24 Hour Layover in Hong Kong
A few years back we were pushed out of our comfort zone like we never thought were possible. Traveling was still very new territory, especially before kids and we wanted to make the most of every opportunity. So when we decided to visit my brother who was living in South Korea and the layover in Hong Kong was 24 hours, we were excited and could not wait to see what this new place had to offer.
The two of us and my mom arrived early in the morning in Hong Kong and immediately took a train into the city arriving at the Yau Ma Tei area. We started our day going up the ‘Sky 100 Observation’ deck, were we could enjoy the early morning sun rise and views over the harbor. After that we took a stroll along the boardwalk to the former Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower taking in all that this city had to offer, or shall I rather say what this modern city had to offer. We experienced eating some famous pastries that almost only contained eggs (not my favorite part of the day), looking for local fish markets and eating some sweet and sour chicken noodles. This was way before we were comfortable exploring new foods.
Still very eager and pumped on travel adrenaline we took a tram up to Peak Tower in central Hong Kong, this was an experience on its own, as the tram rises up to 396 meters above sea level. At the peak we were welcomed with spectacular views of the city as the sun was setting on the Sky Terrace 428, these were some of our best moments in Hong Kong.
After sunset we still had some time to kill before our next flight and went on the search for the Ladies Market that promised to give us a glimpse into the local traditional lifestyle. We explored and took in every moment before heading to the airport were we took a nap on the airport seats and floor, reminiscing on our 24 hours in Hong Kong.
On our way back from South Korea, we had another 24 hour layover in Hong Kong and this day we decided to spend time on Lantau Island. We took a cable car up to Ngong Ping. This was truly one of the best, most beautiful and longest cable cars that we ever took. When booking the tickets we could choose between a standard cabin or a crystal cabin. The crystal cabin had a glass bottom and we could see down the entire ride.
Reaching the Ngong Ping Village it felt like we were transported back to another century tucked in between the mountains. We wandered the streets in between holy cows and then started our upward climb of over 260 steps to the Tian Tan Buddha.
Would this be a trip that we would do again with a toddler?
Absolutely, without a doubt. We would probably do a couple of things differently to keep our toddler more comfortable as this is a long time to keep awake with time difference included. But the attractions we saw were spectacular and worth seeing with a toddler. We would most probably make the layover longer to be able to book into a hotel to freshen up and get some time for a nap.
As always our best advice is to adjust to your toddlers needs and do what will work best for you and your family, but most importantly enjoy the surroundings and experiences you get with your little one.