Free Things To Do With The Family In Hong Kong

Free for all ages!

Just because we love raising our families in Hong Kong doesn’t mean we like the expense of living here! After stocking the fridge (twice a day if you have teens), enrolling kids in the loads of extracurricular activities and taking some time out for date night, it’s hard to find cheaper entertainment alternatives. We’re here to save the day, because we have come up with a list of the best free things to do with your family in Hong Kong!

1. Take the kids on a real adventure and go geocaching! It’s like a treasure hunt around our beloved city. All you have to do is sign up (for free!) on the Geocaching site, and once you do, you’ll get access to the thousands of various geocaching places around! Happy hunting!
2. If you have older kids (with a later bedtime), head to the Temple Street Night Market and browse stall after stall of clothes, watches, electronics, paintings, keychains, toys, jewellery and antiques at the. You don’t have to buy a thing (unless you can’t resist), but it’s plenty of fun to have a look-see!
3. Escape the masses and head on up to Victoria Peak Garden.
4. Visit the Governor’s Residence on Upper Albert Road – once an archaeological site, it’s now open to the public on certain days or just have a quick tour around the impressive exterior!
5. Feel floral at the Flower Market in Mong Kok. If you’re there at Chinese New Year, go to Fai Hui Park, as it’s where the Kowloon Lunar New Year Fair is held and the flower vendors put on a stunning show.
6. Do flowers seem boring to your little ones? Take them to the Goldfish Market to spot some Nemos and Dories. But be warned – the pet shops there might have them begging for a new addition to the family!
7. Roam around on Lamma Island. A temple, a market and a beach… need we say more?
8. Picnic in Sun Yat Sen Park– bring along sun cream and pray for sunshine. There is a great playground for the littles ones, and often you can catch a free yoga class as well here.
9. Laze away on chilled out Shek O’s beautiful beach. It’s super family friendly, and if you don’t mind spending a little bit, there is a cafe for snacks and more.
10. Bid farewell to the city and head to the oyster villages of Lau Fau Shan and Pak Ni – the little oyster market is great fun to visit and the perfect spot to catch the sunset.

10. Why not take your brood on a little cultural journey and go gallery hopping on Hollywood Road? You might even find some great home decor while you’re checking out the shops (but anything you find will be far from free!)
11. Visit the pooches at Hong Kong Dog Rescue. The team at HKDR are always looking for dog walkers (ages 18 and over only can walk the pups), and your young ones will love taking a pack walk!
12. Potter about in Stanley: there’s a street market to browse and a promenade to stroll around.
13. Kam Shan Country Park is for war history buffs and nature lovers. You’ll see bunkers and monkeys, but be careful and DON’T FEED THE MONKEYS! You have been warned!
14. It’s a Hong Kong classic and we couldn’t leave off the Edward Youde Aviary. There’s a raised walkway where you can spot the more than 600 birds of 70 different species and admire the beautiful scenery (there are even waterfalls and shallow pools!) It’s also wheelchair accessible, so strollers shouldn’t be a problem, either.

15. Take the family on a day hike to the Dragon’s Back for beautiful scenic views and some exercise! (If you want a less strenuous trail, check out our list of the best family friendly hikes here.)
16. It’s a bit of a trek but if you can make it up to Trio Beach in Sai Kung it will be totally worth it (see more beach options here).
17. Fancy a family bike ride? Cycle along the promenade on Shing Mun River up towards Sha Tin for a fun, scenic trip.
18. Head to Lantau Island for the day, and don’t miss Pui O beach– it’s the perfect spot for a refreshing dip in the water. Pack a picnic and remember the sun cream!
19. Go grilling at Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po – it’s one of our favourite spots! Check out some of our favourite BBQ spots on our sister site, Sassy Hong Kong, by clicking here.
20. Round up a few families and go for a stroll along Bowen Road. It’s great for dog walking too!
21. Make a note to catch The Hungry Ghost Festival next summer – sounds a bit scary but it’s actually huge amounts of colourful fun in local parks and playgrounds. Think of it as the Halloween of Hong Kong!
22. Tamar Park is up there on our park hot spot list – it’s another spot for a laid-back picnic!

23. Ride the tram system – okay, so we know this isn’t free but it is very, very cheap and fun for ride around town!
24. Dig a little deeper into Hong Kong’s rich heritage at Kat Hing Wai Walled Village in Yuen Long. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this ancient site is calm and serene.
25. The Kowloon Walled City Park has to be our favourite park in Hong Kong. It’s also rich in history and its eight flora paths are fun to cruise around.
26. Lose yourself in the gorgeous Nan Lian Gardens … stunning.
27. Cascade along with the Ng Tung Chai Waterfalls.
28. Take the kids to the Dragon Boat Festival in June. It’s a treat for the eyes and everyone will be talking about it for weeks.
29. When the weather gets warm, take a ferry and visit the Discovery Bay Rock Pools. It’s just a 10-minute walk up Discovery Bay Valley Road, and they’re easy to spot (and a short hike down). Be careful, there are shallow areas, so make sure kids don’t jump unless the area is deep and rock-free. Taking a dip in these is a refreshing cool-off when it gets super hot.
30. September means the return of the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s a perfect, lantern-lit occasion for everyone to celebrate. Check out the impressive Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance featuring over 300 performers and a 67-metre long dragon. Or pay a visit to Victoria Park’s month-long Lantern Carnival.

30. Get down to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and ogle over the Symphony of Lights, which is on every night at 8pm. Magic every time.
31. Unleash your inner geek and play around with interactive exhibitions at the Science Museum – did we mention it’s free admission every Wednesday?
32. Continue your museum adventure next door at the Hong Kong Museum of History and discover the rich cultural heritage of the city.
33. Chill out at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade and feast your eyes on our beloved skyline.
34. Get down to the Lions Nature Education Centre in Sai Kung. This country park visitor centre is a real gem for eco-lovers.
35. It’s a bit out of the way, but check out the rickety old Lung Tsai Ng Garden if you happen to be on Lantau Island. Even though it’s off the beaten track, it’s a breath of fresh air.
36. Take a day trip to Macau, hop on the Guia Cable Car up to the Guia Fortress for incredible city views that will please even the fussiest adventurers in your circle. If you’re dead set on doing it for free you can always walk up!
37. Whilst you’re in Macau, check out the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial House – it’s free and will keep everybody busy for half an hour or so.

38. The beaches of Repulse Bay definitely deserve a mention, and it’s always fun to cross the Longevity Bridge to add three days to your life!
39. Go and enjoy the quirky Yuen Po Bird Garden in Mong Kok.
40. For a hike down colonial Hong Kong memory lane, meander down the 1km Ping Shan Heritage Trail in Yuen Long, and spot treasures such as the Hung Shing Temple on your way round.