On your first visit, I’d choose between South Kowloon and the Wan Chai district.

From Tsim Sha Tsui (which is in South Kowloon) and the area around Jordan station, you’ll be close to the promenade, markets and views of the skyscrapers.

Wan Chai is more practical if you want to be right on Hong Kong Island.

If you plan to go to the beach often, do have a look at the island’s southern coast as well: Repulse Bay and Stanley are closer from here than from Kowloon.

In Hong Kong, the location relative to the MTR and the specific room matter more than the number of stars a hotel has. Even a more expensive hotel may have a room without a view, whilst a budget hotel might be just a few steps from a station.

• First time in Hong Kong: Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan or Wan Chai
• On a budget: Jordan, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok
• For views of the skyscrapers: the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront
• Out of the city and to the beaches: the southern coast of Hong Kong Island, particularly Wong Chuk Hang as a base for trips to Repulse Bay and Stanley
• For a seaside stay: Mui Wo on Lantau; alternatively, Cheung Chau, which is a separate island
• For an early morning flight or an overnight stopover: a hotel near the airport or in Tung Chung

Don’t have time to compare all the neighbourhoods? I’d start with these hotels:

• Hotel Stage – a convenient base near Jordan MTR station if you want to explore the whole city.
• Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel – a hotel in Wan Chai, where we stayed on our last trip. When booking, make sure to choose a room category with a harbour view.
• Best Western Causeway Bay – a hotel belonging to a well-known chain; whilst the facilities are a bit dated, it offers the best value for money anywhere on Hong Kong Island

How much does accommodation cost in Hong Kong?

For a standard hotel, expect to pay approximately 800 hkd – 1 600 hkdper room per night. The figures below are indicative of the cost for a double room and are not guaranteed prices for any specific hotel. For a beach holiday, allow for the following budget:

• Budget guesthouse in Kowloon: around 700 hkd. Rooms tend to be very small.
• A standard city hotel: approximately 1 500 hkd, depending mainly on the neighbourhood and the time of year.
• The south of the island near Wong Chuk Hang MTR station: approximately 1 300 hkd. You’ll need to take a bus to get to the beach.
• Hotel with a sea view in the south of the island: roughly 2 300 hkd; luxury rooms may be more expensive.
• Lantau, near the beach at Mui Wo: roughly 1 200 hkd. In Discovery Bay, you should generally expect higher prices than in Mui Wo.

View hotel prices in Hong Kong

How far in advance should you book a hotel?

• Standard timeframe: start looking around 2–3 months before your trip. Don’t wait until the last minute; the choice of well-located rooms will be limited.
• Christmas, Lunar New Year or major trade fairs and events: it’s best to book 3–6 months in advance. The same applies if you want a specific hotel or a room with a view.
• Small beachfront hotels and weekends: book as soon as possible once your trip is confirmed. The choice in Mui Wo or Stanley itself is significantly more limited than in the city centre.

Kowloon or Hong Kong Island?

• Kowloon: choose this for views of the island’s famous skyline of skyscrapers, markets and often more affordable hotels on streets further from the waterfront.
• Hong Kong Island: choose this for the Central and Wan Chai districts, their restaurants and easier trips to Victoria Peak or the southern coast.

You can easily travel between the two sides by metro or ferry. When making your choice, the main factors to consider are where you want to walk to in the evening and which direction you’d like your room to face.

The best neighbourhoods in Hong Kong and hotel tips

These are the areas we’ve experienced first-hand or at least considered whilst planning our trip.

Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan: first-time visits and views

South Kowloon is a good choice if you want to walk to the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, the Avenue of Stars and the Star Ferry. Nathan Road runs from the waterfront through Jordan and further north.

• 👉 I’d chooseJordan for its good MTR links and more reasonable prices.
• 👉 The Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront is better for a luxury stay and views of the Hong Kong Island skyline. Hotels right by the water cost more; cheaper guesthouses a few streets away may have very small rooms.

The cheapest hotels

• Mandarin Guest House – a typical ultra-cheap Hong Kong hotel with tiny rooms, but a great location near Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station
• Travelodge Kowloon *** – a well-known brand that never disappoints. The hotel is 200 metres from Jordan MTR station

Hotels with views of Victoria Harbour

• K11 ARTUS ***** – a more spacious luxury residence by the waterfront and K11 MUSEA. On certain dates, it can work out cheaper than the neighbouring Rosewood
• Rosewood Hong Kong ***** – a hotel for those with an exceptional budget. It took first place in The World’s 50 Best Hotels ranking in 2025 and 2026
• Regent Hong Kong ***** – its unrivalled location right next to Avenue Stars offers the best views of any hotel in Hong Kong

Are you looking for a five-star hotel by the water in a quieter part of Kowloon? Harbour Grand Kowloon It’s situated next to Whampoa station. However, you won’t be able to walk to the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade in just a few minutes from there.

Central and Sheung Wan: the heart of Hong Kong Island

In Central, you’ll be close to skyscrapers, marinas, restaurants and the Airport Express station. The location is excellent, but hotel prices tend to be high.

Neighbouring Sheung Wan is a good choice if you want to stay on the island and spend less on your room.

• ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan – an affordable hotel in Sheung Wan; when choosing a room, check whether you’d prefer a view of the city or the harbour
• Buttefly on Wellington – a good hotel right in the ‘historic’ part of the city, with plenty of bars, restaurants and a great atmosphere
• Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong – a luxury option near Hong Kong Station, the Airport Express and the main ferry terminals

Wan Chai and Causeway Bay: a handy base on the island

Wan Chai lies between Central and Causeway Bay. It’s a good starting point for trips to Victoria Peak, as well as for exploring the island by bus to Repulse Bay and Stanley. Causeway Bay is a livelier shopping area.

Rooms on the Wan Chai waterfront may offer views of Kowloon; please check the exact room type.

• South Pacific Hotel – a city centre hotel between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, if you prioritise location over the view
• Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel – our hotel near the convention centre; it has an outdoor swimming pool and some rooms with views of Victoria Harbour

North Point: hotels near the MTR and a swimming pool with a view

North Point is further from Central, but remains on the main MTR route along the island’s northern coast.

It makes sense if you can find a hotel at a better price or want to be near the waterfront away from the busiest part of the city centre.

• ibis Hong Kong North Point – basic rooms right next to North Point station; it’s the location that counts, not the space
• Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour – for those who want a modern hotel with views and a rooftop swimming pool
• Harbour Grand Hong Kong – a five-star hotel by the waterfront; check the room’s orientation when booking

Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok: lively streets and lower prices

The area around Mong Kok is ideal if you want to spend your evenings wandering amongst markets, shops and local restaurants. You can easily reach the city centre and the waterfront by underground. Expect busy streets and a lower chance of getting a room with a view.

• Hotel Ease Mong Kok – A basic hotel in Yau Ma Tei near the MTR; check the dimensions of your chosen room.

Even cheaper guesthouses around Tsim Sha Tsui may be tempting value-for-money, but quality varies. Before booking, check recent guest reviews, room size and whether there’s an en-suite bathroom.

The island’s southern coast: Repulse Bay, Stanley and Wong Chuk Hang

This is the most convenient part of Hong Kong for combining city life with beaches.

You can head to the seaside in the morning and into the city centre in the afternoon without having to worry about ferry timetables. Repulse Bay is ideal for a longer swim, whilst Stanley is perfect for a peaceful stroll, the market and smaller beaches.

However, there are few standard hotels right by Repulse Bay.

The Repulse Bay, the famous building, now mainly offers flats to rent and services; it is not a traditional hotel for a one-night stay.

The best compromise between price, the MTR and the beaches can be found in Wong Chuk Hang: you can reach the city centre via the South Island Line on the MTR and get to the beaches by bus, for example on route 973 via Repulse Bay to Stanley. A hotel in Wong Chuk Hang is therefore not within walking distance of the beach.

• Nina Hotel Island South – in the Wong Chuk Hang area, about a 5-minute walk from the MTR; a more practical base for exploring the city and the south coast
• The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong – a luxury stay right by the sea next to Ocean Park. You’ll need to take a short journey to swim at Repulse Bay; the hotel is by the sea, but not on this particular beach
• Stanley Oriental Hotel – a small hotel in Stanley, about 600 metres from Stanley Main Beach. Ideal if the south coast is the main focus of your stay; you’ll need to take the bus into the city centre

Lantau: Mui Wo and Discovery Bay

Choose Lantau mainly for a quieter seaside stay and for trips around the island, such as to the Big Buddha.

It’s less convenient than the south of Hong Kong Island for exploring central Hong Kong on a daily basis.

• Mui Wo: Silvermine Bay Beach and a regular ferry to Central. The fast ferry takes about 35–40 minutes, the standard one about 50–55 minutes; allow extra time for the walk to the pier and waiting.
  • Silvermine Beach Resort It’s right by the beach, about a 10-minute walk from the pier
  • Easier Seaview Holiday Resort It is approximately 200 metres from the beach
• Discovery Bay: a more developed resort in the north-east of Lantau with a ferry to Central taking about 25 minutes.
  • Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong It is a hotel with sea views, but you’ll still need to take a local bus from the main ferry terminal and the beach in Discovery Bay.
• Pui O and Cheung Sha: beautiful beaches for a peaceful stay, but a limited choice of accommodation and travel is mainly by bus. I wouldn’t choose this as my sole base for a first visit to Hong Kong.

Tung Chung is also on Lantau, but it’s not a neighbourhood for a beach holiday. Its advantages are the airport, the MTR and the cable car to the Big Buddha; we list hotels below under ‘Airport Transfers’. You’ll find further options for exploring the island in the Lantau guide.

Cheung Chau: a separate island for a seaside stay

Cheung Chau isn’t part of Lantau. The beach and pedestrian streets are right on your doorstep, but the ferry to Central takes around 35–60 minutes, depending on the type of boat.

• Warwick Hotel Cheung Chau It is situated by the beach. If you’re planning a day out in the city, you’ll need to factor in the ferry journey both ways.

We describe the services in the chapter on ferries in Hong Kong.

Which hotel should you choose for a view of Victoria Harbour?

First, decide which side of the harbour you want to look out over.

You’ll see the famous skyline of skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island from a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side.

From hotels on Hong Kong Island, you’ll be looking in the opposite direction: towards the water and the buildings of Kowloon. You can find a good view even in a more affordable hotel – you don’t have to stay at the Rosewood.

Hotels with a view to suit your budget:

• The cheapest option by the water: ibis Hong Kong North Point. Choose the Superior Double Room with Harbour View. You’ll see the harbour and Kowloon opposite, but the rooms are small and you won’t be looking out over the famous Hong Kong Island skyline.
• An affordable hotel closer to the city centre: ibis Hong Kong Central & Sheung Wan. It offers Standard Queen Rooms with Harbour View. This is a good option if you want to stay on Hong Kong Island near Central; however, you won’t be able to see the famous Hong Kong Island skyline from here, as you’ll be right in the middle of it.
• The famous skyline at a more reasonable price: The Salisbury – YMCA of Hong Kong in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Harbour View Room looks across Victoria Harbour directly towards the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island. I’d choose this one first if you want this particular view without the price tag of a luxury hotel. Be wary of the cheaper Standard Room and Partial Harbour View Room: the view from these isn’t the same.
• A more comfortable hotel on the island: Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel in Wan Chai, where we stayed on our last trip. It also has an outdoor swimming pool. Book a room with a harbour view if you want to enjoy it directly from your room.
• A luxury hotel and panoramic views of the island: Regent Hong Kong or the Rosewood Hong Kong, situated on the Kowloon waterfront. Here too, be sure to choose a specific room with a harbour view; simply booking the hotel does not guarantee one.

If you’re mainly after a pool overlooking the harbour, also take a look at Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour North Point. Make sure to specifically choose a room with a view of the water. Compare prices for this particular category, not for the cheapest room in the hotel. And if it’s too expensive for your dates, you can stay more cheaply in the city and enjoy the panoramic views from Hong Kong’s public viewing points.

Where to stay whilst transiting at HKG Airport?

If you mainly just want to sleep and continue your flight in the morning, choose a hotel right next to the airport.

If you’d like to explore the city in the evening, it’s better to stay in Central or Kowloon and travel to the airport the next day. We compare transport options in our guide to travelling from Hong Kong HKG Airport.

• Regal Airport Hotel – From Terminal 1, you can walk to the hotel via a covered walkway in about 2 minutes. The hotel is outside the transit zone
• Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel – near AsiaWorld-Expo; use the hotel shuttle to get to the terminal
• Novotel Citygate Hong Kong – Tung Chung, near the MTR and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car; the hotel offers a transfer to the airport
• The Silveri Hotel Hong Kong – MGallery Collection – A more luxurious option near Tung Chung station. Please check the current transfer conditions when booking

Accommodation near the airport is located in the public area. If you’re transferring without entering Hong Kong, you won’t be able to access these hotels. You’ll find further options and details on overnight stays in the section on hotels near HKG Airport.

What should you look out for when booking a hotel?

• Room size: rooms in cheaper hotels can be very small. Check the floor area in m² and whether the room has an en-suite bathroom.
• View: the term ‘Harbour View’ in the hotel’s name does not guarantee a view from every room. Choose the specific room category with the view you require.
• Journey from transport links: as well as the distance on the map, check the walking route to the MTR entrance or the airport bus stop. Our guide to transport in Hong Kong will help.
• Final price: compare the price, including tax, breakfast and cancellation terms.

Where to book a hotel in Hong Kong?

For standard hotels, hotels with a view and accommodation near the airport, start by comparing offers on Booking.com.

For the cheapest guesthouses, it’s also worth checking Agodu. On both sites, make sure to compare the same room, dates, taxes and cancellation terms.