Hong Kong gets especially festive from mid-November, and this year the celebrations stretch right into the New Year. If you are planning a trip, expect a city full of twinkling lights, giant Christmas installations, holiday markets, and plenty of food moments worth remembering.
In this article, you’ll find where to go for the best holiday atmosphere, where to check into a hotel that balances luxury and local character, and where to sip a cocktail while admiring the skyline, all with your Singapore convenience in mind.
Winter Wonderland in Central
14 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Central becomes the heart of Hong Kong WinterFest. Statue Square Garden turns into Christmas Town, complete with a 20-metre Christmas tree wrapped like an oversized gift. The décor takes inspiration from classic toys, childhood nostalgia, and cosy holiday storytelling.
A Christmas Market opens from 28 November, offering festive treats, craft stalls, gifts and occasional carol sessions. If you are planning photos, evenings are the most atmospheric. Operating hours are from 4pm to 8pm on Thursdays, noon to 10pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays and special hours from 11am to 1am on 24 and 25 December.
Chater Road transforms into Starlight Boulevard, linking seamlessly into Noëlia at LANDMARK, a much-anticipated installation featuring a lighthouse centrepiece and Hong Kong’s largest interactive Wishing Lake. It is very much one of those “you must take a photo” scenes in December.
An Immersive Light Show will run nightly from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm, projecting seasonal imagery across eight iconic buildings around Central. Best viewing is from Statue Square Garden (South). Partcipating buildings including the Bank of China Building, Bank of China Tower, Court of Final Appeal Building, Hong Kong City Hall High Block, Hong Kong Club Building, HSBC Main Building, Prince’s building and Standard Chartered Bank Building.
Merry Balloon Hong Kong
24 November 2025 to 4 January 2026
Merry Balloon Hong Kong citywide celebration features nearly 20 large-scale international and local-character helium balloons, from SpongeBob to Peppa Pig to LuLu the Piggy. It includes an AR Balloon Hunt and a stamp rally that sends you across multiple districts. A giant balloon parade will take place at the Art Park of West Kowloon Cultural District along the promenade from Hong Kong Palace Museum to M+ on 28 December along the harbourfront. Admission is free.
A Merry Balloon Park at West Kowloon features large inflatable play zones and photo spots. Fron 6 December 2025 to 4 January 2026,visit the park at Great Lawn, Art Park at West Kowloon Cultural District. Get tickets from Klook.
There is also a Pop-Up store at Fire Zone, 1/F ELEMENTS with limited-edition merchandise. Open noon to 8pm daily till 4 January 2026.
“Merry-Go-Around Town” will run from 24 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, turning Hong Kong into a playful citywide treasure hunt that blends art, sightseeing and augmented reality. Visitors and locals can join the free AR Balloon Hunt by registering on the event website and heading to nine designated hotspots. Capture AR photos of giant character balloons and collect e-stamps. Those who complete all AR photos and stamps, then answer a final question creatively, stand a chance to win a limited set of 15 “Merry Balloon Hong Kong” pins. The event also features a collaboration with The Hong Kong Society of Illustrators, who have designed 16 Hong Kong-themed postcards. Participants can purchase the postcard set and collect physical stamps as they explore, redeeming special Wear & Carry Character Pin Tags along the way. Postcards can be pre-ordered via Klook and redeemed at the ELEMENTS pop-up store, while digital e-cards will also be available online to send for free. Hotspots include Airside, Central Market, ELEMENTS, Hang Seng Bank Headquarters, West Kowloon Cultural District, and Star Ferry Piers at Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui.
This one is ideal for families, pop culture fans, and anyone who appreciates cute chaos.
Pearls by the Fragrant Harbour at Hoi King Heen
12 November 2025 to 19 January 2026
For a special dinner, Hoi King Heen at InterContinental Grand Stanford presents Pearls by the Fragrant Harbour, a four-hands collaboration between Chef Yu Chiu Kwan, Executive Chef of Hoi King Heen at InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong and Chef Sean Xiao Junwei, Executive Chef of Cai Feng Lou Chinese Restaurant at HUALUXE Xi’an Tanghua and also IHG Group’s Northern China Executive Chinese Chef. Expect refined Cantonese dishes with thoughtful technique, such as crab jelly in a translucent liquor glaze and tender Shunde-style fish soup. It is elegant, warm, and very fitting for a festive evening.
This Four-Hands menu begins with a delicate crab jelly shaped like a little treasure, layered with sweet crab and roe and topped with a lightly perfumed Chinese liquor jelly that glistens beautifully. Then comes a very Shunde-style fish soup, light and silky with tender minced fish and just a hint of citrus to brighten everything up. The showstopper has to be the crispy glutinous rice chicken, its skin crackling while the inside hides fragrant rice, cured meats and scallops, a proper comfort moment. There is also fried Wagyu with a crisp shell and a pop of finger lime for freshness, and a cosy Hakka braise of squid, vermicelli and sweet potato that just hits the spot. Dessert stays warm and nostalgic with soft rice balls in a gently sweet red rice wine syrup, complete with a soft-boiled egg to round things off.
Available at lunch and dinner a la carte and four-hands menu at HKD928 per person with at least two diners. Purchase from the hotel’s online shop at HKD828 per person with at least two diners. Add HKD368 per person for a three-glass wine pairing.
The Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong
Kimpton’s largest global property (495 rooms) has made its Hong Kong debut, opening in September this year in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui. It delivers that relaxed, design-forward luxury that feels personal rather than precious. The entire hotel is angled towards Victoria Harbour, offering that postcard skyline. The interiors nod to the neighbourhood’s maritime past in a subtle, modern way, with rattan details, red brick touches and art from Hong Kong and regional artists. The stylish rooms feature Tivoli speakers, Elephant Grounds custom coffee pods, NONFICTION bath amenities from Korea and, in some rooms, a glorious plunge bath by the window that makes you want to stay in longer than planned. Pet lovers will appreciate the pet-friendly floors too.
The dining is also not your usual hotel line-up. Birdsong handles the daytime coffee ritual with a barista-first approach and some rather fun pastries, before easing into Kimpton’s signature Social Hour, where guests can gather for complimentary wine and small bites with the harbour as the backdrop. Hillside moves from cha chaan teng breakfast comfort to a more contemporary dinner mood, while JĪJĀ by two-MICHELIN-starred Chef Vicky Lau focuses on bold, comforting dishes of southwestern China meant for sharing. Evenings rise to the rooftop Swim Club for breezy cocktails, and if you are in the mood for something moodier, High Dive waits quietly with Baccarat glassware and rare pours. Fitness travellers get the bragging rights of Hong Kong’s first HYROX-affiliated hotel gym, plus a heated rooftop pool that might just convince you to wake up for sunrise. A full spa is scheduled to open in 2026, rounding out the calm-meets-city energy. Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui feels like a hotel that knows Hong Kong well, but also wants you to take your time with it.
Where to Stay: Lanson Place Causeway Bay
Lanson Place Causeway Bay, recently redesigned by Pierre-Yves Rochon and reopened in March 2025, has been named City Hotel of the Year by Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Lanson Place in Causeway Bay is a stylish pick for both quick city stays and longer visits, with 188 rooms, apartments and a handful of penthouses set right by shopping streets, business districts and the neighbourhood’s cultural corners. The redesigned interiors lean into a chic French aesthetic, calm colour palettes and plenty of natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of the city and nearby greenery. Each room is laid out with a sense of ease and flexibility, offering dedicated pockets for work, rest and downtime, plus thoughtful touches that make it feel more like a home base than a hotel room. If you prefer hotels that feel like a stylish personal hideaway rather than a busy lobby scene, this is a strong option.
Lanson Place properties are now part of the GHA DISCOVERY programme. Members can earn and redeem rewards across 850 hotels worldwide. If you already use GHA, this makes staying at Lanson Place even more worthwhile.
Drinks with a View: Peridot at Summit 38
Peridot is one of Hong Kong’s most intriguing new openings in The Henderson, blending inventive cocktails, plant-based fine dining and striking design in one lime-green, sky-high space. The bar’s terroir-driven cocktail programme, led by François Cavelier, explores how geography and climate shape the spirits used in each drink. The first menu takes inspiration from Kagoshima, known for its volcanic soils and shochu craftsmanship, with cocktails served in beautiful Kagoshima Satsuma Kiriko glassware and local Tateno Pottery. Expect thoughtful storytelling in every glass, from smoky late-night whisky riffs to playful creations that even lean into durian, all supported by a rare spirits collection that whisky and agave lovers will want to linger over.
The fermentation-forward plant-based food offering is equally ambitious, created by chef Lisandro Illa who brings techniques from his time at Noma and Popl to refined bar snacks and multi-course tasting menus. Fermentation, time and patience are the backbone of dishes that turn familiar ingredients into something unexpected, such as nut-based cheeses and fruit-driven charcuterie.
The space itself, designed by Studio Paolo Ferrari, feels like a futuristic greenhouse in soft green glass and polished marble, complete with sweeping city views and live music from Thursday to Saturday. Peridot is not just somewhere to have a drink, it is a destination for those who enjoy a sense of discovery and a little theatricality in their night out.
Peridot is open for lunch, bar snacks and drinks from Monday to Saturday. Visit https://peridothk.com/, via phone +852 9722 8388 for more information. Peridot is located at Summit 38, 38/F, The Henderson, 2 Murray Road, Central, Hong Kong
Slow Travel with Cathay x West Kowloon Cultural District
Cathay’s Slowly Explore, Fully Inspired campaign invites travellers to experience Hong Kong at a gentler pace.
The new short film called Slowly Explore, Fully Inspired is created with celebrated Thai director Chayanop Boonprakob (better known as Moo), as part of its ongoing three-year partnership with the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority to spotlight Hong Kong’s growing reputation as an arts and culture hub.
The film stars Thai creator Pimtha Thanida Manalertruengkul and Singapore-based Australian model-actor Alexander Yue, and follows a couple visiting Hong Kong with very different travel styles. While the boyfriend rushes from sight to sight, Pimtha’s character begins to discover a quieter joy in slowing down, especially during a visit to M Plus, the contemporary visual culture museum in West Kowloon. With humour and warmth, the story highlights that inspiration can happen when you pause and look a little closer, echoing Cathay’s push to encourage travellers to enjoy Hong Kong not just as a checklist of attractions but as a place to wander, feel, and connect.
It is a helpful reminder that Hong Kong is not only fast-paced. There are quiet corners if you know where to step.
Earn Miles Easily with HeyMax x Cathay
HeyMax, a rewards platform from Singapore, has officially launched in Hong Kong and is now integrated with Cathay miles. Everyday spending at selected merchants by Cathay members in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam can be converted into points redeemable for flights and travel rewards. It is worth registering before your trip if you enjoy turning “coffee money” into flight credits.
Users in Hong Kong can earn Max Miles from over 300 leading merchants including Watsons, Trip.com, Klook, Starbucks, foodpanda and redeem them for flights, hotels, and rewards from over 30 programs, including Cathay, ALL Accor, and Qatar Airways.
Keep on Your Radar: Andaz Hong Kong Central (Opening 2027)
This one is for future planning. Andaz Hong Kong Central will open within the Central Crossing development and promises a warm, cultural approach to hospitality. Worth watching if you return to Hong Kong often.
The 125 room lifestyle hotel will reflect Hong Kong’s blend of heritage and modernity, featuring social spaces like a Living Room, an all-day restaurant, fitness facilities and the debut of an Andaz Village retail and wellness hub, offering curated brands and experiences. Positioned steps from Tai Kwun, PMQ and Central Market, the hotel aims to be a cultural and creative anchor for both travellers and locals.