I often tell people that Hong Kong is like if you surrounded New York City with Hawaii, and it takes just one look at the picturesque beaches and hiking trails of Sai Kung to see why. While most people will only visit the skyscrapers and crowded streets of Central or Kowloon, a day trip to Sai Kung offers a true escape with arguably the best nature experiences in Hong Kong along with some of the city’s best seafood and beachfront local eateries.
There’s a vast country park for exploration on foot, numerous small islands and inlets accessible by boat or kayak, and even the option to fuel your adrenaline with wakeboarding and other water sports. Or if you want to just relax, you can enjoy plenty of restaurants with seaside views and delicious food. So keep reading to see my personal favorite things to see, do and eat in Sai Kung.
Jump ahead: Where to Eat | Things to Do | Where to Stay
Getting to Sai Kung
By Taxi
The easiest way to get to Sai Kung is by Uber or taxi. It takes about 45 minutes from Central to Sai Kung Town (up to 60 minutes during peak weekend times due to traffic). Sai Kung Pier inside Sai Kung Town is the main drop-off point. Here you can transfer to minibuses, boats to other islands, and also to switch from the red Urban taxis to the green New Territories taxis to reach more remote destinations like the start of the Tai Long Wan Hike.
Note that Ubers and cars are not allowed to drive in many parts of Sai Kung, which is why you need to switch to green taxis.
By MTR and Bus
Take the MTR to Choi Hung via the Kwun Tong Line (about 30 minutes from Central), then go to exit C1 and find the green minibus 1A to Sai Kung Town, which takes another 40 minutes. (Tip: you can do a stop at Choi Hung Estate to break up your commute)
By Minibus
If you’re coming from Kowloon, you can take the red minibus from Dundas Street in Mong Kok to Sai Kung Town (about 30 minutes)
By Hiking
While there are plenty of hikes that start FROM Sai Kung, you can also hike TO Sai Kung instead by doing the Buffalo Hill hike from Sha Tin. It ends in Hebe Haven, which is then just a 5-10 minute drive to Sai Kung Town, so it’s a nice option if you want to get some outdoor activity in with gorgeous views before you explore the area. It’s also a nice way to avoid the weekend traffic reaching Sai Kung, though you do have to pay with your legs and a 3 hour hike.
Where to Eat in Sai Kung
Sai Kung is filled with seaside seafood restaurants, quirky cafes and local bakeries. Check out my guide on my favorite places to eat in Sai Kung.
Top Things to Do in Sai Kung
Relax on the Beach
Take a Boat to Sharp Island
One of the best ways to spend HK$30 (US$3.80) is to enjoy a scenic 10 minute ride on a small ferry boat from Sai Kung Public Pier to Sharp Island or spend HK$10 more to go to Half Moon Bay at the further end of the island. Look for the rainbow signs and flags on the pier and book a trip with Rainbow Boat Service, which I prefer since they have seats at the front of the boat so you can get maximum views and breeze.
From there, you can explore the dog-friendly Kiu Tsui Beach where the rocks resemble pineapple buns, hang out at Half Moon Bay beach, or do the short hike over the island.
Go for a Hike
Sai Kung is the second largest region of Hong Kong, and it’s almost entirely made up of preserved nature parks. The only way to experience it all is to hike through its vast trails, so read my guide to my favorite Sai Kung hikes for ideas on where to explore.
Stroll the Sai Kung Promenade
Besides the waterfront restaurants mentioned earlier, there’s a long promenade that stretches from Sai Kung Pier where you’ll often find families strolling (especially with their dogs in literal strollers). There are benches to sit and enjoy the view, as well as full sports facilities with tennis and squash courts, a swimming pool, and shower facilities if you want to shower and change after a long hike before sitting down for dinner at one of Sai Kung Town’s restaurants.
Kayak through the Bay
There are a couple of kayak stands along the promenade where you can rent from (particularly at the tiny Sha Ha Beach), which allows you to explore the tiny islands just past the public pier for an easy water activity. I recommend bringing a waterproof bag to keep your belongings dry. There are also guided kayak tours that you can book through Wild Hong Kong to explore more of the geological formations that you see along the speed boat ride, though I have yet to try these.
Try Wakeboarding, Wakesurfing & Other Watersports
For an adrenaline rush, book a speed boat to do water sports from Sai Kung Public Pier. You’ll see legions of boats pulling riders all across Sai Kung. There are companies like Wakeplus that offer a variety of options, from wakeboarding and wakesurfing to kiteboaarding and jet skiing, though we usually book with an independent wakeboarding instructor named Michael who you can book by sending a WhatsApp to +852 9663 9666.
Swim through Rock Pools
This one is still on my own to-do list, but in between Sai Wan and Ham Tin Wan beaches is Sheung Luk Stream. Here you can find a series of rock pools and waterfalls to dive into, perfect for cooling down in between hiking or visiting the beach.
Where to Stay in Sai Kung
WM Hotel is a modern hotel with a rooftop infinity pool that is dog-friendly and located a short walk away from Sai Kung Public Pier. I have yet to stay here but have heard nice things about the hotel.
The Pier Hotel is a 5-10 minute ride from the Public Pier in Hebe Haven, offering views of the pier and boats from the modern, spacious rooms with kitchenettes, plus a rooftop pool. We stayed here back in 2020, though recent reviews seem to indicate that there may have been some slipping in quality of service, so I would do some research to decide if it’s worth staying here.
🎥 Watch our staycation at The Pier Hotel
You must be logged in to post a comment.