With nearly 150 rainy days per year on average and trending upwards (thank you, Hong Kong Observatory), our city is no stranger to stormy weather. But don’t let the bad weather rain on your parade! From board games to bouldering, quirky museums to critical thinking-boosting escape rooms, there’s plenty of family-friendly indoor activities to partake in.
Sports
Ice skating at Ice Palace
1/F, Cityplaza, 18 Tai Koo Shing Road, Quarry BayEntry from HK$80.00
Book online
Skate your way to a fun-filled rainy day! Newly renovated in 2020, Cityplaza’s Ice Palace is Hong Kong Island’s only indoor skating rink made with real ice. The complex is kitted out with self-service skate rental, digitised lockers, a stretching and activity room and a skate shop. New to ice skating? Hit up the skate school and find your footing.
Trampolining at Ryze
3/F, Kodak House 1,321 Java Road, Quarry Bay
Entry from HK$95.00
Purchase tickets online
Trampolining is an excellent way to not only expend energy, but also build better muscle coordination and balance. At Ryze, Hong Kong’s first extreme sports park, there’s only one thing on the agenda: jumping. Note that entrants under the age of 18 are required to have a waiver signed by their guardian.
Bouldering at Verm City
4/F, Kodak House 1,321 Java Road, Quarry Bay
Entry from HK$230.00
Purchase tickets online
One floor up from Ryze is Verm City, part amusement park and part bouldering playground. Armed with a Clip N’ Climb zone and fully-fledged climbing gym with over 18,000 square feet of wall-to-wall climbing, sign your safety waiver and get ready to scale walls. Want to add a dose of healthy competition? Verm City boasts an augmented wall that uses interactive technology to save your climb.
All-Inclusive Playrooms
Kiztopia
Unit LB08-09, Play ParkNew Town Plaza Phase I, Sha Tin
Entry from HK$108.00
Purchase tickets online
Blend learning with play at Kiztopia. Spanning 12,000 square feet, this sprawling indoor playground offers three distinct play zones and 15 themed play areas to cater to your kids’ diverse interests. Aside from carnival and playground classics like slides, swings, trampolines and a bouncy castle, children can take part in hands-on activities and learn about different professions in the Occupational Experience Zones.
DOCODOCO Indoor Digital Playground
L4, 1 Lohas Park Rd, Tseung Kwan OEntry from HK$100.00
Official website
All it takes is three words: interacive digital playground. The classic Japanese arcade gets a twist at the DOCODOCO Indoor Digital Playground at The LOHAS. Enabled with advanced tech like immersive VR (think exploring lily ponds and experimenting in kitchens), this adventure playroom aims to strike a balance between risky play and safety. Let your child get their hands dirty, without getting their hands dirty!
Museums
Hong Kong Museum of Science
Faced with nothing but a textbook, grasping concepts in science can be daunting for many young kids. At the Hong Kong Museum of Science, fundamental science themes ranging from dinosaurs and geology to the mechanics of light and sound come alive through colourful exhibits, and mini games design to strengthen problem-solving skills.
Hong Kong Space Museum
Thanks to Hong Kong’s light pollution, it’s hard (though not impossible) to stargaze in the city. Luckily, at the Hong Kong Space Museum, kids and adults alike can enjoy the wonders of space at the planetarium, equipped with a state-of-the-art OMNIMAX projector. The museum offers two thematic exhibition halls: the Hall of the Cosmos and the Hall of Space Exploration, where kids can learn about the discoveries of Chinese astronomers and more.
Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum
G/F, Island Residence, 163 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan HoEntry from HK$50.00
Official website
Did you know that the right to play is protected under Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? Designed for kids aged 10 and under, the Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum is all about harnessing the power of play to help kids meet key developmental goals. With interactive exhibits and educational content presented thoughtfully, this children’s museum is sure to ignite curious minds.
Escape Rooms and Game Cafes
LOST Junior
Shop 304, D2 Place 215 Cheung Shun Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon and Shop 201, The Mills, 45 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen WanEntry from HK$150.00
Official website
Escape rooms aren’t just for corporate team-building. Instead, for kids who love to solve problems, build things, and wiggle their way out of sticky situations, tackling an escape room is a great way to spend a rainy day. A spin-off of the popular escape room LOST, LOST Junior offers a family-friendly version of the immersive adventure game.
Jolly Thinkers
Various locationsFree entry
Official website
Forget straining your eyes playing games on digital devices. Go analogue at Jolly Thinkers, a board game shop and cafe with various branches in the city. The selection of board games is vast, ranging from innovative award-winners to mammoth expansion packs that construct fantastical worlds and more. You can always grab your game and take it home, or spend a friendly HK$30.00 per person for an hour of gameplay at the cafe itself.
Nature and Wildlife
Cube O Discovery Park
Plaza 88, Tsuen WanEntry from HK$68.00
Purchase tickets online
There’s something soothing about watching jellyfish float along in the water, their translucent tendrils coloured by neon lights.
To venture into the intriguing world of cnidarians, head to Cube O Discovery Park. Though small in size, the aquarium houses a wide variety of sea jellies from around the world, as well as VR features to enhance your experience. There are also daily feeding sessions for visitors to watch and learn about the mystifying life cycle of jellyfish. Guided tours are only available in Chinese at the moment.
Ocean Park
You can’t get wetter if you’re already underwater! Though best known for its rides, Ocean Park also boasts an aquarium with 5,000 fish from over 400 species. Complete with a reef tunnel and wide viewing pannel, the Grand Aquarium is designed to transport you to the depths of the ocean. For a true extravaganza, you can also opt to stay the night at The Marriott Ocean Park, one of our top picks for a family-friendly hotel.
Learn more about how to make the most of your trip.
Children: HK$224.00
This article was first written in May, 2023. Last update in February, 2024.
