Museums in Hong Kong that are definitely worth visiting
Museums are a crucial part of preserving a country or city’s culture, heritage and history. Everyone loves a good museum, so, for all the history buffs out there, we’ve rounded up some of Hong Kong’s best museums for everyone to enjoy.
Best museums for history
Hong Kong Palace Museum
Since its grand opening on July 3, 2022, the Hong Kong Palace Museum has welcomed over 730,000 visitors to date. HKPM contains a total of nine galleries, each hosting thematic exhibitions or special exhibitions. As the new year begins, HKPM is preparing to display 85 newly-arrived treasures from the Palace Museum, including 17 grade-one national treasures. These include paintings, calligraphic works, ceramics, textiles and accessories. Over the coming weeks, the museum will also host HKPM SHOWTIME!, a free-to-attend performing arts programme featuring leading performing arts groups and artists. Upcoming events include Storytelling with Music on January 29 and Chinese Music and the Way of Tea on February 19.
Where: West Kowloon Cultural District, 8 Museum Drive
How much: HK $50 for adults, HK $25 for concessions and children aged 7-11, free for children under 6 years old
The Hong Kong Heritage Museum
The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is one of Hong Kong’s biggest. It has 12 exhibition galleries with amazing relics giving insights into the history and culture of Hong Kong. This museum specialises in history as well as art and culture such as Cantonese Opera and traditional Chinese art.
Where: 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, New Territories
How much: Free
The Hong Kong Museum of History
This museum is filled with exhibits, including ones on prehistoric Hong Kong, the Japanese occupation and local folk culture. It also has incredible artefacts that you won’t see anywhere else. Definitely one of those museums where you could stay for hours.
Where: 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon
How much: Free
The Hong Kong Maritime Museum
The Hong Kong Maritime Museum showcases the city’s seafaring history. This museum showcases the importance of shipping to Hong Kong’s economy as well as the development of ships and boats in Hong Kong. The Maritime Museum is great for kids too! Kids will be able to find out how archaeologists excavate old wrecked ships using state of the art technology and so much more.
Where: Central Pier 8, Central, Hong Kong Island
How much: HK$30 for adults, HK$15 for seniors, disabled and children under 18 years
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
Flagstaff House was built in the 1840s and is an amazing example of colonial architecture. It is solely devoted to educating people about ceramic art and the culture that surrounds tea drinking.
Where: 10 Cotton Tree Drive (inside Hong Kong Park), Central, Hong Kong Island
How much: Free
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Best museums for science and technology
The Hong Kong Science Museum
The Hong Kong science museum is definitely one of the best museums in Hong Kong for the whole family, especially the kids. With various hands-on activities and exhibits, the Science museum gives visitors the opportunity to learn by interacting with the displays. This institution covers different aspects of science such as biodiversity, electricity and magnetism, light and sounds, earth science and more.
Where: 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
How much: Standard: $20; Group ticket: $14; Concessionary ticket: $10; Free for children under four years accompanied by an adult with a ticket, for full-time students and on Wednesdays.
The Hong Kong Space Museum
With its eye-catching egg-shaped dome, The Hong Kong Space Museum is one of Hong Kong’s most popular museums as the dome is home to an Omnimax theatre where it screens educational films about space. In the main museum, visitors can find interactive displays and amazing exhibits that will get anyone and everyone interested in the vast universe above.
Where: 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
How much: standard entry is HK$10, free for kids under four and full-time students, and free on Wednesdays; Stanly Ho Space Theatre – HK$24 front stalls; HK$32 back stalls
Hong Kong Film Arhive
Everyone knows about Hong Kong’s rich cinematic history and what a better place to showcase it than the Hong Kong Film Archive. This museum offers viewers a wide range of screenings of some of Hong Kong’s classic films from kung-fu movies to traditional Cantonese dramas. Perfect for all the film buffs out there.
Where: 50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong Island
Best museums for kids
Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery
The Alexander Grantham was the flagship of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department sea rescue team from 1952 to 2002. At a gallery area of 1,200 square metres, a number of unique firefighting artifacts are displayed at this amazing museum.
Where: Quarry Bay Park, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Island
How much: Free
Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum
Devoted to inspiring young minds, The Hong Kong Children’s Discovery Museum has over 40 different exhibits, each catering to the education of children. This fun-filled museum has hands-on interactive play learning experiences that the kids are sure to enjoy all the while learning about mathematics, STEM and more.
Where: G/F, Island Residence, 163 Shau Kei Wan Road, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong
How much: $70 for a one-hour session and $40 for 30 minutes on weekdays; HK$90 for a one-hour session and HK$50 for 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays
The Hong Kong Railway Museum
Built in 1913, the train that sits at the Tai Po Market Railway Station gets kids of all ages excited about trains. The museum teaches children (and parents) about the history of some of Hong Kong’s past and present train designs and has an education corner with interactive displays.
Where: 13 Shung Tak St, Tai Po, Hong Kong
How much: Free
