Instagrammable places in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is magic and I will never not love it. When I first visited it a few years ago, and my first trip to Asia, I fell in love instantly. It’s not necessarily that it’s a big city that is always alive. I have been to before in busy European capitals, like London (which I also love). But with Hong Kong, it’s more than that – it’s the incredible skyscrapers, the smells, the weather, the incredible food, the buzz, the harbour views, the crowdedness, the trams – there’s something in the air that makes you want to stay and never leave.

Some people spend in Hong Kong just a few days, making it a short stop during their travels to East & South East Asia. But for me, it deserves a dedicated trip. I have been there twice for one week at a time and there I have never felt bored or out of things to do and see. I wanted this trip to be the one where I hit the must see spots. But it was impossible – there are still places to see and things to do.

Hong Kong is so beautiful that when you Google ‘Instagrammable places in Hong Kong’ and ‘what to see in Hong Kong’ you get almost the same results. Hong Kong is filled with beautiful temples, view points, parks and building that one must simply see and photograph. But aside from the touristic sights, there are also spots that only Instagrammers hunt. I have been to both types of places and compiled for you a list of spots you must hit if you want breathtaking shots!

Instagrammable places in Kowloon

Choi Hung Estate

The Choi Hung Estate is the first thing you get when you look for Instagrammable places in Hong Kong. And for good reason! The whole place is a lovely mix of pastels, with palm trees sprinkled here and there, and a colourful basketball court. If you want it completely empty, then you have to be the first person there when the sun rises. We got there at around midday and it was already full of people taking photos.

Walk from Choi Hung Estate to Lok Wah Estate

We walked from Choi Hung Estate to Lok Wah Estate. And the whole walk was uphill. But what made it mode pleasant were the pastel buildings, greenery everywhere and colourful steps.

Lok Wah Estate

The Lok Wah Estate is worth walking to, from the Choi Hung Estate. Lovely colourful places all the way, and around the Lok Wah Estate car park, culminating with its blue rooftops. The car park is easy to find, and you have to take the stairs up – you will see two roof tops, so if the first one is too busy with people, just take the second one.

Garden Hill

If you are looking for great city views but from a different perspective, check out the Garden Hill behind the Mei Ho House in Kowloon. You will have to climb the stairs, but the view is worth it!

Nan Lian Garden

The Nan Lian Garden is a Chinese Classical Garden in Kowloon, in Diamond Hill, very close to the Chu Lin Nunnery. I loved how peaceful it felt, surrounded by the skyscrapers.

Mong Kok

Mong Kok seems to never sleep. Full of buzzing streets, night markets, shops, restaurants and neon lights, Mong Kok is the place for perfect night shots. If you are good with those, then you must check it out!

Rainbow Thief Mural

You can find the Rainbow Thief Mural by Madrid-based artist Okuda San Miguel in the Sham Shui Po district.

Nam Shan Estate

The Nam Shan Estate is yet another colourful lovely spot in Sham Shui Po. Once you get there, you will fall in love with the green shades!

Instagrammable places on Hong Kong Island

Yick Cheong Building (aka Monster Building)

The Yick Cheong Bulding, also known as the Monster Building, is also one of Hong Kong’s most instagrammable sites, famous for its packed apartments. Tip: to get there, get off at the Tai Koo MTR station

Fortress Hill

Looking for a colourful blue building? Look no more for you got a lovely one in Fortress Hill, close to the MTR station.

Victoria Peak

This is the best spot for views over Hong Kong Island and Victoria Harbour. You can get this at the Victoria Peak – for a paid view, you can go into the Peak Tower. For free views, you can go to the Peak Galleria (went there the first time, but this time around it was being renovated) or Lion’s Pavilion. This picture of rather foggy Hong Kong was taken from a strangely placed balcony in the Peak Tower.

Soho

Walking around Soho is made easy by taking the Mid-Level Escalator from time to time. Soho is full of bars, restaurants and you can definitely explore it on your way to the Man Mo temple. This photo was taken on the street between two escalators. I just loved the contrast between the bulidings in the foreground and in the background. Soho is also full of lovely murals, you won’t miss them – you just have to follow the crowds.

Sai Wan Swimming Shed

On the West side of Hong Kong island, there is another instagrammable spot with a queue: the Sai Wan Swimming Shed. Swimming sheds were built along the sea shore to provide changing rooms and wooden piers for swimmers. Because of cheap entrance fees and swimming suit rentals, they were super popular at the beginning of the 20th century. In time, the harbor got more and more polluted, so most of the swimming sheds closed down. The Sai Wan Swimming Shed is the only one left, and is now a very popular photo shoot location!

If you want to simply walk around Hong Kong, you will not run out of beautiful spots to photograph. While we did have specific places we wanted to see and took public transport a lot, we always found lovely corners perfect for a photo.

Which one if your favorite instagrammable place in Hong Kong?