Escaping the City for Spirituality and Tradition
On the final day of this 3‑day Hong Kong itinerary, we leave the city centre behind and spend most of the day on Lantau Island, home to the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, the Big Buddha and the fishing village of Tai O. It’s a slower, more contemplative day that balances nature, temples and village life, before you head back into Central or elsewhere in the evening.
Today’s journey is focused on the Lantau loop (Tung Chung – Ngong Ping – Tai O – back to Tung Chung) and a simple return to the city. If you have more than three days in Hong Kong, you can always expand this with additional Lantau hikes and villages using the longer itinerary (check out my 7 day Hong Kong itinerary for more details).
Morning – Tung Chung Breakfast & Local Start
Your day begins in Tung Chung, a modern town on the north coast of Lantau Island. Once a small fishing community, it has grown into a residential hub thanks to the airport and the Tung Chung Line, but it still has enough local eateries and bakeries to give you a grounded start before you head up into the hills.
Keep breakfast simple and fairly light, as you’ll have steps to climb later at the Big Buddha:
- Congee (juk): Rice porridge topped with pork, fish or century egg.
- Local bakery items: Pineapple buns, egg tarts or sausage rolls make for easy grab‑and‑go options.
Federal Palace Congee & Noodles near Tung Chung MTR is a reliable sit‑down spot for congee and noodles, while a chain like Kee Wah Bakery works well if you prefer to pick up pastries and eat on the move. Aim to finish breakfast on the earlier side so you can be at the Ngong Ping 360 station close to opening time, especially on weekends or holidays when queues build quickly.
Late Morning – Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car
A promotional Ngong Ping 360 cable car display recreates the ride’s iconic views of the Tian Tan Buddha and Lantau’s green peaks. 
From the Ngong Ping cable car station in Tung Chung, visitors enjoy a striking mix of urban development framed by lush hills and mountain backdrops. 
Cable cars ready for boarding, offering travelers a scenic ride across mountainous landscapes and coastal horizons.
From Tung Chung MTR, it’s a short walk to the Ngong Ping 360 cable car station. The 25‑minute ride covers about 5.7 km, crossing over Tung Chung Bay and climbing into the green hills of Lantau. It’s one of the most scenic journeys you can do in Hong Kong and a highlight in its own right.
To keep your 3‑day schedule running smoothly, it’s worth booking tickets online in advance so you can:
- Pick your preferred cabin type (Standard, Crystal with glass floor, or Crystal+ with more glass).
- Avoid the longest on‑site ticket queues.
Tickets are available as one‑way or round‑trip, and it’s best to reserve online in advance to secure your preferred cabin type and skip long queues, especially on weekends and holidays. Combo tickets that include attractions like the Big Buddha or Tai O village tours are also available for added value.
If you can, time your ride for the morning when skies are often clearer and lines are shorter. On the way up, sit on the right‑hand side for the best views of the coastline and airport.
Before the cable car opened in 2006, reaching Ngong Ping required a long bus ride or a hike; today, this ride makes it much easier to fit Lantau into a 3‑day itinerary without it becoming a logistical headache.
Midday – Ngong Ping Village & Big Buddha
At the top, you’ll arrive at Ngong Ping Village, a purpose‑built cultural village that serves as the gateway to the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. While it’s undeniably tourist‑oriented, it’s worth a short stop. Opened in 2006 alongside the cable car, Ngong Ping Village was designed to introduce visitors to Lantau’s cultural and spiritual heritage. It features traditional‑style architecture, souvenir shops, snack stalls, and small attractions.
What to do:
- Sample local snacks like tofu pudding or herbal tea.
- Browse shops selling Buddhist trinkets, handicrafts, and souvenirs.
- Catch cultural performances or short films (seasonal).
While not “authentic” in the same way as Tai O, it’s a convenient place to pause, refresh, and orient yourself before tackling the Big Buddha’s steps.
Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) & Po Lin Monastery
From the village, walk towards the staircase leading up to the Tian Tan Buddha, commonly known as the Big Buddha. Completed in 1993, this 34‑metre bronze statue sits on a hill facing north towards mainland China. To reach the top, you’ll climb 268 steps – a short but steady workout rewarded with wide views over the mountains and the South China Sea.
The statue’s base is modelled after Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, symbolising a link between heaven and earth. The Buddha sits on a lotus, with his right hand raised in a gesture of fearlessness and his left hand resting in his lap in compassion. Even if you’re not religious, the site has a calm, impressive atmosphere.
Just below the Big Buddha stands Po Lin Monastery, founded in 1906 and one of Hong Kong’s most important Buddhist monasteries. Ornate halls, burning incense and golden statues make this a good place to slow down before or after your climb.
If you have extra time and energy, you can take a short detour to the Wisdom Path, an outdoor installation of tall wooden columns inscribed with verses from the Heart Sutra. It’s an easy walk and offers another quiet corner away from the main crowds. If you’re running on a tighter schedule, you can skip the Wisdom Path and focus on the Big Buddha and monastery instead.
Dress modestly, keep your voice down and avoid pointing directly at statues; this is an active religious site, and a bit of extra respect goes a long way.
Lunch – Vegetarian Meal at Po Lin Monastery
After visiting the Big Buddha, a vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery makes a natural next step. The monastery is well‑known for its simple, nourishing vegetarian cuisine, prepared in line with Buddhist principles.
You can expect:
- Set meals with soup, rice and seasonal vegetables.
- More elaborate set menus with dishes like mushrooms with vegetables, bean curd and fried spring rolls.
- A small snack shop nearby that often sells tofu pudding and traditional sweets.
On a 3‑day itinerary, I recommend treating this as your main lunch stop on Lantau rather than trying to fit in separate cafés or restaurants around Ngong Ping Village. The food is straightforward but satisfying, and the setting reinforces the quieter, spiritual side of the day.
Try to have lunch finished by early afternoon so you can head to Tai O without rushing. If vegetarian food isn’t your thing, you can keep the monastery visit shorter and grab a simple lunch back in Tung Chung later, but most visitors find this meal fits the day’s mood nicely.
Tai O Fishing Village: Stilt Houses & Living Heritage
Tai O’s iconic stilt houses rise above narrow waterways, where small boats still serve as the lifeblood of daily village life. 
Brightly painted homes and bustling shops line the waterfront, reflecting Tai O’s blend of tradition, commerce, and community spirit. 
The market streets of Tai O overflow with local produce, seafood, and festive lanterns, offering visitors a taste of authentic village life. 
A richly decorated temple stands proudly beside modern shops, capturing Tai O’s unique balance of heritage and everyday life. 
As dusk falls, Tai O’s stilt houses glow softly over the water, creating a serene scene that feels timeless and deeply atmospheric.
From Ngong Ping, hop on Bus 21 for about 20 minutes to reach Tai O, one of Hong Kong’s most atmospheric villages. Often called the “Venice of Hong Kong,” Tai O is known for its stilt houses, narrow waterways and old‑school seafood shops, but it’s more about lived‑in tradition than a polished tourist attraction.
Historically, Tai O was home to the Tanka, or “boat people,” whose lives revolved around fishing and the sea. While many residents now live on land, that connection is still visible in the village’s layout and food culture.
In a 3‑day itinerary, you don’t need to see every corner, but do try to:
- Walk through the main lanes lined with dried seafood, shrimp paste and small snack stalls.
- Wander across at least one bridge into the stilt house areas to see how homes stand above the tidal flats.
- Consider a short boat ride through the canals and out into the bay if time and budget allow.
Street snacks like grilled cuttlefish, fish balls and local doughnuts make good small bites if you’re peckish. Take your time and let this be a slower, more observational part of the day – Tai O rewards unhurried wandering.
If you have a longer trip or want to build Lantau into a deeper focus of your holiday, you could stay the night at Tai O Heritage Hotel and see the village after day‑trippers leave. For a 3‑day Hong Kong visit, though, most travellers will head back to the city after an afternoon here so they’re not spending their last evening in transit.
👉 Tip: For those of you who want further explore the Lantau Island beyond the Big Buddha and Ngong Ping Village, check out the comprehensive travel guide on Lantau Island written by us.
Late Afternoon / Evening – Back to Tung Chung and the City
When you’re ready to leave Tai O, catch New Lantau Bus 11 or another return service to Tung Chung. From there, hop back on the MTR to Central or wherever your hotel is based. The journey from Tai O to Central typically takes around an hour to an hour and a half, depending on connections and traffic.
The contrast is part of the charm: in one day you move from monastery courtyards and village lanes back to neon signs and city crowds.
For your final night in Hong Kong, you have a few options:
- Keep it simple with a casual dinner near your hotel if you’re tired from a full day out.
- Plan one “last night” meal at a favourite spot in Central, Sheung Wan or Tsim Sha Tsui if you still have energy.
- Add a low‑key drink – either in a rooftop bar or a quieter neighbourhood place – if you want one more skyline view before you leave.
If nightlife is a big priority, you can still fit in a drink in Lan Kwai Fong or a rooftop bar after returning from Lantau, but on a 3‑day trip it’s equally valid to keep this evening more relaxed, especially if you have an early flight.
How This Day Fits into a 3‑Day Trip
Day 3 completes a neat arc for a short stay in Hong Kong: Day 1 gives you Hong Kong Island and the harbour, Day 2 brings you into Kowloon’s temples and markets, and Day 3 shows you the greener, more spiritual side of the region on Lantau Island. Together, they give you a strong first impression of how Hong Kong’s city, culture and nature fit together, even if you only have three days.
