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12 Best Places to Stay in Hong Kong – Ultimate Guide on the Best Hotels and Areas

January 8th, 2019 by | Tagged in: , , , ,

This article lists down the 12 best places to stay in Hong Kong for tourists, along with the recommended hotels in each area. The most popular area is Central, the bustling business district of Hong Kong. This is because it is home to many major tourist attractions. It is also near other popular neighbourhoods like Sheung Wan, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. Other than Central, there are many other charming districts in Hong Kong too. Therefore, I have given detailed descriptions of each area (categorised by the four main regions of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, and Outlying Islands) so that you can decide which is the best place for you to stay! If you plan on staying in an airbnb, make sure you get this $45 discount coupon. This article was last updated on 08 April 2020.

Table of Contents

Summary of Best Places To Stay In Hong Kong


I have created a summary table above for your easy reference. Click to enlarge!

The Four Regions of Hong Kong


Before going into the details of each area, you should first know that Hong Kong is divided into four main regions: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, and the Outlying Islands. You can refer to the map above to get an idea of these areas’ locations.

Hong Kong Island is home to the vibrant business district, and has many major tourist attractions. Most tourists will stay in this area.

Kowloon consists of many charming urban neighbourhoods such as Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui. This is a good place to stay if you want to experience local culture.

New Territories is a vast area consisting of satellite towns, traditional villages, temples, gorgeous country parks, wetlands, and mountain getaways.

The Outlying Islands are home to island retreats, beautiful beaches, tranquil fishing villages, lush greenery, mountainous terrains, and even a Disneyland (located on Lantau Island)! Some of the well-known outlying islands are Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau Island, and Peng Chau Island.

Tourists will usually stay at the northern side of Hong Kong Island, and the western portion of Kowloon (circled in red above in the map). This is because these two areas are home to many major tourist attractions.

Now let’s look in detail at the 12 best areas to stay in Hong Kong, categorised by these four main regions.

– Hong Kong Island –


Within Hong Kong Island, we have the neighbourhoods of Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay.

1. Central (Best for Families and First Timers)

View of Central from across Victoria Harbour

Located on the northern side of Hong Kong Island, Central is the heart of Hong Kong’s financial district.

It is also home to many tourist attractions. We had lots of fun checking out attractions like the IFC Mall, Victoria Peak, Peak Tram, Madame Tussauds, Hong Kong Observation Wheel and more. Lan Kwai Fong, the vibrant nightlife district, is located here too.

Central is a great neighbourhood for families and tourists who want to stay in a convenient location near the major attractions. I recommend staying here if it’s your first time visiting Hong Kong.

Where to Stay in Central

B&B – Danny’s airbnb is a small studio apartment in an awesome location. The apartment has WiFi, cable TV, and a simple kitchen. However, you would need to walk up the stairs to the apartment on the second floor. The airbnb is a 10-minute walk to Central MTR Station, and a short 2 minute walk to Lan Kwai Fong. Before booking, make sure you get this $45 Airbnb discount coupon.

Mid Range – Butterfly on Wellington is a great boutique hotel that offers modern and clean rooms with good-quality showers. It is in a perfect location within walking distances of many famous eateries like Tsui Wah, Yung Kee Restaurant, Mak’s Noodle, and more. It is just a 7-minute walk to Central MTR Station.

Luxury – We really like staying at the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong because it offers modern luxurious rooms, excellent service, a 24 hour gym and even a heated outdoor pool. The hotel is just a short 5-minute walk to Admiralty MTR Station.

2. Sheung Wan (Best for Hipsters)

Iconic street art at Graham Street


Sheung Wan is a hipster neighbourhood where the old meets new. We saw lots of Chinese herbal remedy shops, dried seafood stores, temples, incense shops. At the same time, we also found plenty of trendy cafes, awesome bars, amazing eateries and graffiti art.

This is a good place to stay if you want to experience the hipster vibe of Sheung Wan but still be near the main tourist attractions in Central.

Where to Stay in Sheung Wan

B&B – Brend’s airbnb is a clean one-bedroom studio apartment with a private rooftop terrace overlooking the harbour. It offers WiFi, flat screen cable TV, a kitchen, fridge and awesome skyline views from its location on the 11th floor. It is just a one-minute walk to the Sai Ying Pun MTR Station.

Mid Range – The Bauhinia Hotel – Central is a value-for-money boutique hotel that offers clean and spacious rooms at affordable rates. The showers are good with adequate water pressure. It is located in a fantastic location just a few steps away from Sheung Wan MTR Station.

Luxury – One96 is a luxury boutique hotel that offers spacious modern rooms, great service, and a pleasant rooftop terrace. There is even a full size fridge and washer/dryer. It is just a 5-minute walk from Sheung Wan MTR Station.

3. Wan Chai (Best for Affordable Accommodations)

Flag lowering ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square

Wan Chai is mainly a commercial area and the only attraction of note here is the Golden Bauhinia Square. However, it offers many hotels and accommodations that are cheaper than those in the adjacent districts of Central and Causeway Bay.

We found plenty of famous eateries such as Kam’s Roast Goose, Capital Cafe, Dim Dim Sum, and more here. It is also home to “Toy Street” Tai Yuen Street Market.

Wan Chai is a great place to stay if you are looking for affordable accommodations in a good location.

Where to Stay in Wan Chai

B&B – Raymond’s airbnb is a small space with very basic amenities. However, it is in a great location that is just a two-minute walk from Wan Chai MTR Station.

Mid Range – Burlington Hotel is a great value-for-money hotel that offers cozy and comfortable rooms. The rooms even have electric blinds. It is just a 5-minute walk from Wan Chai MTR Station.

Luxury – Grand Hyatt Hong Kong offers luxurious rooms, world class amenities, and a superb lounge on the 30th floor. It is an 8-minute walk from Wan Chai MTR Station.

4. Causeway Bay (Best for Shopping)

Times Square Hong Kong


Right next to Wan Chai is Causeway Bay, Hong Kong’s shopping mecca. This vibrant district is home to some of the best shopping streets and malls like SOGO, Times Square, Fashion Walk, Lee Gardens, Hysan and more. We spent a few hours shopping here.

This is the perfect place to stay if you want to indulge in shopping sprees.

Where to Stay in Causeway Bay

B&B – Henry’s airbnb is a cozy studio with a comfortable double bed, fully-equipped kitchen, and washing machine. There is also free WiFi and TV. Henry is a superhost, which according to Airbnb are “experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests”. It is in a fantastic location that is just a few steps away from Causeway Bay MTR Station.

Mid Range – Lanson Place Hotel is a semi-luxury boutique hotel that offers modern spacious rooms and nicely appointed bathrooms. You can also enjoy unlimited drinks and canapés for a reasonable price in the lounge during happy hour. The hotel is a short 4-minute walk from Causeway Bay Station.

Luxury – The Park Lane Hong Kong, a Pullman Hotel is a semi luxury hotel with modern comfy rooms. It is known for its excellent executive lounge on the 22nd floor, and it also has a rooftop bar that offers great skyline views. It is just a 4-minute walk from Causeway Bay Station.

– Kowloon –


Within Kowloon, we have the neighbourhoods of Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Tsim Sha Tsui.

5. Tsim Sha Tsui (Best for Diversity)

Many luxury boutiques along Canton Road

Kowloon Park

Tsim Sha Tsui is an interesting area with plenty of diverse attractions. Party the night away at nightlife district Knutsford Terrace, indulge in luxury shopping along Canton Road, stroll along the scenic Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and admire Hong Kong’s skyline, shop for bargain clothes and cosmetic products at Granville Road, and check out the free exhibitions at Hong Kong Museum of History. This diverse area has a bit of something for everyone.

Where to Stay in Tsim Sha Tsui

B&B – Kathy’s airbnb is a cozy apartment that has plenty of amenities like high speed WiFi, large screen TV, a mini kitchen, fridge, and three-seater sofa. It is just a 3-minute walk to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station.

Mid Range – Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong offers decent rooms and a sumptuous breakfast buffet spread. It also has a bar with live music, and a rooftop pool. It is just steps away from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station.

Luxury – The Peninsula Hong Kong is an iconic hotel with a rich history. It offers spacious luxurious rooms, excellent service, and world-class facilities. There is even a Rolls Royce airport pick up service. It is just a 2-minute walk from East Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station.

6. Mong Kok (Best for Local Culture)

Ladies Market

Sneaker Street

Mong Kok is a bustling district that is home to many vibrant and colourful night markets. Exploring these night markets is a great way to experience local culture!

The famous Ladies Market is the most well-known, but there are plenty of other awesome night markets in Mong Kok such as Fa Yuen Street Market, Flower Market, and more.

Mong Kok is a great area to stay if you want to experience the interesting local culture of Hong Kong.

Where to Stay in Mong Kok

B&B – Judie’s airbnb is a cozy apartment with a comfy sofa bed. It is right next to Langham Place and just a short walk from Mong Kok MTR Station.

Mid Range – Cordis, Hong Kong is a value-for-money semi-luxury hotel that offers beautiful rooms with great views. Service is excellent, and the hotel also has a rooftop bar and club lounge. It is jus a few minutes’ walk from Mong Kok MTR Station.

7. Yau Ma Tei (Best for Location)

Temple Street Market

Yau Ma Tei is home to the famous Temple Street Night Market. The huge shopping mall, Elements, is located here too.

We also saw some famous eateries such as Australia Dairy Company, Dim Dim Sum, and Mak Man Kee Noodle Shop.

Yau Ma Tei is an interesting area because it borders both Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok. Therefore, it serves as a good base to explore both adjacent districts.

Where to Stay in Yau Ma Tei

B&B – Milky’s airbnb is a small apartment with basic amenities. It is a 2-minute walk from Yau Ma Tei MTR Station.

Mid Range – Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok offers clean and modern rooms at affordable rates. There is also a rooftop pool and gym with harbour views. It is a 10-minute walk from Yau Ma Tei MTR Station.

Luxury – We loved staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong! Our room was luxurious but also intimate. Service was more than excellent throughout our stay. We especially enjoyed chilling out at the Club Lounge on the 116th floor, where we got to enjoy unlimited drinks, delicious snacks, fantastic aerial views of Hong Kong, and top-notch service by the lounge staff. Since we were Club Lounge guests, we even got to enjoy complimentary limousine drop-off service within the vicinity. The hotel is located within Elements, a huge modern shopping mall. It is a 10-minute walk to the Kowloon MTR Station.

8. Sham Shui Po (Best for Budget Accommodations)

Apliu Street Flea Market

Sham Shui Po is a working class neighbourhood that consists of various “themed” streets, each selling a different type of goods such as electronics, toys, computer hardware, fabrics, etc.

For example, Apliu Street is famous for electronics, Fuk Wing Street is known for toys, Cheung Sha Wan Road is lined with fashion outlets, etc.

We enjoyed exploring these streets which felt less touristy than the Mong Kok markets. Therefore, this is a great area for bargain shopping, since most of the markets cater to locals and do not overly inflate prices.

If you are on a tight budget, you can consider staying in Sham Shui Po. However, note that this is a low-income neighbourhood and is quite far from the other popular districts in Hong Kong. Based on what we read on forums, the area is safe for tourists.

Where to Stay in Sham Shui Po

B&B – Beau’s airbnb is a small basic apartment with a private shower, WiFi, and refrigerator. It is a short walk to Sham Shui Po MTR Station.

Mid Range – YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel is a big, well run hostel that offers both private rooms and shared dormitories. There are female-only dormitories too. It is a 7-minute walk from Sham Shui Po MTR Station.

– New Territories –


If you are planning to stay in the New Territories, I recommend Shatin town.

9. Shatin


New Town Plaza

Shatin is a satellite town of Hong Kong with more than 650,000 residents staying in high rise residential buildings. It is home to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Sha Tin Racecourse, and New Town Plaza shopping mall.

Shatin is very far from the rest of Hong Kong, so I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless you want to use it as a base to explore New Territories’ green outback.

Where to Stay in Shatin

Mid Range – Royal Park Hotel is a value-for-money hotel that offers spacious and comfortable rooms at affordable rates. There are plenty of amenities such as a swimming pool, gym, and steam rooms. The hotel is linked to New Town Plaza, a large shopping mall. It is an 8-minute walk from Sha Tin MTR Station.

– Outlying Islands –


For the Outlying Islands, the popular areas are Lantau Island, Cheung Chau Island, and Lamma Island.

10. Lantau Island

Disneyland

Tian Tan Big Buddha


Lantau Island is the largest island in Hong Kong, and is home to several popular tourist attractions like the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, the majestic Tian Tan Big Buddha Statue, Citygate Outlets and even Disneyland. We had lots of fun on this island!

Most people visit the island on a day trip, but there are decent accommodation options too if you choose to stay overnight.

Where to Stay in Lantau Island

Mid Range – Novotel Citygate Hong Kong is a great hotel with clean and modern rooms. It is connected to the Citygate Outlets mall, and is conveniently located to visit the Big Buddha and Disneyland. It is within walking distance of the cable car station, and a 6-minute walk to Tung Chung MTR Station.

Luxury – Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a premium hotel located within the theme park that will provide you with a true Disney experience. The hotel design and rooms are all Disney themed. You can also opt for a “character breakfast”, which offers a larger breakfast selection and of course photos with the Disney characters. This is a very family-friendly hotel with zero smoking rooms.

11. Lamma Island


Lamma Island is a tranquil island with scenic beaches, mountainous terrains, traditional fishing villages and awesome seafood restaurants. The island’s main village is Yung Shue Wan Main Street, a small bustling street lined with bars, Chinese eateries, Western restaurants, and shops.

Where to Stay in Lamma Island

B&B – Man Lai Wah Hotel is a rustic hotel that offers rooms with views of the sea and hills. The rooms have air conditioning, TV, a mini refrigerator and private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries. It is steps away from the Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier, and a short walk from Yung Shue Wan Main Street.

12. Cheung Chau Island


Cheung Chau Island is a small island that is home to beautiful beaches, historic temples with beautiful stone carvings, and scenic hiking trails.

Compared to Lamma Island, the island’s village town is relatively more developed and even has a 7-Eleven and supermarket.

The island hosts the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, an annual week-long celebration in May that consists of prayers and offerings, floats, parades and lion dances. It culminates with a “bun scrambling” contest at midnight on the last day.

Where to Stay in Cheung Chau

Mid Range – Warwick Hotel Cheung Chau is a budget hotel that offers decent rooms at affordable rates. It is a short walk from Cheung Chau Ferry Pier.

Conclusion


Thanks for reading this long article on the 12 best places to stay in Hong Kong for tourists! Even though most people choose to stay at Central, I hope this article has shown you that there are many other charming districts in Hong Kong too.

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