A Guide to Discovering Hong Kong's Hidden Museum Treasures

A Little Guide to Museums in Hong Kong to Check Out These Hidden Gems

Last week, I took two days off to explore some of Hong Kong's lesser-known museums that people usually skip. I was really blown away: turns out, besides the Victoria Harbour night view and the cha chaan teng, there are so many cool, off-the-beaten-path exhibitions. I wrote down the routes, ticket prices, and potential pitfalls, so you can just copy my homework.

My Rush Route

I stayed in Mong Kok and left at 9:30 AM, first heading to the Hong Kong Palace Museum. From the C1 exit of Kowloon Station, I walked for about 10 minutes following the signs. I bought my ticket online in advance for 70 HKD, and just scanned it at the entrance. Note: It's closed on Tuesdays; I almost ended up with nothing.

After the Palace Museum, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the M+ Museum. The ticket is a bit pricey at 120 HKD, but seeing Yayoi Kusama’s pumpkin and the huge LED wall made it worth it. It’s open until 10 PM on Fridays, so I wrapped up my visit just in time to catch the sunset at the West Kowloon Cultural District.

I had a quick lunch at the cultural district and then took the subway to Tsim Sha Tsui. In the afternoon, I went through the Hong Kong Museum of Art (free), Hong Kong Museum of History (free), and Hong Kong Space Museum in one go. The Space Museum ticket is only 10 HKD, but it opens at 1 PM, so don’t be like me and show up at 11 AM waiting outside.

On the second day, I switched to Hong Kong Island. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Museum is located at Mid-Levels in Central. I exited at the D2 exit of Central Station and followed Google Maps to hike up a 15-minute slope. It’s free to enter, but closed on Mondays. The Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences is at Exit C in Sai Ying Pun; the ticket is 20 HKD, and it’s filled with 19th-century medical equipment—so be cautious if you’re squeamish.

Finally, I headed to the Tai Kwun (Hong Kong’s Heritage and Arts Centre). You can take the D1 exit from Central Station and directly ride the escalator up. No reservation needed; it’s free. There’s also a light show at 8 PM in the evening, which was a great way to wrap up the day.

My Practical Tips

My Pitfall Alerts

1. Many museums are closed on Tuesdays: The Palace Museum, Museum of History, and Space Museum are all closed, so I almost wasted my first day.
2. Space Museum opens late: It opens at 1 PM; you can check out the nearby Museum of Art first.
3. Steep hike to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Museum: The hill at Mid-Levels is really steep; I almost gave up in dress shoes.
4. M+ can get super crowded on Fridays: If you want to take photos without people, I suggest going on a weekday morning.

My Money-Saving Tips

• The Museum of Art, Museum of History, and Tai Kwun are all free—just go for it.
• You can buy tickets on-site for the Science Museum and Space Museum without reservations.
• Buying tickets for the Palace Museum and M+ in advance on their websites saves queue time, but there's no discount.

My Photo Spots

• Palace Museum's third-floor terrace: perfect for a panoramic view of the West Kowloon Cultural District
• M+’s second-floor LED wall: amazing for silhouette shots
• Museum of Art's third-floor terrace: stunning sunset over Victoria Harbour
• Tai Kwun’s old prison yard: great for photos with historical vibe

My Schedule

Day 1
9:30-12:00 Hong Kong Palace Museum
12:00-14:00 M+ Museum + Lunch
14:30-16:00 Hong Kong Museum of Art
16:30-18:00 Hong Kong Museum of History
18:30-20:00 Hong Kong Space Museum (check planetarium)

Day 2
10:00-11:30 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Museum
12:00-13:30 Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences
14:00-18:00 Tai Kwun (including photo time + dinner)

These museums were way more fun than I expected, especially M+ with its contemporary art and the Medical Museum's old surgical rooms. Next time, I’m planning to go to M+ on a Friday night specifically because I’ve heard the lights look completely different at night.