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In this article, I will share the best things to do in Hong Kong when it rains – so you don’t end up spending time at your hotel.
Hong Kong is one of my favourite places on Earth. I was very fortunate to have spent over 5 months in this amazing city back in 2013, and when I returned earlier this year, I was overjoyed to be back again. Read our new article about the perfect itinerary for 5 days in Hong Kong!
However, 10 years ago, I had all the time in the world for sightseeing and could wait for a sunny day to visit the landmarks. This time, it wasn’t the case. We were on a tight schedule, and the weather wasn’t the best.
Unfortunately, the weather in Hong Kong can be pretty unpredictable, and even if you're visiting during a dry season, you might get a few rainy days. However, if it rains in Hong Kong, it's not the end of the world! There are still plenty of things you can see and do in Hong Kong on a rainy day as a tourist.
Places you SHOULN’T visit when it rains in Hong Kong
Before I share the list of the best things to do on a rainy day in Hong Kong, I wanted to mention a few places you shouldn’t visit to avoid disappointment. For me, some of the best places in Hong Kong have amazing panoramic views, and when it rains in Hong Kong, the visibility is usually pretty bad. That means, in some cases, you won’t see almost anything at all.
Avoid these places when the weather is bad:
Victoria Peak
One of the main landmarks in Hong Kong, it’s probably the worst place to visit when it rains. It’s not that you might get wet – that’s the least of the issues. The observation deck is located on top of a mountain, and when it rains, it’s often covered by clouds – the visibility from there will be zero or almost zero.
Even if it’s not rainy but very cloudy and humid, make sure to check how low the clouds are – you might still end up not seeing anything, which is very frustrating.
Star Ferry & TST promenade (The Avenue of Stars)
While the Star Ferry is covered and usually operates on rainy days (it’s public transport, not a tourist attraction), the skyline of Hong Kong will barely be visible and won’t be as striking as it normally is. The same goes with the Avenue of Stars – the view won’t be great, unfortunately.
Sky100 and Ozone bar at Ritz Carlton
Another location that should better be avoided on a rainy day is the Sky100 observation deck and the Ozone bar, both located in the Ritz Carlton tower. Both locations are very, very high in the air (Ozone bar is the tallest in the world), and on rainy days, the terrace of the Ozone bar is closed, and the view from Sky 100 will be obstructed by clouds, too.
Ngong Ping 360
Another experience you might not enjoy too much when it rains is the panoramic cable car that goes to the big Buddha – Ngong Ping 360. If the visibility is low or it rains a lot, you won’t see much from there. You might better save money and take a bus to the Big Buddha instead.
Now, let’s talk about the top attractions of Hong Kong you can visit on a rainy day
M+ museum
If the weather is absolutely miserable, the best way to spend time is by going to a museum. M+ museum is one of HK’s newest museums, and it’s mostly dedicated to modern art. There are many interesting expositions, however, our favourite was the one about the history and shaping of Hong Kong.
Visit one of Hong Kong’s many temples and monasteries
Hong Kong has stunning temples and monasteries and even though lots of them have plenty of outdoor spaces, you can still enjoy visiting them (unless it’s pouring, of course).
Some of the best temples in Hong Kong to visit when it rains:
Chi Lin Nunnery
Wong Tai Sin temple
Sha Tin temple
Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
Visit the Central Market
Central Market is a cool hipster touristy market in the heart of Hong Kong island. There are plenty of stalls selling local products (fancy soaps and cosmetics), teas, sweets as well as restaurants and bubble tea stalls and cafes.
It’s very easy to spend a couple of hours there wandering around and buying souvenirs for friends and family.
Visit one of Hong Kong’s many shopping malls
Hong Kong is one of the best places for shopping in the world – it has an insane number of shopping malls and some of them are very impressive. If you’re unlucky with the weather, you can go on a tour exploring different shopping malls in Hong Kong.
Some of my favourite shopping malls in Hong Kong:
- K11 Musea
- Hysan Place, Causeway Bay
- Harbour City, TST
- Elements West Kowloon
- IFC Mall
- Pacific Place
- Times Square
I haven’t been to HMQ – but I’ve seen many mentions of this place.
Queue for former “cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world” – Tim Ho Wan
Head to the IFC Mall and go to the lower ground floor of the MTR station – it’s like a maze and a bit hard to find, but inside the MTR station, you can find the original branch of the famous Tim Ho Wan restaurant.
Unfortunately, Tim Ho Wan doesn’t have a Michelin star anymore since becoming a chain and a franchise (as of 2022), but it used to be the world’s cheapest Michelin star restaurant for 10 years or so.
I visited Tim Ho Wan in 2013 when it had a Michelin star, and then in 2023, and it was still very delicious and pretty affordable!
However, now there are plenty of cheap Michelin-star restaurants in Hong Kong – you can find the list here.
Mid-level escalators & the area
Finally, another place you can see and explore in Hong Kong is Mid-levels. Mid-levels is home to the world’s longest escalator, and the area around resembles Soho in London – there are so many nice restaurants, bars, quirky bubble tea stores and shops in the area – it’s a pleasure to walk around and explore them
Summary of the best things to do in Hong Kong when it rains
Bad weather is always disappointing however, it doesn’t mean that you need to spend all day at the hotel and take an Uber to a restaurant in the evening. While some of the main landmarks of Hong Kong require relatively good weather to enjoy them fully, there are places you can visit even if it rains and the visibility is not the best.
I hope you found this article useful!
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5-day itinerary for Hong Kong – a guide to best things to do for a first-timer
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