Luggage List: Packing for Hong Kong

I love packing for Hong Kong. It is a place that I will never tire of visiting; with its vibrant city and stunning islands, it just keeps drawing me back again and again.

Of course, I have family there, so that helps too.

I have completely lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Hong Kong, and I know I will continue going there for many, many years to come.

When packing for Hong Kong, you should consider the seasons to a certain extent, but generally the temperatures range from warm to hot year-round.

The humidity is usually pretty high, especially in summer, so get ready for some sticky days and nights!

In this Luggage List, you’ll find recommendations for the basic necessities for packing for Hong Kong, ensuring you have a fun and comfortable time in Asia’s World City!

Luggage List

Clothing

• Light layers: Keep cool in T-shirts, vests, shorts, dresses etc.
• Warmer layers: Hong Kong cools down in winter, but you’ll also need a couple of warmer layers in summer for when you’re inside buildings with super-strong air conditioning. There are a lot of them.
• Dress clothes: There are so many bars and clubs in the city that you’ll be glad you packed a nice outfit or two.
• Shoes: I recommend 3 types: comfortable walking shoes for exploring, flip flops or sandals for the beach, and some dress shoes for bar-hopping.
• Swimwear: Hong Kong has some gorgeous beaches!
• Raincoat: When it rains, it pours.

Accessories

• Sunglasses/sun hat: That sun can be extremely intense, and the humidity makes it feel even hotter. Protect yourself with sunglasses and a hat.
• Quick dry towel: There’s nothing worse than a heavy towel that never dries in a humid country. Keep it light with a microfibre or travel towel.
• Filter bottle: The tap water in Hong Kong is not recommended for drinking, meaning you could get through a lot of plastic water bottles. Bring your own bottle with a filter already fitted and save money and the planet!
• Phone/camera: Whichever is your preferred method of photo-taking; make sure you have some way of capturing those memories!
• Charger/adaptor: Hong Kong uses the British plug system, so bear this in mind when packing your electricals.
• Power bank: Stay charged when you’re out for a day of exploring. Just remember to pack it in your carry-on bag for the flight.
• Tissues: Having a pack of tissues with you at all times could save you a lot of trouble if you find yourself in a squat toilet with no paper!
• Day bag: Bring a comfortable day bag that will see you through days of wandering around the city or hiking into the hills.

Toiletries

• Sunscreen: As I mentioned earlier, the sun is extremely intense in Hong Kong, so make sure your skin is protected at all times.
• Deodorant: High temperatures + humidity = sticky travellers.
• Shampoo/body wash: You may want to shower more often than usual if it’s hot and humid.
• Hand sanitiser: Most toilet facilities in the city are pretty good, but there are some that leave a lot to be desired. Having hand sanitiser with you is a great idea at any time, as cities are generally pretty dirty.
• Insect spray: Mosquitoes and sand flies are extremely annoying, and some may be carrying dengue fever or other nasty diseases. Keep yourself protected and avoid that infuriating itch!

There are, of course, a lot more items that you may want to add to this list, but these are the basic essentials that I recommend when packing for Hong Kong.

There are only two seasons in Hong Kong, really: summer and winter.

You will need more warm layers if you’re going in the winter and you’ll probably get a bit more use out of your raincoat, but you will likely still be a lot warmer than if you were spending winter in the UK or other countries that actually have cold winters.

One final tip: make sure you get out of the city at least once! There are some incredibly beautiful islands and areas of the mainland that’ll make you feel like you’re somewhere else completely.

Are there any other essentials you’d add when packing for Hong Kong? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

Want more like this? Check out these articles:

• Hong Kong: escaping the chaos
• Sunset Peak: a different world
• Moving to Hong Kong on a Working Holiday Visa

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