There has not been a sunny day in Hong Kong as of late, but that didn’t stop this mama and her 14 month old, Aiden, from checking out one of the city’s hottest attractions. The sky100 is located in the tallest building in Hong Kong, the ICC. At 393m above sea level, you can bet you’ll have one of Hong Kong’s best bird’s-eye views of this amazing city — skyscrapers to the East, Victoria Harbor to the South, gorgeous sea views to the West and New Territories to the North. Not only is this a great place to go with your kids, it’s also the perfect spot to bring visiting family and friends.
When you enter sky100 on the main floor, you first walk through a series of mini multi-media exhibits that tell the story of Hong Kong and its infamous skyline. Aiden was so mesmerized by the changing images of Hong Kong’s yesteryear to what is now a world-famous harbour. The impressive videos displayed on the large screens had the other visitors and me happily snapping away on our phones.
The exhibits lead you to the super fast lift that whisks you from the first floor to the hundredth floor in 60 seconds. This is no ordinary elevator. Once it opens, you are greeted with a rush of air and fluorescent lights that immediately go dim once the door closes. The commentary brings your attention to a timer on the ceiling that counts down the seconds to the top. And before you can “ooh” or “ahh” properly, you’ve arrived.
The observatory deck is split into four quadrants (North, South, East and West), each with impressive floor-to-ceiling windows, large open areas that are stroller-friendly and benches for you to sit and enjoy the view. For older kids and teens, there are fun facts about Hong Kong listed on colourful wall displays, interactive touch screen games and plenty of #selfie opportunities on pre-constructed backdrops.
Hits
- sky100 offers the best vantage point for all of Hong Kong’s breathtaking views.
- Café Vista serves hot food, afternoon tea and drinks in addition to housing some of the best seats to soak in the skyline.
- The space is completely child-friendly with lots of room to explore and roam around.
- Each visitor receives a cash coupon discount for one adult ($45 off) and one child ($30 off) ticket for your next visit.
Misses
- When it’s gloomy out, there is not much you can see, so definitely wait for the weather to clear up.
Need to know before you go
- Go on a weekday morning when it first opens to avoid the large crowds. If you’re hoping for some stellar sunset views, check with the ticketing office representatives for their daily updates on sunset times.
- Check the weather forecast and opening hours for the day (and double-check there are no private events on).
- You can opt to pre-purchase and print out your ticket on their website beforehand.
- Last chance to purchase a ticket for the day is 8pm (Note: the nightly light show begins at 8pm).
How to get there
- Take the MTR Tung Chung Line and get off at Kowloon MTR station (Elements Mall).
Facilities: Changing table in the women’s washroom
Hours: 10am to 9pm, daily
Prices: $168 adult tickets, $118 kids 3-11 years old, $118 seniors 65 years old and above, free for kids below 3 years old. As a special promotion, for the month of March, child and senior tickets are only $59.
ICC sky100, 100/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong