Written by Hiufu Wong
Packed with luxury brands and glitzy malls, Causeway Bay is home to one of the world’s most expensive streets. But fret not! From Hollywood-famous public housing estates to the city’s largest park, there’s plenty to do in CWB that won’t break your budget. We have your Cheapo needs covered.
Pro tip: See our guide on how to get from the airport to Causeway Bay.
Catch a horse race in Happy Valley
Perfect for party-seekersFrom HK$10.00 to enter the public enclosure
A stone’s throw away from Causeway Bay, Happy Valley Racecourse throws the best mid-week party in town.
Every Wednesday night (from September to July), Happy Valley Racecourse is open for night races. Non-gambling punters can enjoy the night by visiting the Beer Garden for live entertainment, food and, of course, beer.
The best location to see the action is at the fence near the finishing post—towards the end of the Beer Garden. The Parade Area, where racing horses will take a stroll before the game, is located near the finishing post, too.
The first race starts at 7:15 p.m. and the last race starts at around 10:50 p.m. Entrance is HK$10.00 and free after 10 p.m. The public trams usually line up outside the track when the races finish, so ride it for a few stops to Wan Chai if you fancy some more drinks afterwards.
Take a tram tour
Ideal for history buffsFrom HK$150.00
Book your tram tour online
Starting in Causeway Bay, take a 1-hour tour on a unique 1920s-style tram. The top deck of the tram is open, perfect for sightseeing and taking pics (there’s free wifi, so you can post to Insta right away).
You’ll learn about local life and tram history. Info is available in eight different languages, (English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish and Russian). You can check out the picture gallery, videos and artefacts onboard, too.
Don’t fancy paying for a tour? Hop on a regular pedestrian “Ding Ding” (the tram) either towards Kennedy Town or Shau Kei Wan. Ride for as little or as long as you like and enjoy a more leisurely (very leisurely) experience of HK’s bustling streets.
Check out the public library
Family-friendlyFree
Looking for fun, indoor, family-friendly things to do in Causeway Bay? Hong Kong Central Library overlooking Victoria Park boasts 12 floors of free and educational entertainment including a floor specially designed for the little humans.
The second floor features a children’s library, an activity room (for story readings) and an interactive Toy Library. The Toy Library—including Baby Play Corner; Pretend and Imaginative Play Corner; Creative Play Corner; and Activities and Games Play Corner—stocks a series of educational games. From board games to musical plays to skills games, the library caters to children of all different ages.
Check the Central Library’s website for information on special exhibitions, talks and other events.
Enjoy Hong Kong’s largest book store
More booksFree
Hailing from Taiwan, the Eslite chain of bookstores first entered the HK scene in 2012 and still holds the title as the biggest bookstore in the city. Located across 3 floors in Hysan place mall (great for big brands and beauty products), the store provides a calm and peaceful atmosphere to browse books, buy random knick knacks or sip coffee. Perfect for a break from the chaos on the streets below, or to kill time on a rainy day.
Watch the Jardine Noonday Gun
Experience a cherished traditionFree
What began as a penalty has become one of the longest-lasting traditions in Hong Kong.
As the story goes: The Jardine Matheson Group (a large corporation in Hong Kong) has owned and operated The Noonday Gun at the Causeway Bay waterfront since the 1840s. In the old days, its officers would fire a gun salute whenever the head of the company set sail.
When a British naval officer was visiting Hong Kong in the 1860s, he was annoyed by the tradition as gun salutes were supposed to be reserved for military commanders. The vexed visiting officer, therefore, ordered Jardine to fire a gun salute at noon every day, for perpetuity.
The company has upheld the promise since then.
The original gun was lost during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during the Second World War and was later replaced after the war.
The location of the Noonday Gun is quite hidden. Visitors can access the pier through a silver door on the alley between the former Excelsior Hotel and World Trade Mall. The door will take you to an underground carpark and tunnel that connects to the Noonday Gun pier.
Walk the iconic circular footbridge
For a slower afternoonFree
If people-watching and tram-watching are some of your favourite travel activities, the circular footbridge on Yee Wo Street smack in the middle of Causeway Bay is a convenient and iconic viewing point.
Built in the 60s, the bridge spans 300 metres and connects Causeway Road, Hennesey Road and Leighton Road. Despite being featured in many Hong Kong movies, it’s fairly underused in recent years as more pedestrian crossings are installed along Yee Wo Street. Still, it’s the best place to perch up and snap some photos of the buzzy CWB district.
Picnic or attend an event at Victoria Park
Slice of local lifeFree; some events may charge a modest entrance fee
Most well-known for its vibrant Chinese New Year markets, Victoria Park is a meeting place for Hongkongers for big and small events alike.
Spanning over 19 hectares, it’s the largest public park in Hong Kong.
There is a wide array of outdoor and indoor facilities including a swimming pool complex, a jogging lane, a bandstand for performances and even a pool built for model boats. The central lawn is a great urban oasis for picnics. Most of the facilities are available for free except for some of the sports grounds like tennis courts and football pitches.
Entrance to the public swimming pool costs HK$17.00 for adults (HK$19.00 on weekends).
Snap photos at Hong Kong’s aesthetic public housing estate
Spruce up your InstagramFree
Lai Tak Tsuen is a public housing estate built in the 1970s. An award-winning design when it was first built, Lai Tak Tsuen is famous for being the only public houses shaped in round towers.
But that’s not all. In fact, the striking design caught the eye of Hollywood bigwigs, and the estate appears in the live-action remake of the animated film Ghost In The Shell. Despite the heavy CGI, it’s easy to spot it in the movie.
Keep your enemies at bay with “petty person beating”
Get a taste of local folkloreFees vary; generally expect prices to start from HK$50.00
Secure some good luck and safety. Visit one of many villain-hitting booths, located under the Canal Road Flyover in Causeway Bay.
Villain-hitting is an ancient tradition rooted in southern China. The ritual involves practitioners bashing an image of your chosen target with a shoe.
Whether you believe in this unique form of sorcery or not, it’s worth visiting the site in March, the peak season, to witness the action for yourself.
Shop
Grab souvenirs and moreCauseway Bay boasts massive, shiny malls where you can purchase pretty much anything you want. Notably, it also has one of the city’s largest Don Don Donki branches. Fair warning: chaotic is an understatement.
But Hong Kong is a city of opposites, so local markets abound, too. Jardine’s Bazaar is one such covered market where you can buy souvenirs, clothes and accessories at discounted prices. Need a pick me up? Follow your nose to one of the nearby street food vendors afterwards and get yourself some egg waffles or sui mai.
Go for a massage
Relax how the locals doFrom HK$150.00
Exploring Causeway Bay can be exhausting. It’s no wonder then that many locals frequent cozy spas and massage centres tucked away, safe from the noise and the stress the city can bring. Enjoying a massage in HK is more than just self-care, it’s an indulgent ritual shared among friends and is the perfect way to unwind after a day on your feet.
From traditional Chinese reflexology to Thai massage, there are a wealth of options available for every budget. Keep your eyes peeled for signs on the side of buildings as you’re walking round and you’ll soon notice there are massage centres everywhere, most of them offering legitimate services.
Sip coffee with some cuddly companions
Pet therapyFrom HK$50.00
If you’re missing your pet back home, or just prefer having coffee with four legged friends instead of humans, you could check out one of the cute pet cafes scattered around Causeway Bay.
There are numerous pet cafes across HK and Kowloon but within Causeway Bay itself, you have the choice of a cat, rabbit or toy poodle cafe, all equally adorable. The cafe’s typically also offer tea, coffee and light snacks but the animals are definitely the main attraction. The cafe’s open every day with weekends drawing more crowds.
Find some zen
Peace and quietFree
Surrounded by water, HK is filled with temples dedicated to the goddess of the sea, Tin Hau. These temples all vary in size, historical significance and decoration but the Tin Hau temple in Causeway Bay is particularly stunning.
Filled with historical relics on the inside and intricately decorated on the outside, the temple has barely changed since 1868 and is the perfect spot to enjoy some serenity, culture and history.
Have a feast
Fuel upCauseway Bay has (arguably) the widest variety of cuisines on offer in Hong Kong.
- Din Tai Fung‘s Causeway Bay branch (68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay) deserves its rave reviews and Michelin recognition. Sample the iconic soup dumplings. A sleeper hit is the double boiled mushroom soup (trust us on this).
- Hong Kong has a sizeable Indonesian population, and Causeway Bay is the city’s de facto Little Indonesia. If you’re keeping halal and/or wanting to branch out, we recommend the nasi campur (rice with an assortment of sides) at Warung Malang (2/F, Dragon Rise Building, 9 Pennington Street, Causeway Bay).
- For Sichuanese food, fortified with a hearty dose of numbing pepper, head to Yu (4 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay). The saliva chicken is particularly popular here, as is the thinly sliced pork with cucumber doused in garlic.
- If you’re craving the depachika or underground department store experience without a trip to Japan, the basement of SOGO is your best bet. You’ll find stalls serving Japanese curry, sushi sets, and various Japanese grocery items.
- Keep it local and pay a visit to Cheung Hing Coffee Shop in Happy Valley (9 Yik Yam Street, Happy Valley), famed for its pineapple bun sandwiches and perfectly sweet milk tea.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Causeway Bay?
Causeway Bay is easily accessible by MTR, bus, minibus, and tram. Alternatively, a good stretch of the island (from Kennedy town to North Point) is almost all connected by a beautiful harborfront promenade so you could walk, if you prefer the scenic route.
From Central, the most straightforward option is taking the MTR. Simply hop on the Island Line (towards Chai Wan) and ride a few stops.
From the airport, we recommend taking the Airport Express, then switching to the Island Line. However, there are several other ways to get there. Read our guide for more detailed info.
What’s the best way to get around Causeway Bay?
You can traverse Causeway Bay on foot. It’s dense and relatively small. Alternatively, take the tram.
What’s the best time to go to Causeway Bay?
Causeway Bay is busy pretty much all the time. If you want to avoid the crowds, we recommend early mornings and weekdays. Sundays will see this district absolutely packed.
Should I get a hotel in Causeway Bay?
Definitely. If you want to be close to a lot of attractions and have excellent access to more or less every part of Hong Kong, Causeway Bay is an excellent launchpad.
The Park Lane, though not cheap, offers beautiful views of the harbour.
This article was written by Hiufu Wong and first published in July 2017. Last update by Holly Booth: February 2025.
