City: Shek O
Top Things to do in Shek O
Top Restaurants in Hong Kong
The 9 Best Nature & Parks in Shek O, China
Delectable dim sum, floating islands, and a one-of-a-kind skyline are just some of Hong Kong’s unique features. Get an eyeful of traditional Chinese architecture in Ngong Ping village, then take the tram to the tippity-top of Victoria Peak for unparalleled views. The rocks and gentle hills of Nan Lian Garden will bring you inner peace, as will a calming cup of tea in a Stanley café. Become one with everything at the Chi Lin Nunnery, a serene Buddhist complex.
Restaurants in Hong Kong
1. Crab Cave (Cape D'aguilar)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By TheOExpress - Hong Kong, China
...which rewards with spectacular crashing of waves and great climbing opportunities, seemingly all to find the perfect photo...so you may have to wait your turn to capture the image you came for. As a spectacle aside from taking pics, it’s a great spot to just watch the sea, either through the gap or from above.
2. Dragon's Back
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,102 reviews
Reviewed By Veg-Traveller-2020
Dragons Back is a must do hike in Hong Kong. The view is breathtaking. To get here, you take the Chai Wan Line To the starting point: From MTR Shau Kei Wan Station Exit A, walk to the Shau Kei Wan Bus Terminus to take bus number 9 and get off on the Dragons Back stop on Shek O Road. Before you start the hike there are a couple of toilets and you wont find any along the way until the end. It takes a couple of hours and you have shorter hike options too
3. Shek O Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
I love this place. If you only have a few days in Hong Kong then you won’t have time on your itinerary to go to Shek O but if you have longer, this is a brilliant beach location. It feels like you are seeing the hidden side of Hong Kong that most tourists don't get to see. It is a strikingly picturesque beach cradled between two mountains and looking out towards several small islands. It’s worth making a day of it. You don't need to take much with you. Beach chairs and umbrellas can be hired there. You can bargain but they’re not expensive anyway ($20HKD for a beach chair) and they will carry them down to the sand for you. It all has a cool, village feel, with cheap and cheerful local restaurants back up on the road. We particularly like the large ‘Shek O Thai’ restaurant on the corner. After lunch, if you make your way through the maze of tiny lanes and whitewashed houses, you may even be lucky enough to come across the well-hidden Ben’s Bar down on the waterfront of a secluded cove. PRACTICAL TIPS: The beach is patrolled and has lifeguards but be aware, that it can have rips from time to time. There are toilets, change-rooms and showers on the beach. You can rent umbrellas and chairs and there are several shops where you can buy inflatables, buckets and spades, hats, water etc GETTING THERE: It is a bit off the beaten track so by public transport from Central/Admiralty, you’ll need to first catch the MTR train on the island line to Shau Kei Wan station (exit B) and then get the No 9 bus. I caught an Uber which took just under 30 mins and cost $198HKD, which is pretty much what I'd expect to pay in a taxi. There were 4 of us but even with 2 people, it’s worth remembering that taxis are relatively cheap in Hong Kong and it will be so much quicker.
4. Tai Long Wan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 52 reviews
Reviewed By TheOExpress - Hong Kong, China
Whether you choose to get here by taxi to Sai Wan Pavilion and and then hiking or by speedboat from Sai Kung, visiting here is an absolute must. For the the most part, the sand is clean and soft, the water clear and clean. On all these counts, things get better further north. Overall, this series of beaches is just stunning!
5. Cape D'Aguilar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
Cape D’Aguilar is a pretty isolated spot, off the beaten track. You’ll have to walk almost 5km to get there but it is also home to a stunning 20 hectare Marine Reserve. The cape itself is a ruggedly beautiful, rocky promontory that juts into the sea. It has a number of very striking rock formations and caves and has sweeping coastal views. The area is marked by irregular and jagged cliffs. Features include Crab Cave, Thunder Cave, ‘Miss Willy’ the whale skeleton, historic WWII military sites and Hong Kong’s oldest lighthouse. The only disappointing thing is that because it is a protected reserve, you can’t have a swim to cool off after your walk. Instead we walked back up D’Aguilar Rd and caught a taxi to Shek O where we jumped straight into the sea. WHAT TO TAKE: Take pretty much everything. There is not a lot of shade so take sunscreen, hats and plenty of water. You’ll also need good shoes. The walk is easy and is a gentle downhill slope along Cape D’Aguilar Rd but once you reach the cape, the rocks are uneven and sharp and the areas around the caves are slippery. The only public toilets that I saw were just past the start of the walk. GETTING THERE: Public transport was very easy. We caught the MTR to Shau Kei Wan. Exit A3 brought us up alongside the bus bay and the the #9 bus took us right to the big roundabout at the start of the walk. Be aware that some #9 buses go straight through to Shek O, bypassing Cape D’Aguilar. Check first and don't get on the bus unless the sign says “via Cape D’Aguilar”. A taxi will slash your travel time from an hour or more down to 30 minutes. It will also take you much closer to Cape D'Aguilar than the bus can. From Central, it should cost under $200HKD (an uber will be much the same).
6. Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By Mairwen1
This is a very beautiful marine reserve with craggy rock formations, sweeping coastal views and features, including unusual caves, the ‘Miss Willy’ whale skeleton, WWII military batteries and Hong Kong’s oldest lighthouse (see separate reviews). However, it is also an isolated spot and well off the beaten track. If you only have a few days in Hong Kong, then you will be too busy with other sights and this is too remote and too out of the way to include in an itinerary. Entry is free but to get there, you need to walk in. The bus will drop you off at the large roundabout which is where your walk starts. It is one of the easiest coastal trails and is a roughly 5 km gentle, downhill walk along Cape D'Aguilar Rd (the bad news is that you will have to walk back up again unless you are lucky enough to snag a taxi that has dropped someone else off). It’s not terribly well sign-posted. You can generally follow other hikers but basically stick to the road until you get to the radio transmitters. At this point, you take the dirt path on your left and circle around behind the station where you can pick up the road again to head downhill. Towards the end of your walk, the road splits but there is a large, blue sign at this point directing you down to the reserve. Make sure to take sunscreen, hats, water and food. The walk is quite exposed and if you go on a weekday, there are no opportunities to buy anything. You’ll also need good shoes because once you get to the reserve the rocks can be sharp and around the caves and water, it is quite slippery. The only public toilets that we saw were two porta-loos about 5 min into the walk. Be aware, that despite the beautiful waters and the hot walk to get here, you can’t jump in for a swim because it's a marine reserve. Instead, we took a taxi later in the day to Shek O beach for lunch and a cooling swim ($46HKD). GETTING THERE: It’s a long-ish but very straightforward trip from Central. A taxi or uber will take cut your travel time in half and can also save you some walking because it can take you part of the way down Cape D'Aguilar Rd. You should pay under $200HKD. We found public transport easy although it took about an hour. We caught the MTR to Shau Kei Wan. Exit A3 brought us right up at the bus bay and the #9 bus went right to the start of the walk. The only tricky part is to double-check that your bus stops at Cape D’Aguilar. Not all do. Some #9 buses go straight through to Shek O so don't get on unless the sign specifically says “via Cape D’Aguilar”.
7. Big Wave Bay Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 110 reviews
Reviewed By jastreboff - Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong spoils you a bit w/ access to hiking and beaches all w/n 30 minutes (of Central). Big Wave certainly has some of the bigger waves in town where surfers and boogie boarders abound, but also a good spot to bring younger kids for a jump around the waves or building some sand castles. The beach side restaurant does good quick food (thin crust pizzas, wraps) so easy enough to pick something up and lounge under a beach umbrella (rentals up the hill from beach). One of the top beaches around town... go early to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sun!
