On the north side of Victoria Harbour, Kowloon is just 20 minutes from the airport and one MTR stop or an easy-breezy Star Ferry ride away from Hong Kong Island. The waterfront neighbourhood of Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) is the first port of call for many visitors, drawn to its luxury shops, landmarks – including the renovated Hong Kong Museum of Art – and storied hotels like The Peninsula and Kowloon Shangri-La.

TST also delivers epic views of the Hong Kong Island skyline from its upgraded promenade, perfect for an extended stroll. Those views can be enjoyed from West Kowloon’s burgeoning arts district to the revitalised Avenue of Stars and on to the sleek Victoria Dockside development.

While such shiny new projects are opening in TST, nearby Jordan and Yau Ma Tei still exemplify the gritty, hustle-bustle of Kowloon as captured in the city’s golden age of film. Picture neon signage, streetside fortune-tellers and karaoke, the touristed Jade and Temple Street markets, and small businesses run by ethnic minorities. Hipster coffee shops, arthouse cinemas and affordable hotels await around the border with the Yau Ma Tei area.

In other words, there’s at least as much to explore on Kowloon side as there is on Hong Kong Island, and a variety of places to spend the night. Use our hotel reviews to book your next stay – or staycation.

Tsim Sha Tsui