Last updated on June 20th, 2026 at 05:05 am
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Hong Kong is a great city in China for solo travel. There’s so much to do that it won’t ever be dull for visitors, even if it’s an adventure for one.
This travel guide post will detail how to do solo travel in Hong Kong correctly.
Let’s get started!
What to Eat – Hong Kong Solo Travel
Food Court
I know, I know. You might be wondering why on earth you would eat at a food court when you are overseas.
Hong Kong isn’t a city with sucky food court food. When you think of food court food, you think of people who’ve been shopping around and want to grab something quick. Or nearby restaurants are all booked up, so the food court is the only option left.
It’s the same idea over here, but Hong Kong’s food court can be pretty good, depending on which one you go to.
For example, the food court at K11 Musea is pretty great. It is upscale and fancier than your average one. It has food stalls serving a variety of cuisines, including Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, as well as French pastries.
Hong Kong Cafes
As a tourist, you must eat at a Hong Kong café, called a cha chaan teng in Chinese.
These HK cafes serve authentic and relatively affordable Hong Kong food like char siu, beef noodles, milk tea, and French toast. Many visitors eat here to experience the local culture.
These are everywhere around the city, although you’ll have better luck finding these types of restaurants in local neighbourhoods. They do have HK cafes in places like Tsim Sha Tsui, but since it’s a popular tourist area, rent is costly, so there won’t be as many.
Street Food Stalls
You can spot a street food stall from far away because you’ll see the steam coming out of the food.
Another sign to spot one is people standing around the stall eating their local snacks. Many also have a nearby rubbish bin for throwing their trash in after they’ve eaten.
Like HK cafes, street food stalls are all around the city. The typical options include curry fish balls, fish siu mai, egg waffles, and cheung fun, a type of dim sum.
Eating from street food stalls is another way to experience local culture. It’s also cheap and can be filling!
I go to these places to grab food when I’m hungry but not hungry enough to sit down at a restaurant.
You might wonder why I didn’t include dim sum on this list. It’s because dim sum is usually a sit-down meal with a group.
As a person travelling alone to Hong Kong, I know there’s not a lot of food you can order before you’re stuffed. There are street stalls selling dim sum to go. This is the perfect way to enjoy dim sum while still leaving room for other delicious dishes!
What to Do – Hong Kong Solo Travel
Shopping
When you’re in Hong Kong, shopping is a sure thing. Visit areas like Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po, Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Central for the best shopping districts.
For affordable districts, visit Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po.
Mong Kok sells electronics, sneakers, flowers, goldfish, affordable clothing, and cute gifts. You can buy all kinds of things in this district.
Sham Shui Po is known for electronics, fabrics, fashion, accessories, and toys. It’s heaven for wholesalers.
Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui are the more touristy shopping areas. The stores in these districts are more expensive but perfect for shoppers who love malls.
Central is Hong Kong’s financial district. It is home to many international luxury brands and upscale restaurants.
Pamper Yourself
Go to a spa for some self-care time.
It’s not uncommon for people in HK to go to Shenzhen for a massage. It’s much cheaper across the border.
However, some fantastic places in Hong Kong still offer facials or massages.
When you go to the spa with someone, it cannot be easy to relax as you’re chatting away, truly.
When you’re by yourself, you don’t have to worry about that. With spa music and comforting strokes across your skin, a spa visit is a relaxing option for solo travellers in Hong Kong.
Take Public Transportation
You might think taking public transportation on your Hong Kong solo trip is a bucket-list item, but Hong Kong is known for its many public transportation options.
When you’re here, you must take two unique forms of public transportation: the tram and the star ferry.
With a contactless Octopus card (HK’s transportation card), the Star Ferry will quickly get you from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.
I prefer taking the ferry at night because I find the night view prettier.
During the daytime, I would take the tram instead.
The tram routes are only available on the Hong Kong side. Trams are slower and older, so don’t take them if you’re in a rush to get somewhere.
Both of these transportation modes are CHEAP and fantastic ways to see the city.
While on the tram and ferry, there are plenty of photo opportunities, whether for your Instagram or your memories. Take in the city views and see the real Hong Kong while on one of these.
Hop On Hop Off Bus
Expert travellers should have taken or heard of a Hop-on, Hop-off Bus Tour.
Here, you can buy a 24-hour or 48-hour ticket to explore Hong Kong. This bus tour has three lines: Hong Kong Island, Stanley, and Kowloon.
This bus runs a loop and covers many major tourist attractions, including Victoria Harbour.
It’s perfect for those who aren’t much of a planner when they visit a new city. Transportation is available, and you can get off at any stop that interests you or that you find worth exploring.
It’s a tour bus I often join when I visit other major cities.
Seasonal Events
Hong Kong is pretty big on festivals and holidays. There are over 15 public holidays in this city.
Hong Kongers celebrate Western holidays like Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. However, as Hong Kong is a part of China, we also celebrate the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The city gets into the holiday season during major holidays, including the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Christmas.
These seasonal events include the AIA Christmas Carnival, Hong Kong Winterfest, and the Chinese New Year Flower Market.
These usually last a few days to a few weeks.
There are also annual events such as the Hong Kong Food Festival, the Hong Kong Jewellery Show, and the Hong Kong Book Fair.
There might even be K-pop, Chinese, or Western artists performing, so stay tuned for events happening around the city.
For concerts, it’s best to know early to secure tickets. Do plenty of research.
However, Hong Kongers are also constantly up to date on the latest news. If there are any seasonal events, you will likely see advertisements for them around the city, especially on the MTR (Mass Transit Railway).
Watch a Movie
We get Hollywood, Mainland Chinese, and Hong Kong movies in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong movies were more famous in the 1980s and 90s, but great movies are still being produced today. Check your local cinema to see which Chinese movies are currently in theatres.
Where to Go – Hong Kong Solo Travel
Nature Spots
People tend to think Hong Kong is all about shopping malls and restaurants.
Yes, that’s a big part of it, but Hong Kong also has beautiful natural spots, like the Victoria Peak trail and Nan Lian Garden.
Next to Nan Lian Garden is Chi Lin Nunnery, a Buddhist temple. Get two hot Instagram spots within minutes of walking distance.
Another option is hiking trails.
There are many hiking trails around the city, but this might not be the best idea for a solo traveller. It’s harder to get help if, god forbid, anything happens to you, and no one is nearby to help. There should be phone reception, but technology can get wonky sometimes.
Museums
There are many museums in Hong Kong worth visiting, such as the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Science Museum, History Museum, Madame Tussauds, and M+.
Walk around these museums at your own pace and learn about multiple areas.
Visiting Hong Kong museums alone can take up all your time. That’s how many there are over here!
Visit Bookshops
Visiting bookshops is an excellent way to spend time in the city.
Hong Kong is an international city, so there are plenty of bookstores selling English books.
For English speakers, the most well-known bookstore chains in Hong Kong are Bookazine and Eslite.
(Another popular bookstore chain is Commercial Press, but their English books are more limited. Most bookstores you visit will have at least a small selection of English books.)
The largest bookstore in Hong Kong is Eslite. It covers two floors inside the mall Hysan Place in Causeway Bay. It’s incredibly spacious and has tons of books to look at. This store also sells souvenirs, snacks, jewelry, and other miscellaneous goods.
I love the vibe of a bookstore. I can spend hours in one. There’s something so calming about it. I love the feeling of sitting around in a bookstore reading. There’s no rush, and there’s all the time to chill there.
The other bookstores in Hong Kong can be much smaller, so if you can only visit ONE bookstore, Eslite in Hysan Place is the one to go to.
You can also visit indie bookstores like Lily Bookshop, Vibe, and Lok Man Rare Books.
Tourist Attractions
Hong Kong’s main tourist attractions include Hong Kong Disneyland, Avenue of Stars, Ngong Ping 360, Lan Kwai Fong, Victoria Peak, Golden Bauhinia Square, Temple Street Night Market, and many more.
All of these attractions are easily accessible, but they are spread throughout the city. Find out which tourist attraction you want to visit and add it to your solo trip itinerary.
Note: Even though this isn’t in Hong Kong, a popular day trip is to Macau, Asia’s version of Las Vegas. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Hong Kong for the first time.
It takes about 1 hour by boat or bus to get from Hong Kong to Macau (no need to go through Hong Kong International Airport), but the vibes of these two cities are completely different.
Where to Stay – Hong Kong Solo Travel
I recommend staying in a hotel on a solo trip to Hong Kong. As a top destination in the world, Hong Kong has hundreds of hotels.
The Peninsula in Tsim Sha Tsui is your best bet for a luxury hotel. It’s the city’s oldest and most well-known hotel, known for its classic look and style.
I recommend The Salisbury, two streets away from the Peninsula, as a less expensive option. It’s a 4-star modern and comfortable hotel, and I’ve stayed there before.
As a Hong Kong solo traveller, safety is the utmost priority. For those on a tighter budget, allocate more to accommodation and less to food and shopping, since transportation is affordable here.
Is Hong Kong Safe for Solo Travellers?
YES! Hong Kong is very safe for solo travellers, especially females. It’s not just me who says this, but the other tourists who have visited the city in the past.
Like travelling anywhere else, stay vigilant because you might encounter petty crime.
Tips for Hong Kong Solo Travel
1) Know Your Address in Chinese
As a city in Asia, Hong Kong is an excellent place to communicate in English. Many Hong Kongers can understand some English, especially the younger generation.
However, if you encounter someone who can’t speak or understand English well, it’s better to have your hotel address in Chinese, screenshotted, printed, or written to communicate with locals.
2) Bring Your Most Comfortable Shoes
As Hong Kong is a highly pedestrian-friendly city, you’ll be doing a lot of walking during your time there. Check out what else to pack for your trip to Hong Kong.
3) Download Essential Apps
These are essential apps for tourists in any foreign city to make their lives easier as they navigate.
4) Cash is King
Generally, major stores accept credit cards and e-payments such as Apple Pay, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. However, some small shops and taxis still take cash only. Always have a few hundred HKD with you.
Final Thoughts – Hong Kong Solo Travel
Hong Kong is a very safe city — a major bonus for female travellers. Safety is a top priority for us, and let’s be honest, not all cities are safe for female solo travellers.
There’s also a lot to do here, so you won’t be bored even if you’re travelling solo.
You can plan your itinerary to be filled with fun activities during your time here.
Enjoy your Hong Kong trip!
Now to You – Hong Kong Solo Travel
Download this weekly planner to plan your perfect Hong Kong solo trip!
Xoxo,
Nicole
