Your 48-hour Hong Kong stopover guide

Hong Kong is an ideal city for connecting flights between Australia and the rest of the world – across Asia or through to Europe, South Africa, and the Americas.

Of course, it’s an enthrallingly energetic and captivating city in its own right: one which deserves and rewards exploration.

So why not turn one trip into two holidays with a short break in Hong Kong? With Cathay Pacific's Stopover deals, fly in award-winning comfort and discover all that Hong Kong has to offer.

Sample the best of this thriving Asian metropolis - we have no doubt you’ll be coming back for more.

Getting in and getting around

Your whirlwind adventure begins when you board the Airport Express train, alighting at Kowloon or Hong Kong station in under 30 minutes.

Grab an Octopus transit card, install the Octopus smartphone app, or wave your Visa or Mastercard to tap-and-go on Hong Kong’s fast and efficient MTR train system, convenient bus network, and those iconic double-decker trams.

A taste of the city

To know Hong Kong is to taste Hong Kong. 

It’s hard to go wrong with the city’s most cherished dining ritual of yum cha. You’ll be tempted with delicate translucent har gow (shrimp dumplings), hearty siu mai (pork dumplings), and fluffy, sweet char siu bao (BBQ pork buns).

But Hong Kong’s flavours really come alive at some of the most unassuming street-level eateries.

A case in point: Joy Hing Roasted Meat at Wan Chai (just off the corner of Stewart Rd and Hennessy Rd) is a favourite of locals and visitors alike for its authentic Cantonese BBQ pork char siu.

Further along Hennessy Rd is Kam’s Roast Goose, where goose is of course the star attraction.

Or dive into Sister Wah Beef Brisket (Causeway Bay) for signature beef brisket in clear soup, pork and cabbage dumplings, drunken chicken, and Dan Dan noodles.

Mammy Pancake's egg waffles are a must-try.

Just leave room for a HK-style egg tart from Wan Chai’s Honolulu Coffee Shop, or the egg waffles – crisp on the outside and wonderfully soft within – from any Mammy Pancake bakery cafe.

For a meal with a difference, visit Little Bao at Central and Causeway Bay, where award-winning Chef May Chow takes a creative yet playful approach to bao-based comfort food (the Menu for Two offers outstanding value).

Chef May Chow's Little Bao is a favourite of locals and visitors alike.

For the more adventurous, follow the sizzle and steam to a dai pai dong (open-air food stall), pull up a stool and order wok-tossed noodles crackling with wok hei – the “breath of the wok”.

Cap off the evening at a rooftop bar in Central or Tsim Sha Tsui – Hong Kong’s skyline is a spectacle to be savoured, preferably with a drink in hand, as the city transforms into a glittering tapestry of light.

Time it right and you may even have the best seat in the house for the dazzling Symphony of Lights display that nightly illuminates the harbour.

Take in the Symphony of Lights from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.

As a world city, Hong Kong is host to several cocktail bars ranked in the World’s Top 50, such as Mexican-themed Coa and the Neapolitan vibes of Bar Leone.

Even better: time your stopover to visit the annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, set against the dazzling Victoria Harbour between 23-26 October 2025.

Sample an agave cocktail at Jay Khan's COA, rated as one of the world's top bars.

Iconic experiences

In Hong Kong, the journey is often as breathtaking as the destination itself.

A quintessential experience is the trip to Victoria Peak. It starts with the Peak Tram, a historic funicular that’s been climbing the steep mountainside since 1888.

Journey high above Hong Kong on the Peak Tram.

As you rise, the city’s skyscrapers appear to tilt at impossible angles, building anticipation for the view that awaits.

From the top, the panorama is simply staggering: a dense forest of architecture nestled between green mountains and a bustling harbour.

(Pro tip: catch the tram shortly before sunset and catch the ‘golden hour’ as day turns to night.)

Back at sea level, take one of the world’s most famous ferry rides for just a few dollars.

You can't visit Hong Kong without a trip across Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry.

The historic Star Ferry has been chugging between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon for over a century. Stand on the open deck and soak in the unrivalled views of both skylines on both sides of Victoria Harbour.

Take time out to see the city at a decidedly leisurely pace by hopping on a beloved ‘ding ding’.

These charming, narrow double-decker trams have been navigating Hong Kong Island for over 100 years.

At just HKD$3.30 per ride, the tram offers a leisurely ground-level tour of Hong Kong island.

Grab a seat on the top deck and enjoy a rolling theatre of street life, gliding from the gleaming towers of Central through the bustling markets of Wan Chai and into the traditional enclaves of Sheung Wan.

Memorable detours

To experience the city's incredible diversity, step back in time in the historic neighbourhood of Sheung Wan.

Here, nestled amongst modern life, you’ll find the serene Man Mo Temple. Step through its gates and enter a different world, where the air is thick with the sweet, heavy scent of giant incense coils hanging from the ceiling.

Sheung Wan's Man Mo Temple is a world away from the hustle and bustle of life outside.

This peaceful sanctuary, dedicated to the God of Literature and the God of Martial Arts, offers a quiet moment for reflection.

Afterwards, wander the surrounding streets like Hollywood Road and Cat Street, where antique shops, art galleries, and traditional medicine stores provide a captivating glimpse into the city’s past – a perfect cultural counterpoint to the dazzling modernity of Central just a few blocks away.

Jordan’s Temple Street Night Market comes alive on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong.

When evening falls, dive into the colourful chaos of Jordan’s Temple Street Night Market, where stalls sell everything from tea sets to tech. 

Your stopover in Hong Kong may be short, but it will be rich with flavour, culture, and so many unforgettable moments that you’ll soon be planning your return, for a longer stay with even more adventures to come.

Discover Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific’s special Stopover Deal. Experience an unforgettable Hong Kong stopover of up to seven days when you fly to your pick of over 100 destinations^* worldwide on the Cathay network. 

This article was produced in collaboration with Hong Kong Tourism Board.

^*Currently flown by The Cathay Group (Cathay Pacific & HK Express)