Guide To Visiting Hong Kong With Kids

Hong Kong’s reputation as a busy, vibrant city packed with skyscrapers and people is completely true. It’s one of the most densely populated areas in the world and has grown massively over the past few decades. But what is Hong Kong like with kids? We spent three days in Hong Kong with two children: a four year old and ten month old. How did we get on? Here’s our experience and some key details on visiting Hong Kong with kids.

Mrs T on the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, Hong Kong with kids

Activities

There’s no shortage of activities aimed at children in Hong Kong. The theme parks of Disneyland, Ocean Park and the new Noah’s Ark are sure to thrill while the Wetland centre and Zoological and Botanical Gardens bring nature into the tightly-packed city. There are also educational spaces such as Hong Kong Science Museum and Heritage Museum.

As neither my husband or I had visited the city before, we wanted to explore Hong Kong as a whole rather than tailor it specifically for the children. Most of the main sights are family-friendly though and we had no complaints about our itinerary aside from the odd “I’m tired” or “my legs hurt”. These were easily fixed by getting a ride on daddy’s shoulders or falling asleep in the buggy as jet lag caught up. At 10 month’s old and not yet mobile, Cheeky went along with our plans and seemed happy.

Cheeky in Hong Kong

Mrs T’s one request was to go on the Hong Kong Observation Wheel. We obliged and saw some wonderful views of the city.

View from Hong Kong Observation wheel

Other activities included taking the tram to Victoria Peak, visiting Man Mo temple, the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade, Star Ferry, exploring the night markets of Mong Kok and visiting Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. For ideas on what to do in Hong Kong with kids, read my three day Hong Kong itinerary. You can watch our highlights in the short film below.

Accessibility

It can take time to navigate Hong Kong. It is large and spread across a few islands. We alternated between the two main areas, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon on the peninsula which is where we were staying (at the Royal Plaza hotel). In terms of gradient, Kowloon is fairly flat although you may have to walk across elevated walkways which can be a tricky to work out. In Hong Kong Island we kept finding ourselves being directed through a mall. Finding our way out through the right exit wasn’t always a smooth experience.

Elevated walkways in Hong Kong

Some places on hilly Hong Kong island can be tough to navigate with a buggy, the Soho area in particular. We somehow made it Man Mo temple but there were a lot of stairs in the streets leading up to it and at times we had to go on the road.

Although the Zoological Park is great for children, it’s not so great to get to on foot with kids. There’s a hilly and sweaty walk up then a few gradients to tackle when there. It was doable with one in a baby carrier and the other in the pushchair. Taking an umbrella buggy which both girls could use was really helpful especially with the jet lag. The baby carrier got a lot of use too.

Cheeky in the baby carrier, Hong Kong
Getting around Hong Kong with Kids

Hong Kong has a good public transport network with an underground (MTR), tram, bus and ferry. We gave the buses and trams a miss as we had a buggy so the MTR was our main transportation.

MTR (Hong Kong Underground)

This form of transport felt a little slow with children: from buying the ticket, to locating the lift and walking through the barriers down to the track. The stations are big and it can be time-consuming (and tiring) to walk inbetween the different lines. Not something we would have noticed so much without children. Some of the trains seemed a little infrequent too compared to the London Underground when waiting as long as ten minutes for a tube is rare. However, most of them did have lifts (unlike the majority of London stations).

Tickets are cheap, around 50p – £1 in central areas, one way. You have to pay if your child is over 100cm tall (although they weren’t exactly checking). Day tickets are also available. Hong Kong has an Octopus card which comes preloaded and can be used on most public transport. We didn’t purchase one as didn’t think it would be worth it for all of us for our short time.

A child and adult ticket for the Hong Kong MTR
Hong Kong Taxis

Taxis are very reasonable. When we had two tired children on our hands after a day sightseeing, we simply grabbed a cab back to the hotel. From Hong Kong island to our hotel in Kowloon it was less than £10. Taxis run on a meter but beware, some will not go under the tunnel to the other islands. After loading up the buggy and ourselves into a taxi outside Man Mo temple, we had to decamp after a shaking of the head from the driver when we told him our hotel. There are plenty around though so it didn’t take long to flag one down. There are also designated taxi ranks in some areas.

Other

The Star Ferry was absolutely fine with a buggy while the Peak Tram can be done with a foldable umbrella buggy. The near vertical ride is quite an experience for them and the views from the top will surely impress. There are long queues for the Peak Tram so get there early. Alternatively consider getting a combined hop-on hop off bus ticket or one for Madame Tussards (which we did) which enables you to skip the queue.

Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Despite queue-jumping on the way up, you can’t do the same to get back down (and believe me, my husband tried!). If the children (or adults) are fed up and can’t wait, hop in a taxi. The number 15 bus also goes to and from Victoria Peak. If you have older children and are feeling energetic, you could consider hiking up and down the peak.

Weather

We went at the beginning of April and got a good spell of sunny weather with temperatures of 22-25 degrees celsius most days. It does get humid and sweaty but got cooler in the evenings (so take a cardigan). June to August are the hottest months and can reach up to 40 degrees celsius.

Eating out

Hong Kong is well known for its food and there’s plenty of different cuisines on offer. Most places welcome children and many restaurants serve food all day. Most are reasonably priced. There appeared to be a good level of sanitation (and none of us got ill). We didn’t brave the street food though, just in case. High chairs or booster seats are available although some weren’t ideal for very small children without safety straps. Some restaurants have children’s meals and a mix of western and Asian food. We mainly ate Asian food. Our children enjoy noodles and rice while soup went down well too.

Food in Hong Kong with kids
Having tea at ‘Dim Dim Sum’ restaurant

Drinking

We managed to have some early evening drinks with the girls at a roof top bar in Wan Chai called Wooloomooloo. It had amazing views.

Hong Kong at dusk from roof top bar Wooloomooloo

The staff were accommodating and I sipped a cocktail without it being split on me by a little person…surely a success?

Hong Kong with kids
Baby facilities

You’ll find nappy change toilets in the modern malls but individual restaurants can be hit and miss. Some will have a table you can use. I had to improvise on occasions. Nursing rooms are available in large malls and museums.

Safety

Hong Kong can be intense and with so many people around, keep your children close. I never felt unsafe but be cautious. Western children will get a lot of attention. Many people wanted photos with the girls and some took them without asking. Streets and parks can get busy and hectic. We had one heart-stopping moment when Mrs T ran out of sight in a playground at the Zoological Park. She was absolutely fine but aged my husband by about ten years. Don’t take your eyes off them.

Hong Kong with kids
Cheeky getting attention from tourists at Victoria Peak

Where to stay in Hong Kong with kids

Accommodation

We stayed in Kowloon at the Royal Plaza which offered a decent sized room at a fraction of the price compared Hong Kong Island (we paid £500 for four nights). It had a swimming pool and a gym (which we didn’t end up using). Most of the main sights are on Hong Kong Island so used public transport and taxis to get around. The Royal Plaza is close to the Mongkok East MTR station and the MOKO mall. We didn’t get breakfast at the hotel so simply wandered into the mall to choose an eatery.

Although it would have been more convenient to stay on Hong Kong Island, it was eye-opening to experience the night markets and shops of Mong Kok. I am not sure we would have seen as much of the traditional and cultural sights if we hadn’t. There are more midrange hotels in Kowloon thank on Hong Kong island. Other options include Novotel Hotel Icon. For something more luxurious try The Shangri-La in Kowloon.

Mongkok, Hong Kong

Mongkok in KowloonIf you are looking for something upscale and closer to the sight on Hong Kong Island, there’s the Harbour Grand Hotel near Victoria Peak while The Four Seasons is always a brand to be trusted for a family trip. Mid range options include The Holiday Inn Golden Mile and Park Hotel. There are also budget options such as Ramada and it is also worth looking at renting an apartment which usually gives more space and are better for bigger families.

Verdict

Hong Kong with kids can be a lot of fun and we really enjoyed our trip. At times it was challenging but travel with children can anyway, right? Hong Kong was a cultural experience we won’t forget in a hurry and both our daughters soaked up the atmosphere and sights. Some areas are hilly and are probably better suited to older children without a buggy but there’s plenty for all ages to enjoy. I loved wandering the hectic night markets in Mong Kok and seeing the views from Victoria Peak. Mrs T told me her Hong Kong highlights were the Observation Wheel and seeing the monkeys at the Zoological Park.

Wander Mum at Victoria Peak, Hong KongPracticalities

Don’t drink the tap water. Bottled water is reasonably priced and we had plenty provided by our hotel. Hong Kong has a time difference of seven hours ahead of GMT.  US and EU residents staying under 30 days do not need a visa. Hong Kong using a three pronged plug, same as the UK. As a former British colony, English is widely spoken and signs and public notices have english translations.

If you enjoyed this article, you can download it – along with other city guides – at GPSmyCity

Read more on Hong Kong

Hectic night markets of Mong Kok with kids

Three day Hong Kong itinerary with kids

For further information and ideas on visiting, go to the Discover Hong Kong website.

Food in Hong Kong with kids

 

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Guide To Visiting Hong Kong With Kids

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Wander Mum

I've always loved to travel so when my two daughters came along, I didn't stop. Travelling as a family can have its ups and downs but I love showing my children the world and helping others navigate travelling with children in tow.

48 Comments
  1. “From buying the ticket, to locating the lift and walking through the barriers” – Travel on the metro’s are the biggest reason we almost exclusively stick to baby carriers. #citytripping

  2. I felt tired reading about your Hong Kong adventure with the kids. LOL… Hong Kong can be so tiring, with all their hills and stairs and poor stroller accessibility. That aside, it’s true they have some great attractions for kids. If you’re back, try the Ngong Ping 360! That was my boys’ favourite part of Hong Kong. #CityTripping
    Bumble Bee Mum recently posted…Driving Daisetsuzan National Park & Visit to Daisetsu Asahigaoka Mori no Garden (Hokkaido, Japan)My Profile

  3. There is a strong possibility we will be moving to Japan in 2018, which would position us for some amazing travel in Asia. This post is exactly the sort of thing I cannot wait to check out. I had no idea how much family friendly stuff is available in what I previously thought was just a big city. I cannot wait to (hopefully) check out some of these recommendations ourselves! #CityTripping

  4. So many great tips for visiting Hong Kong with kids. Its nice when a city is kid friendly even if not over the top. Sounds like you found plenty of kid friendly places and restaurants without much trouble! #CityTripping

  5. What an amazing trip for you and your family! We are the same way – if there’s a place we haven’t explored yet we don’t necessarily tailor it to the kids, but always make sure to include things they’ll like. I can imagine that must have been a scary moment in time when Mrs. T couldn’t be spotted at the playground, all the more enhanced by being in a foreign country. That’s something I think about often when we travel. Love the video!!! #citytripping
    Corey at fifi + hop recently posted…New Orleans: the Draw of the French QuarterMy Profile

    1. So glad you like the video Corey! Yes, misplacing Mrs T was very scary! Only lasted a few minutes, seconds even but you do have to be vigilant. Children can find fun in most things and it’s always important to have balance.

  6. It’s a long time since I’ve been to HK and it was Before Children so all the child friendly things passed me by. You crammed a lot into a few days and even managed some rooftop cocktails I call that a parenting success! If I went again with the kids then Disneyland would definitely be on the list but I agree with you – there are a lot of not necessarily child orientated things that children still enjoy doing like the ferry and Victoria Peak. I’d love to go back with the girls. #CityTripping
    Wherejogoes recently posted…TAKING A FOOD TOUR IN THE CITY OF PORTO -WITH KIDSMy Profile

  7. I don’t know how well I’d fare with the crowds – I found Tokyo exhausting, and I think Hong Kong might just do me in! That’s what I get for being Canadian, where we have more space than we know what to do with – going to densely populated cities can be a major shock to the system! 😉

    1. Hehe – it was a shock to my system and I live in London! In turns of crowds, it’s similar to Tokyo. The trick is to have a beach holiday afterwards to recover!

  8. Oh my gosh your daughter’s hair is wild and gorgeous! What a wonderful trip – and I love that you have a section specifically about accessibility 🙂

  9. You did pretty well moving around in HK with the kids considering how hilly the island is! Even I get tired sometimes walking up and down the streets of HK but it’s good exercise for me, lol! #Citytripping

  10. I would have never even thought of Hong Kong for a family vacation. It has never even popped up on my destination radar. But wow, it looks like such a neat place to explore!! What a great trip! #CityTripping

  11. So glad you were able to enjoy a lovely cocktail. I think our travel styles are quite similar in that we try to accommodate everyone’s needs when visiting new places. I like to mix it up between kid stuff and adult activities too. Thanks for joining #FarawayFiles

    1. That’s good to hear. I think it’s important to have some variety and cater for everyone’s needs as best you can. Thanks for hosting #citytripping

  12. I love that picture of you juggling a cocktail with two little ones by your side! Says it all really. Wow, Hong Kong looks so hectic but one of those must-see places, I think. Your tips are really useful. I’d love to show my kids the sights and sounds of such an iconic city. The foodie treats would be a big highlight for us. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles

  13. Oooh – what a balancing act – bravo! I know Hong Kong would have something to offer every age – I think my teens would love it. I’m having flashbacks to those Baby Bjorn days with another little in tow when we took our then two to Australia from the States. It’s exhausting thinking about the energy required to manage all of it! Well done! #FarawayFiles

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