What is the best time to visit Hong Kong? It really depends on whether you like the weather hot and humid or prefer cooler temperatures. People think of Hong Kong as being very hot and humid, but in reality it enjoys mild weather for half the year.
Hong Kong’s heat and humidity drops from October onwards until around April and so this is the most pleasant time of year for sightseeing. Autumn is the optimal time to visit, when both humidity and temperatures have dropped off after a hot and humid summer. Spring temperatures and humidity are also pleasant, but the weather is more unpredictable with heavy downpours common.
The summer in Hong Kong is very hot and humid, and it is also typhoon season at this time of year, so it is not such a popular time with visitors. If you don’t like heat and humidity, avoid the summer months in Hong Kong. January and February can get quite cold, though rarely much below 10 degrees Celsius.
- Summer months are very hot and humid, particularly June-August.
- Winter months January & February are the coldest.
- Spring weather is unpredictable with heavy downpours common.
- Fall is usually pleasant temperatures and lower humidity.
- Typhoon season runs June to October, although can start as early as April.
- Public holidays in China, particularly Chinese New Year and Golden Week, are busy times for tourists in Hong Kong.
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Spring in Hong Kong
Although temperatures and humidity are pleasant in the Spring, the weather is unpredictable and so you could be lucky or unlucky during a Spring visit to Hong Kong. Heavy downpours are common, but these rarely last longer than a few hours.
Summer in Hong Kong
Summer in Hong Kong can be unbearably hot and humid. This is not a good time to be sightseeing in Hong Kong with kids. Summer is also typhoon season in Hong Kong, and even if there are no typhoon warnings, there are often typhoons in the vicinity, which result in inclement weather in Hong Kong as well as higher levels of pollution. You can expect more rain, wind and thunderstorms at this time of year.
Autumn in Hong Kong
After a hot and steamy summer, the humidity and temperatures drop from October onwards. October to December is a pleasant time of year, with the city enjoying low humidity, cooler temperatures and low rainfall. This is a great time of year for sightseeing in Hong Kong.
Note that the first week of October is Golden Week in China, when they enjoy an entire week of public holidays. Given that much of Hong Kong’s tourism comes from China, this can be a busy time at tourist attractions and for Hong Kong hotel bookings.
Winter in Hong Kong
Winter, particularly in January and February, can be surprisingly cold in Hong Kong. You will definitely need to pack a sweater and jacket at this time of year. Temperatures rarely drop much below 10 degrees Celsius though.
Chinese New Year is celebrated every year in January or February. While this can be a fun time to visit Hong Kong, it can also be a busy time for hotel bookings and will also affect restaurant bookings, and how busy attractions are. Some businesses are closed during this period.
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Insider guide to the best time to visit Hong Kong