Some cities are just as captivating indoors as they are outside. Hong Kong is certainly one of them. While taking a boat tour in Victoria Harbour, hiking the Dragon’s Back and Sunset Peak, and a shopping spree at the Temple Street Night Market have their own charm, it is not all that the city has to offer. In times when the sun is bright and venturing out can be difficult, the city gives you some great alternatives.
From art exhibits and multi-storey shopping complexes to an indoor surfing destination and baking workshops, here a wide array of activities that you can indulge in, when escaping Hong Kong summers.
If you are travelling to Hong Kong, your trip would be incomplete without a visit to the West Kowloon Cultural District. It is a 40-hectare area that stretches from MTR Austin Station to the waterfront west of MTR Kowloon Station. The district celebrates the city's unique art and culture with exhibitions, performances and events.
Start your visit with the Hong Kong Palace Museum, which is committed to studying and appreciating Chinese art and culture. It presents 900 priceless treasures, immersive performances, screenings, and some of the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions worldwide.
Visit Xiqu Centre, an award-winning venue that showcases world-class productions of Cantonese opera and other regional forms of Chinese opera (xiqu). The Xiqu Centre also hosts regular film screenings, workshops, talks, exhibitions and guided tours.
M+, Asia's first global museum of contemporary visual culture, is also in the cultural district. It features more than 9,100 (up to February 2025) cross-boundary and cross-country visual culture pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries. Along with physical exhibits, it also houses interactive experiences for visitors, M+ Cinema (a local film screening venue), and M+ Facade (a large-scale moving image platform).
If you identify as a Cristiano Ronaldo fan club member, visiting the CR7 Life Museum in Hong Kong is a must.
This state-of-the-art attraction allows visitors to dive deep into the career and life of one of the greatest players in football history. It features Ronaldo's most iconic memorabilia—from match-worn kits and golden boots to his celebrated trophy collection. These are presented through immersive storytelling and interactive exhibits.
At the museum, you can also walk through the footballer's journey from his early days in Madeira to becoming one of the most celebrated players in history. A great way to capture your time at the museum would be to turn into an animated legend and snap your moment with Cristiano in AI style at the GOAT photobooth.
Hong Kong also has two flagship CR7 stores – one in Tsim Sha Tsui and the other on Hong Kong Island. Both provide exclusive merchandise and signed memorabilia.
If you are looking for the best destination to indulge in a shopping spree, there isn't a better place than Hong Kong. It wouldn't be incorrect to call it the city of malls. One of the best shopping districts in the city is Yau Tsim Mong, which offers the densest concentration of these varying shopping havens. As you make your way to Mong Kok, you can hop from mall to mansion with each one different from the last.
Some must-visit malls in the district include the Langham Place, which houses over 200 shops, a glass atrium full of eateries, and live performances that promise to keep you amused as you break from shopping. The One and iSQUARE are other malls that you should check out. The Forest is great if you are looking for sportswear and sneakers. In's Point is excellent if you want to take back vintage collectables for your family and friends.
Cityplaza which is the largest shopping mall on Hong Kong Island. The six-level mall is directly accessible from the MTR Tai Koo Station and houses more than 170 shops and restaurants, a unique lifestyle cinema, and an indoor ice rink.
Some must-try restaurants at Cityplaza include SENSU, Dumpling Station, House of Canton Restaurant, On Yasai, Chiuchow Garden, and The Matcha Tokyo.
Hong Kong has no shortage of shopping malls, but if you want to do more than just shop, ELEMENTS won't disappoint. Besides a range of luxury retail stores, it boasts an ice skating rink with a 180-degree view of Victoria Harbour, and family-friendly restaurants like District 8, Fini's and Lei Garden.
Whether you're a thrill seeker, a sports enthusiast or a family looking for fun, Kai Tak is your go-to neighbourhood. From indoor surfing and high-tech sports arenas to massive bowling alleys and bouncy castles, it's a place where adventure brushes shoulders with the comfort of being indoors.
The neighbourhood is home to Groundswell, Hong Kong's first in-mall surfing destination, where one can ride an infinite wave in a controlled environment. Whether travelling with family or friends, Top Bowl Tenpin Bowling, Kowloon's largest bowling centre, is another destination you must head to.
If you are travelling with your kids and looking for a place to keep the little ones engaged and entertained, Kai Tak has got you covered, too. Bouncetopia by Kiztopia and EpicLand are two places your kids would want to return to for the slides, ball pits, and other activities.
If you are not just looking for entertainment but a chance to learn something new and take back a piece of Hong Kong with you, it is a good idea to participate in the various workshops that venues across the city offer.
You could sign up for a session at The Mixing Bowl, where a baking session will teach you how to prepare iconic desserts of the city like tarts, buns, sausages, puff pastry, and mooncakes. They offer a variety of sessions that you could choose from. Each varies from the other in terms of duration and cost.
If you are artsy,a neon sign at Myosotis Flower, the perfect souvenir to remember the city's night scene. They also offer workshops for making beautiful floral arrangements, aroma diffusers, and mosaic coasters. Another spot for the craft enthusiast in you would be The Lederer in Sham Shui Po. It provides DIY workshops where customers can learn to create leather goods like wallets and bags.
Savon Workshop in Sham Shui Po is another spot that will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and allow you to indulge in the world of soap making. Here, you can learn how to make your own bars of soap with classes available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
