At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season High season all month: the weather is the best of the year, so rooms are dear and popular trails are busy on weekends.
Hong Kong in November — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Hong Kong in November offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for hikers, food lovers & photographers. Expect temperatures of 20–25°C, around 6 days of rain, and high crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around HK$900–1,500 for mid-range travellers. Book accommodation two to three months ahead — the most popular rooms sell out fast during peak visiting windows.
Contents17 sections
- At a Glance
- Weather in Hong Kong in November
- The Warnings, Before They Go Away
- Booking the Best Month
- What to Do in Hong Kong in November
- Getting Around
- Budget & Costs
- Food & Dining
- Nightlife
- Shopping
- Culture & Etiquette
- Essential Local Phrases
- Packing List
- Backup Plans
- Safety & Health
- What's New for November 2027
- About This Guide
#At a Glance
If you get one Hong Kong month, make it this one. Highs of 25°C, lows of 20°C, about six wet days and 39mm of rain add up to the best walking weather of the year, and in the 1991–2020 record no November day carried a No. 8. The price is that everyone knows: rooms are dear, the good trails are busy at weekends, and restaurants fill. There is no great festival to plan around, which is part of the appeal. November is simply a month of walking the ridges by day and eating outdoors at night.
#Weather in Hong Kong in November
Hong Kong in November averages 20–25°C (68–77°F) with around 6 days of rain, and crowds are high.
| Week of the month | What to expect |
|---|---|
| First week | Warm afternoons near 27°C, still fine for a swim |
| Second week | Dry northerly air and comfortable nights |
| Third week | The classic November day: blue and 24–25°C |
| Fourth week | Evenings cool towards 18°C, and a jacket comes out |
The averages behind that, from the Hong Kong Observatory's 1991–2020 normals, are a high of 25°C / 77°F, a low of 20°C / 68°F, about 6 wet days and 39mm of rain.
Humidity is 72%, down from over 80% all summer. The week-by-week notes are our own reading of how the month moves.
What that actually means for your trip:
- Rain rarely spoils a plan. A wet day here counts 0.1mm, and a month's total of 39mm is often a few showers.
- Typhoon season is ending. A signal of some kind averages about half a day.
- Strong monsoon winds arrive, on about four days. Ferries get bouncy, and the outer islands feel it most.
- Haze is the catch. On still days pollution can build, so check the Air Quality Health Index before climbing for a view.
#The Warnings, Before They Go Away
Hong Kong's warning systems are nearly idle by now, but a late storm can still pass.
Typhoon No. 3 means strong wind and little else; No. 8 means gales, and the city shuts apart from the MTR, though none was recorded in November between 1991 and 2020. The rainstorm grades run amber, red and black, and black means stay indoors.
The Observatory also issues a fire danger warning: in dry, windy weather, take it seriously on the hills.
#Booking the Best Month
November’s weather is the easy part. The hard part is that everybody wants it, so a good trip is mostly a matter of booking.
Start with the room. This is one of the dearest months of the year, and the cheapest good rooms go first. Reserve early, and look at Yau Ma Tei or the back streets of Tsim Sha Tsui if Central has gone beyond your budget, as both are minutes from the harbour on the Tsuen Wan Line. Our Where to Stay page compares the districts.
Then consider the days of the week. Sunday is the busiest day on the popular trails and in the country parks, and queues for minibuses to Sai Kung and buses to the Dragon’s Back can be long. Hike on a weekday if you possibly can, and keep Sunday for the city, where the offices are closed and Central’s streets are at their calmest.
Restaurants are the third thing to plan. Dinner on Friday and Saturday needs a reservation in any popular place, above all for hairy crab, whose menus are heavily booked in the peak weeks. Cha chaan teng and noodle shops remain walk-in, and they are never far away.
Finally, look at what else is on. Big conventions and the Oxfam Trailwalker can fill particular corners of the city for a few days, and the Tourism Board’s WinterFest begins in the month, with Christmas lights across Central. A trip in the last week gets both the autumn air and the first of the decorations.
#What to Do in Hong Kong in November
Hiking is the headline. About 40% of the territory is country park, and the long dry spell makes every ridge usable.
Solo Travellers
Try a section of the MacLehose Trail, the 100km route that crosses the New Territories. Stage 2, past the beaches of Sai Wan and Long Ke in Sai Kung, is the showpiece.
The route is also where teams race the Oxfam Trailwalker; the 2026 edition ran on 20–22 November, so check the 2027 date before choosing a weekend.
Couples
Climb Sunset Peak on Lantau late in the day for silvergrass and the sun going down over the South China Sea, with a headtorch for the descent.
Or stay low: a walk through Tai O, then an early dinner, then the bus home.
Families
A short route like the Pok Fu Lam Reservoir walk from the Peak works well with children.
Hong Kong Disneyland starts its Christmas season around the middle of the month, and the weather makes queueing painless.
Groups
Book a long table at a dai pai dong in Sham Shui Po, or pool the cost of a boat to Tap Mun or the Sai Kung geopark islands; a race night at Happy Valley is cheap, sociable and needs no planning at all.
#Getting Around
- Octopus works almost everywhere; top up at any convenience store.
- Airport Express: HK$120 to Hong Kong Station and HK$105 to Kowloon on Octopus.
- MTR: HK$10.60 from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui on Octopus.
- Star Ferry: HK$5 upstairs on weekdays, and the short crossing is at its best now.
- Trams: HK$3.30 flat, with the top deck windows open.
Sunday mornings are the busiest of the week on the minibuses to Sai Kung and the buses to the Peak. Set off by 8am.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | HK$900–1,500 | A hostel or guesthouse, local meals, the MTR |
| Mid-range | HK$2,300–3,600 | A central hotel in high season, restaurants, a museum |
| Luxury | HK$6,500+ | Harbour-view rooms, hairy crab menus, private guides |
What things cost:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Airport Express to Hong Kong Station, Octopus | HK$120 |
| MTR, Central to Tsim Sha Tsui | HK$10.60 |
| M+ standard ticket | HK$190 |
| Taxi flagfall, urban red taxi | HK$29 |
| Country park trails | Free |
Where the money actually goes:
- Rooms are near the year's peak, so book well ahead.
- Food: hairy crab menus can double a dinner bill.
- Hotels add a 3% tax and usually a 10% service charge, so check a rate includes both.
#Food & Dining
Hairy crab is at its peak, and the female crabs give way to the males as the month goes on. Hong Kong's hotels and Shanghainese restaurants run set menus; a single steamed crab with ginger tea is the cheaper way in.
Clay-pot rice comes back at night around Temple Street as the temperature falls. Reserve for dinner on any Friday or Saturday, as restaurants here take full advantage of the season.
#Nightlife
Outdoor tables are the whole story: Sai Ying Pun's small bars spill onto the pavement, SoHo has its staircases, and the harbour-view rooftops of Tsim Sha Tsui are worth a drink's price at dusk. Bars get busy around race nights in Wan Chai, a short tram ride from Happy Valley.
#Shopping
Singles' Day on 11 November and Black Friday bring sales to the malls and electronics shops.
Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po are comfortable to walk now. Christmas displays go up in the second half of the month across Central. There is no sales tax, so what you see is what you pay.
#Culture & Etiquette
Crowded trails have their own manners here: let faster walkers pass, and do not stop in the middle of a stairway for photographs. Fires are allowed in the country parks only at designated sites. In restaurants, service is brisk rather than rude; call for the bill rather than wait for it.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Cantonese | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 行山 (haang saan) | Hiking | The word of the month |
| 大閘蟹 (daai jaap haai) | Hairy crab | On every Shanghainese menu |
| 煲仔飯 (bo jai faan) | Clay-pot rice | On a cool evening |
| 埋單 (maai daan) | The bill, please | At the end of the meal |
| 幾多錢? (gei do chin) | How much? | At a market stall |
| 唔該 (m goi) | Please, or thanks for a service | All day |
#Packing List
- Light layers, and a jacket for the last week
- Proper walking shoes
- A small daypack
- A headtorch if you plan a sunset hike
- A hat and sun cream, since November sun is still strong on a ridge
- A refillable bottle
- A smart outfit for dinner
#Backup Plans
- Bad air day: stay low and go indoors, to M+ at HK$190 or the Hong Kong Palace Museum from HK$70.
- Rough ferries: a strong monsoon can cancel small boats to outer islands; Lamma, Cheung Chau and the larger routes usually keep going.
- Fully booked restaurants: eat early, or go to a cha chaan teng, which never asks for a reservation.
#Safety & Health
Dial 999 in an emergency. The dry air raises hill fire risk, and steep, stepped descents cause more trail injuries than anything else, so go slowly at the end of a day. If you have asthma, check the Air Quality Health Index on hazy days. Carrying a vape in a public place is also an offence, with a HK$3,000 fixed penalty. National security laws here are strict and cover visitors too: see First Time in Hong Kong.
#What's New for November 2027
- Oxfam Trailwalker: the 2026 edition ran on 20–22 November; check for the 2027 date
- The harbour light show: A Symphony of Lights is being replaced, so check what is running
- The vape ban: in force since 30 April 2026
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), written in November 2026 for November 2027. Climate figures are Hong Kong Observatory 1991–2020 normals; the week-by-week notes are our estimate. Fares are from the MTR's published data, read in November 2026; daily budgets are our estimates.
- Hong Kong Observatory for the normals and signal frequencies
- Oxfam Hong Kong for the Trailwalker
For the month before, see Hong Kong in October, and for the month after, Hong Kong in December. For the whole season, see Hong Kong in Autumn.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is November the best month to visit Hong Kong?
For most people, yes. Highs of about 25°C, lows of 20°C, about six wet days and only 39mm of rain make it the most comfortable month for walking the city and its hills. The trade-off is price, with rooms near the year’s peak.
Is it hot in Hong Kong in November?
No, it is warm rather than hot. Afternoons reach about 25°C and nights about 20°C, with humidity down to 72%. Early November can still suit a swim, while the last week calls for a light jacket in the evenings.
What should I do in Hong Kong in November?
Hike. The Dragon’s Back, the Sai Kung stages of the MacLehose Trail and the silvergrass slopes of Sunset Peak are all at their most comfortable. In the evenings, eat outdoors or try hairy crab, which peaks this month.
How much does a November trip to Hong Kong cost?
Allow about HK$900–1,500 a day on a budget and HK$2,300–3,600 mid-range, as rooms are near the year’s peak. Book early, and allow for a hotel tax of 3% and a usual 10% service charge. Hiking costs nothing beyond the bus fare.