Things To Do With Visitors: Where To Take Friends With Families In Hong Kong

Visitors in the 852? Here’s a plan to show them around!

One of the best parts about living in Hong Kong is being able to show off our great city to visitors. But, pulling together the ultimate itinerary isn’t easy, and when you add kids to that mix, it’s even tougher. But you know us, we can’t help but do the legwork for you! We’ve whipped up several different activities for visitors of all sizes. Get ready to show your friends why you’re the lucky ones for living here!

Get Ready To Have A Fabulous Time

With so much to see and do, it’s best to have a plan for when your friends are here. But if they are more of a “go-with-the-flow” type of family (or if you’re that type of host!), then here is a list of some great ideas to pick and choose from:

Activity Days

Escape the city and show your guests Hong Kong’s natural side at Sai Yuen – camp in a Teepee, try standup paddle boarding and cook your own bonfire. Be sure to check out our list of favourite camping sites for the whole family if you feel like a night under the stars will be something they will love to do.

We Hong Kongers have to be prepared for rainy (or super hot) days any time of year, so taking advantage of the amazing indoor play places will sort you out when the weather won’t cooperate. Trampolining is alway a favourite, so join the free jumping revolution and get your bounce on at Ryze indoor trampolining sessions. Great fun for kids and adults.

For those that love a good thrill, spend the day at Ocean Park – great for both the little ones and older kids. Not only do they have rides and the usual theme park suspects, but they also have pandas and an aquarium! Alternatively Hong Kong Disneyland is the happiest place in Hong Kong/on earth. It’s also very busy, so pack your patience and a good attitude and try to go mid-week if possible to avoid the crowds.

Read more: Top Family Friendly Theme Parks In Asia

The Big Buddha offers 200 steps for little feet to conquer and a delicious vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery. The cable car ride to Ngong Ping 360 can be breathtaking on a clear day. It really gives guests an idea of how vast Hong Kong’s national parks are. If the weather isn’t too hot and you’ve got adventurous older kids in the group, you can always do the hike to the Buddha!

Get up early and head out to spot Pink Dolphins with Hong Kong Dolphin Watch.

Get A Suit Tailored

Real talk: if you’ve got visitors to Hong Kong, they simply cannot leave without having a suit made! As a city known historically and globally for its tailoring, it would be a shame not to get one that fits like a glove. So if the men in your group have had enough with shopping and tours, give them the pampering they deserve by sending them to get a high-quality, bespoke suit made at our top choice for tailored suits, Empire Tailors!

Known for its craftsmanship, quality products and reasonable prices, Empire Tailors is one of the most popular spots in the city to get a suit made by a Hong Kong Tailor. The services on offer mean that you can customise every aspect of your suit, with everything from the fabric, buttons, stitching and lining (not to mention the fit!) being bespoke to you.

Empire Tailors, 63 Mody Road, G/F Shop 6, Houston Centre, Kowloon, Hong Kong, www.empiretailors.com

Fun Educational Outings

Are the kids skipping school to be in HK? Show them an amazing time while also providing some historical details (your kids can learn with them!) with these educational outings.  Bonus: most museums are free on Wednesdays!

1. Was Hong Kong ever a Pirate Port? Find out all this and more at the Maritime Museum. Do your little guests loves canons? Take them to the Museum of Coastal Defence and they can even touch one – boom!

2. The Hong Kong Space Museum is the perfect place for astronauts-in-training and rainy day adventures.

3. Grab an ice cream and monkey around through Hong Kong’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens. There are loads of animals and plants from all over the world to learn about.

4. Hong Kong’s Heritage Museum is a hands-on extravaganza and perfect for primary school kids. Kung Fu fans can check out the Bruce Lee exhibition.

5. Bugs and birds abound at Hong Kong Wetland Park. Bring your mozzie spray, hat and sunscreen.

Kid-Friendly Places To Eat

We at Sassy Mama are all about finding family-friendly and kid-friendly places to eat. We’ve got suggestions if they love pizza (who doesn’t?) or want pancakes (again, yum!), are vegetarians, or just socially conscious, these places will delight everyone! But if you need a solid plan, Disneyland’s Character Dinner is a beautiful experience for little ones that love Disney. Mickey, Minnie and friends circulate to each table to meet their fans and have photos taken. Head out early and chase the kids around in the sizeable hedge maze, or stay after your meal and burn off some of those desserts. You’ll need to book a table. Check out the details here.

You can also treat your guests to a quintessential Hong Kong experience and take them for a Sunday brunch. There are loads of family-friendly options. Check out Sassy Mama’s recommended list here.

Break Time And Getaways

Hong Kong homes are tiny and if we’re brutally honest, nerves start to fray when visitors come to stay. Consider planning a break where you each get your own space.

No trip to Hong Kong is complete without a ride aboard the Aqua Luna (or, a Sassy Mama fave, the Aqua Luna II). Book in for a 45-minute night ride as you marvel with your friends at just how incredibly beautiful Victoria Harbour really is. And everyone will totally dig the light show, too.

If the idea of a whole day on the water (or even part of the day) sounds good to your friends, be sure to schedule a family-friendly junk boat trip. Parents and kids will love cruising atop the water, and because many of these have fun activities scheduled in, they are sure to be party pleasers!

For a quick and easy getaway, Macau is the ultimate overnighter. Stay on the strip or in one of the many kid-friendly hotels in Macau. (Stay tuned for our update on this article in June 2018!)

If you’re schlepping all the way out to Disney, why not spend the night at its hotel rather than making the trek all the way home after a day at the park?

You can also stay the night in Discovery Bay at the Auberge Hotel. They have a great spa for mamas who are looking for a place to recharge.

Sassy Mama Cheat Sheet: Full-Day Itineraries

Does the idea of scheduling a day with not only your family but another one seem too overwhelming? We’ve created a few day-by-day plans to follow:

Day One: Fun Day
Begin with breakfast or brunch at any of these amazing places. Head to Hong Kong’s retro trams and climb aboard the Star Ferry; these are two options where your friends can take Insta-worthy photos (either are super cheap activities kids will love!). Hop on a tram at Central and ride all the way to Quarry Bay for a jump at Ryze trampoline park. When the kids are all jumped out, you could explore Quarry Bay Park or just get the tram (or a cab) back to Central for a yum cha (dumplings) lunch at the iconic Maxim’s Place. Maxim’s Place is old-school yum cha that ticks off another well-known Hong Kong experience. After lunch, wander down to Central Ferry Pier and catch the Star Ferry across the harbour – the kids will love the old-school ferry, and your guests can snap some shots of our famous city skyline. Take the kids for a star studded photo session down the Avenue of Stars and then jump on a bus or the MTR and explore the ladies markets. By the time you’ve grabbed a few bargains everyone should be ready to head back home.

Read more: Mong Kok Guide: Where To Go And What To Do

Day Two: Trip To Discovery Bay
A day trip to Discovery Bay is an easy one and a nice break from hectic Hong Kong. Catch the ferry from Central Pier. Once you arrive in DB head straight up to the North Plaza on the free bus shuttle or catch the C4, C9 or 9S. Let the kids go crazy at Epic Land, a huge indoor playroom that caters to all kids from toddlers to teens. Once everyone has burnt off some energy, head back down to the main plaza for lunch at one of the water-side restaurants and a post-lunch swim at the beach. (Check out our handy guide to Discovery Bay here for more options). If it’s cool, the kids can play on the beachside playground in the sand. Once you’re done at the beach, you’re a short stroll back to the ferry. Make sure to pack some bug spray and sunscreen for your DB adventures.

Day Three: Hiking
Little explorers will love Lamma Island! Kick off the day with a ferry ride and spend hours exploring Lamma’s beaches, temples and walks. Reward your adventurers with a delicious fresh seafood lunch and an ice cream before you cruise back home on a ferry. Lamma is stroller friendly, you’ll face a few steps here and there but in general, this is a good day out for the smallest adventurers who can’t walk very far.

Read more: Best Hikes For Families: Where to Go Hiking With Kids In Hong Kong

Day Four: Tourist Trail
The city’s hop-on hop-off buses are a great way to see all the tourist sites in one day. It’s also an easy day for guests to manage alone if you’re at work/school. Try the Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus or the Big Bus Tour. These buses each have different passes and routes. Ask your guests to finish their day by riding the Peak Tram and meet them for a post-work dinner at The Peak Lookout.