The best things to do on a Hong Kong layover, from airport entertainment to island hopping
If you’re fed up of airport lounges and duty free shopping, discover how to spice up your Hong Kong layover, whether it’s a quick three-hour stop or a full half-day stretch
It was a brisk winter night in Sai Kung when we heard some rustling in the bushes. A few seconds later, a dark figure emerged not far from our barbecue, flashlight affixed to his head, backpack sagging from his shoulders.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asks, explaining that he was in town from Singapore – on a layover. “I’ve been hiking all day.”
After a day of walking the MacLehose Trail, his plan was to pitch a tent and catch some sleep before catching his next flight in the morning.
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A remarkably efficient airport (almost no one queues for more than four and a half minutes to pass through security, according to the Airport Authority) and the speedy Airport Express mean that a layover in Hong Kong can be far more exciting than trying to doze off in an airport lounge. Even just a few hours between flights gives you enough time to leave the departures area for a quick Hong Kong adventure. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your layover.
3 hours: Explore the airport
Airlines such as Cathay Pacific recommend being at your gate no later than 40 minutes before the scheduled departure time, but even a three-hour layover should give you enough time to check out everything Hong Kong International Airport has to offer.
6 hours: Walk the city
Hong Kong is best explored on foot, and a handful of companies offer walking tours that can keep your experience fun and focused.
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9 hours: Island hop
Thanks to the Airport Express it takes less than 30 minutes to travel from the airport to the Central Ferry Piers, and from there you have access to a waterworld of options.
Pier 4 takes you to Lamma Island, where you can buy locally made, shrimp-infused chilli sauce from Golden Blue, a food shop in Yung Shue Wan; drink a local craft beer at the waterfront Lamma Grill; or peruse the selection of vinyl records and books at Bookworm Café. Next, hit up the beach at Hung Shing Yeh, or walk for one hour to Sok Kwu Wan, the island’s other main village, whose picturesque harbour is lined by seafood restaurants.
Board one of the lumbering ferries at Pier 5 and you’ll eventually find yourself on Cheung Chau, whose narrow, car-free lanes echo with the ring of bicycle bells. Once home to renowned pirate Cheung Po-tsai, Cheung Chau is a fun place to get lost.
Amble off in any direction and you may end up at the 200-year-old Pak Tai Temple with its gold-plated woodcraft, or at the Mini Great Wall, an amusingly named walking trail that has scenic views towards Lamma and Hong Kong Island.
Not far from the ferry pier, the Pink Pig Music Bar offers live music and craft beer in the evenings, while the Cheung Chau Windsurfing Centre is a lovely spot for a seaside sundowner.
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12 hours: Go on a hike
Not many cities offer mountain hikes just minutes from the airport. Stretch your plane-weary legs by taking the S1 bus from the airport to Tung Chung, where you can make your way by foot across Hong Kong’s largest island, Lantau.