Visiting Hong Kong for 2 days

Question

Hi, I am going to Vietnam and decided to stay 2 nights in Hong Kong. The flight out is early at 6am. Should I stay near the airport? Am I able to stay in the city? With the early flight out to Vietnam, I’m not sure how traffic is early near the airport

Answer

For a short 2-day stay in Hong Kong with an early 6am flight, you have two main options: staying near the airport or staying in the city. Each has pros and cons depending on your priorities.

Staying near the airport:

Convenience – You can reach the airport within 5–10 minutes, making the early morning flight stress-free.
Hotels – There are several airport hotels in Tung Chung and around HKIA, such as Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel, Regal Airport Hotel, and Novotel Citygate.
Limited sightseeing – You won’t have much access to central Hong Kong attractions, but you could do a quick visit to nearby Lantau Island attractions like Ngong Ping 360 or Tian Tan Buddha if you arrive early enough.

Staying in the city (Kowloon or Hong Kong Island):

Experience – You get to enjoy the city’s nightlife, restaurants, and shopping on your short stay.
Transport – Early morning traffic is usually light, but catching the Airport Express train is highly recommended. The Airport Express connects Hong Kong Station (Central) or Kowloon Station to HKIA in ~24–25 minutes with luggage service and trains start around 5:50am from central stations.
Considerations – If you stay in the city, ensure you check the last metro/Airport Express timings to avoid being stranded. Taking a taxi at that hour is possible, but slightly more expensive (~HKD 350–400 from central to airport, ~35–40 minutes depending on traffic).

Recommendation:

If your main concern is a stress-free early flight, staying near the airport is safest.
If you want to enjoy Hong Kong’s city attractions for 2 days, stay in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island and plan to take the Airport Express or a pre-booked taxi early in the morning.

Tip: For city hotels, consider Kowloon Station area (Elements Mall vicinity) for quick access to Airport Express, or Central/Sheung Wan if you want more nightlife options but be mindful of the early departure timing.

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