Stuck in Hong Kong airport during the holidays? Enjoy it!

Assuming that you have six plus hours to burn at the Hong Kong airport, one of the best airports in the world as voted by Passengers from all round the globe, there really isn’t much that you can bitch about here. The Hong Kong airport has so much to do that you might not even want to leave here so soon. The whole airport has wifi access and if you are flying Cathay Pacific or any other airline on One Alliance then the Wing Lounge is probably the best business class lounge you’ll find in Hong Kong.


Near Gate 36, Departures Level, Terminal 1 (restricted area) Between Aisle F and G, Check-in Hall, Departures Level, Terminal 1 (non-restricted area)
Terminal 1 is where all the shopping is, apart from a more than well stocked A-Z brand named luxury fashion designer handbags of Agnes B to Zara. Duty Free, perfumes, cosmetics, watches, jewellery and lingerie but lets not go into detail because what really makes Hong Kong airport worth the 6 hour layover is of course the food. If you want authentic Chinese food then there is Crystal Jade, Tsui Wah, Maxims, Taiwanese beef noodles and if you are wandering around the food court then Cafe de Coral is a must try because its considered very local Hong Kong food so you don’t want to say that you’ve been to Hong Kong until you’ve tried Cafe de Coral or Fairwood or had some wonton noodle soup, if you count that as your last chance for tasting local Hong Kong cuisine.

If you are looking for a British pub to pass an hour then head to Katie O’Connors to grab a beer. Otherwise the Oyster Bar has got some really basic refreshments prior departure.

What about kid-friendly things to do or children play areas when stuck in the Hong Kong airport for the holidays? Talk about just a laid back family outing at the cinema, when you take the connecting train from terminal 1 to terminal 2 of the Hong Kong airport, on level 6 of the unrestricted area there is a 4D cinema which is one of the largest in Asia. Not far from the cinema, kids can ride the cockpit simulator at the Aviation Discovery Centre. The PlayStation® Gateway, the only dedicated special gaming area to be found within an airport in Asia, lets you play free of charge to your heart’s content with the next generation PS3™, PSP® games and games with the themes of aviation, transportation and movies. You can even enjoy the free latest PSP® trail games download service.

Near the Hong Kong airport:

If you are allowed out of the transfer lounge and your bags have been checked in but you still want to venture out then there are two points of interests that are easily accessible from the airport. The Big Buddha, Po Lin Monastary and Lantau Link Visitors Centre & Viewing Platform are just a few miles away and you can easily get to and back to the airport under 2 hours. One other hidden gem near the Hong Kong airport is the SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course, you can even play golf when you get stuck in the Hong Kong airport and its not just any odd gold course – it is the Hong Kong’s first nine-hole golf created to United States Golf Association standards and inspired by the world’s famous 17th hole at the Tournament Payers Club in Sawgrass, Florida, the Nine Eagles adds a new dimension to the Hong Kong golf scene with a signature hole, Island Green. Situated on an island in the middle of an artificial lake, this signature hole is unique in Hong Kong.

For the love of Rudolph, will you make it back to the airport in time? This is for the ballsy traveler… the one who is going to have an adventure during their layover, departure times be damned. Only if you consider making the most out of being stuck in Hong Kong airport during the holiday and want to see that one iconic thing in Hong Kong before you fly away, then you better take the airport express train to the city and go up the Peak. Most locals would recommend that if there is just that one thing that you have to see before flying off, it would be the Peak. Good luck.