3 Days in Hong Kong: A Food and Market Itinerary
Three days, three areas, and a lot to eat: a plan that strings our food and market guides into one trip.
The plan in brief
| Day | Area | Food and markets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yau Ma Tei and Jordan, Kowloon | Wet market, cha chaan teng, Temple Street at night |
| 2 | Hong Kong Island | Yum cha, Graham Street, the tram, the Star Ferry |
| 3 | Sham Shui Po, Kowloon | Pei Ho Street Market, tofu pudding, sweet soup |
Each stop links to our full guide, where you will find addresses and opening hours with their sources. Hours change, so check them before you set out.
Day 1: Kowloon markets and Temple Street
Morning: Yau Ma Tei Market. Markets are busiest early, so start here. Our Yau Ma Tei Market guide covers the pink 1957 building on Kansu Street and the green tin stalls along Reclamation Street. New to wet markets? Read our beginner's guide first, including the market words and the catty.
Lunch: a cha chaan teng. Order a set meal and a milk tea. Our ordering tips explain the shorthand, and why you may share a table.
Afternoon: Tin Hau Temple. The Hong Kong Tourism Board calls Yau Ma Tei's Tin Hau Temple the largest temple complex for Tin Hau in Kowloon. Temple Street takes its name from it.
Evening: Temple Street Night Market. The market comes alive after sunset. Try claypot rice, fish balls and siu mai, or the seafood at the Woosung Street hawker bazaar. All in our Temple Street food guide.
Day 2: Hong Kong Island, by tram and ferry
Morning: yum cha. Dim sum is traditionally a brunch, so go early. Our dim sum guide lists six dishes to order first and the tea etiquette.
Late morning: Graham Street Market. One of Hong Kong's oldest street markets runs up Graham Street in Central. It is in our wet market guide.
Afternoon: the tram. Ride the ding ding east along the Island for HK$3.30 an adult ride. Hop off in Wan Chai for Bowrington Road Market, whose cooked food centre stays open late.
Evening: the Star Ferry. Cross Victoria Harbour from Central or Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui. The last Central sailing leaves at 23:30. See our Star Ferry guide.
Day 3: Sham Shui Po
Morning: Pei Ho Street Market. An indoor market, a street of hawker stalls and a late cooked food centre, all in our Pei Ho Street guide. Our guide also lists a long-running shop for tofu pudding on Pei Ho Street.
Afternoon: something sweet. Finish with a bowl of black sesame or red bean soup, or an iced mango pomelo sago. Our tong sui guide explains what to order.
Last evening: milk tea. Learn how the "silk stocking" tea you have been drinking is made, in our milk tea guide.
Going home
If your airline offers it, check in your bags at Hong Kong or Kowloon Station from 24 hours to 90 minutes before your flight, then spend your last hours bag-free. Our airport guide has the train times and the in-town check-in rules.
Tips for the three days
- Get an Octopus card on day one. It pays for the MTR, tram and ferry. See our Octopus guide.
- Carry some cash for small market stalls.
- Check the weather. Summer is hot and wet, and typhoon season runs from May to November. See Hong Kong weather by month.
- In December? If you are in town on 22 December 2026, join the Dongzhi tradition with a bowl of tangyuan.
Part of our Hong Kong guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Hong Kong?
For food and markets, three days covers Kowloon's markets and Temple Street, Hong Kong Island by tram and ferry, and Sham Shui Po at an easy pace. You will always find more to eat.
What should I eat on my first day in Hong Kong?
Start simple: a set meal and milk tea at a cha chaan teng for lunch, then claypot rice or fish balls at Temple Street Night Market in the evening.
Can you visit a wet market as a tourist?
Yes. Wet markets are everyday places where locals shop, and visitors come to see Hong Kong life up close. Go early, wear shoes you do not mind getting wet and keep some cash for small stalls.
What time does Temple Street night market open?
The Hong Kong Tourism Board says the market comes alive as the sun sets. Stall hours vary, so check the Tourism Board's Temple Street page on the day.
- MTR, Airport Express In-town Check-in: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/complom_checkin.html
- The Star Ferry Company, Timetable & Fare: https://www.starferry.com.hk/en/service
- Hong Kong Tramways, Schedules and Fares: https://www.hktramways.com/en/schedules-fares
All checked 28 October 2026. Facts were taken from these sources and written in our own words. Photo: Unsplash License. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.