Best Places To See The Sunset In Hong Kong

Sunsets in Hong Kong can be very beautiful at times. But with all the skyscrapers, and mountains surrounding the city, it can be a challenge to find a good spot to see the setting sun. And at the same time, you may want to capture the sunset against Hong Kong’s famous skyline.

Having lived in Hong Kong for a while now, I’ve discovered many locations to catch the sunset. And in this post, I’m going to list down my favourite sunset spots in the city (in reverse order). Although some of the spots require a short hike or walk, they are completely worth it! And yes, all of these spots are free to access. You don’t have to pay to find a fantastic spot to watch the sunset in Hong Kong.

Another thing that I’ve learned and want to share is the position where the sunsets changes depending on the season. So, I’ll be sure to point out if a particular spot is good to catch the sunset in the summer months or winter months.

So, here goes.

Kennedy Town Waterfront

One of the easiest places to see the sunset in Hong Kong is Kennedy Town, the north-western corner of the island. Take the Island Line MTR to Kennedy Town, the last stop. Then take Exit C and head down towards the harbour on Smithfield Road. Once you reach New Praya Road, walk across towards the promenade where all the benches are located.

This spot is quite popular with Kennedy Town residents, you’ll be sure to find many of them here during sunsets.

The Kennedy Town waterfront is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer months.

Cyberport

Cyberport is one of our favourite go-to spots to catch the sunset. Located on the southwest corner of the island, Cyberport Park is one of the few places in Hong Kong where you can see the sunset obstruction-free.

Cyberport is relatively easy to get to from Kennedy Town or anywhere on Hong Kong Island. Here is a full list of public transportation that can get you to Cyberport.

We usually grab a drink and enjoy the sunset at Cyberport. You too could do that. Once at Cyberport, head to the supermarket (the International is conveniently located near the bus stop) and grab something to eat or drink. After that, head to the park and get a place to sit on the edge of the harbour. From here, the sunset views never disappoint. There’s only a sea and hills between you and the sun. And many passing ships.

You can read more about what to do in Cyberport in this post.

The Cyberport waterfront is a great spot to catch the sunset in the winter months.

Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex

Between Kennedy Town and Cyberport lies Mount Davis, which was once an important artillery depot of the British forces. However, today there is a spanking new academic complex for the University of Chicago that sits at the base of Mount Davis.

You can enter the complex and stand in the open space to admire the sunset. Along with the view of the sunset, you’ll also get a glimpse of the Jubilee Battery, a battery used by the British in the Second World War.

But this doesn’t compare to the view down below. There is a small pavilion below the Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex that can be accessed from an entrance just towards the left of the building. Enter here, and climb the steps down.

From here you’ll arrive at the pavilion, which honestly feels like a hidden gem; a secret sunset spot! There are a couple of rocks around the pavilion on which you can sit to get an even better view.

We were entertained by incredible views of the sunset, the passing ships and ferries, and Lantau Island in the background. Just keep an eye on those waves because every time a speed boat or ship passes by, the waves crash against the rocks. We got wet a couple of times, but it was worth it to get these amazing photos of the sunset in Hong Kong.

This is a great spot to catch the sunset in the winter or summer months.

Sai Wan Swimming Shed

The Sai Wan Swimming Shed is often referred to as one of Hong Kong’s most Instagramable spots!

Built over 50 years ago, the Sai Wan Swimming Shed was used by swimmers to change into bathing costumes. Today, it is the last swimming shed in Hong Kong and is still used by swimmers to take a dip into the sea.

Located along the western corner of Hong Kong Island, the Sai Wan Swimming Shed offers pretty much the same sunset views as the Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex. However, the wooden bridge adds uniqueness to this location, even if the views are the same.

This is a great spot to catch the sunset in the winter or summer months.

Mount Johnston or Lower Mount Johnston, Ap Lei Chau

If the short climb up to Mount Johnston wasn’t so treacherous, it would have been higher on my list.

At 196 metres, Mount Johnston, or Yuk Kwai Shan, is the highest peak in Ap Lei Chau on the south side of Hong Kong Island. It is an extremely popular hiking route that ends at Mount Johnston Lighthouse on Ap Lei Pai. To catch the sunset, you don’t need to hike till the end, just to the top of Mount Johnston.

From up here, you’ll end with incredible views of the southwest, meaning unencumbered views of the sunset. You can learn all about the Mount Johnston (Yuk Kwai Shan) hike in this post.

However, if you want similar views with a much less intense hike, we recommend the neighbouring Lower Mount Johnston (Ka Yuk Kwai Shan) Hike.

Unlike Mount Johnston, Lower Mount Johnston doesn’t have a bald patch at the summit offering unobstructed views. But it does have some easy-to-reach viewpoints with benches.

Mount Johnston is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer or winter months.

Devil’s Peak

Devil’s Peak is a short and easy hike up from Lei Yue Mun at the eastern edge of Kowloon. The area is most famous for its historical importance as a fort used to defend the Hong Kong harbour.

Today, many locals visit Devil’s Peak not only to see the remains of the forts but also to witness the sunset from the summit. With a view of the harbour and the skyline, sunset views from the Devil’s Peak are always beautiful.

You can learn more about the hike, and the Devil’s Peak area in this post.

Devil’s Peak is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer months.

Brick Hill Pavilion

Brick Hill, or Nam Long Shan, is best known as the hill on which Ocean Park is situated. Its unique position has made it a pretty amazing spot to catch both the sunrise and sunset in Hong Kong.

Fortunately, to catch the sunset from Brick Hill, you don’t need to hike all the way to the top. There’s a pavilion at the mid-way point that offers views of the setting sun against the chimneys and windmill of Lamma Island.

But for even better views, hike up another 50-70 metres from the Brick Hill Pavilion and sit beside the rocks overlooking Aberdeen Marina.

You can learn all about the Brick Hill hike and how to get to the Brick Hill Pavilion in this post.

Brick Hill Pavilion is a great spot to catch the sunset in the winter months.

Instagram Pier (Closed)

March 2021 Update: Hong Kong’s Instagram Pier’ closed to the public by officials reportedly citing Covid-19 concerns

The West District Public Cargo Depot has been aptly renamed, Instagram Pier. Located in Sai Wan on Hong Kong Island, Instagram Pier was originally a container terminal. However, it has now become a popular spot for photographers and Instagrammers who want to capture gorgeous shots of the sunset.

The pier sticks out into the sea to provide an unobstructed view of the harbour, skyline and horizon. Add to that props like cargo pallets, containers, freight machines, old lamp posts, people fishing, and you’ll have a good idea why this place is so popular! And with a name like that, the pier has also gotten a lot of press coverage.

To get to Instagram Pier take the Island Line to HKU MTR station. Take Exit B2 and walk towards Des Voeux Road West and cross the Shek Tong Tsui tram terminal towards the pier.

Instagram Pier is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer months.

Mount High West

As the name implies, Mount High West offers unobstructed views of the west. If you make it here for sunset, you’ll be rewarded by the golden reflection of the sun’s rays on the water!

Mount High West is located in Lung Fu Shan Country Park, west of Victoria Peak. And like Victoria Peak, it also has amazing views of Hong Kong’s skyline. But its location gives it a distinct advantage for sunset views.

Getting to the top can be a bit of a challenge. There’s an easy option that takes about 30 mins from Victoria Peak. And there’s a slightly more challenging option that takes 1 hour from HKU.

All the information that you need about Mount High West can be found in this blog post.

Given its unique position, Mount High West is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer or winter months.

Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District

The recently developed West Kowloon Cultural District has quickly become one of Hong Kong’s hottest hangout spots. As an art, culture, and entertainment hub, the district is always abuzz with life!

The Art Park, located along the promenade of the West Kowloon Cultural District, is an open lawn for people to come and relax. Here you can picnic, fly kites, set up a tent, run, bring pets, and of course enjoy spectacular views of the sunset! The waterfront Art Park has incredible views of the harbour and Hong Kong Island.

There are a couple of bars, cafes, and restaurants located at the Art Park next to the promenade. So you can enhance your sunset experience with a drink or whatever you fancy.

And if you’re lucky, you can catch an open-air performance or art exhibition while you’re there. We were very fortunate as there was a jazz performance while we sat on the promenade with our drinks, enjoying the sunset!

To get to the West Kowloon Cultural District, we advise taking a bus to the Western Tunnel, especially if you’re coming from Hong Kong Island. The Art Park is a very long walk from the Kowloon MTR, and taking a taxi costs an additional HKD 70 to just cross the tunnel.

And finally, if you plan on heading to the Art Park at the West Kowloon Cultural District to catch the sunset, make sure you check out their website to see if there are any interesting events taking place that evening.

The West Kowloon Cultural District is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer months.

Braemar Hill (Red Incense Burner Summit)

For a long time, Braemar Hill (Red Incense Burner Summit) was one of Hong Kong’s best kept secret sunset locations. These days, you’d better make it there an hour or two before sunset to get a good viewing spot. It can get really busy, especially on days with a beautiful sunset.

There’s a good reason why Braemar Hill is one of the best sunset viewing spots in Hong Kong. Located at the edge of Causeway Bay, the view from the hill looks right over Hong Kong’s stunning skyline and landscape. Also depending on the time of the year, the sun either sets behind the skyline or into the harbour.

If you ask me, Braemar Hill is also one of the best places to photograph the Hong Kong skyline.

How to get to the Braemar Hill Sunset Spot?

The fastest way to get to Braemar Hill is from Tin Hau or Causeway Bay MTR stations.

At the Tin Hau MTR station, take Exit A1 and head straight into the bus station. From here, catch the Green Minibus 49M to Braemar Hill. Make sure you let the bus driver know to let you off at Braemar Hill Bus Terminus. And at Causeway Bay MTR, take Exit E and catch the Green Minibus 25 to Braemar Hill.

From the terminus, it can be a bit tricky to get to the hill. On Google Maps, the hill is labelled as Red Incense Burner Summit. There’s a shortcut, that involves jumping over a fence, and the long way that isn’t really shown on Google Maps. Here is a quick video that shows you the way to the summit.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

And here is a crudely drawn map that shows you how to get to the sunset spot (yellow is for the long route, red is for the shortcut).

Remember to bring a torch with you. It gets dark quickly after the sunset, and you’ll need the light to get back to the bus stop.

Alternatively, you can hike to Red Incense Burner Hill from Tai Hang if you’re up for a challenge and then take the bus back!

Red Incense Burner Hill is a great spot to catch the sunset in the summer months.

---

There are many other equally beautiful locations to watch the sunset in Hong Kong, but these are my personal favourites. If Po Toi Island wasn’t so far away, I’d add it to this list too!

Do you have any favourite spots to catch the sunset in Hong Kong?

Hong Kong Sunset Photo Gallery

Thanks for reading this post and now I’d like to reward you with some of my favourite photos of the sunset in Hong Kong that aren’t posted above. And keep in mind, all photos on this website are available for sale.