The best things to do in Hong Kong today

The Winter Wonderland has moved from its home on the West Kowloon waterfront to Island side this year, so Statue Square Garden will be home to not only the tallest Christmas tree in town, but also a seasonal Christmas town, a joyous Christmas market, and enough lights, baubles, globes, and illuminated decorations to rival the traditional Christmas markets of Austria, Switzerland, and Germany!  Meanwhile, nearby Chater Road will transform into ‘Starlight Boulevard’ through dazzling decorations and light displays, an homage to six decades ago when Hongkong Land put on a seasonal light display on the same road – the city’s earliest recorded one, in fact.

In a landmark collaboration between the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt, 250 treasures and relics from the land of the Pharaohs will be on display in Hong Kong for nine and a half months. Named ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’, this exhibition is the largest, most comprehensive, and longest-running display of ancient Egyptian artefacts Hong Kong has ever seen, displaying archaeological finds loaned straight from Egypt, many of which are being shown outside of their home country for the very first time. Some of our favourite highlights include a set of canopic jars used to store internal organs in the mummification and burial process; statues of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut and Rameses II; painted coffins of wood and stone; a Book of the Dead papyrus scroll; and even an ancient Egyptian toilet seat. Swing by the gift shop to find a wide range of Egypt-related merch, including an adorable series of blind box plushies created by HKPM which depict pharaohs, canopic jars, mummies, and more.

Landmark never disappoints when it comes to annual Christmas displays, and this year’s installation ‘Noëlia’ is no different. We’ve got gingerbread men, we've got an airship, and we’ve got… a whale breaching water? It’s a fantastical scene, to be sure. Noëlia will feature a winter village, a lighthouse, and an interactive wishing lake called Lake Lumière that welcomes visitors to share their heart’s desires, which will then be magnificently displayed.  After making your wish, you can meet the charming cast of characters at Noëlia, explore their homes and workshops, and take part in even more interactive experiences on-site. Photo opportunities abound, and will surely enchant and delight visitors of all ages.

“Choo choo” goes the festive train at Christmas Grand Central this holiday season! Pacific Place and Starstreet Precinct are presenting ‘Ticket to Christmas’ from now until January 2, 2026, and this merry yuletide voyage is poised to take visitors on a ride to experience Christmas magic. Expect cute photo ops, whimsical installations, immersive ‘train’ journeys, and even a ‘Santa Express’ where you can meet Santa Claus and snap a photo with the man himself – ticket sales for this meet-and-greet will go toward a good cause, too, as a donation to Operation Santa Claus. Afterwards, shop for a souvenir at the ‘Wonderbox’ merchandise store, watch live performances, or join an interactive workshop to craft Christmas cake candles, timepieces, and Christmas wreaths! You can register for Santa Express and festive workshops through the Pacific Place website.

Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth, and Christmastime is the most magical time of the year, so put the two together, and what do you get? Only the most fabulous festive event of all time! Until January 4, 2026, visitors can step into a world of Christmas magic at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, featuring magical ‘snow’ and brightly decorated Christmas trees at World of Frozen, Disney characters dressed in cosy yuletide styles, a ‘Holiday Wish-Come-True’ tree lighting ceremony to capture the jolliness of the season, and the unmissable ‘Disney Christmas Live in Concert!’ to spread the joyous spirit.  Coinciding with the release of Zootopia 2, beloved characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde will be making appearances at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s Adventureland from November 27 onward. Emporium at Main Street, U.S.A. will be stocking a collection of Zootopia-themed products – there’s an adorable doughnut shop whose stock might not be what they seem… The most terrible thing that can happen here is not being able to choose between the recording carrot keychain or the recording carrot pen!

A new exhibition at M+ showcases 12 immersive installations by pioneering women artists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including three new works by Asian artists. Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s–Now emphasises the multisensory experience of art and highlights women’s contributions to installation art, a field often overshadowed by male artists. Visitors can actively engage with the environments, which include nine historic pieces that have been painstakingly reconstructed, such as Aleksandra Kasuba’s Spectral Passage (1975), which invites individuals to journey through interconnected nylon structures as a metaphor of the life cycle; Judy Chicago’s Feather Room (1966), an all-white space filled with 300 pounds of feathers; and more. M+ will also host talks with co-curators Andrea Lissoni and Marina Pugliese to discuss the concept behind the exhibition, and a panel discussion with the three Asian artists whose new, commissioned work is part of Dream Rooms. Additionally, M+ Cinema will screen three documentaries about some of the exhibited artists to supplement the show.

Disney comes to Tsim Sha Tsui this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in grand fashion! Five captivating ‘Magical Christmas @ Harbour City’ photo spots will bring holiday cheer to the Victoria Harbour waterfront and the Harbour City mall, featuring the likes of Mickey and Friends, Duffy and Friends, and World of Frozen. Find your favourite character decked out in festive garb, marvel at the nine-metre-tall ‘Magical Christmas Tree’, meet Duffy and LinaBell in person, and shop from more than 200 Disney-themed merchandise at the ‘Magical Christmas Pop-up Store’.  

Hong Kong’s annual design festival returns to PMQ from November 28 to December 7, transforming the creative hub into a resonance of ideas and inspiration. Curated by designer Adonian Chan, this year’s theme, Shape of Yearning, invites visitors to explore how design reflects desire through aesthetics, social context, and deeper values. Across PMQ’s Courtyard, Marketplace, and Qube, expect 17 installations and exhibitions by talents from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and around the globe. Highlights include Swiss studio Encor’s immersive ‘ALCOVE IN SITU’, four feature exhibitions, and 12 open‑call selected entries spanning robotics, 3D printing, and identity exploration.  Beyond exhibitions, the festival offers workshops, guided tours, dialogues, and performances, plus family‑friendly activities through deTour Kids. Organised by PMQ and sponsored by CCIDA, deTour 2025 promises 10 days of bold creativity, cultural dialogue, and unforgettable encounters with design. Find out more here.

Well, a Uniqlo Christmas display was not on our 2025 bingo card, but considering wintertime is Heattech time, it kind of makes sense! Uniqlo first landed in Hong Kong 20 years ago with a shop opening at Mira Place, so naturally, a big celebration of this milestone had to happen at the mall as well. From now till January 1, 2026, Mira Place is hosting a Uniqlo-themed Christmas display, with six interactive photo-taking spots for visitors to snap pictures and soak up the festive cheer.  Among them is a seven-metre-tall Christmas tree, a photo wall made of Uniqlo fleece and Heattech products, a supersized Uniqlo-branded gift box, a snowman-shaped house, a giant beanie, and more! Mira Place also decked out its pedestrian bridge and Mira Steps staircase with festive decor, so there’s even more to explore in and around the mall itself.

Moomin is celebrating its 80th birthday this month! To mark the occasion, an immersive, interactive exhibition is in Kai Tak Sports Park from November 14 until January 4, 2026. ‘The Beginning of The Moomins’ is set to be a wonderland for fans of these cute, hippopotamus-like creatures, featuring a historical corridor that details Moomin’s evolution since 1945, plus seven themed zones recreated from its origin story, Moomin and the Great Flood, complete with interactive installations and photo spots.  Visitors will also find a pop-up store offering exclusive merchandise and a Moominhouse postcard customisation station. To commemorate the character’s 80th milestone, an adorable DIY wooden lightbox is available with the purchase of a special edition ticket ($300 per ticket), featuring Moomin and friends picnicking and frolicking in a whimsical open field.