Best Time to Visit Hong Kong
The best time to visit Hong Kong is during autumn and early winter, specifically from late September to late December.
The great weather, temperatures and outdoor activities make this our pick. However, there are plenty of reasons to visit Hong Kong as it is a year-round destination as well, as you will soon see. We will attempt to answer all of your questions about traveling to Hong Kong, including the best time to visit, the weather and temperatures throughout the year, activities to do in each season and how you should budget and prepare for travel.
Hong Kong’s Seasons: Weather, Activities, Preparation
Spring is considered the low season for tourists to visit. Springtime in Hong Kong is typically warm and humid with fog and light rain, but days can range from being sunny to having fog and rain significant enough to halt most activities. Temperatures in Hong Kong during spring is between 18 to 28 degree Celsius (64 to 82 Fahrenheit).
Springtime in Hong Kong still offers some activities and festivals, including the Hong Kong International Film Festival and several events to celebrate Hong Kong Arts Month. Spring is a great time to go visit the city’s many museums and exhibits.
If you plan to visit in spring, you will definitely want to bring all kinds of clothing due to the unpredictable weather: shirts and shorts or light pants for the warm days, raincoats or water resistant jackets and umbrellas for the rainy days and a light jacket for the chillier nights. Temperature in Hong Kong is notoriously unpredictable during this season.
Summer can be a great time for tourists to visit. On the down side, the weather is hot and quite humid, and the city experiences frequent thunderstorms. The months of July to September are peak typhoon season as well, so you are likely to get wet. On the up side, when the it's not raining, you can enjoy sunny days and bright blue sky makes Hong Kong weather in the summer perfect for outdoor activities and in the water.
The temperature averages between 26 to 32 degree Celsius (79 to 90 Fahrenheit), which may not sound too bad for some, but coupled with the humidity it can become quite hot. Do not be surprised if there consecutive days where the temperature is above 31 degrees Celsius(87.8 Fahrenheit)!
If the humidity is not too much for you, you will find that there are a ton of summer activities (when it’s not raining). There are over a dozen beautiful, unique and pristine beaches you can visit. You can also try boating, kayaking and scuba diving visiting "Hong Kong’s backyard" Sai Kung. The Dragon Boat Festival is also an incredibly exciting holiday when you can enjoy some fun time as well! If water is not for you, you may want to go hike the famous MacLehose trail that takes you from hills to beaches. After a day of activities, you cannot go wrong with some happy hours or partying it up in some of Hong Kong’s lively bars and nightclubs.
Preparation-wise, you will want to bring t-shirts, shorts, raincoats or umbrellas, water and hiking sportswear for your activities.
Autumn in Hong Kong is the best time for visiting. The months of October to November boast ideal temperatures, averaging between 19 to 28 degree Celsius (66 - 82 degrees Fahrenheit). There is plenty of sunshine, the humidity is low and the weather is stable.
This season is the best for outdoor activities. Take a walk along the gorgeous Victoria Harbour, visit the charming and free-spirited islands of Lantau, Lamma and Cheung Chau and participate in the Mid-Autumn Festival, the second biggest traditional Chinese holiday next to Chinese New Year! You will find some lantern-lit, magical time in Victoria Park and a scene to remember with the fire dragon dance in Tai Hang.
Take it easy in t-shirts, shorts or light pants and perhaps a light jacket for nighttime. Bring a pair of comfy sneakers for long walks or hikes.
Next to autumn, winter is also the best time to visit Hong Kong, though visitors should be wary of sudden temperature drops. Temperatures in winter average between 14 to 19 degree Celsius (57 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit), which may be considered either slightly chilly or just fine depending on where you are visiting from, but it's not uncommon for sudden drops down to 10 degrees (50 degrees Fahrenheit) to occur.
Winter is a great time for shopping in Hong Kong, with seemingly endless deals and bargains in all the shopping malls. Hong Kong also has several big festivals in the winter, so it is a great time to immerse yourself in the local culture and get into the holiday spirit! If you are visiting in the winter, you absolutely cannot miss the Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong, which is the biggest holiday in the region complete with parades and spectacular fireworks. And if you enjoy exploring outdoor, Hong Kong has a very convenient transportation system that takes you to various trails in 30 minutes from city centre, nature is always within you reach! For families, Hong Kong Disneyland’s Christmas Celebration is the perfect holiday fun. And for music lovers, make sure you don't miss the Music and Arts festival held annual in November.
You will want to pack a wool sweater and heavy coat when you travel to Hong Kong in winter.
Budgeting and Preparing for Hong Kong
Great, so now that you have got some ideas for when you might want to visit Hong Kong and what kind of things you want to do, you might now be asking yourself “is it expensive to visit Hong Kong?” The answer is: It doesn’t have to be!
Depending on your style of travel and the time of year, visiting Hong Kong can either be a massive cash-burner or a total budget great time. The cheapest months to fly to Hong Kong are May and June due to the humidity and the fact that there are not too many major festivals. This is the best time to look for deals on flights and hotels. Conversely, the months of September to December, can be the most expensive for flights and accommodations as it is the best time to visit Hong Kong.
Flight and hotel prices can vary significantly, even within the same month. Make sure to do proper research to see if there are any major conventions or events happening that will affect the rates.
Hotels in Hong Kong can be pretty pricey, especially if you are traveling in luxury and staying at a five-star establishment, but you can find some good deals on three-star hotels with a bit of research.
Food in Hong Kong goes from street food to Michelin-starred restaurants. Traditional Cantonese street food in generous portions can be found for HKD 31 to HKD 62 while some famous restaurants can easily run over HKD 2,400 for one person.
Transportation in Hong Kong is famously cheap and efficient. 90% of Hong Kong residents use the city’s highly-developed and sophisticated public transport system, the highest rate in the world! There are a number of ways to use Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR), but generally, you can expect to pay less than HKD 200 a day. Besides the MTR, you also have the option of buses and taxis.
Many of Hong Kong’s attractions, such as museums and festivals, offer free entry to the public or at a relatively cheap rate.
Though the cost of visiting Hong Kong can vary greatly depending on the kind of traveller you are, casual visitors would fare well on a budget of HKD 1,170 to HKD 1,560 per person per day, not including the cost of the flights.
Ready to Fly to Hong Kong?
How many days should you visit Hong Kong? Well, any amount of time you spend in Hong Kong is sure to be a great time! However, the city being as comparatively small as to other cosmopolitans, with all its unique streets, islands, hiking trails, restaurants and events, we suggest about a trip of five days to a week to really be able to see the best of what Hong Kong has to offer.
Finally, as a friendly reminder, remember to research the kind of documentations you may need to enter Hong Kong. Nationals of about 170 countries and territories may visit Hong Kong without a visa and can stay for periods varying from 7 days to 180 days.
Hong Kong is one of the most fascinating and unique cities in the world, offering tourists experience like no other. With all its sights, sounds, food and year-round festivals, visiting Hong Kong is a must for any kind of travellers! Book your flight to Hong Kong today!
Happy travels!
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