The Best Beaches in Hong Kong

Day tripper delights

Hong Kong may be famous for its epic skyline and the hustle and bustle of the city streets, but it also has beaches a plenty. For when summer hits and you can’t afford to splash out on a full on vacay, spend the day at one of these beaches and you’ll feel worlds away. Some are only a bus ride away; others take a little more perseverance to get to. But we promise they’re all worth checking out.

Read more: Hiking in Hong Kong: Family-Friendly Hikes

Hong Kong Island Beaches:

Beaches on HK island are typically more accessible and easy to get to (most you need to just hop on a bus to get there). Though the ease of getting there can make them more crowded in the height of summer, they’re definitely still worth checking out. Just head down to the southern part of the island and you’ll be stripping down to your swimmers in no time…

Stanley Main Beach

Famous for its market, Stanley is always full of activity. Great for taking visiting guests to, and a great place to pick up some souvenirs before chilling out on the sand. We have to warn you that this beach gets very busy, so it’s not one to go to if you’re looking to avoid the crowds. Stanley Main Beach is also great to cool down at after completing The Twins hike. Enjoy a quick swim (or drink…), before heading home, and those 1,000 steps will be well earned!

Wander along the boardwalk and choose from the many seafront restos, or pick up some groceries from the supermarket in Stanley Plaza and have your own beach side BBQ. It’s also home to the annual Dragon Boat races, so keep your eye out for team’s practices during the season.

Facilities: Restaurants, changing rooms, showers, public toilets and barbecue pits
How to get there: From Central Exchange Square (near Hong Kong Station MTR, Exit D), take bus 6, 6A, 6X, 260, and alight at Stanley Village bus stop, which should take about 50 minutes. You can also hop on the same buses from Connaught Road outside City Hall and Queensway at Admiralty MTR Station – if this is more convenient for you! To reach the beach, follow Stanley Beach Road for about 200 metres from the bus stop. You could also take a taxi from Central, but as there is only one road into Stanley, it’s not likely to be much quicker, and will be more expensive.

Repulse Bay Beach

Lying just up the hill from Stanley, Repulse is another popular choice for weekend beach goers. The beach here is bigger than at Stanley, but it still gets pretty crowded! Arrive early for a good space on the sand, spend your day catching some rays, and be sure to stop for lunch along the boardwalk. My personal favourite eateries in Repulse include Amalfitana Pizza, Limewood and Classified (not to mention, they’re all family-friendly!).

Facilities: Restaurants, changing rooms, showers and public toilets
How to get there: Follow the same route as the one to Stanley, but alight at Repulse Bay Beach bus stop. Once off the bus, simply cross the road and make your way down the steps to the sand!

Deep Water Bay

The (somewhat) quieter little sister to Repulse Bay beach, Deep Water Bay is again located just up the hill from two of the busiest beaches on HK Island. Popular with locals and early morning swimmers, and with more than 30 barbecue pits, it’s always a popular spot.

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, public toilets and barbecue pits
How to get there: Follow the same route as the one to Stanley, but alight at Deep Water Bay bus stop.

Shek O Beach

A popular beach to cool off at after hiking Dragon’s back, Shek O is ever popular with locals and tourists alike. Go prepared and enjoy a seaside barbecue at one of the many pits available. It’s best to arrive as early as possible, as the barbecues are available only on a first-come-first-serve basis, and they fill up quickly!

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, public toilets and barbecue pits
How to get there: Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan, find the exit A3 and then take bus 9, or a taxi, to Shek O. It should take about 30 minutes to reach Shek O bus terminus.

Shek O Back Beach

A five-minute walk from the main Shek O Beach – Shek O Back Beach is a dog-friendly paradise. Another draw is that it tends to be a little quieter, as it’s a little hidden, and crowds are normally drawn to Shek O main beach. Be sure to head to Ben’s Back Beach Bar and cool off with one of its signature (and cheap!) cocktails.

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, public toilets and barbecue pits
How to get there: Follow the directions to Shek O beach and get off at the Shek O Bus Terminus. Head towards the colourful houses when entering Shek O Village, and the paved road will lead you to the Shek O Back Beach.

Big Wave Bay

Just down the road from Shek O is Big Wave Bay, HK’s only officially recognised surf beach. For obvious reasons, its main clientele are surfers, due to the waves and consistent swell (did the name not give that away?). Surfer or not, it’s a clean and scenic beach, perfect for downing a couple Big Wave Bay beers on.

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, public toilets and barbecue pits
How to get there: Take the MTR to Shau Kei Wan, find the exit A3 and then take bus 9, or a taxi, to Shek O. It should take about 30 minutes to reach Shek O bus terminus. Get off at the junction of Shek O Road with Big Wave Bay Road (at a sharp U-turn), and walk about 10 minutes to Big Wave Bay Village and beach.

Chung Hom Kok

Tucked around the corner from Stanley lies Chung Hom Kok, a quaint little beach that has ‘urban hideaway’ written all over it. Easily accessible but slightly tricky to find if you’ve never ventured there before, Chung Hom Kok is a three-minute walk down a leafy park directly off a quiet residential street (meaning it’s nowhere near as busy as the likes of Repulse Bay or Stanley). With a stack of BBQ pits, full-time lifeguard service and nice water for swimming, it’s an ideal spot to catch up with friends for a day at the beach.

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, public toilets and barbecue pits
How to get there: From Central Exchange Square (near Hong Kong Station MTR, Exit D), take bus 6X, 63, 66, or 973 to Chung Hom Kok beach, on Chung Hom Kok road.

Lantau Beaches:

Head a little way from the bustle of the city and hop on a ferry to Lantau for the weekend. Complete with a plethora of beautiful beaches, along with good bars and restaurants, it’s not hard to see why so many call Lantau their home…

Pui O Beach

(Editor’s note: since publication, the restaurant Mavericks has closed)
Pui O Beach has a very relaxed, laid back vibe, and although it is popular, it never feels overwhelmingly busy. Head to Mavericks bar and restaurant – it’s right on the beach and has great cocktails and even better food –  before heading back down to the beach for a swim and an afternoon nap. Complete with a campsite, Pui O is a great spot for a night under the stars – just be wary of the water buffalo that can stray away from the nearby fields for a sleep on the beach! It’s also worth noting that, although pleasant, the sand here is darker and quite sticky – so don’t visit and expect to find an idyllic white sand beach.

Facilities: Restaurant, changing rooms, showers, campsites, barbecue pits and public toilets
How to get there: Take the ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo, then hop on a bus 1 to Pui O Beach, which should take about 15 minutes.
Alternatively, take the MTR to Tung Chung and then take the 3M bus, which should take about 20 minutes. Cross the road and walk down the path that leads to the sea.

Read more: Family Adventures: Family-Friendly Camp Spots in Hong Kong

Upper and Lower Cheung Sha Beaches

Located on southern Lantau, Cheung Sha Wan is one of Hong Kong’s longest beaches.  Stretching around 3km, you’ll find two beaches here – Lower Cheung Sha and Upper Cheung Sha. Graced with sand that is lighter and finer than at Pui O, the beach is perfect for big kids to build sandcastles, or for sun-lovers to spend an afternoon tanning. Lower Cheung Sha has more restaurants and tends to be busier, so if you want to escape the crowds, head to Upper Cheng Sha beach.

Facilities: Restaurants, changing rooms, showers, barbecue pits and public toilets
How to get there: Take the ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo. Then take the 1, 2 or 4 bus to Lower Cheung Sha Village, about a 5-minute walk to either beach.
Alternatively, take the MTR to Tung Chung and then take the 11 or 23 bus, which should take about 20 minutes to Lower Sheung Sha Village, about a 5-minute walk from the beach.

Silvermine Bay Beach

Just a short walk from Mui Wo ferry pier, Silvermine Bay beach is considered one of the cleanest in Hong Kong. Though popular during the day, Silvermine comes alive at night, with many enjoying the public barbecue pits and other dining options available nearby. 

Facilities: Restaurants, changing rooms, showers, barbecue pits and public toilets
How to get there: Take the ferry from Central Pier 6 to Mui Wo. Turn right at the pier and go to Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road, then walk to Ngan Kwong Wan Road and long Ngan Shek Street to Tung Wan Tau Road and the beach.

Note: Due to beach improvement works, Silvermine Bay Beach is expected to be closed until mid 2018, all beach facilities and lifeguard services will be suspended until this time.

New Territories Beaches:

Although further afield, these beaches are not to be missed. Venture through Kowloon to the New Territories and discover some of the most beautiful areas of Hong Kong…

Tai Long Wan

My personal favourite of all HK beaches, the trek to Tai Long Wan is most definitely worth it. Made up of four beaches along the bay – Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan, Tai Wan and Tung Wan – Tai Long Wan is located on the east coast of the Sai Kung Peninsula (and will have you feeling worlds away from our busy city streets!). The four beaches are connected to each other by short trails, so you can easily see more than one in a day, but only Sai Wan and Ham Tin beaches have places to eat and bathroom facilities. This being said, all of the beaches are popular for camping, with equipment available to rent from a small store at Ham Tin or back in Sai Kung. Although not officially recognised as a surf spot (and with no lifeguards), the beaches here are also popular with surf fans, with board rentals and lessons also available from the store at Ham Tin.

Facilities: Small restaurant, public toilets, surf board hire
How to get there: Take the MTR to Mong Kok and exit the station. Walk to Dundas Street and take the red minibus to Sai Kung from outside the Kwong Wah Hospital. From Sai Kung, take the 29R Minibus, or a green taxi to the Sai Wan Pavillion and from here hike 90 minutess to the beach. If you’re feeling lazy and don’t fancy the hike, you can also hire a boat from Sai Kung Pier, that will take you to Tai Long Wan. Keep in mind that there is no other way out of Tai Long Wan, so it is often best to hike in and get the boat home!

Hap Mun Bay Beach

Also known as the “Half Moon Bay” because of its crescent shape, Hap Mun Bay is just a short sampan ride away from Sai Kung. As one of the prettiest and easiest beaches to get to from Sai Kung, Hap Mun Bay can get very busy at weekends during the summer months. Though as another of HK’s cleanest beaches (it consistently ranks high in the water quality ratings!), it’s the perfect place to enjoy a cooling swim on a sunny afternoon.

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, campsites, barbecue pits and public toilets
How to get there: Follow the above directions to Sai Kung and then, from Sai Kung Pier, take a boat to Hap Mun Bay Beach (there will be loads of vendors selling tickets along the pier!)

Clearwater Bay (First & Second) Beaches

Sitting in the southeast corner of the New Territories, Clearwater Bay comprises of two beaches. Aptly named Clearwater Bay First Beach and Clearwater Bay Second Beach, the two are separated by a short stretch of rocky coast, and both are popular and have facilities, such as public toilets, showers and changing rooms. First beach is a little more secluded and can be quieter, though only Second Beach has a small café selling refreshments.

Facilities: Café, changing rooms, showers, changing rooms, barbecue pits and public toilets
How to get there: Take the MTR to Diamond Hill station and then catch the 91 bus, which terminates at Clearwater Bay Second Beach. The bus first stops at Clearwater Bay First Beach bus stop, before terminating at Second Beach. The two beaches are also connected by a footpath and steps, so you can easily access both.

Long Ke Wan

Along with the beaches of Tai Long Wan, Long Ke Wan is the closest we get to white sand and crystal waters in HK – travel magazines have even been known to compare this spot to the Maldives! Although it’s one of the most beautiful beaches, facilities are limited, with only dry pit toilets in sight, so be sure to bring water, food and anything you may need with you, as there are no shops in Long Ke Wan. Though there is a small campsite, for those who truly want to escape the city and rough it for a night in the great outdoors.

Facilities: Dry pit toilets and a small campsite
How to get there: There is a hike to get here, but the easiest way to reach this beach is by taxi. Get to Sai Kung (using the above-mentioned directions), then take a taxi from Sai Kung Town to “East Dam” of High Island Reservoir. After reaching the East Dam, walk up for 20 minutes and you will see Long Ke Wan beach in front of you.