The 2026 Hong Kong Cyclothon might get you there, but it’s everything after race day that makes the trip unforgettable. Stay on for harbour views, island escapes, standout meals, iconic sights and a nightlife scene that keeps the city buzzing long after the ride is over
The 2026 Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon is more than enough reason to head to Hong Kong. On 11 October, riders from around the world will roll into the city for one of Asia’s most exciting cycling events, with the return of the UCI Class 1.1 Road Race adding even more prestige to an already electric weekend. There’s the thrill of riding through the city, the buzz of the crowds and the rare chance to see Hong Kong from a totally different perspective.
But crossing the finish line doesn’t have to mean packing up and heading home. In fact, that’s when the trip can really begin!
Hong Kong is a vibrant city where a race weekend can easily turn into a proper holiday. Once the roads clear and the bike is parked, there’s a whole lot more waiting to be explored, from famous skyline views and harbour cruises to island adventures, exceptional dining and bars worth staying out for.
Start with the icons
If you’ve just ticked off the Cyclothon, Hong Kong’s classic experiences are a pretty good next move. Few are more iconic than the Peak Tram, which has been carrying passengers up to Victoria Peak since 1888. It’s one of those attractions that genuinely lives up to expectations, part history, part thrill ride and part unbeatable lookout.
The journey from Central to The Peak takes about 10 minutes, climbing steeply enough to create the tram’s famous optical illusion, where the city seems to tilt around you as you ascend. At the top, the views open up across the skyline, the harbour and the hills beyond. Sky Terrace 428 is the main drawcard, but there’s also plenty of reason to linger, whether that means wandering through the nearby attractions, settling in for a meal or heading off on one of the walking trails that loop through the greener side of the peak.
It’s the sort of outing that reminds you Hong Kong is more than its skyline. Even in one of the world’s great urban centres, nature is never too far away.
Then see the city from the water
After a big day on the bike, slowing the pace can be part of the appeal, and there are few better ways to do that than from the deck of Aqua Luna. With its red sails and traditional junk boat silhouette, it’s one of the most distinctive sights on Victoria Harbour.
Hop aboard for a cruise that combines some of the best views in the city with a memorable dining experience. Depending on the sailing, you can enjoy dim sum or afternoon tea as Hong Kong glides by around you. Cantonese favourites, sweets and a glass of bubbly feel even better when paired with harbour breezes and front-row seats to the skyline.
It’s a very different way to experience the city after the energy of the Cyclothon. One moment you’re in the thick of the action, the next you’re drifting past the skyline as day turns to dusk.
Swap the city for island time
One of the best surprises for many visitors is just how easy it is to leave the urban rush behind. Hong Kong’s outlying islands offer a softer, slower and often greener experience, making them ideal if you’ve added a few extra days to your trip.
Lamma Island is a favourite for good reason. It has a relaxed, easy-going feel, with seafood, waterside villages and walking trails that are perfect for a day out. The Family Trail between Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan is especially popular and gives you a look at a more laid-back side of Hong Kong.
Cheung Chau also makes for a brilliant escape, with bike hire, heritage sites and plenty of local character. It’s easy to spend a day pedalling around, stopping for snacks, checking out temples and soaking up the old fishing village atmosphere.
If dramatic scenery is more your thing, Sai Kung’s outer reaches are hard to beat. High Island and the Geo Trail reveal extraordinary volcanic rock formations shaped millions of years ago, while Sharp Island combines beaches, geology and expansive coastal views. Po Toi Island, further south, feels even more remote, with natural and ancient wonders adding to its appeal.
Lantau Island offers yet another version of Hong Kong. It’s best known for the Big Buddha, Hong Kong Disneyland and outlet shopping, but it also has plenty of natural beauty, making it a good option if your group wants a little bit of everything.
Come hungry
If the Cyclothon works up an appetite, Hong Kong will more than reward it. This is one of the world’s great food cities, and one of the pleasures of staying on after the event is having time to properly eat your way around it.
There’s prestige here, certainly. The city’s standing as a culinary heavyweight continues to be reinforced on the global stage, with the 2026 MICHELIN Guide featuring 219 eateries. At the top end, restaurants such as The Chairman, Wing, Caprice, Amber and VEA show just how diverse and ambitious Hong Kong dining can be, spanning refined Cantonese cooking, world-class French technique and inventive cross-cultural approaches.
But Hong Kong’s food culture is not only about big names and white tablecloths. Some of its most memorable meals are found in places that feel more local, more lived-in and more unmistakably of the city. You might settle into a nostalgic Cha Chaan Teng like Mido Cafe, duck down an alley for a long-running favourite such as Yue Hing, or experience the quick rhythm of the city at Chopsticks Kee.
Neighbourhoods such as Sham Shui Po, Central, Wan Chai and Sai Kung all reward a wandering appetite. In between meals, you can browse culinary institutions like Kwong Fat Spices or pick up kitchenware along Shanghai Street, then sit down again for anything from elegant vegetarian cooking at Chi Lin Vegetarian to contemporary dining at The Chinese Library, Felix or Lung King Heen.
In Hong Kong, eating is never just a practical stop between activities. It is one of the main attractions.
Don’t call it a night!
Once dinner is done, Hong Kong’s bar scene takes over. If you’re the sort of traveller who likes to finish the day with a proper drink in a great room, this city delivers in spades.
From glamorous hotel bars to inventive neighbourhood spots, Hong Kong is home to some of the best drinking experiences in Asia. Argo remains a favourite for its polished style and imaginative cocktail list, while Bar Leone has quickly become one of the city’s most talked-about venues thanks to its warmth, nostalgia and sense of fun. COA is a standout for agave spirits, Quinary is known for creativity, and The Aubrey brings a more theatrical late-night edge.
Then there are bars with strong individual identities, like Penicillin with its sustainability focus, Tell Camellia with its tea-led drinks, and The Old Man, which remains a drawcard for cocktail lovers. If your idea of a good night leans more lively, Peel Street and Shin Hing Street offer the kind of bar-hopping energy that can easily pull you into a later finish than planned.
After all, if you’ve already flown to Hong Kong and ridden the Cyclothon, you may as well make the most of the evening too.
Keep on riding, if you’re not done yet
For riders who finish the Cyclothon and immediately start thinking about the next spin, Hong Kong has plenty more to offer. Beyond the event itself, the city is packed with cycling routes that show off a quieter, more scenic side of the destination.
The route from Sha Tin to Tai Mei Tuk is one of the best known, and for good reason. It follows the coastline of Tolo Harbour on a mostly flat path, making it ideal for a relaxed ride with rewarding views. If you want something shorter, the Sha Tin to Wu Kai Sha route offers a similarly scenic experience in less time, especially around sunset.
Elsewhere, the ride from Yuen Long to Butterfly Beach offers a glimpse into the New Territories and old village life, while city-based options such as the Central Waterfront Promenade and West Kowloon Cultural District let you cycle with skyline and harbour views close at hand.
For a more easy-going island ride, Cheung Chau and Inspiration Lake are both worth considering, especially if you’re travelling with family or simply want to keep things light after race day.
So while the 2026 Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon may be what gets you there, it shouldn’t be the whole story. In a city this varied, energetic and easy to explore, crossing the finish line is less an ending than the start of something bigger.
