StayAreas

Central

Hong Kong

Hong Kong's financial heart on the island's waterfront, with skyscrapers, the Peak Tram, the Mid-Levels Escalator and the bars of Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo.

Best for First visit · Upscale · Business

Transport
5/5
Sights
5/5
Value
2/5
Quiet
2/5
Food
5/5

Typical mid-range hotel ~$280/night · 5 min to Central

See hotels in Central

Central on the map

Why stay here

  • Airport Express, MTR and Star Ferry all close by
  • Peak Tram, SoHo and Tai Kwun on foot
  • The best restaurants and bars in the city

Who should stay here

  • First-time visitors
  • Business travellers
  • Luxury stays

Not ideal if…

  • You're on a budget
  • You want quiet nights near Lan Kwai Fong
  • You dislike steep streets

What it's like

Central is the Hong Kong of the famous skyline: banks and towers by the harbour, the Star Ferry pier, and the Peak Tram climbing to Victoria Peak. Uphill, the Mid-Levels Escalator carries you past SoHo's restaurants and Tai Kwun, the old police station turned arts centre, while Lan Kwai Fong is the city's best-known nightlife quarter.

It's the most convenient and polished base, with the Airport Express terminating here. It's also the most expensive, and the streets are steep away from the waterfront. Weekends are quieter in the business district, livelier in the bar streets.

Best streets and sub-areas

  • Lan Kwai Fong

    Bar street that's busy every night, especially at weekends.

  • SoHo & Hollywood Road

    Restaurants and galleries along the Mid-Levels Escalator.

  • Queen's Road Central

    Shopping malls and the main business street.

Getting around

Nearest stations
Central and Hong Kong MTR stations (Airport Express, Island and Tsuen Wan lines), the Star Ferry, trams and the Peak Tram.
To Central
About 5 minutes
From Hong Kong International Airport
About 30 minutes: Airport Express to Hong Kong station, about 24 minutes.

Nearby attractions

  • Victoria Peak

    Ride the Peak Tram up for the classic view, best at dusk.

  • Tai Kwun

    Former police station and prison, now galleries, bars and restaurants.

  • Mid-Levels Escalator

    The world's longest outdoor covered escalator, up through SoHo.

  • Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui

    A cheap ten-minute crossing with harbour views.

Where to eat and drink

  • Lan Kwai Fong

    Bars and clubs from early evening.

  • SoHo

    Restaurants of every cuisine along the escalator.

  • Dim sum

    Trolley dim sum at Maxim's Palace in City Hall, by the harbour.

Where to stay in Central

A few hotels we'd book in this area, at different budgets.

Luxury pick

Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Why we like it: Landmark hotel since 1963, by Statue Square.

Typical luxury rate in Central: ~$640/night

Check availability

Luxury pick

Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Why we like it: Harbourfront hotel above the Airport Express station.

Typical luxury rate in Central: ~$640/night

Check availability

Luxury pick

The Murray, Hong Kong

Why we like it: 1960s government building by Hong Kong Park, reborn as a hotel.

Typical luxury rate in Central: ~$640/night

Check availability

StayAreas may earn a commission when you book through selected links, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Hotels in CentralMid-range from ~$280/night

See hotels