Kowloon or Hong Kong Island: Which Side to Stay On? Verdicts by Trip Type

The short answer. Stay in Kowloon, in Tsim Sha Tsui, for a first trip, a tighter budget and the skyline from your window. Stay on Hong Kong Island for nightlife, business trips and a top-end hotel. The harbour is narrow and the ferry and MTR cross it all day, so you’ll visit both sides whichever you pick, and it won’t cost you much time.

Roam Hong Kong read 16 guides on this question, in English, German, Korean and French. Not every guide compares the two sides directly, so a guide counts for a side where it places an area on it. Eleven name Kowloon for a first trip and twelve name the island for nightlife. They don’t agree on room size or on whose views are better. No hotel prices are printed here, so check current rates for your dates. The ferry hours and airport fares come from the operators. To test either side against your dates, put them into the map or look at the events page.

Kowloon and Hong Kong Island side by side

Kowloon for the view

Recommended by 13 of 16 guides read.

Kowloon’s pitch is that you’re looking at the skyline instead of standing in it. Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade faces Hong Kong Island, and the Symphony of Lights starts at 8pm every night, unless Tropical Cyclone Signal 3 or higher or a Red or Black Rainstorm Warning is issued at or after 3pm (Avenue of Stars). Three guides say the island has views as good or better. Another says island rooms face Kowloon, with no skyline to look at, so the claim isn’t settled. If the view matters, don’t leave it to chance and ask for a harbour-facing room.

Kowloon for a first trip, markets and a lower rate

A first trip: 11 of 16 guides read. Markets and street food: 9 of 16. Cheaper: 8 of 16.

Tsim Sha Tsui is the default first-trip base in most of these guides. The Star Ferry to Central leaves from there, and the markets are in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, including the Temple Street Night Market and Ladies’ Market.

Eight guides say Kowloon hotels cost less for a similar room. The guides that give figures don’t agree on the size of the gap, so compare your dates yourself. They also disagree on room size, with one saying Kowloon rooms are bigger and another saying island hotels are roomier. The cost is crowds, and it’s worth knowing before you book. Two guides call Tsim Sha Tsui touristy, and one warns about traffic noise on the main roads.

Hong Kong Island for nightlife, business and luxury

Nightlife: 12 of 16 guides read. Business and luxury: 8 of 16. The Peak, trails and ferries out: 6 of 16.

The island is where the bars are, and it’s where the hotels charge the most. Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo are in Central, and Wan Chai has its own strip. Hong Kong Island is also the business district, with the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, and it holds most of the top-end hotels. It’s also the base for the Peak Tram, the trailheads in the Southern District and the ferry piers for Macau and the islands. Two guides call it hilly, with steps, so think twice with heavy luggage. The Central to Mid-Levels Escalator helps on one slope.

Crossing the harbour

Recommended by 12 of 16 guides read.

Twelve guides say the crossing is easy, so the choice isn’t about distance. It’s about your evenings. The Star Ferry runs between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central from 06:30 to 23:30, with sailings every 6 to 12 minutes. The upper-deck adult fare is HK$5.0 on weekdays and HK$6.5 at weekends and on public holidays (read 7 November 2026). The MTR crosses as well.

The airport is the same either way. The Airport Express stops at Hong Kong Station in Central and at Kowloon Station, with an Octopus fare of HK$120 from Hong Kong and HK$105 from Kowloon (MTR fare data). Trains run about every 10 minutes (MTR).

Verdicts by trip type

First trip. Kowloon, in Tsim Sha Tsui. Eleven of 16 guides lean that way.

Tight budget. Kowloon, in Mong Kok or Jordan. Eight guides say it costs less.

Nightlife. Hong Kong Island, in Central or Wan Chai.

Business, a fair or a conference. Hong Kong Island.

Luxury. Hong Kong Island, though Tsim Sha Tsui has top-end hotels too.

Couples. Either. A harbour-facing room in Tsim Sha Tsui, or a quieter street in Sheung Wan.

Families. Kowloon, where the promenade is flat. Causeway Bay is the island choice.

Photographers. Kowloon for the skyline, then ride the ferry across for the other view.

A short stay. Whichever side your first morning is on. The crossing is quick, but it’s a hotel near an MTR exit that saves you time.

A longer stay. Split it. A few nights on each side shows you both.

For the areas inside each side, read where to stay in Hong Kong. The things to do guide shows what each side puts you next to, and the travel tips page covers the Octopus card and the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to stay in Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island?

Kowloon for a first trip, a budget and the view. The island for nightlife, business and luxury. Eleven of 16 guides name Kowloon for a first trip and twelve name the island for nightlife.

Is Kowloon cheaper than Hong Kong Island?

Eight of 16 guides say so. The size of the gap varies a lot between guides, so compare your dates.

Which side has the better view?

Thirteen guides say Kowloon, because it faces the island skyline. Three credit the island with views too, so ask for a harbour-facing room on either side.

How far apart are the two sides?

The Star Ferry crosses between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central in sailings every 6 to 12 minutes, and the MTR crosses the harbour too. Twelve guides call the crossing easy.

Which side is closer to the airport?

Neither one’s closer. The Airport Express serves both Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station, and both run about every 10 minutes.

Is Hong Kong Island hilly?

Parts of it are. Two guides mention steep streets and stairs, and it’s the Mid-Levels Escalator that helps in Central.

Places in this guide

Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.

Temple Street Night Market Yau Ma Tei and Jordan Photo: DavidSandoz Ladies' Market Mong Kok Photo: Toon Bronselaer Tai Kwun Central · near Central Station Exit D1 Station Photo: Matt Kieffer Central to Mid-Levels Escalator Central Photo: Fabio Achilli