At a glance

  • The permanent exhibition was redesigned in 2026. Rather than expecting the displays in old travel photos to still be there, check the current exhibition overview and floor guide, then choose the sections that interest you.
  • Pick a question that connects with your walks around town, such as how Hong Kong Island’s coastline formed, how people lived, or how trade and the city changed. You don’t have to read every long label. Treat political and historical interpretations as the museum’s point of view.
  • The Science Museum next door is a separate venue with different closing days and admission rules. If you came to see the history museum and it’s closed, that doesn’t mean the neighboring venue is automatically open at the same time. If you visit both, allow for museum fatigue.

Day by day

Suggested itinerary

See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.

Before your visit

Check the day and exhibitions → walk from the station → information desk

90–120 minutes indoors

Hong Kong Story permanent exhibition → labels in the sections you’re interested in → break

After your visit

Eat in Tsim Sha Tsui → waterfront if the weather is good, MTR if the rain is heavy

How to fit it in

Walk from Tsim Sha Tsui or East Tsim Sha Tsui Station toward Chatham Road South to reach the museum. Spend about 90 minutes in the permanent exhibition, then take a break at a nearby restaurant. If the rain lets up, add a walk along the waterfront.

Reality check

Transport

The address is 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui. Choose the route that suits your accommodation from Tsim Sha Tsui, East Tsim Sha Tsui, or Hung Hom MTR station. The final walk includes an outdoor stretch, so bring an umbrella on rainy days and check where the entrance is.

Time

Allow 15–20 minutes of extra time for the walk from the station and 90–120 minutes for the permanent exhibition. A visit that includes a special exhibition may take more than three hours, so split it up with lunch. For a late-afternoon visit, note that ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing.

Cost

The Hong Kong Story permanent exhibition and the National Security Exhibition Gallery are free. Check whether special exhibitions are free or paid and whether they require reservations. Set aside separate budgets for admission, lunch, and transportation; there’s no need to buy a paid attraction pass just to see the free permanent exhibition.

Safety

Follow the exhibition rules for photography, flash, and bags. With children, focus on the exhibits that interest them and take breaks instead of trying to read every label. Indoor venues may also close during severe weather warnings, so check operating notices before setting out. Keep your phone and wallet with you, and check that you haven’t left anything on a rest seat before you leave.

If plans change

If you’re visiting on a Tuesday

Check which museums or M+ exhibitions are open and shift your plans to that area. Check the Science Museum’s separate closing days before choosing it.

If special exhibition tickets are sold out

Focus on the free permanent exhibition. If access to that exhibition is also restricted, switch to indoor dining or a bookstore in Tsim Sha Tsui and pick another date.

Small tip

Visiting the permanent exhibition early in your trip can help you connect the scenes you later see in Central and Kowloon’s alleyways with the city’s changes over time. Instead of reading every label, focus on two or three topics that interest you today.

Final check before departure

  • Check Tuesday closures, including public holiday exceptions.
  • Check admission prices and reservation requirements for the current permanent and special exhibitions.
  • Save the route from the station to the museum entrance and the closure notice for severe weather warnings.

Hours are Monday and Wednesday–Friday, 10:00–18:00, and Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, 10:00–19:00. The museum is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays, and is also closed for the first two days of Lunar New Year. Shortened hours apply on Christmas Eve and Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Information checked: 2026-10-03

Google Maps

Check the location on the map

Use Google Maps to review the location and nearby route. Recheck opening hours and prices with the official source before visiting.

  • On a rainy day, head to the harbor-side museums and M+

    This article links to these materials for further reading.

    If it rains, choose up to two museums that interest you in Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon. The Hong Kong Space Museum opens at 1:00 PM on most weekdays and is closed on Tuesdays, so don’t plan your morning around a visit.

  • M+ and the West Kowloon Cultural District

    This article links to these materials for further reading.

    M+ is a good choice if you want to add contemporary visual culture between shopping and the night views. You can combine the harbor walk, rooftop garden, and exhibitions in one visit.

  • Hong Kong Park and the Museum of Tea Ware

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    Hong Kong Park in Admiralty has ponds and walking paths, plus the Museum of Tea Ware in Flagstaff House, formerly the residence of the British military commander. Pair a walk in the park with a look at the tea ware exhibits, and plan on about 90 minutes.

  • Choose a Hong Kong mall based on your travel plans, not its size

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    Visiting several large malls can leave you with similar stores and long walks indoors. It’s more efficient to choose one that fits the day’s plans, such as a harbor walk, a trip to the airport, or a break on a rainy day.