● Currency HKD, pegged to the US dollar ● Visa-free stay up to 90 days for many nationalities ● Getting around Octopus card on MTR, tram & ferry ● Airport Express Central in 24 min ● Tap water boil before drinking ● Emergency number 999

3-day first-time itinerary

Three days is enough to get a real feel for Hong Kong without rushing — here's one sensible way to structure it.

Day 1 — the skyline and the harbour

Start in Central, ride the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak for the daytime view, then come back down and cross the harbour on the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui in time to see the skyline light up from the other side.

Day 2 — a district, properly

Pick one district and actually walk it rather than sight-hop — Sheung Wan's dried-seafood streets and Hollywood Road antique shops, or Mong Kok's markets, both reward slow wandering more than a checklist.

Day 3 — out of the city centre

Take a half-day trip to Lantau for the Big Buddha and Tai O fishing village, or to Sai Kung for a short hike and seafood lunch — either gives a completely different side of Hong Kong from the first two days.

Tip. Build in slack. Hong Kong rewards wandering into a street market or a random noodle shop far more than it punishes an unplanned hour.