Wednesday: Arrival & The Happy Valley Rush
Touch down, check in, drop your bags – and dive straight into Hong Kong’s racing heart.
Wherever you’re staying in Hong Kong, you’re never far from Hong Kong Island, where Happy Valley Racecourse is located. The most fun and relaxing way to get to the track for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship is the the old-style trams – what the locals call the ‘Ding Ding.’ Look for the one marked Happy Valley as they rattle through Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai and skyscrapers flash by your window. Take the top deck up front and create some content.
Hong Kong’s public transport is incredibly affordable and the tram is only $3.30 HKD.
Your destination: Happy Valley Racecourse and the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship — one of the most electric nights in global sport. Entry to the Beer Garden is just HK$10 – cold beer, live music and fans from all over the world cheering for their favourite jockeys.
Pro Tip Arrive early to grab a fence-side spot. You might even high-five a jockey returning to scale. Better yet, book the HKJC’s special racecourse tour – which includes a free gift and behind the scenes access.
Thursday: Hong Kong Island – Eat, Explore, Escalate
Hong Kong is a culinary powerhouse: dim sum, roast goose, sushi, ramen, noodles. Then there are the desserts – egg tarts are a particular favourite among visitors.
First, take the Mid-Levels Escalator, the world’s longest outdoor escalator and wander into Tai Kwun, the arts-and-heritage precinct reborn from a colonial police compound. It’s all restaurants, design stores and open-air terraces – the perfect late-afternoon roam.
When the escalator hits Staunton St you will see Bakehouse, which has earned a cult following for its sourdough egg tarts – that’s if you don’t see the long queue first!
For something photogenic and a little less busy, take a right at Staunton and stroll towards Sheung Wan and the “Po Hing Terrace” area, dubbed ‘PoHo”, along Tai Ping Shan St just up from Hollywood Road. It’s a great mix of old and new Hong Kong: antique stores, murals, hip cafés and dai pai dong diners, just 10 minutes from Central.
Pro Tip Skip the taxi – Hong Kong is walkable and safe. You’ll see more on foot, and maybe stumble across a surprise laneway or two filled with local life. December is the perfect month for exploring Hong Kong.
Friday: Breakfast With The Stars & City Wander
Set your alarm early.
Head to Sha Tin Racecourse for Breakfast with the Stars, one of the rare chances to watch the world’s best horses train in daylight. Grab a coffee, camera and soak in the calm before Sunday’s storm.
After the morning trackwork, make it a city day.
Explore Pacific Place, Harbour City, or K11 Musea, where luxury boutiques sit beside local design pop-ups. Or cross back to Causeway Bay for Hong Kong’s full-tilt retail buzz.
Pro Tip Hong Kong’s MTR is fast, cheap and spotless – the easiest way to hop between racecourse, malls and harbour.
Saturday: Across The Harbour – Culture & Views
Take the Star Ferry from Central to Kowloon – five minutes, one of the best views in the world, for under US$1.
Once across, explore the West Kowloon Cultural District, home to the M+ Museum and Hong Kong Palace Museum – both powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s investment in the city’s cultural future.
As the sun dips, walk the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade for skyline shots or head north to Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei for street markets, neon signs, and steaming bowls of noodles at midnight.
Pro Tip Sunset drinks on the West Kowloon waterfront deliver the city’s most perfect skyline photos – guaranteed.
Sunday: The Main Event – World Class Racing At Sha Tin
Race day. The big one.
The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races bring the world’s elite to Sha Tin Racecourse for four Group 1 showdowns – the Vase, Sprint, Mile and Cup – pitting global champions against Hong Kong heroes like Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble, and Romantic Warrior.
Arrive early – gates open before noon and the atmosphere builds fast.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club makes the experience easy: guided tours, member-style privileges, souvenir gifts, plush seating and exclusive access packages.
Get yourself a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the racecourse with the official HKJC tour.
Pro Tip Take the MTR to Racecourse Station – direct, quick and it drops you right at the track entrance. Not every train stops at the special racecourse station so check the notifications. Or on a big day, follow the people with formguides!
For those looking for a more premium experience, join Idol Horse for our Horse Racing United @ HKIR event.
Join the Idol Horse team, translators and guests from around the world for a fun day of racing in a private box on the sixth floor, just 150 metres from the winning post.
Buffet lunch, free flow drinks and some exclusive gifts are all included in the $1,500 package – as well as the racecourse tour.
