From Victoria Peak, you can see a panoramic view of the skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon across the water. It is one of the places we wouldn’t miss on a first visit to Hong Kong.

Ideally, head here whilst it’s still light and stay until after dark. The view of the city changes completely once the skyscrapers are lit up.

There’s no admission fee for The Peak. Some of the most beautiful viewpoints are also free of charge.

There is a charge for a ride on the historic Peak Tram and for entry to the Sky Terrace 428 rooftop.

Choose the best accommodation with views of Hong Kong

• Best free view: Lugard Road Lookout, about a 20-minute walk from the upper station.
• Views with almost no walking: the free rooftop terraces at Peak Galleria and Lion’s Pavilion.
• Getting up there: bus 15 from 13 hkd, minibus 1 from 11,80 hkd or the Peak Tram from 82 hkd.
• How long: at least 1 hour at the top; longer if you stay for sunset or take a longer walk.

What Victoria Peak looks like

Don’t picture Victoria Peak as just a single viewpoint at the top of a hill. The highest hill on Hong Kong Island (552 m above sea level) rises out of a dense forest, but the summit itself is very difficult to reach.

This is because several large, fenced-off antennas stand at the highest point.

The main hub of tourist activity is in the saddle simply known as ‘the Gap’ between Victoria Peak and Mount Gough. From here, too, there are views in both directions – towards the centre of Hong Kong and Kowloon, and on the other side towards the Aberdeen district.

Be prepared for an extremely touristy spot with crowds of people and large, unsightly supermarkets.

The best views from Victoria Peak

Where can you find the best views of Hong Kong from the top of Victoria Peak and the surrounding area?

As we’ve already mentioned, the highest point is largely inaccessible, but you’ll still find some great viewpoints nearby.

Lugard Road Lookout: my tip for a classic panoramic view

One of the most popular viewpoints is offered by the hiking trail around the summit, also known as ‘Lugard Road’.

At one point, the path emerges from the woods directly above the centre of Hong Kong and Victoria Harbour, offering breathtaking views.

From the cable car station, it’s a 1 km walk one way, mostly on flat ground with only a few short inclines.

The Peak Galleria: free rooftop viewing platform

Directly opposite the exit from the cable car’s upper station is the “Peak Galleria” shopping centre. Inside the centre is a bus station.

The shopping centre’s roof offers panoramic views of central Hong Kong, Kowloon and, on the other side, the southern coastline around the Aberdeen district.

Unlike the larger Peak Tower shopping centre, where the cable car terminates, the viewing deck on the roof is accessible free of charge.

It is open daily from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm.

Findlay Road: the nearest viewpoints

A narrow tarmac road leads uphill from both shopping centres, and there are several spots offering beautiful views of central Hong Kong and Kowloon.

It’s only about 200 metres’ walk from the cable car station.

The downside of Findlay Road is that the viewing spots are relatively small and tend to get quite crowded.

Sky Terrace 428: a paid viewing point

Sky Terrace 428 is situated on the roof of Peak Tower, the building housing the cable car’s upper station. It offers panoramic views from a height of 428 metres above sea level.

A single entry ticket costs 80 hkd andincludes one cable car ride. You can buy a ticket online via the official GetYourGuide sales channel or on the spot (online booking is not essential).

It is open daily from 8.30 am to 10.00 pm.

The view is beautiful, but a ticket isn’t required to visit The Peak. You can start by taking in the view from the free Peak Galleria or going for a walk along Lugard Road.

Victoria Peak Gardens

The magnificent Victorian-style gardens, with their many flowerbeds, gazebos and pavilions, also offer panoramic views of thesouthernpart of Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island.

You won’t be able to see the centre of Hong Kong or Kowloon from the gardens.

From the cable car station, a 1.5 km walk in one direction takes you up a fairly steep hill.

Map of the viewpoints

We’ve put together a simple guide to the main viewpoints on Victoria Peak for you.

When is the best time to visit Victoria Peak?

On a clear day, arrive before sunset. You’ll be able to enjoy both the daytime views and the night-time panorama, but that’s when it tends to be busiest at the top and on the Peak Tram.

If the city is shrouded in clouds or fog, the view from the Sky Terrace (which requires a ticket) may be limited.

So check the current visibility before buying a ticket. Allow 1–2 hours for a short visit, or 2–3 hours if you’re planning a walk around the summit.

How to get there

From the city centre, you have three main options: the Peak Tram, bus 15 and the green minibus 1.

The MTR doesn’t run up the hill; use it to get to Central or Hong Kong stations and then continue on your chosen mode of transport. You can find details on paying fares in the Hong Kong transport guide.

Peak Tram: a historic funicular

The Peak Tram is an experience in itself. The lower station is located at 33 Garden Road, about a 10–15-minute walk from Exit J2 of Central MTR station. You can also walk through Hong Kong Park on the way.

The Peak Tram runs daily from 7.30 am to 11.00 pm, usually every 15–20 minutes. The journey itself takes approximately 10 minutes.

Prices for adults:

• 82 hkd: a single Peak Tram journey
• 116 hkd: Peak Tram return ticket
• 146 hkd: single Peak Tram ticket and entry to Sky Terrace 428
• 182 hkd: return Peak Tram ticket and entry to Sky Terrace 428

For a morning visit, check the official website for the discounted Morning Ticket, which includes the cable car and the viewing platform.

You can buy tickets on the official Peak Tram website or at the lower station. Card payments are accepted.

A standard ticket purchased in advance guarantees you entry, but not priority boarding on the cable car. The longest queues are usually around sunset and at weekends.

If you’d like to add a guide and priority boarding to your itinerary for a single journey, there’s also an organised tour featuring the Peak Tram and a walk through the city centre. This is a tour lasting several hours, not a standard tram ticket.

Our tip: Take the cable car up to 82 hkd and return down by bus 15 to 13 hkd. In total, you’ll pay 95 hkd116 hkd instead of the price of a return Peak Tram ticket.

Bus

You can get to the summit more cheaply and more frequently by bus. However, the journey takes longer than by cable car, and you may even have to queue for the bus, although not for very long (usually a maximum of 10–20 minutes).

• Minibus 1– express service to ‘Central’ station
  • Frequency – every 5 to 15 minutes
  • Journey time – 35 minutes
  • Fare – 11,80 hkd (Octopus Card only)
• Bus 15– a slower route to “Central” station
  • Frequency – every 5 to 15 minutes
  • Journey time – 45 minutes
  • Fare – 13 hkd (you can pay with your own contactless card or an Octopus Card)

Where to stay near the Peak Tram?

You won’t find a wide choice of accommodation at the top station. It’s more practical to stay in the city centre near the bottom station of the tram, from where you can also easily reach the underground and other attractions.

• The Murray, Hong Kong – a luxury hotel not far from the lower station of the Peak Tram and Hong Kong Park.
• Two MacDonnell Road – apartment accommodation in a quieter area above the city centre, within walking distance of the tram.

Compare hotels near the Peak Tram

We discuss the advantages of each neighbourhood and offer further tips in the article ‘Where to stay in Hong Kong’.

​​Walking trails

The area around Victoria Peak is also great for walking, whether it’s a short, flat stroll or an extremely challenging climb up a steep hill.

However, of all the areas in Hong Kong, you should bear in mind that Victoria Peak is the most popular tourist destination and the trails will always be very busy.

What are the best trails in the area? And how long does it take to climb Victoria Peak from central Hong Kong?

• Victoria Peak Loop – a circular trail around the mountainside. The whole route is on tarmac and mostly in the shade of a dense forest, though you’ll often pass beautiful viewpoints.
  • Length – 3.5 km / 45 minutes
  • Difficulty – easy
• Central Green Trail – a popular route for anyone who wants to hike up Victoria Peak directly from the city centre and walk alongside the cable car.
  • Length – 3 km / 45 minutes downhill / 2 hours uphill
  • Difficulty – easy on the way down and difficult on the way up (steep gradient)
• Hong Kong Trail, Section 1 – The first section of the famous trail across Hong Kong takes you from the upper cable car station on a loop to Pok Fu Dam. The route runs partly along tarmac and partly through woodland. 
  • Length – 6.5 km / 1.5 hours downhill and around 2 hours uphill
  • Difficulty – moderately difficult
• Victoria Peak – stanice metra HKU – A popular walking route from the upper cable car station, past the viewpoint on Lugard Road and then steeply down to the HKU MTR station in the western part of central Hong Kong.
  • Length – 5 km / 70 minutes downhill and around 105 minutes uphill
  • Difficulty – easy on the way down and moderately difficult on the way up

So, if you’re planning to climb Victoria Peak on foot without using the cable car or bus, it will take fitter travellers around2 to 2.5 hours. The average tourist will take around 3.5 hours to climb the very steep hill.

Accommodation at Victoria Peak

There are no hotels or private flats in the immediate vicinity of the summit.

About 200 metres from the cable car’s lower station, you can stay in a beautiful hotel Two MacDonnell Road **** overlooking the city centre.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Hong Kong.