Victoria Harbour and the Skyline

Victoria Harbour, the deep-water strait dividing Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon peninsula, is the dazzling heart of the city and one of the world's great urban waterfronts, framed by a spectacular wall of skyscrapers on both shores. It is crossed by the beloved, humble Star Ferry, plying the water since 1888 for a few coins, offering the finest and most romantic view of the skyline. Each evening the towers erupt in the Symphony of Lights, a synchronised laser-and-light show across the harbour.

What you actually see

• The Star Ferry - the historic, cheap ferry crossing with the best views.
• The Symphony of Lights - the nightly harbour light-and-laser show.
• The Tsim Sha Tsui promenade - the waterfront and Avenue of Stars.
• The skyline - the wall of towers on both shores.

When to go

October to December, for clear, cool weather; the Symphony of Lights runs nightly at 8pm, best watched from the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade or a harbour cruise. A Star Ferry crossing at dusk, as the lights come on, is the classic, magical Hong Kong experience.

Honest expectations

The nightly light show is pleasant but modest, more a gentle sequence than a grand spectacle, so temper expectations; the real magic is simply the skyline itself and the timeless, few-cent Star Ferry ride across it. The promenades get crowded at showtime. Decades of land reclamation have narrowed the harbour, but it remains a stunning, iconic sight.

Nearby

Tsim Sha Tsui, Central and the night markets are along the shores.