Planning a trip to Hong Kong with kids and want a totally do-able itinerary? Keep scrolling to check out my kid-friendly 5 days in Hong Kong itinerary from my last trip to Japan!
This kid-friendly 5 days in Hong Kong itinerary was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
My husband’s parents were born in China and raised in Hong Kong before moving to the US in the 1960s.
This trip was all about connecting our boys (ages 9 and almost 12) with their family history.
It was their first time visiting Hong Kong and meeting extended family who still live there, and honestly, it was magical watching them experience their grandparents’ homeland.
We traveled with my mother-in-law, father-in-law, and my husband’s aunt and uncle. Between family dinners and exploring the city, we packed in everything from making ramen to riding cable cars with glass floors.
Here’s exactly what we did, what we spent, and what I’d recommend for your own Hong Kong family vacation.
Where We Stayed: Park Hotel Hong Kong
We stayed at the Park Hotel Hong Kong in Kowloon the entire trip, and it was perfect for our needs.
The location was super convenient (just down the street from family), and we booked the Premier Family Quintuple Room, which is basically two hotel rooms connected into one massive suite.
The setup was ideal. My husband and I had a king bed in one room, my 11-year-old got a queen bed, and my 9-year-old had a twin. Plus there were two bathrooms, which saved us from the usual morning chaos.
The room is about 67-74 square meters, which is huge by Hong Kong standards.
Cost-wise, rooms start around HK$1,500-2,500 per night depending on the season. The hotel is a quick 5-7 minute walk from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station, making it easy to get anywhere in the city.
Day 1: Epic Noodle Making Adventures
We eased into our first full day with breakfast at Malouf (amazing pastries and smoothies) and let the kids wake up slowly since they were still jet-lagged.
Cup Noodles Museum Hong Kong
At 11:30am, we headed to the Cup Noodles Museum Hong Kong for back-to-back workshops.
Fair warning: this location is closing in January 2026, but there are other Cup Noodles Museums around the world in Osaka, Yokohama, and even one opening soon in Chicago.
We started with the Demae Iccho Factory Workshop (HK$120 per person, 90 minutes).
My kids called this “epic” because we did the entire noodle-making process from scratch.
They mixed the dough, rolled it through machines, cut it into noodles, and at the end, the staff wrapped our ramen packages in our workshop head scarves to take home. Such a fun touch!
Right after, we did the My Cup Noodles Factory workshop (HK$60 per person, 30 minutes).
The kids designed their own cups, picked their soup base and four toppings, and watched the staff assemble everything Subway-style before sealing it up.
Book ahead during busy season, but we went during Thanksgiving week and walked right in. If you’re visiting after the Hong Kong location closes, check out these alternatives for hands-on cooking experiences:
- Hong Kong Egg Tart and Dumpling Cooking Class
- Traditional Cantonese Cooking Class
- Dim Sum Making Workshop
Mak’s Noodles and Shopping
Since we had noodles on our minds, we swung by Mak’s Noodles for won ton min for lunch.
Then I dropped my husband and boys back at the hotel for screen time while my mother-in-law and I went shopping. We found a cute chain of Korean clothing stores with affordable prices.
Later, I picked up the guys and we hit up a pop-up Kirby store in a mall. My youngest was in absolute heaven.
Dinner with a View
By this point, my oldest was getting hangry (family travel expert tip: always have snacks), so we headed to Wooloomooloo for steak dinner.
The view of the Hong Kong skyline at night was seriously incredible. Worth it just for the photos alone.
The kids were still jet-lagged, so we called it an early night.
Day 2: Macau Day Trip
My father-in-law had been raving about the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge since we started planning this trip, so he arranged private cars to take our whole crew to Macau for the day.
The cars picked us up at 9am. Fair warning: you’ll show your passport four times (leaving Hong Kong, entering Macau, leaving Macau, entering Hong Kong).
My husband actually left our passports in the first van when we switched vehicles in Macau, but thankfully our driver contacted the original driver who brought them back. Heart attack moment averted!
The bridge crossing itself was about 20 minutes. The underwater portion was pretty short.
Honestly? My father-in-law admitted afterward it looked more impressive on YouTube than it actually was in person. You really can’t see much while driving it.
I have a whole blog post about this Hong Kong to Macau Day Trip.
What We Did in Macau
We visited the Ruins of St. Paul’s, which are the remains of a 17th-century cathedral. The kids thought the facade was pretty cool, and it’s a quick photo stop.
Then we had lunch overlooking the water and skyline, drove past the fancy casinos (the Venetian offers gondola rides that might be fun for kids if you want to spend more time there), and finished with the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion.
The pandas were the highlight. We saw all four of them, and my kids loved it.
If you’re doing Macau with kids, I’d build your day around activities like the pandas and maybe skip some of the historic sites unless your family is really into that.
Cost-wise, we paid about HK$250 per hour per van. Was it worth it? For the family history aspect and my father-in-law’s excitement, yes.
But if I were planning a Hong Kong trip focused purely on kid-friendly activities, I’d probably skip Macau and do Ocean Park instead.
We grabbed Chinese BBQ takeout on the way back and had another early night.
Day 3: Hong Kong Disneyland
This was the day we’d all been waiting for. We left Kowloon around 9am and took three different MTR trains to get to Disneyland (about an hour total, around HK$26-35 per person with an Octopus card).
We only got confused a couple of times, which I’m counting as a win.
People told us Hong Kong Disneyland was a “half-day park” because it’s small. We spent from 10:30am to 7:30pm there (including a three-hour break for dim sum at the Disneyland Hotel) and hit everything we wanted.
I have a whole blog post detailing our one-day Hong Kong Disneyland itinerary.
Disney Premier Access: Worth It?
My husband bought us the Disney Premier Access for eight rides (HK$429 per person). We basically walked onto everything. Even without it, most wait times were 5-30 minutes, which is the shortest I’ve ever seen at any Disney park.
The rides unique to Hong Kong Disneyland:
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars – My 11-year-old’s favorite
- Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! – My 9-year-old loved this
- Iron Man Experience – Another huge hit
- Mystic Manor – Our whole family’s favorite! This trackless dark ride was absolutely incredible
We also rode Hyperspace Mountain (Star Wars themed Space Mountain) and “it’s a small world,” which I always love because each Disney park’s version is slightly different.
Crystal Lotus Dim Sum
We took a break from 2:30-4pm for dim sum at Crystal Lotus in the Disneyland Hotel. The soupy dumplings were amazing, and the break gave everyone time to recharge.
If your family loves Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. Book Hong Kong Disneyland tickets in advance to save time.
Day 4: Flytographer and Shopping
We started the day with a Flytographer session from 10:30-11:30am. We began in Kowloon and took the Star Ferry to the Hong Kong Island side, which gave us tons of variety in our photos.
The Flytographer session was $425 USD for 60 minutes, and it was completely worth it. We got beautiful family photos with my in-laws that we’ll treasure forever.
Plus, using my Flytographer link saves you $20 on your session.
After the photoshoot, we met up with family for lunch and then spent the afternoon shopping for toys, electronics, and figurines.
Best Meal of the Trip
Dinner was at a seafood restaurant in the New Territories where we picked out live seafood and the restaurant prepared it for us.
This was hands-down my favorite meal of the entire trip. The freshness was unbeatable, and watching the kids pick out their dinner was entertaining.
After dinner, we headed back near our hotel in Kowloon and did a walk along the waterfront at night to see all the lights and the Bruce Lee statue.
Day 5: School Visits and Big Buddha
This day was the most meaningful for our family. We hired a private driver and visited the high schools where my mother-in-law and father-in-law went.
Maryknoll had recess going on, so my mother-in-law could go in briefly, but we had to wait outside the gates.
Wah Yan College was completely different. Not only were we allowed on campus, but the principal and Vice-President of Students greeted us with souvenirs!
The principal actually went to Maryknoll, so it was one of those “small world” moments.
This whole experience was unique to our family history trip, but if you have Hong Kong connections, I highly recommend visiting meaningful family sites.
Lunch at Shanghai Plus
We met up with more family for lunch at Shanghai Plus. The soupy dumplings were better than Din Tai Fung (and I love Din Tai Fung). My kids devoured them.
Ngong Ping 360 and Big Buddha
Then our driver took us to the Big Buddha for what I personally think is the coolest thing to do in Hong Kong.
We rode the Ngong Ping 360 cable car in the Crystal+ cabins, which have completely transparent glass floors so you can see the trees and water below you.
It’s a 25-minute ride, and the views are spectacular. We paid HK$545 each for the Crystal+ round-trip tickets. You can also book through Viator if you prefer.
Standard cabin round-trip tickets are cheaper (HK$295 for adults, HK$150 for kids ages 3-11), but the Crystal cabins are worth the splurge if your family isn’t afraid of heights.
At the top, the kids and I climbed the 268 steps to the Big Buddha and went inside. They thought it was really cool seeing the relic hall. The whole experience felt peaceful and impressive.
This is a must-do for families visiting Hong Kong. Between the cable car ride and the Big Buddha, plan at least 3-4 hours for the whole experience.
We were pretty wiped when we got back to the hotel, but my 11yo and I had enough energy to walk to AM PM to get souffle pancakes. They were SO worth the walk!
Departure Day
Our flight wasn’t until 7:40pm, so we had a wonky day of packing and last-minute adventures.
We went back to Reaction for breakfast (their coffee is excellent), did a little shopping, and then met up with more family for dim sum lunch.
Then we headed to the airport extra early to drop off our mountain of luggage (we bought a lot) and relax before our flight to Taipei.
What We’d Skip Next Time
Macau
Unless you have a specific reason to go or want to experience the casinos and shows, I’d skip it with kids and do Ocean Park instead.
The bridge was underwhelming, and while the pandas were great, you could spend that time doing something more kid-focused in Hong Kong.
Victoria Peak
We skipped it this trip (my third time in Hong Kong), and I don’t regret it. My oldest hates scenic lookouts, and we got amazing views from other spots.
If you’ve never been to Hong Kong, definitely go. But if you’re short on time, it’s skippable.
What We’d Do Again (and What You Shouldn’t Miss)
Big Buddha and Ngong Ping 360
This was the most impressive experience. The cable car ride is stunning, and the Big Buddha is worth the climb. Don’t skip this.
Hong Kong Disneyland
If you’re a Disney family, this is a no-brainer. The unique rides and short wait times make it way more enjoyable than domestic Disney parks.
Hands-on activities
The noodle-making workshops were my kids’ favorite memories. Look for interactive experiences like cooking classes where kids can actually do something, not just look at things.
Boat rides
We skipped most boat rides because my oldest gets seasick, but the Star Ferry for our Flytographer session was quick enough that he was fine. The harbor views are beautiful, so factor this in if your kids handle boats well.
Budget Breakdown
Full transparency: my in-laws paid for most of our trip, and family treated us to many meals.
But when I checked prices, everything was similar to what we pay in the US. Hong Kong wasn’t as cheap as Bangkok or Taipei, but it wasn’t outrageously expensive either.
Transportation was affordable (MTR trips were around HK$26-35 per person, the Macau van was HK$250/hour per van). Activities ranged from HK$60 for a quick workshop to HK$545 for the premium cable car experience.
Weather and What to Pack
We visited the week of Thanksgiving (late November), and the weather was perfect. No rain, temperatures in the 50s in early morning warming up to mid-70s by afternoon. It was a bit muggy, but comfortable.
I packed:
- A couple of sweaters
- Mix of long pants and shorts
- Rain jacket
- Vessi waterproof sneakers (these were perfect for walking all day)
- Sandals for alternating
My husband wore t-shirts with shorts or pants. The kids mostly wore t-shirts and sweats.
Best Ages for Hong Kong with Kids
Our boys were 9 and almost 12, which were great ages for this trip. I’d say Hong Kong works well for ages 5 and up because there’s a lot of walking and the flights are long. Younger kids might struggle with the pace and distance.
That said, there are definitely things for younger kids to do (Ocean Park, Disneyland, the Science Museum). Just plan for more breaks and maybe skip some of the walking-intensive activities.
Planning Your Own Hong Kong Family Vacation
If you’re planning a trip to Hong Kong with kids, here’s what I recommend:
Stay in Kowloon: The location is central, the hotel options are great for families, and you’re close to everything. Book a family-friendly hotel in Kowloon well in advance.
Book activities ahead: During peak season, popular experiences like the noodle museum and Disneyland Premier Access sell out. Reserve early to avoid disappointment.
Mix active and chill days: We alternated between go-go-go days and more relaxed mornings. This helped with jet lag and kept everyone from getting burned out.
Budget 5-7 days: Five days was perfect for us to see the highlights without feeling rushed. If you want to add Ocean Park or explore more neighborhoods, seven days would give you breathing room.
Connect with local food: Some of our best memories were at random dim sum places and the seafood restaurant. Don’t just stick to tourist spots.
As a family travel blogger who’s been to Hong Kong three times now, I can confidently say it’s one of the best destinations for families who want a mix of culture, food, and adventure. The city is safe, the public transportation is excellent, and there’s something for every age.
If you’re looking for other family travel guides, check out my Tokyo with Kids travel guide or my Bangkok 2-day itinerary.
Hong Kong delivered everything we hoped for: connection with family, incredible experiences for the kids, and memories we’ll cherish forever.
Looking for more Hong Kong travel resources? Check out Hong Kong Disneyland with Kids: Complete 2026 Guide (Why It’s Better Than You Think!) and Hong Kong to Macau Day Trip with Kids via the HZMB Bridge (Is It Worth It?)
