Hong Kong might not seem like the most kid-friendly place, what with all the suits and ties and skyscrapers, but you’ll be glad to find there’s so much more to it than meets the eye.
With theme parks, museums, playgrounds, nature reserves, geoparks, beaches, waterfalls, and hikes, there’s lots to keep little ones happy in Hong Kong. Plus, Hong Kong is a small place, so it won’t take long to travel around (Moooom, are we there yet?).
To help you plan your trip, we’ve narrowed down our list of 10 family-friendly things to do in Hong Kong, and added a few bonus ideas too!
1. Theme parks
The first and most obvious choices are Hong Kong’s two major theme parks: Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland. Both are awesome, but very different. Disneyland is, of course, the Disney we all know and love, with classic rides and characters. Ocean Park, on the other hand, is a marine-themed amusement park, with a massive aquarium, a cable car that crosses the ocean, and crazy rides. Your only problem will be deciding which one to visit! We recommend both.
2. Museums
There are dozens of museums in Hong Kong, but kids love the Science Museum and Space Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui, plus the slightly gory Museum of Medical Sciences. A new addition to the scene is the Children’s Discovery Museum, but this museum is more suited for younger kids. Read our Guide to Hong Kong’s Best Museums to learn more.
3. The Peak Tram
Kids might not care about the view, but they sure love the almost vertical ride up the mountain on the Peak Tram. There are lots of attractions inside the Peak Tower, including the fun photo ops at the Madness 3D Adventure, and Madame Tussauds wax museum. Outside the Peak Tower, let them run around at the nearby Mt. Austin Playground while you admire some of the most expensive real estate in the world.
4. Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
Getting to the Tian Tan ‘Big Buddha’ is half the fun when you take the incredible Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, which crosses the oceans and mountains of Lantau Island. You can even choose a ‘Crystal Cabin’ which has a glass floor! Up at Ngong Ping Village, there’s the VR 360 virtual reality experience, and a 3D movie, plus, of course, the Big Buddha itself.
Get your tickets for Ngong Pong 360 online.
5. The Observation Wheel
Standing right at the waterfront of Central, you can’t miss the Observation Wheel at Victoria Harbour. The ride takes 15 minutes, and you can buy your tickets online to get your preferred date and time. The Observation Wheel is a stone’s throw from the Star Ferry Pier, so you can easily combine rides on these two great attractions.
6. Beaches
You’re spoilt for choice with beaches, but the most easily accessible are on the south coast of Hong Kong Island. Check out Deep Water Bay Beach, Repulse Bay Beach, Middle Bay Beach, or South Bay Beach. A bit farther away are the beaches of Stanley and Shek O. You could alternatively visit the Outlying Islands, with lots of sandy bays on Lantau and Lamma.
7. Dolphin watching
There’s only one place to see Hong Kong’s endangered pink dolphins, the tiny village of Tai O, on the southern tip of Lantau Island. At the bridge into town, boats wait to take tourists out for a boat tour, and you’re almost guaranteed to spot the dolphins. After the boat trip, explore this little village, and try some of the local sweets and desserts.
8. Eco-tours
With mountains, ocean, forests and wetlands, there are many eco-tours available to let your kids get some green. Try out the verdant Lions Nature Centre in Sai Kung, or the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in Tai Po. Both focus on environmental education and conservation. Those who want to get out on the water can go sea kayaking in Sai Kung, or explore the UNESCO Global Geopark.
9. Public pools
If your hotel doesn’t have a pool, then cool off at one of Hong Kong’s public pools, many of which have slides, splash pads, and kiddy pools for little ones. The pools are very clean, well maintained, and have showers and changing rooms. You can even use your Octopus Card to pay the very low entrance fee. Check out the government’s list of public pools to find one close to you.
10. Indoor play rooms
Rainy season in Hong Kong requires some fun indoor activities. The largest indoor playroom is Epicland in Discovery Bay, Lantau Island. With slides, trampolines, rock climbing, mini putt and more, kids will go crazy—plus, you get to take a ferry ride to get there.
There’s also RYZE, a huge trampoline park, to bounce the day away.
Bonus ideas
Still need a few more interesting ideas? Check these out!
- Take them shopping at Tai Yuen Street in Wan Chai, also known as ‘Toy Street’. They’ll love exploring the dozens and dozens of toy stores that have been around for decades. It’s also a great place to find unique souvenirs.
- Climb aboard a historic ship, the Fireboat Alexander Graham, now stationed at Quarry Bay Park, which also has a great playground.
- One of Hong Kong’s stranger attractions, Noah’s Ark, claims to be ‘the world’s first full-scale Ark replica’, with lots of animals (pairs, of course) and play areas for kids.
- Eat super cute dim sum at Yum Cha in Central, Ming Bistro in Causeway Bay or Crystal Lotus in Disneyland.
- Go to the top of Hong Kong’s tallest tower, the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon, to see the view from Sky100, at the 100th floor.
- Ride an authentic junk boat, the Aqua Luna, with its iconic red sails billowing as it takes you on a harbour tour
- Take a 25-minute ferry to Mui Wo, a rural village on Lantau Island, where wild cows and buffalo roam the roads. Walk to the Silvermine Waterfall, relax at Silvermine Beach, and let the kids loose at the playground. Buy some ice cream for the ferry ride back to Central
