10 Awesome Things To Do In Kowloon, Hong Kong

If you enjoy urban exploration then Hong Kong is the city for you. The centre of Hong Kong falls on the Hong Kong Island side but for us, Kowloon is the most exciting part of the city. There are so many things to do in Kowloon so the area easily warrants a couple of days or more to get the most out of your visit.

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Kowloon is an interesting mix of modern and old school Hong Kong. At the northern end of Kowloon is Mong Kok, with smelly wet markets, dodgy looking dark alleys and hanging bloody meats. To the south, overlooking Victoria Harbour, is Tsim Sha Tsui, with shiny new sky scrappers, designer shops and high-class restaurants.

Things to do in Kowloon

The contrasting mix of things to do in Kowloon makes it a must do Hong Kong destination for all visitors. Check out our top Kowloon attractions.

Hike Lion Rock

There are loads of popular peaks to hike in Hong Kong, but Lion Rock is up there in the top three. Standing at 1,600 feet, Lion Rock is not only an essential part of anyone’s ‘things to do in Kowloon’ itinerary, it’s a must do activity in all of Hong Kong! A moderate fitness level is needed due to some steep rocky paths to climb, but the effort is rewarded with some of the best views in the city. Once at the top, you get an epic birds-eye view across Kowloon’s skyline and beyond to Hong Kong Island.

We recommend getting the MTR to Diamond Hill station where you can either catch a taxi to the start of the path or take the number 96 bus.

Shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui

There’s no better shopping in Hong Kong than in Kowloon. Tsim Sha Tsui to the south has the type of wide and never-ending avenues that you’d expect to find in Manhattan. All the luxury designer brands can be found here, as well as many high street retailers including a new H&M flagship store. The main shopping street is Nathan Road.

If you prefer to shop with everything under one air-conditioned roof, then there are also some large shopping malls such as Habour City.

Book your 3.5-Hour Kowloon Walking Tour with Big Bus Pass now!

Skyline Sunset at Victoria Harbour

We didn’t plan to watch the sunset behind Hong Kong Island’s impressive skyline from Kowloon’s Victoria Harbour waterfront, but the weather and timing were on our side that day. It was just by chance that we happened to arrive at the promenade as the sun was beginning to set. It was a beautiful scene so has to be included in our things to do in Kowloon list.

Kowloon’s Victoria Harbour waterfront is at the southern peninsular tip and is the best ground level Hong Kong skyline viewpoint at any time of the day. Head there for sunset and you’ll witness the city in a unique light with the orange sun reflecting off the building’s mirror-like surfaces.

Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights

At 8pm every evening, the skyline on Hong Kong Island dazzles tourists with its Symphony of Lights show. Just when you think the skyline’s standard futuristic night lights are awesome enough, at 8pm, they further compete for your attention with lights and lasers timed to music. Only a handful of buildings take part but it’s still worth checking out if you happen to be in the area at night. However, they really need to update the music as it’s cringe worthy bad!

The Symphony of Lights show is part of a lot of tourist’s things to do in Kowloon itinerary so it gets busy, but there’s really no need to head there early to get a good spot. Even with a crowd of people in front of you, you’ll still be able to see due to the height of the buildings. We watched the show from Kowloon’s public pier which is next to the Star Ferry terminal.

Book your Symphony of Lights: Harbor Cruise with Drinks now!

Eat Street Food

For us, no visit to an Asian city is complete until we’ve tasted enough street food til we’re about to burst. Mong Kok offers the biggest selection of cheap street food vendors in Hong Kong. From simple steamed fish balls and stinky deep fried tofu to fresh grilled fish mains and stir fried chicken noodles, Mong Kok caters for many tastes.

If you’re looking for further cheap eating options, we’d recommend the Hawker Centres, which consist of a variety of small Chinese kitchens and a large communal seating area. At these places, you can pick up a large main for between 30 and 70 HK dollars (£3 – £7).

Book your Kowloon street food tours now!

• Hong Kong: Kowloon Foodie Adventure Walking Tour
• Hong Kong: Kowloon Food Safari

Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles

Wherever you are in Hong Kong, you’re never far away from a Hong Kong egg waffle vendor. A Hong Kong waffle is eggy batter cooked between two hot plates in the shape of several circular cells. They’re often eaten plain, but toppings can be added such as chocolate, coconut or cheese.

If you only try one Hong Kong egg waffle then make sure it’s at Kowloon’s hole in the wall vendor called Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles. You’ll find it on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. LKK’s waffles are just sweet enough with the perfect balance of crispy on the outside and soft/chewy in the middle. The only downside to Lee Keung Kee North Point Egg Waffles is you have to join a long line at most times of the day, but this shows how good they are!

See MAP for location.

Mong Kok Markets

For Hong Kong’s best markets, Mong Kok wins hands down. The variety of markets in the area have been around for decades or more so it’s the best place for a more authentic old school Hong Kong shopping/browsing experience. Make sure to add these three markets to your things to do in Kowloon itinerary.

Goldfish Market

Goldfish and other tropical fish are big business in Hong Kong. Residents love to decorate their homes and offices with them and Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading exporters of the colourful swimmers. Head to Tung Choi Street for the strange sight of thousands of bagged creatures covering the walls of the many aquatic shops. The market has boomed over the past 40 years due to the resident’s lack of space to keep larger pets such as cats and dogs.

See MAP for location.

Ladies Market

Mong Kok’s Ladies market seems like a never-ending street of stalls selling everything from clothing and accessories to toys and games. It’s actually 1km in length with over 100 stalls! The market gets its name from the large amount of ladies items for sale but there’s enough variety for the opposite sex to warrant a wander. Don’t forget to get your haggle on as prices aren’t fixed so can always be negotiated.

See MAP for location.

Temple Street Night Market

Wandering Mong Kok’s streets at night is an interesting enough experience, but Temple Street night market is another reason for a walk after sundown. Temple Street market is definitely Hong Kong’s largest and best night market. Expect to find goods such as clothing, bags, watches, selfie sticks and sunglasses. Around the market are some great street food eating options if your stomach starts to rumble.

See MAP for location.

Book your Hong Kong & Kowloon market tours now!

• Kowloon Market Walking Tour
• Temple Street Market & Victoria Harbour Dinner Cruise
• Home Cooking Class with Wet Market Tour

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

This large Chinese temple seems so out of place in the middle of busy high-rise Hong Kong but it’s a very popular religious site for locals and visiting tourists. Easily the most impressive temple in the city, Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple is home to three religions: Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

Heading inside is a peaceful welcome relief from the traffic-heavy road it stands beside. Take a wander around the grounds and gardens while watching devoted religious followers in prayer and lighting incense. It’s super easy to get to, just head by MTR to Wong Tai Sin station and you’ll find the temple next to it.

See MAP for location.

Book your Kowloon Temples, Gardens, Streets & Markets tour now!

Wander Mong Kok at Night

We really loved Mong Kok, modern Hong Kong is all good but seeing the city’s older and grimier side is far more interesting. When in Mong Kok, we felt like we were in real old school Hong Kong. It felt more local with fascinating unorganised chaos. Taking a wander around Mong Kok at night is must of things to do in Kowloon.

Flickering neon signs, dirty dark alleys, buckets of wet fish, ladies of the night, atmospheric night markets, dangling raw meats, suspicious looking massage parlours and streetside kitchens are just some of what’s to see. Many of the world’s modernising cities have lost these captivating neighbourhoods so it was a pleasure to see a side to Hong Kong that hasn’t been forgotten.

Book your Hong Kong After Dark: 3-Hour Night Tour now!

Take the Star Ferry

You can easily get to and from Kowloon using the MTR, but taking the Star Ferry is far more fun. The inexpensive ferry departs from Tsim Sha Tsui’s Star Ferry pier and floats across Victoria Harbour to either Central or Wan Chai on the opposite side. It’s an alternative way to see Hong Kong’s astounding skyline on both sides of the harbour.

See MAP for location.

Book your Hong Kong Private 5-Hour Night Tour & Ferry from Kowloon now!

Accommodation in Kowloon

Just like Hong Kong island, Kowloon has a massive variety of accommodation options for most budgets. It doesn’t matter whether you stay on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon, the excellent transport system will get you to where you need to go in no time. There are just as many things do in Kowloon as there are on the main Hong Kong island so it’s a difficult choice. For the most Kowloon accommodation options check out booking.com.

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