8 Museums in Hong Kong Worth Adding to Your Travel List

M+ Museum is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world. Since its opening in Hong Kong, M+ has already set itself apart, becoming an eye-catching landmark in the West Cultural District. With its striking design by renowned architecture firms, Herzog and de Meuron and Farrells, M+ definitely stands out. The museum is home to a large collection of 20th and 21st-century art ranging from visual art, design and architecture, and moving images. You can say that M+ is Hong Kong’s answer to Tate Modern, MoMA, and Centre Pompidou. With a view overlooking Victoria Harbour and within walking distance from Art Park, M+ truly has so much going for it.

Highlights: M+ is Asia’s first global museum of modern and contemporary visual culture. It also has its own museum, restaurants, and cafes.

Tips: Make sure to bring small personal items. Bags smaller than 30 cm x 42 cm x 10 cm are allowed in the galleries but must be worn in front. Larger items must be put in the locker or in the cloakroom. M+ also offers free audio guides for the best in-gallery experience.

Long before settling in its current home in Tsim Sha Tsui, the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) was located in the City Hall in Central. It was known as the City Museum and Art Gallery during its establishment in 1962 before splitting into the Hong Kong Museum of History and HKMoA in 1975. The public art museum houses an art collection of almost 20,000 items, each reflecting the “cultural legacy” of the city. In 2015, the museum underwent extensive renovation and unveiled its new, upgraded look in 2019. Now, it’s complete with restaurants and a stunning view of Victoria Harbour on top of world-class art exhibitions.

Highlights: The museum’s restaurants Hue and Ink boast amazing views of Victoria Harbour. It is also an ideal location to see major fireworks displays.

Tips: HKMoA has guided tours for groups and the public. An audio guide tour is also available. We recommend shopping at the HKMoA gift shop which often restocks limited edition and special items.

That giant circular structure in Tsim Sha Tsui? Not a difficult one to miss. It’s not a dinosaur’s egg, but rather the Hong Kong Space Museum. Commissioned in 1980, the museum is the first local planetarium for astronomy and space science. Its distinguished egg-shaped dome covers part of the 8000-square-metre museum and is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the city. The dome houses the Space Theatre, the Hall of Cosmos, a project room, workshops and offices. Meanwhile, the west side is where you can find the Hall of Space Exploration, a lecture hall, gift shops, and more offices. The museum is truly the place where you can reach for the stars.

Highlights: The Space Theatre boasts the first OMNIMAX film project in the eastern hemisphere. The museum is also the first planetarium to have a fully automatic control system in its Space Theatre.

Tips: Don’t miss the yearly Sky Show that screens foreign 3D dome shows using the state-of-the-art projection system. The museum also has plenty of extension activities every year such as stargazing events, astronomy classes, and observation programmes for special astronomic events.

The Hong Kong Science Museum opened its doors in 1991 with the aim to “spark curiosity and ignite inquisitive minds” among its visitors. The museum has at least 500 exhibiting works at all times, 70 per cent of which are interactive exhibitions. One of its most prominent exhibits is the 22-metre-high Energy Machine, which is also the tallest and biggest work on display. It occupies four floors of space and demonstrates energy conversion through the movement of balls descending down the towers.

Highlights: Interactive exhibitions in the Permanent Exhibition section and science shows and demonstrations make the visit more fun and lively. Programmes for seniors and children are also available.

Tips: The museum regularly hosts special and popular exhibitions such as “The Science Behind Pixar” and “The Big Eight – Dinosaur Revelation”. It is best to stay updated on the latest exhibitions on the official website as tickets for these often get sold out quickly.

Moving away from the avenue of museums in Tsim Sha Tsui is the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Instead, it is surrounded by lush greenery towering over Sha Tin’s residential buildings. The museum’s layout takes after the traditional ‘siheyuan’ (quadrangle), a type of historical residence commonly found throughout China, especially in Beijing and rural Shanxi. It is where a mix of houses surround a central courtyard. But beyond the architecture, the museum boasts 12 exhibition galleries, with each showcasing relics that tell the art and cultural stories of Hong Kong and neighbouring cities.

Highlights: Some notable works in the museum include Chinese paintings by Chao Shao-an, a master of the Lingnan School; the development of Cantonese opera; and a space dedicated to writer Dr Louis Cha (pen name Jin Yong) and his work.

Tips: The museum hosts regular online and offline programmes and events so stay updated on the latest happenings on their website. In addition to permanent exhibitions, there are also special exhibitions that relate to pop culture icons such as Bruce Lee, Anita Mui, and Leslie Cheung that can’t be missed. So, plan accordingly.

If you couldn’t tell from its name, the Hong Kong Palace Museum presents over 900 priceless artefacts from the Palace Museum in Beijing. Many of these treasures on display had never been exhibited in Hong Kong before—until the museum opened. And in fact, some of these have never been shown to the public at all. The museum is the place to be for appreciating Chinese art and culture. Local architecture firm Rocco Design Architects designed the impressive structure. The building’s shape is inspired by Chinese bronze ding cauldrons and sycee ingots, moving away from the original design of its Beijing counterpart.

Highlights: Other than its exhibition rooms and impressive exterior, the museum also has EV charging facilities and baby care rooms. The museum also has a compelling dining experience with its restaurants and cafes, complete with panoramic harbour views. Guide dogs are welcome in all galleries and facilities

Tips: We recommend reserving time to truly experience the museum. About three to four hours should be enough to browse through the exhibitions across the seven-storied museum. Make time for a nice meal at one of the restaurants too. The M+ Museum is also located nearby if you want to visit both on the same day.

Don’t let this pint-size museum fool you, it’s a place packed with history. The open-air Hong Kong Railway Museum is converted from the old Tai Po Market Railway Station. It only occupies 6,500 square metres but the exhibitions are actual trains that almost seem larger than life. The original station opened in 1913 and features the pitched roof of a traditional Chinese building. In 1984, the station was declared a monument after the train service was decommissioned. It reopened as a museum a year later to show the development of Hong Kong’s railway system. So, if you’re impressed with Hong Kong’s MTR, you can’t miss a visit here.

Highlights: Be in awe of the traditional steam locomotive or the 1950s diesel-electric engine, and vintage passenger coaches. Other items on display include train tickets and train models not only in Hong Kong but also overseas such as Japanese Shinkansen and Eurostar.

Tips: Admission to the museum is free of charge, no matter the day or exhibition you visit.

The Cup Noodles Museum in Hong Kong is an offshoot of the larger one in Yokohama, Japan. Some may dismiss it simply as an attraction rather than a museum. But one can’t deny that it’s the only place that is dedicated to instant noodles in Hong Kong. The interactive museum displays the innovative creation of Momofuku Ando, the founder of Nissin Foods. He was also the inventor of the revolutionary chicken ramen, the world’s first instant ramen. At the museum, visitors can make their own noodles from scratch, pack the noodles, and design the packaging. The museum also exhibits Momofuku Ando’s journey to making chicken ramen.

Highlights: The Cup Noodles Wall displays different cup noodles from 17 countries, showing a variety of packages and flavours around the world. The Demae Iccho Factory is where visitors can make noodles from scratch and pack them. Yes, it can be brought home and eaten too!

Tips: The museum is open to all ages. As the Demae Iccho Factory is popular, make sure to reserve your slots in advance. The whole workshop takes 90 minutes and costs HKD 120 per person. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday workshops can take 12 participants while Friday and weekends can accommodate 24 people. Children under 110 cm are not allowed in the workshop. Participants must purchase the ticket in pairs.