Dream trip #2: Here’s what my ideal year-end family trip to Hong Kong would look like

Next on our dream trips series, let’s take on Hong Kong! This vibrant city is just a four-hour flight away, has lots of great food (mmm… dim sum), plus a good mix of artsy, cultural, and outdoor fun. Read on for my dream trip’s itinerary and travel plans for the Fragrant Harbour.

Hong Kong has a special place in my heart. As a millennial growing up in a Malaysian Chinese family, TVB dramas and Cantopop are my entertainment staples. The neon signboards of Temple Street, singing about Paterson Street in one of the songs by Twins (my childhood Cantopop idols), craving for polo buns with milk tea – these were familiar to me even before my first Hong Kong trip at 15 years old!

Since then, I’ve visited Hong Kong a few more times, but never with my kids. It’s definitely one of the top destinations I have in mind for our upcoming family holidays, because the city has so much to offer families. I want to see the kiddos’ faces light up when we take the tram, also known as the “ding ding”, together, give them their first authentic cha chaan teng experience, and maybe take our first hike as a family up The Peak. So here’s how I envision a year-end family trip to Hong Kong would look like.

Why visit Hong Kong during the year-end?

The year-end may be peak travel season for Hong Kong, but it has its merits. You can expect dry but pleasant weather from October to December, which means less disruptions for your outdoor and theme park plans. Hong Kong boasts cooling weather during the year-end as well – around 15-29°C. So just pack what you’d usually dress the kids in while in Singapore, plus a sweater for the cooler evenings.

Another reason I like visiting Hong Kong during the year-end months is… Christmas! Central has a dazzling WinterFest every year, with theme parks like Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park joining in the festivities as well.

That being said, you might want to avoid dates around the Golden Week (1-7 October). Hotel prices are usually at its highest during this time, and you’ll need to deal with heavier crowds at many attractions and restaurants.

At a glance: My dream year-end Hong Kong itinerary with the kids

Where to stay in Hong Kong with kids

Personally, I like a stay with a good view, so I’d look at areas with hotels facing the harbour, like Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay.

Tsim Sha Tsui is a little too busy for my liking, but staying here places you right in the centre of all the action. Victoria Harbour is within walking distance, and K11 MUSEA with its famous peacock playground and nature discovery park is right at your doorstep. Wan Chai is another good option if you don’t mind the crowd; plus it has got an old school street vibe to it, with lots of great restaurants around.

My pick? Hung Hom. It’s a little more laidback than the popular waterfront areas, but you can still find hotels with a great harbour view at a more wallet-friendly price. There’s also a lovely promenade for walks with the kids, some historic attractions (my kind of thing), and The Whampoa mall is nearby for shopping.

Last but not least, Disney fans should definitely factor in a night’s (or two’s) stay at one of the Hong Kong Disneyland hotels. It takes the hassle away from commuting back to your hotel with tired little ones. Most importantly, you’ll get to enjoy the magic all the way till bedtime – it makes a world of difference!

What to do in Hong Kong during the year-end

Theme parks

One city, two amazing theme parks. Hong Kong Disneyland needs no introduction: it’s home to Duffy and Friends Playhouse and the world’s first and largest Frozen-themed zone. As for Ocean Park Hong Kong, think of it as a combination of theme park, zoo, and oceanarium. The kiddos will get to meet pandas, check out the Grand Aquarium, take some thrilling rides, and get one of the best views on the island on the park’s famous cable car.

Hong Kong Disneyland, Penny’s Bay, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong
Ocean Park Hong Kong, 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

WinterFest

For my kids, Christmas can’t come soon enough; so WinterFest is a must-visit for us. Central transforms into a Christmas Town every November for the festive season. From Statue Square Gardens to the rest of Chater Road will be lit up with the most dazzling lights and decor, plus the daily 360-degree light show is something you and the kids won’t want to miss.

Statue Square Gardens, Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong

Crossing the Victoria Harbour

Instead of taking the MTR or a cab between Hong Kong Island Kowloon every time, perhaps consider doing one trip via ferry. Taking the Star Ferry is high on my Hong Kong to-do list because my kids love boats (all thanks to Blippi’s “The Boat Song”). No complaints here, as I’ve heard that the ride can be quite scenic.

Alternatively, you can book a water tour or cruise for a longer experience (ferry crossings are usually 10 minutes or less). Star Ferry offers water tours, and there are many other cruise operators – some even offering afternoon tea and dim sum!

Pro-tip: Opt for a night ferry crossing or night cruise to soak in the breathtaking night views.

Hong Kong Science Museum

I’ve heard lots of great reviews about how fun Hong Kong Science Museum is for kids. There’s a dedicated Children’s Gallery with a work site (perfect for little construction fans), an interactive exhibit that lets you build your own rollercoaster, a cloud ring machine, and more.

But that’s not all – there is so much cool stuff here that kids will love too, like the largest energy machine in the world, actual dinosaur fossils, an AI gallery where you can play scissors paper stone with a machine, try out autonomous driving in the Living Tech hall and more.

Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Peak

Hike up from the Pok Fu Lam Country Park, or take the historic Peak Tram – both will get you to The Peak, where you’ll get one of the best views of Hong Kong. It’s more than just a scenic spot; as there are attractions like the immersive Monopoly Dreams experience, a police museum, and a lovely Victorian-styled garden.

Pro-tip: Stay till evening for the daily “Illuminations at The Peak” 3D light show at The Peak Tower. Showtimes at 7.30pm, 8.30pm, and 9.30pm.

Explore Central and Wan Chai

While these may be busy areas, I truly enjoy walking around Central and Wan Chai, especially the markets and smaller streets. The Central-Mid-Levels escalator is something I think my kids will find interesting. We could make it a challenge to go the whole way up and down. However, I would recommend covering only a small section if you’re visiting with very young children, as the way down via stairs can be tiring.

I’ve also heard there’s a ‘Toy Street’ in Wan Chai, where the whole street is lined with stalls selling toys and collectibles for kids of all ages. Definitely something to add to the itinerary, because all kids love toys!

Central-Mid-Levels escalator, connects Queens Road Central to Conduit Road
Toy Street, Tai Yuen Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

What to eat in Hong Kong

Cha chaan teng

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a cha chaan teng meal. These Hong Kong-style diners serve the best comfort food: warm polo bun with cold butter, simple (but oh, so decadent) French toast, soup with macaroni and ham, cheese baked rice, milk tea and so on. Food familiar enough for even the pickiest little eaters. Here are some of the cha chaan tengs I love, plus some recommended by fellow Honeycombers colleagues who love visiting Hong Kong.

Fu Wah Cafe, three outlets around Hong Kong
Australia Dairy Company, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong

Dai pai dong

Think of this as what we’d call zichar in Singapore, stalls and restaurants that sell classic Hong Kong dishes. Think sweet sour pork, black pepper beef, Cantonese-style steam fish, stir-fried vegetables, etc. Simple, but delicious and filling.

Tung Po Kitchen, 2/F, Konnect, 303 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Ladies Street Sik Faan Co., outlets in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok

Dim sum

Trust me when I say that my kids can feast on dim sum for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s our family’s favourite food, so Hong Kong is just perfect for us dim sum lovers. There are so many fab dim sum restaurants around, ranging from traditional to fusion and modern style ones. Take your pick!

Lin Heung Lau, outlets in Sheung Wan, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Hong Kong International Airport
Dim Sum Library, Shop 124, Level 1 Pacific Place, Admiralty, Hong Kong

Egg tarts and egg waffles

You’ve gotta try these in Hong Kong, and I’m pretty sure all kids will love it. Whether you’re team cookie crust or team puff pastry for egg tarts, you can easily find both everywhere in the city. Egg waffles also come in lots of flavours: chocolate chip, cheese, and even matcha.

Egg tarts:
Bakehouse, eight outlets around Hong Kong
Marouf & Puff Bake, three outlets in Tseung Kwan O and Tsim Sha Tsui (the cafe is halal-certified)

Egg waffles:
Mammy Pancake, 20 outlets around Hong Kong
Lee Keung Kee, three outlets in North Point, Tseung Kwan O, and Tsim Sha Tsui

How to travel around Hong Kong

Hong Kong is really easy to navigate, as the city is well connected by public transport, such as the MTR network and public buses. There’s also the option to commute along Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and North Point via the charming “ding ding”.

Taxis can be hailed on the street or via the respective company’s apps; or you can book an Uber too.

All public transport, including taxis, accept payment via the Tourist Octopus card. This is available in physical card form, or iPhone and Huawei phone users can just use the Octopus For Tourist app for mobile payment.

Have the best time in Hong Kong this year-end!

This post is in partnership with Hong Kong Tourism Board.