Free Things to Do in Hong Kong

Modelled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Avenue of Stars is a walking avenue at Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui. It celebrates important milestones of the Hong Kong film fraternity marked by statues and hand-prints of prestigious personalities. With a seaside backdrop, it provides panoramic views of the Hong Kong skyline as well.

A Symphony of Lights is an enchanting daily light and sound show on the Hong Kong Island. According to the Guinness World Records, ‘A Symphony of Lights’ is the biggest permanent light and sound show across the globe. The multi-media show is a signature icon of Hong Kong.

There are an array of Buddhist Monasteries and Hindu temples that you could visit for free in Hong Kong. Most of these temples are also architectural marvels. Some of the top choices would be Chi Lin Nunnery, Po Lin Monastery, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple and the Man Mo Temple. Hong Kong sites a large number of temples dedicated to Tin Hau as well.

Hong Kong is home to numerous serene country trails and paths. These glorious routes often meet a breathtaking view in the end, such as the Dragon's Back Hike, the Lantau Trail and the Lion Rock Hike. Most of these courses are well-marked, however, each carries its own difficulty level. Nonetheless, the Lamma Island Family Hike Trail is the best-suited hike in Hong Kong for all age groups.

Home to over 40 bays and beaches, the stretched coastline of Hong Kong is an exciting beach vacation. With around 12 beaches bracketed within Hong Kong island and the remaining distributed among the New Territories and the Outlying Islands, the beach is any day, the best free thing to do in the city!

Just because Hong Kong has an avid collection of some of the best shopping centres, it does not mean it calls for a dent in the pocket. A stroll across the region's best shopping places is an excitement in itself. Moreover, the city also has its own selection of street markets such as the iconic Temple Street Market. You could indulge in some trinket-sighting too!

Hong Kong has a vast collection of museums. From world heritage to art and from railways to the police force, the city has exhibitions of almost every piece of history across various themes. Drop by these magnificent museums and feed the historian in you. Some of the must-visit museums include the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Arts.

There are a handful of such free walking tours in the city. These tours may be self-guided or in a group. Nonetheless, they are a great way to explore the city without shelling out a penny! Some of the well-known walking tours in Hong Kong are the Tsim Shah Tsui Free Walk, Hong Kong Free Night Tour and the Kowloon Free Tour.

Situated in the southern part of the Hong Kong Park in Victoria Peak, the Edward Youde Aviary is one of the largest aviaries in Southeast Asia. spread across 3000 square kilometres, it is named after Edward Youde, the governor of Hong Kong from 1982 to 1986. You could walk through this aviary that features over 600 birds of about 80 indigenous different species!

The Harbour of Fragrance is indeed painted in rich art and craftsmanship. Witness this expertise across the numerous galleries in Hong Kong. Besides, what's better than to grabbing an opportunity to imbibe the city's artist authenticity for free? Some of the galleries that stand out are Aishonanzuka, The Blindspot Gallery and AfricArt Gallery.

Besides being a hub for beaches and hikes, Hong Kong also offers an array of parks suitable for a family day out or just a touristy walk around the place. Some parks in Hong Kong are pure greenery while some are a combination of activities and nature. Hong Kong also has an excellent set of gardens that prove that the city has endless options when it comes to free things to do in Hong Kong.

Often described as an ecosystem in itself and a ghetto, Chungking Mansion is a famous building in Hong Kong. Located on Nathan Road, it is full of guesthouses offering a cheap residence, secret and infamous restaurants, and shopping stores. It is known as a haven for food lovers but also has many theories about what goes on inside the building, making it an almost mystery.

If you are lucky enough to be in Hong Kong around the Dragon boat festival in Hong Kong, there's nothing like it! This traditional annual holiday observed for over 2,000 years now to preserve the memory of the Chinese poet and politician Qu Yuan, is one of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

The Central and Western Heritage Trail, is an historic walk through some of the prominent landmarks in the city. Introduced in October of 1997, this path courses through 3 sections; the Central route, the the Shueng Wan Route and the Western District and the Peak Route.