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The IFC, which is right on the water and also houses The Four Seasons (if you’re in for a luxury shopping trip), is the best place to go shopping in HK. It has all the basic, big name brands plus every single luxury brand you can think of. It can be dangerous if you’re a serious shopper—you could spend an entire weekend here without seeing the light of day.

Lane Crawford is a beautifully decorated, incredibly well-selected specialty store. It’s the only place in HK where you’ll find varied brands like Acne, Elizabeth and James, Moncler, Vanessa Bruno, etc. You can't miss it at the IFC with its beautiful displays of contemporary art and huge and equally well-edited homeware department. There are also outposts in Pacific Place, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Causeway Bay.

Zuma is one of our favorite restaurants in London, and its Hong Kong branch does not disappoint. While the multi-level setting is dramatic, the casual Izakaya-style menu of Japanese delicacies (and extensive drink menu) is totally approachable.

The Four Seasons which is located right on the water’s edge with amazing views of Kowloon and houses three three-Star Michelin restaurants, including the Caprice, a French restaurant, if you’re in the mood for something different. Like FS locations worldwide, the rooms here are subtle but well-appointed and the service impeccable. This specific outpost is especially convenient, being right inside of the International Finance Center mall which houses all the good shops, like our personal favorite, Lane Crawford.

The suites here have an elegant and modern Chinese look to them, with huge windows that open up onto a balcony that wraps around the entire space. The views from all the way up there are incredible. The massive bathrooms have both a huge jacuzzi and a steam room. Non-suite guestrooms are all similarly decorated with Chinese antiques and modern furniture. And while you may not want to leave the confines of your room, there are ten restaurants and bars in the Mandarin Hotel to work your way through, including the M Bar, which is one of the more trendy places to go out.

Though it’s still a place of serious business, this iconic, I.M. Pei-designed masterpiece—impossible to miss on the Hong Kong skyline thanks to its triangle-flecked sides—allows visitors to its observation deck. When it was constructed in 1990, it was the tallest building outside of the United States—and while it’s now dwarfed by three other Hong Kong skyscrapers, it still provides sweeping views of the city. You’ll need to show your passport at the security desk.

Hong Kong ranges along the water for many reasons: For one, it’s been a bustling harbor for centuries; for two, the center of the island is dominated by a giant mountain, which you can ascend, by funicular tram, for unparalleled views. It’s absolutely worth it on a clear day—and actually doesn’t take much time.

Though it’s not gilded and grand on the outside, when you step inside this temple—built in 1847—and look up, you’re met by a seemingly endless span of incense coils, all suspended from the ceiling. Each is about two to three feet long, and combined with the smell, makes for a powerful experience. Photo: Stripped Pixel

If you happen to know a member of this club, hit them up for an invite (a good hotel concierge should probably be able to get you in, too): It’s the closest thing to a contemporary Chinese art museum in Hong Kong, with an unparalleled collection.

For less than 50 cents, grab a Star Ferry from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon, a service that’s been in operation since the 19th century. It’s essential to get out on the water (you’ll see myriad fisherman motoring home with their daily catch), as there’s nothing quite like the view of Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui—particularly at night. Despite the insane lightshow that happens post-sunset, you can almost imagine what it would have been like back in the tea trading days.