A.M. to 10.00 P.M. There are different options when buying tickets. A one-way trip on the Peak Tram costs HK$ 37 or HK$ 52 for the round trip. The “Sky Pass” option is popular. It costs HK$ 99, but with this ticket you can also visit the Sky Terrace 428 (the highest view from Victoria Peak), otherwise the entry costs HK$ 52 for the view only, as of May 2020.
When you have your ticket, the approximately 10-minute journey starts. On our last visit there was no long queue and we immediately got the next train. Otherwise, a tram runs up Victoria Peak every 15 minutes at the latest.
Incidentally, the Peak Tram, opened in 1888, is one of the steepest funiculars in the world with a 48-degree gradient as a short highlight. Don’t miss the wonderful views along the way. More information about the Peak Tram can be found on the official website.
Note: Of course, you don’t have to use the Peak Tram to get to Victoria Peak. While it is the most popular way to get there, you can also go up the mountain by car or even bus. Alternatively, you can hike on foot.
The Peak Tower
After the ride on the Peak Tram, you will arrive at The Peak Tower at an altitude of 396 meters, as the Upper Terminal station is located inside the shopping mall.
In The Peak Tower there are various shops, restaurants (such as a branch of the famous Bubba Gump from the Forrest Gump movie) and also a wax figure cabinet by Madame Tussauds. It is of course not a must, but you can also spend some time here if you want. Prices start at HK$ 180.
The highlight of the Peak Tower is definitely the Sky Terrace 428. As the name suggests, you get a view of Hong Kong from 428 meters above sea level. To reach it, simply take all the escalators in The Peak Tower to the top. If you bought a combination ticket for the Peak Tram, you can use this ticket. Otherwise, you will need to purchase another Sky Terrace 428 ticket at the arrival level.
You can visit the Sky Terrace every day from 10.00 A.M. to 11.00 P.M., on weekends starting even from 8.00 A.M. While the view during the day is of course fantastic if you are lucky with the weather, the view in the evening with the illuminated high-rise canyons of Hong Kong is a completely different world and simply amazing.
The Peak Galleria
There is another mall opposite The Peak Tower, The Peak Galleria. There you will also find various shops, restaurants and the popular Monopoly Dreams. In contrast to The Peak Tower, there is no train station here, but the bus lines that can take you up to Victoria Peak are operating from here.
Our highlight of the Peak Galleria is on the 3rd floor. The free panoramic terrace is relatively unknown and not many visitors find their way up. Most see the view of Hong Kong from Sky Terrace 428 or the Lion’s Pavilion (see next point). But the view from the Peak Galleria can keep up and is even free of charge.
Victoria Peak’s Lion’s Pavilion
Located just a few-minutes walk from The Peak Tower is the Lion’s Pavilion, another great viewpoint that you can visit for free. Open daily from 10.00 A.M. to 11.00 P.M. and on weekends even from 8.00 A.M., you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Hong Kong skyline from here.
The Lion’s Pavilion is spread over several floors, which are connected by stairs. It is particularly popular with visitors who do not want to pay extra for the Sky Terrace 428 admission. The view is almost the same.
When visiting the Lion’s Pavilion, however, you have to be prepared for many visitors because it is the most popular viewpoint on Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak. If you want to avoid the crowds, we recommend the free roof terrace of the Peak Galleria. But if you have a lot of time, you shouldn’t miss the Lion’s Pavilion either.
A walk on Victoria Peak in Hong Kong
After the Lion’s Pavilion, the path continues along Findlay Road, which always offers great views of the Hong Kong skyline. There the road meets Plantation Road at some point and several roads lead in serpentine lines down from Victoria Peak.
Even if you don’t want to take the way back on foot, a short walk is worthwhile. Here you are undisturbed with a few exceptions and can enjoy the view away from the crowds. Most visitors do leave Victoria Peak after the visit at the Lion’s Pavilion, but the tranquility on the mountain is wonderful and you can switch off from the big city life.
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.
Have you been to Victoria Peak before? Did you use the Peak Tram in Hong Kong? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Photos: Photo 8 (Sky Terrace 428 view at night): Dmitry Rukhlenko/shutterstock.com
