One of the best things about a trip to Hong Kong are the various half-day tours you can take. With half-day tours that will take you to Hong Kong's incredible Chinese temples, street markets, shopping centers, fishing villages, the world-famous Victoria Peak and even out to see the nightlife, it's sometimes hard to choose which tour to take. That's why starting off with one of these three top Hong Kong half-day tours (or even all of them) is a good beginning.
Half-Day Hong Kong Island Tour - A wonderful introduction to Hong Kong is the Hong Kong half-day island tour. This half-day tour takes you to Man Mo Temple, up the world's steepest funicular tram to the top of Victoria Peak to see the incredible views out over the Harbour and then onto Aberdeen Fishing Village. Here, you'll see a traditional fishing village, of the style that is slowly being lost to modernization, as well as ride on a sampan and have a short visit to a jewelry factory.
You'll finish up the half-day Hong Kong Island tour by driving through Repulse Bay, one of Hong Kong's most popular beach areas, and finally end up at the massive Stanley Market. Stanley Market is Hong Kong's largest market and a mecca for those who like Chinese art, antiques, clothing, shoes, books, toys, DVDs, CDs, you name it, they sell it and at prices often cheaper than anywhere else in Hong Kong.
The best thing to do on the half-day tour is to leave the tour at Stanley Market and find your own way home as that will give you much more time to shop and sightsee, and to eat a wonderful lunch at one of the area's many restaurants too.
The half-day Hong Kong Island tour begins around 8am, with pick up at your hotel and ends around 1pm.
Half-Day Lantau Island Tour - One of the nicest and most authentic Hong Kong half-day tours is the one to Lantau Island put on by China Hightlights. It's more expensive than similar tours, but that's because you're not expected to tip your guide (the guide actually makes a liveable salary) and you're not hauled off to a load of shops to buy things you don't need so your guide can make a commission on the sales. Tour groups are also small with only 2-10 people on the tour, meaning you get more personalized tours and information from the guide. The tour is slightly cheaper, the more people are on it.
The half-day Lantau Island tour begins with pick up at your hotel early in the morning and a visit to Po Lin Monastery. Then, you'll move on to the Giant Bronze Buddha. You'll also get a phenomenal cable car ride in Ngong Ping, and a stop off for lunch at an authentic Chinese restaurant, where your guide will help you choose some of the local areas best dishes. You'll be delivered back to your hotel in the early afternoon, just in time for afternoon tea and a nap before getting ready to head out for the evening.
The Big Bus Night Tour - A last half-day or evening tour is the spectacular Big Bus Night Tour. Take an open-top bus around all the best sights of Hong Kong but at night, with all the lights, noise and excitement of this incredible city.
On this half-day tour, you'll get on the bus in the early evening and be whisked away to see fabulous tourist attractions like the neon-lit Nathan Road, the world-famous Temple Street Night Market, the Clock Tower and the floodlit Hong Kong Coliseum. The tour ends at the Avenue of Stars where you'll get a front row seat for the Symphony of Lights show, an incredible laser and light show with lights flashing on and off almost 50 of Hong Kong's tall buildings and skyscrapers on both side of the Harbour.The crowds at this event make it even more fun and the Hong Kong skyline is a sight to behold.
