Fancy catching a fireworks show in Hong Kong? If you’re wondering where to watch the fireworks in Hong Kong for free, look no further! We’ve curated a list of the best free places in the city to catch the dazzling displays. Remember, these spots tend to fill up quickly, so be sure to arrive early, armed with plenty of drinks and snacks to enjoy the show in comfort and style!
When Are The Next Fireworks In Hong Kong?
The next fireworks show is on May 1, and starts at 8pm to celebrate Labour Day. Hong Kong hosts three spectacular annual displays every year at Victoria Harbour for Chinese New Year, on National Day (October 1), and on New Year’s Eve. This year, there will also be a series of monthly shows for public holidays like Labour Day and the Dragon Boat Festival.
Avenue of Stars — Tsim Sha Tsui
This is the definitive place to watch any fireworks display in the 852 as spectators get to view the show against the iconic backdrop of Hong Kong Island. This area gets crowded pretty quickly, and you’ll barely have any standing room, so get there well before midnight to get your front-row seat to the spectacular nighttime event. If you aren’t able to get a coveted spot there, walk east along the harbour and pick a place on the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.
How to get there:
– MTR: Access Avenue of Stars via Exit J of the East Tsim Sha Tsui Station.
– Ferry: Take the Star Ferry from Central or Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui, then walk along the TST promenade for about 10 minutes.
– Bus: Alight from any bus near Salisbury Road or East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Cultural Centre Station or Star Ferry Station, then head east along Salisbury Road. Get the full bus list here.
Golden Bauhinia Square — Wan Chai
While this is a popular tourist spot and easy to find, it isn’t a prime fireworks viewing area. And drinks and snacks are usually not easy to come by here. But this should be the place to go if you don’t want to be in the midst of a heaving crowd while watching the fireworks.
How to get there:
– MTR: Leave Wan Chai Station via Exit A5, head to Central Plaza via a footbridge, and take the overhead walkway to reach the waterfront.
– Ferry: Board the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai, and reach Golden Bauhiia Square after a five-minute walk from the pier.
– Bus: Take any of the following buses to the Hong Kong Cultural and Exhibition Centre: 25A, 307C, 905, 905P, 914X, 914P, 961, 961P, 978, 978A, 978B.
Tamar Park — Admiralty
Bring a blanket, food, and drinks and make this year’s fireworks show a picnic experience at this wide, grassy expanse, which will give you a great harbourside view of the event. It’s an easy walk from the Admiralty MTR station, and is a great place to bring kids. If, however, you feel up to braving the crowds, get here super-early and find a spot on the observation deck right by the harbour.
How to get there:
– MTR: Hop on the Island Line to Admiralty Station, take Exit A, and cross Harbour Road via the pedestrian walkway.
– Ferry: Take any ferry that gets to Central Piers 1-7, walk east towards AIA Vitality Park, and then along Victoria Harbour until you get to the park. Or take the Star Ferry to Wan Chai Pier and then head west on the promenade by the harbour.
– Bus: Take the 18, 97, 720, 780, 905, 905P, 914X, or 979 and get off at Harcourt Road. Here’s the full list of bus and minibus stops closest to Tamar Park.
Central Piers — Central
The best place along the Central side of the harbour is near the Star Ferry Terminal or Central Pier 8 as you will get an unobstructed view of the fireworks show. If you want an aerial view of the event from this area, you could even book a seat on the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.
How to get there:
– MTR: Take the Island Line To Central and access the piers via a walkway that starts from Exit A, or hop on the Tung Chung Line to Hong Kong Station and take Exit F to walk to the piers through IFC Mall.
– Ferry: There are many ferries that sail to Central from Kowloon and the outlying islands.
– Bus: Those who prefer the bus will find several going to the Central Bus Terminus at Exchange Square.
Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade — Wan Chai
This 5.5 km stretch has several places along Victoria Harbour from where you can catch the fireworks display. And as a bonus, you can head to the new Water and Sports Recreation Precinct, which is a five-minute walk from the promenade, to see the railway-themed Christmas Tree.
How to get there:
– MTR: Take the East Rail Line to Exhibition Centre, leave via Exit A2, and get to the promenade via Hung Hing Road.
– Ferry: Star Ferry passengers from Tsim Sha Tsui will find that the venue is a five-minute walk from the Wan Chai Ferry Pier.
– Bus: Board any bus that terminates at the Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange.
West Kowloon Art Park — Kowloon
If you’re looking for a chilled-out spot to take in the fireworks on the Kowloon side of the Harbour, head to this wide open space. Feel free to pack a stool, pitch a tent, or even bring your pets — if crowds and loud noises don’t scare them too easily, that is.
How to get there:
– MTR: Head to Kowloon Station on the Airport Express or Tung Chung Line and get to the park via Elements mall (Exits C1 or D1) or Nga Cheung Road (Exits E4 or E5).
– Ferry: Access the park via the harbour on a Water Taxi, which goes from East Tsim Sha Tsui to West Kowloon on weekends and public holidays.
– Bus: There are many bus and minibus options that take passengers to Museum Drive and Nga Cheung Road.
Lugard Road — The Peak
This is the place to be if you want a bird’s-eye view of the fireworks display. Hike up to The Peak, or head up there via bus or tram. While you’ll have to pay for a ticket to check out the action from Sky Terrace 428, we suggest going to Lugard Road for a free-of-charge view. This is a photographer-favourite spot, though, so you’d do well to get here early. If you’re going with kids, this is an easy walk, and you can combine it with a pit stop at Victoria Peak Garden and Mount Austin Playground.
How to get there:
– Tram: Hop on the Victoria Peak Tram, and walk from the Peak Terminus to Lugard Road.
– Bus: Take the No. 15 bus from the Central Bus Terminus at Exchange Square.
Kowloon Peak — Ma On Shan
If you decide to head up to Kowloon Peak, also known as Fei Ngo Shan, you will get sweeping views of Hong Kong, but the fireworks will be obstructed by skyscrapers. However, if you’re a hiking enthusiast, this is one of the more adventurous ways to check out the display against the twinkling lights of the city. The hike via Fei Ngo Shan Road is of moderate difficulty, and takes 25–35 minutes along a mostly paved road with a steep rocky path towards the end.
How to get there:
– MTR: Take the MTR to Choi Hung Station and walk to Fei Ngo Shan Road via Clearwater Bay Road from there.
– Bus: Take the 1A, 1S, 11B, 11S or 11 to Clearwater Bay Road to Fei Ngo Shan Road at the base of Kowloon Peak and start your hike.
East Coast Park Precinct — North Point
This is a bit further out than most people usually venture for a Hong Kong fireworks show, but it will be a promising vantage point as this year’s display will extend to Causeway Bay. It’s smaller than the other spots we’ve mentioned, but it’s also generally not as crowded as the other more popular spaces. Grab a place along the 100-metre-long breakwater that extends into the harbour and try to get a north- or west-facing view.
How to get there:
– MTR: Make your way to Fortress Hill on the Island Line, and the park can be reached by undertaking a short walk via Oil Street and Electric Road.
– Bus: Minibus No. 56 stops at Merlin Street, while several other buses make stops at Electric Road and King’s Road, which are also short walks away from the park.
IFC — Central
This has the advantage of being a wide open space on a rooftop bang in the heart of the city. You can order a quick bite from Shake Shack, or even make a run to the supermarket downstairs to get snacks and drinks to enjoy as you watch the show.
How to get there:
– MTR: This mall sits atop the Hong Kong Station, which is on the Airport Express and Tung Chung lines, and you can get to the mall via Exits F or E1.
– Ferry: The mall is a five-minute walk from Central Ferry Piers 1-7, and can be accessed by two walkways from Pier 3 and Pier 7.
– Bus: The Central Bus Terminus at Exchange Square just outside the mall provides access to more than 30 bus or minibus routes.
Ocean Terminal Deck — Tsim Sha Tsui
(© Harbour City)
Many photography enthusiasts flock to the rooftop of this five-storey extension building of Harbour City to get the best click of the fireworks, as it boasts a 270-degree view of the city’s skyline. The mall will also open the Ocean Terminal Rooftop Car park to the public, which they can access if they redeem a charity admission ticket.
How to get there:
– MTR: Harbour City is within a 10-minute-walk from three MTR stations: Tsim Sha Tsui (Exit A1), East Tsim Sha Tsui (Exit L5), and Austin (Exit F).
– Ferry: The mall is directly in front of the TST Star Ferry Pier, which is convenient for passengers from Central and Wan Chai.
– Bus: Take any of the several buses to Tsim Sha Tsui Bus Terminal, which is directly in front of the mall.
Braemar Hill — Eastern District
Braemar Hill is popular among photographers who want to capture a picture-perfect Hong Kong sunset, especially from the Mount Butler viewpoint. It has great west-facing views of the harbour and tends to be secluded if you hike up there, which makes it a great vantage point for a view of the fireworks against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour.
How to get there:
– MTR: Make your way to Tin Hau Station on the Island Line, then walk to the beginning of the hiking trail by way of Tin Hau Temple Road, Cloud View Road, which connects to Braemar Hill Road. The trail begins just behind St Joan of Arc Secondary School.
– Bus: Catch the 49M minibus From King’s Road to Upper Braemar Hill Bus Terminus, then hike up to the peak.
Hung Hom Bypass — Tsim Sha Tsui
This may be one of the busiest streets in Hong Kong, but it’s ideal for those who want an Avenue of Stars view of the fireworks, but at a slight elevation. Sections of this thoroughfare will be closed from 6pm onwards during New Year’s Eve, so spectators can get a street-party vibe in a spot that usually has fast-moving traffic.
How to get there:
– MTR: Take the East Rail Line to the Hung Hom MTR Station and leave via Exit D4. From there, it’s a 15-20 minute walk down to the promenade.
– Bus: Catch the 606S to Mody Road and walk through Cody Road Garden to get to the bypass.
Water and Sports Recreation Precinct — Wan Chai
This recently opened nine-kilometre-stretch that connects Kennedy Town and Fortress Hill has a breakwater with a viewing deck, ideal for west-facing views of the fireworks spectacle. While you’re there, check out the two MTR cars on display that used to ply the East Rail Line.
How to get there:
– MTR: Walk from Exhibition Centre MTR Station (Exit A2) on the East Rail Line via Hung Hing Road, or from the Causeway Bay station (Exit C) on the Island Line by way of the footbridge at Canal Road West.
– Ferry: Take the Star Ferry to Wan Chai Ferry Pier, and walk eastwards on the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade.
– Bus: Hop on board the buses that head to the Wan Chai North Temporary Public Transport Interchange.
Header image credits: Nick Kwan via Pexels
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