An expert's guide: the best area to stay in Hong Kong

Hong Kong floats between old China and the west; its futuristic harbour has become one of Asia's most famous views but you'll also find pockets of traditional culture dotted between the skyscrapers.

From the glossy heights of Central to the streets and alleys winding through Kowloon, there are culinary, shopping and cultural delights to be found across the city. Whatever you're looking for, this guide will help you chose the best area to stay in Hong Kong.

Best for luxury: Central to Causeway Bay

Hong Kong is known as the vertical city, and as you make your way up the Mid-Levels escalators you can see why. Business blossomed in the 1900s and the influx of western banks, bars and boutiques line the streets on the north shore of the Island.

High-end shops and restaurants are here in abundance, and so are the most luxurious places to stay.

For oriental opulence: Mandarin Oriental

The Mandarin Oriental is often thought of as Hong Kong’s best hotel. The facilities and service are excellent, and you'll find draped Chinese tapestries and antiques in each room.

Grand rooms, grand prices: Renaissance Harbour View Hotel

As the name promises, the Renaissance offers incredible views over the water. It shares a pool and fitness centre with the Grand Hyatt but set just back is often slightly cheaper.

Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, Hong Kong © KK Tan/Shutterstock

Best for atmosphere on a budget: Mong Kok

The streets of Mong Kok are a sensory overload: hundreds of neon signs hang above roads that bustle with shoppers – you can buy anything from cosmetics to mobile phones here – and street food stalls steaming with local specialties.

It’s a popular spot for budget travellers; Mong Kok is where the vast majority of hostels and cheaper accommodation are based.

Cash-strapped: Dragon Hostel

This seventh-floor guesthouse offers dorms, doubles and singles. Though it’s not the most glamorous (some rooms are windowless) staff are helpful, and the location is ideal.

A plush cultural experience: Royal Plaza

Located above the Mong Kok East MTR station and above the mania below, Royal Plaza is linked to the MOKO Shopping Centre, where beauty counters and designers shops can be found. You can pamper yourself in the sauna and spa and then dip back into the chaos just a few minutes away.

Mong Kok, Hong Kong is the highest population density place in the world © Shutterstock

Best for old China: Yau Ma Tei

For a dose of old China head to the medicinal teashops, street food stalls and antiques markets of Yau Ma Tei.

The Jade Market (a covered bazaar selling varied qualities of jade) neighbours a gathering of the city's fortune-tellers and the Temple Street night market.

A 15-minute walk from the harbour, it’s the perfect place for rummaging through peculiar antiquities and mixing with the locals.

A great Location: Nathan Hotel

This new-build is located on the always-busy Nathan Road. The rooms are a lot larger than most in Hong Kong hotels and you’re in walking distance from the most visit-worthy places on Kowloon.

A place to rest your head: Booth Lodge

This Salvation Army hotel is a quiet alternative tucked off the main road next to the Jade and Temple Street markets. You can be sure to get a fairly basic but clean room.

Jade jewelery at the Yaumatei jade market, Hong Kong © Shutterstock

Best for exploring: the Outlying Islands and New Territories

Glorious beaches, rugged scenery and beautiful mountainous walks are not the first thing you think of when planning a trip to Hong Kong. But if you have the time to venture out of the metropolis into the new territories, or board a boat from Central to one of the Outlying Islands, a different pace of life awaits.

Lamma has become a haven for expat artists, giving the island its ‘hippy’ label. There are no motor vehicles, so it has a sleepy seaside feel and is the perfect place to escape the city. Cheng Chau and Ma Wan are both home to small fishing villages and quaint beaches that are worth a visit.

The New Territories are sparsely populated in comparison to Kowloon and the Island. Much of the land has national park status, including the group of beautiful beaches on the Sai Kung peninsula.

For the budget wanderer: Soho Hotel

Soho Hotel is housed a 6-minute walk from Lan kwai Fong and a 10-minute walk from MTR Central Station. It is surrounded by various design studios and pop-up stores with free WiFi in all areas.

Luxury meets leisure: Regal Riverside Hotel

Based in Sha Tin, it’s close enough to the lights of the city by MTR but in a perfect position to access the outdoor pursuits of scenic New Territories. It’s great value, even if a little grandiose.

Lamma Island, Hong Kong © Shutterstock

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Best for a laidback vibe: Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun

Just down from Soho along Queens Road West, Sai Ying Pun is fast becoming popular among locals and travellers alike. Here you’ll find minimalist cafés, hidden away jazz bars and techno-filled basements.

Follow Des Veoux Road West all the way to Kennedy Town for impressive views of Kowloon.

For the minimalist: The Jervois

At this ultra-modern, exquisitely-designed set of apartments in Sheung Wan, you can expect slick design and complete comfort. It’s self-catering but there’s an endless choice of dim sum and Asian fusion restaurants in the area.

For the city roamer: Eco Tree Hotel

Sitting right next to Sai Ying Pun MTR station, the rooms here are a little soulless but decent in size and the location is perfect for a walk through the Sun-Yat-Sen Memorial Park, or up into Soho.

This feature contains affiliate links; you can find out more about why we’ve partnered with booking.com here. All recommendations are editorially independent and taken from The Pocket Rough Guide to Hong Kong & Macau.

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