Today we have a special post from guest blogger Nicola from Hong Kong! Nicola used to live in Tokyo and now lives in Hong Kong with her two children and has a fantastic kids travel site called “Jetlag and Mayhem“. Make sure you check it out for lots of advice about traveling with kids!

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With a flight time of less than 5 hours from Tokyo to Hong Kong, the ‘Pearl of the Orient’ is a fabulous place to spend a long weekend. To help you get around, the public transport system is clean and efficient. Taxis are also very cheap. However, with its steps and hills, it’s not the easiest place for a stroller so where possible, pack your baby carrier.

Here’s my pick of the top 5 things to do with the kids:

1. Who doesn’t love a trip on a boat! A ride on the iconic Star Ferry is extremely cheap and the short journey will take you across Victoria Harbour from Central (Hong Kong Island) to Tsim Tsa Tsui in Kowloon. From here, take a stroll along the Avenue of the Stars or if the weather’s bad, pop into the Museum of Art or Harbour City Mall.

2. Wandering the markets of Hong Kong is lots of fun for little ones from viewing smelly dried fish in Sheung Wan to the beautiful orchids in the flower market (Prince Edward MTR). Temple Street Night Market (Yau Ma Tei MTR) is a great place to pick up souvenirs, cheap clothes, antiques and electronics. The market is open from late afternoon and finishes around 11pm. It is also a great place to feast on local foods from claypot hotpot rice to chili crab.

3. A ride on the super steep Peak Tram will enthrall you all. Victoria Peak is the highest mountain on Hong Kong island, providing views over the metropolis and out to the beaches and jungle on the southside. The circular Peak Loop is a lovely hour’s stroll and stroller friendly. There are also several playgrounds within the Peak Mall and on Mount Austin.

4. We know you guys have your own Tokyo Disneyland so you might want to give ours a miss (although it is great). Instead, head to Ocean Park, filled with rides, an aquarium and you can even see the pandas. There are daily shows and kids aged 2 and under enter the park free of charge.

5. Did you know Hong Kong consists of over 200 islands? One of my favourites is the laidback island of Lamma, a 30 minute fast ferry ride away (Central Ferry Pier 4). Take the family trail (fairly stroller friendly) from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan. Stop off at one of the beaches enroute or work up an appetite to enjoy the seafood restaurants at Sok Kwu Wan. My pick is Rainbow, which serves up delicious fresh fish and a free ferry back to Central.

For more information on what to do in Hong Kong, check out the Official Travel Guide from the Hong Kong Tourist Board.

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Thank you so much Nicola!

Nicola is mum to two little girls and has been living in Hong Kong for the last 7 years. Prior to that she spent an amazing 3 years in Tokyo and misses it to this day. She is the author of www.jetlagandmayhem.com a family travel advice site. You can follower on Twitter @jetlagandmayhem and www.facebook.com/jetlagandmayhem