It’s time to get cultured by learning all about the region's dynamic past at these Hong Kong museums across the city – fun times ahead!
The city is jam-packed with art galleries, historic buildings, and unique tourist attractions if you know where to look. It’s also a city with a huge selection of amazing museums for you to learn more about regional history, works of art, and more. From maritime tales to new frontiers in space, Hong Kong museums always allow its visitors to enjoy themselves while picking up some new knowledge. It’s time to get your geek on!
Get cultured at these museums
1. Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA)
Established in 1962, the Hong Kong Museum of Art continues to bring awe and excitement to art lovers across the city. The first public art space of its type in the 852, an art collection of nearly 20,000 items from across the globe is currently housed. Curating local and international items with a unique HK viewpoint, HKMoA is home to various collections which showcase everything from HK art to Chinese calligraphy. We especially love the stunning architecture of this incredible building, as well as its plethora of educational materials suited to guests of all ages!
Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMOA), 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 2721 0116
2. Hong Kong Heritage Museum
One of our absolute faves, the Heritage Museum presents a diverse blend of history, art, and culture in a stunning traditional building in Sha Tin. With an exhibition area of around 7,500sqm, the place holds six permanent galleries: Hong Kong Pop 60+, the Jin Yong Gallery, the Cantonese Opera Heritage Hall, the T. T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art, the Chao Shao-an Gallery, and the Children’s Discovery Gallery. Additionally, there are six thematic galleries that host regular exhibitions, displaying the unique heritage treasures of this city. With ample community outreach, Heritage Museum always welcomes you to join its thematic talks, theatre programmes, and family activities.
Hong Kong Heritage Museum, 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, p. 2180 8188
3. Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum
A four-storey building commemorating the special connection between the city and Dr Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary who dedicated his life to overthrowing the Qing Dynasty, Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum houses a wide range of historical artefacts. It honours the great Chinese statesman with different permanent exhibitions, enabling visitors to learn about his life and career. Along with an array of audiovisual programmes, workshops and school talks are also held to educate the public. While the museum will be temporarily closed from 1 May 2024 onwards for maintenance and renovations, it’s expected to reopen its doors in the second quarter of 2025 – stay tuned!
Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, 7 Castle Road, Mid-Levels, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2367 6373
4. Hong Kong Railway Museum
A branch of the Heritage Museum, the open-air Hong Kong Railway Museum is located in Tai Po Market. Refurbished as a museum in 1985 from the old Tai Po Market Railway Station, it features a permanent exhibition of the local railway history. With the old ticket office and signal cabin, historical photographs, and an outdoor area displaying vintage locomotives and coaches, train geeks certainly won’t want to miss out on this one!
Hong Kong Railway Museum, 13 Shung Tak Street, Tai Po Market, Hong Kong, p. 2653 3455
5. Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware
Housed in a stunning building that originally served as the office and residence of the Commander of the British Forces in the city, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware specialises in the collection, study, and display of unique tea ware. A branch of the HKMoA, it houses many exquisite Yixing teapots. Featuring items from the Tang Dynasty right through to the present day, the cultural tradition of tea and the part it plays in Chinese culture is brought to life. Alongside its exhibitions, it holds regular demonstrations, tea gatherings, and lecture programmes to promote ceramic art and education.
Love tea? These tea houses are our favourites.
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong Park, 10 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2869 0690
6. Hong Kong Museum of History
With roots going back to 1962, the Hong Kong Museum of History has gone through a few addresses, but has called Tsim Sha Tsui its home since 1998. Preserving cultural objects closely related to the history of HK and South China, the museum’s past exhibits covered everything from the history of HK toys to China’s road to modernisation. In general, its collections are divided into three major areas of interest: natural history, ethnography, and local history. Among the permanent collection, you’ll find the likes of coins and philatelic items, in addition to books and commercial letters. Hosting many public and school extension programmes, this beloved institution gives a rich look into our city’s storied past.
Hong Kong Museum of History, 100 Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong, p. 2724 9042
7. Hong Kong Space Museum
Thanks to its unique egg-shaped dome structure, it’s hard to miss the Hong Kong Space Museum along the TST waterfront. The first planetarium in the world to house a fully automatic control system in its Space Theatre, the projection dome also has the first Omnimax film projector in the Eastern hemisphere. The building has two thematic exhibition halls: the Hall of the Cosmos and the Hall of Space Exploration. Each holds many interactive exhibits that grant visitors an entertaining educational experience. Additionally, the frequent Sky Shows and Dome Shows at the Space Theatre definitely make the Space Museum one of the coolest places to learn ever.
Hong Kong Space Museum, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 2721 0226
8. Hong Kong Science Museum
Looking for a great day out for the whole family? The Hong Kong Science Museum is devoted to presenting science in a fun and one-of-a-kind environment. Unlike many institutes that stick to traditional formats, the Science Museum encourages guests to explore and interact with the exhibits, such as the Electricity and Magnetism Gallery, as well as the Motion Hall.
Hong Kong Science Museum, 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong, p. 2732 3232
9. The Hong Kong Maritime Museum
Located right at the Central Pier, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum is a vibrant space dedicated to telling the story of trade and maritime history across HK and the Pearl River Delta. The museum features exhibitions and galleries that explain the vital role the ocean has played (and will play) in the city’s past, present, and future. Don’t miss the Ship Bridge Simulator that lets you experience steering a variety of ships!
The Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Pier No. 8, Hong Kong, p. 3713 2500
10. M+
Among one of the largest museums of contemporary visual culture in the world, M+ has become an iconic part of the city’s cultural landscape with its harbour-facing LED facade and impressive architectural design. In addition to the M+ facade that displays moving image works across Victoria Harbour, the museum has four Asia-rooted permanent collections, a diverse selection of temporary exhibitions, and its own cinema. With one of the world’s greatest collections of modern visual culture and art, you’ll find diverse creative works, from powerful art by Ai Weiwei to cinematic retrospectives of Ann Hui.
M+, West Kowloon Cultural District, 38 Museum Drive, West Kowloon, Hong Kong, p. 2200 0217
11. Hong Kong Palace Museum
With the building a work of art itself, Hong Kong Palace Museum’s collection of Chinese and Hong Kong cultural works has made it one of the world’s leading cultural institutions. A collaboration between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum in Beijing, the HK outpost displays priceless objects from Mainland China. Building international partnerships to bring important cultural items to our city, the HK Palace Museum often holds exhibitions which display works that have never been shown to the public before. One of the best places for both international and Chinese art and culture, this is where you can partake in educational programmes, stimulating performances, and enlightening workshops on the regular.
Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District, 8 Museum Drive, West Kowloon, Hong Kong, p. 2200 0217
[This article was originally published in June 2017 and updated in 2024 by Min Ji Park.]
