If you are visiting Hong Kong and wondering where to stay, I have listed the best areas for first-time visitors to Hong Kong. Regular visitors may find places further out if it’s going to save money, but for a short-term visitor, it’s best to stay in the southern end of Kowloon or the northern portion of Hong Kong Island.
Kowloon
Kowloon includes the northern part of Hong Kong, on the mainland across Victoria Harbour. The best place to stay in Kowloon is in Tsim Sha Tsui. This is the area near Victoria Harbour, and it’s from here that you see the famous view of the Hong Kong skyline across the water.
The main road in Tsim Sha Tsui is Nathan Road, which is served by the metro line that goes to Hong Kong Island.
North of Austin Road is Yau Ma Tei. This area includes Jordan and Mong Kok along Nathan Road, and West Kowloon.
The Kowloon side of the harbour has better options for budget accommodation, and the 5-star hotels arguably have the best views of Hong Kong.
Tsim Sha Tsui
Budget (1-2 Stars)
When searching for the cheapest places to stay in Hong Kong you will notice lots of listings at the Chungking Mansions. It is not an actual mansion but a giant building that is a city unto itself.
The rooms are cramped and the ground-floor shops can be disorienting and slightly intimidating. It is a classic Hong Kong experience though, and if you are looking for a cheap private room then this is where you’ll likely end up. Here are my tips for staying at the Chungking Mansions.
I have stayed there numerous times, and here is a review of one of the places I stayed at – the Hong Kong Tai Wan Hotel.
The Mirador Mansion also offers cramped budget accommodation a few blocks down from the Chungking Mansions.
Valentine Guest House – Mirador Mansion.
By now if you see a budget listing that is in a mansion don’t assume that it is something palatial.
Naruto Inn – Tsim Sha Tsui Mansion.
Mid-range (3-4 Stars)
Prince Hotel (Marco Polo) forms part of Harbour City on Canton Road, adjacent to the China Ferry Terminal.
Luxury (5 Stars)
The Peninsula Hong Kong is perhaps the most famous hotel in Hong Kong. The “Grande Dame of the Far East” opened in 1928, and the iconic building remains as a landmark in the fast-changing city. The hotel is famous for (among other things) its fleet of green Rolls Royces that hotel guests can take anywhere in Hong Kong.
Regent Hong Kong is on the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade facing Victoria Harbour. The hotel was previously the InterContinental Hotel, and it was renamed and reopened after a major renovation in 2023.
Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong is on the waterfront with views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s iconic skyline.
Yau Ma Tei
Continuing north along Nathan Road is the Yau Ma Tei area. This area has the grittier urban Hong Kong, which is slowly being eroded in Tsim Sha Tsui by glass towers.
There is a better chance of finding cheaper hotels around Jodan and up to Mong Kok. Urban wanderers will have no problem walking up Nathan Road from Vicotria Harbour to Jodan, but the metro makes these two areas accessible.
West Kowloon includes a new area built on reclaimed land, and there are mostly business hotels here. Kowloon Station on the Airport Express is in this area.
Mid-range (3-4 Stars)
Travelodge Kowloon is located in the heart of the action in Jordan, near the MTR and markets. Read my full review here.
I stayed at the Mingle in The Shai, which is a 3-star hotel in Jordan. Here is my review of what to expect from a cheap hotel in Hong Kong.
Hotel Stage is another mid-range hotel in Jordan.
Luxury (5 Stars)
The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is located in the International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon. The ICC is the tallest building in Hong Kong (484 m), and the hotel occupies levels 3, 8, 9, and the top 17 floors. It has a swimming pool on the top floor, and it holds the record for the world’s highest bar,
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is on the south side of Victoria Harbour. This is where you see those pictures of the stunning Hong Kong skyline. It’s where most of the business skyscrapers are, and the most historical British buildings. While Kowloon is relatively flat with straight roads, Hong Kong Island is hilly with many narrow roads.
For short-term visitors, the most ideal area to stay is on the northern part of the island which faces the harbour. Finding budget accommodation is harder on this side so stick to Kowloon if you are looking for a cheap place.
While there isn’t a great range of budget accommodation you can still find the occasional great deal. I stayed at a 4-star hotel for $54USD a night by filtering for cheapest 4-star hotels on Agoda. That wasn’t much more than some of the budget listings, so don’t always assume the budget places are the best value.
The following hotels are the best-rated hotels in the budget, mid-range, and luxury categories.
Budget (1-2 Stars)
Check Inn HK – A hostel centrally located in Wanchai.
Move Inn – Causeway Bay.
Home Plus Inn – Wanchai.
Mid-range (3-4 Stars)
Eco Tree Hotel – Hong Kong Island West.
Tuve – Causeway Bay.
Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island – Wanchai.
Luxury (5 Stars)
Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong – Hong Kong Central.
Island Shangri-la Hotel – Admiralty, Hong Kong Central.
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong – Wanchai.
