Easily the most popular view in the city, Victoria Peak station is an outpost at the highest point of Hong Kong Island with views back across to Kowloon and the other islands that make up the city. There is a restaurant and a few attractions at the top but the main reason to come is just to sit and admire the amazing city below. Without your own car, driver or taxi, there are three main ways to reach the top. The most popular is the cable car which costs HKD62 one way or 88 roundtrip. This leaves from the main part of Hong Kong island on the north side and climbs the cliff face up to the peak. A trail also leads up the mountain but is largely road and not terribly interesting. The cheap way is just to take the local bus which costs HKD10 one way and goes to exactly the same place with the same access to viewing platforms and everything else. Up to you.

A really fascinating take on the standard city history museum, Hong Kong’s Museum of History can easily take half a day or so to explore. You won’t find yourself walking around for hours looking at pictures and reading lengthy explanations on the walls. There are several interactive exhibits, as well as entire city streets redone from different eras. It’s like you’re on a movie set that’s set in colonial Hong Kong. To top it off, the whole thing is free. Although, you can get the audio guide for a fee if you want some extra background information.

Wong Nai Chung Gap is a natural geographic crossing point from the north to the south side of Hong Kong Island. This makes it a natural point for trails and also for historical significance. The Battle of Wong Nai Chung Gap was the bloodiest day of WWII in Hong Kong territory. And the trail that exists today takes you through the important events of that day. Boards show the troop movements, artillery locations and progress of the battle through the day. But there are also anti-aircraft gun platforms, ruined bunkers and exploded pillboxes interspersed at key locations. March across the Hong Kong terrain 80 years later, taking the same steps as those soldiers in WWII.

The cheapest Michelin Star in the world, Tim Ho Wan’s is one of the best meals you can have in Hong Kong. Their signature dish is the BBQ pork buns. Incredibly, a plate for the table is about USD$3. The place is set up as a dim sum-only restaurant, so you will need to order a few dishes. Probably 3-5 plates for two people will be plenty, and the bill will more than likely be around USD$10 per person. Cross off the Michelin Star experience for a very affordable price.

This is one of the best markets in town to really get into the street food of Hong Kong. Wander past block after block of food stands and salivate over from the restaurants as hawkers sell all sorts of dumplings, steamed buns filled with sweet or savoury, soups, things on sticks, and much more. If there is anything on your list to try while in the country, it can probably be found here on Temple Street.

Hong Kong has many remnants of its time under British rule. And it is hard to watch the double-decker tram running through the streets of Hong Kong Island and not think of a double-decker bus trundling through London. This line is the only remaining double-decker tram in the world. It has been running for over 100 years and is just a couple of bucks. So get on this colonial transport and weave through the electric skyscrapers of one of the most modern cities on Earth. You can ride the entire line from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan if you want the full experience. It is also an easy transfer from the ferry to/from Kowloon.

You’ve probably seen light shows and fountains meticulously timed to music in cities around the world. Hong Kong takes this to the next level, and then some, with the Symphony of Lights. Every night at 8 pm, 44 skyscrapers, significant buildings, and attractions along the waterfront synchronize their searchlights, electric billboards, lasers, and LED lighting hundreds of meters high in time to music played through speakers at a couple of key vantage points. From Kowloon, head to the ferry pier for a good view. From Hong Kong Island, head to Golden Bauhinia Square to see it from the other side.

Goldfish Market is a whole street in Hong Kong dedicated to selling live fish as pets, offerings, or for release. Some other small pet stores have worked their way into the lineup, but looking down the street you will see rack after rack of plastic bags with fish of all different colours, sizes, and species. I am not sure how ethical and humane Goldfish Market is, but it is a sight to behold.

I don’t know if anyone has an accurate count of exactly how many Buddha icons there are in and around this temple, but honestly, I believe ten thousand may be on the low side of the guesses. This temple is relatively new, by Asian standards, and was built in the 1950s in Pai Tau Village, outside of the main tourist areas of Hong Kong. It is easily accessed by local transport. Google Maps will be able to tell you which line to use. Keep in mind that there are more than 400 steps to reach the main pagoda, but the walk up among the garden of statues surrounding you is one of the best parts of the visit.

The ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island is a great way to get around, but also a much more pleasant way to get between the two most popular areas of this massive city. It only takes around 10 minutes to make the crossing, and the ticket is about USD$0.40. While cruising along the water, you cross between the two skylines of downtown Kowloon and Hong Kong. It’s a view that’s hard to beat! You also might cross beside one of the old Chinese junks, the iconic old-school ships that crisscross the harbour with battened sails that look like dragon wings.

The Big Buddha is a 100+ foot tall Buddha statue that towers over the hillsides of western Lantau Island. Visible as far away as the airport, this stop is best included on the way to or from your flights. It is not a strenuous journey to the top, but there are 250+ stairs from the car park that take you past the monastery and to the statue on the hill. For me, this was the last stop on my journey to Hong Kong, and it is a great farewell to one of the most diverse and interesting cities in Asia.

“Hong Kong: the City of Islands and Skyscrapers” by Creed Evans was originally published on Wanderdash (follow Creed @creedevans)