Kowloon
Tsim Sha Tsui (TST)
Tsim Sha Tsui (TST, pronounced: "Tsim Sha Choi") is the tourist hub of Kowloon — and at the same time the place with the best view of the skyline of Hong Kong Island. The TST Waterfront Promenade (Avenue of Stars) stretches along Victoria Harbour and offers an uninterrupted panoramic view of the skyscrapers opposite.
Avenue of Stars
The Avenue of Stars (modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame) honors the stars of the Cantonese film industry — including a bronze statue of Bruce Lee in his legendary fighting pose. The best place to see the Symphony of Lights (daily at 8 PM, free): a multimedia light show where over 40 buildings on both sides of the harbor are illuminated with lasers and searchlights.
Star Ferry Pier
From TST, the Star Ferry departs to Central and Wan Chai — the most iconic ferry connection in the world. Since 1888, the green-and-white ferries have been crossing Victoria Harbour. The crossing takes 10 minutes and costs 2.70 HKD (about 0.30 €) — the best deal in all of Hong Kong. National Geographic counts it among the "50 Places of a Lifetime". Most beautiful at sunset or at night.
Cultural Mile
TST is home to some of Hong Kong's best museums:
- Hong Kong Museum of Art: Reopened in 2019 after extensive renovation. Chinese calligraphy, Cantonese painting, and contemporary art. Free!
- Hong Kong Space Museum: The distinctive egg-shaped building next to the waterfront — planetarium and space exhibition (10 HKD).
- Hong Kong Cultural Centre: Concerts, theater, exhibitions — Hong Kong's most important venue.
- M+ Museum: Asia's largest museum for visual culture (opened in 2021). Architecture by Herzog & de Meuron. Spectacular collection — the LED facade facing the harbor is a work of art in itself. Free for the main exhibitions.
Tipp
Arrive 30 minutes before the Symphony of Lights (so at 7:30 PM) at the TST Waterfront and secure a spot right at the railing. The view of the darkening skyline, followed by the light show, is one of Hong Kong's most unforgettable experiences — and completely free.
Mong Kok — the densest place in the world
Mong Kok (旺角) is the densest district in the world — over 130,000 people per square kilometer. It is loud, chaotic, overwhelming, and absolutely fascinating. Here you experience the unfiltered, unpolished Hong Kong: neon signs tower over the streets, market stalls overflow, food stalls steam, and the crowd moves like a living river through the narrow alleys.
Temple Street Night Market
Hong Kong's most famous night market stretches over several blocks in Yau Ma Tei (near Mong Kok). From 6 PM, hundreds of stalls set up: fake watches, jade jewelry, phone cases, clothing, curiosities — haggling is a must (start at 50% of the quoted price). In between: fortune tellers (palm readers, bird bone oracles), Cantonese opera in the open air (at Tin Hau Temple), and food stalls with seafood, noodles, and congee. Most lively between 8 and 11 PM.
Themed Markets of Mong Kok
- Ladies' Market (Tung Choi Street): Over 100 stalls with affordable clothing, accessories, and souvenirs. Despite the name, for all genders — haggling is standard here.
- Goldfish Market (Tung Choi Street North): Dozens of shops with tropical fish in plastic bags on the wall — a surreal experience possible only in Hong Kong.
- Flower Market (Flower Market Road): Orchids, bonsai, lotus flowers, and lucky bamboo in a fragrant alley full of colors. Most beautiful before Chinese New Year, when the street becomes a sea of flowers.
- Sneaker Street (Fa Yuen Street): Dozens of sports shoe stores on one street — Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and rare models, often cheaper than in Europe.
- Bird Garden: A small park where older Hongkongers carry their songbirds in ornate cages and compare them — a tradition that is dying out but still alive.
Achtung
Beware of scammers in Mong Kok: "Tailor shops" that approach you on the street often sell low-quality bespoke suits at inflated prices. Electronics shops with offers that sound too good to be true may have hidden costs or counterfeit goods. Rule of thumb: If someone approaches you on the street — be skeptical.
Jordan & Yau Ma Tei
Yau Ma Tei
Yau Ma Tei (油麻地) is the district next to Mong Kok — quieter, older, more authentic. Here lies the Tin Hau Temple (the oldest preserved temple in Kowloon, dedicated to the sea goddess), the Jade Market (stalls with jade jewelry and figures, 10–300 HKD — difficult to assess without expertise, but beautiful to look at) and the quieter sections of the Temple Street Night Market.
Jordan
Jordan is the dim sum heart of Kowloon: Here, local dim sum restaurants line up, more authentic and cheaper than the tourist addresses. Must-eats:
- Tim Ho Wan (MTR Olympia Station): The cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in the world. BBQ Pork Buns (Char Siu Bau) are the star — crispy dough, sweet-smoky filling. Expect a queue (30–60 min.), but it's worth it. Set from 40 HKD.
- Mido Café (Temple Street): A Cha Chaan Teng (Cantonese café) like something out of a Wong Kar-wai film: green tiles, ceiling fans, French toast with butter and condensed milk, Hong Kong Milk Tea. Unchanged since the 1950s — a time capsule experience.
- Australian Dairy Company (Jordan): The most famous breakfast institution in Hong Kong — scrambled eggs on toast, macaroni in broth, and the creamiest steamed milk pudding in the city. Service is gruff, pace is fast, quality is legendary. 40 HKD for a complete breakfast.
The Peninsula Hotel
The Peninsula Hotel (1928) is Hong Kong's grande dame — an Art Deco palace in TST, once considered "the finest hotel east of the Suez Canal". Even if you're not staying here: Afternoon Tea in the lobby (with live orchestra) is an institution (468 HKD per person). Or simply stroll through the lobby and admire the golden splendor — that's free.
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