Hong Kong
Singapore
Many travelers compare Hong Kong and Singapore because both are city-states with hub airports (HKG and Changi), efficient transport infrastructure, and a mix of Asia and the West.They are separated by 2,580 km and direct flights of 3h55, with round-trip fares often between €280-420.In this comparison you’ll find concrete numbers on costs, climate, attractions like Victoria Peak and Marina Bay, and measurable visit times.The main differences are stark: Hong Kong is mountainous (over 60% green areas) with trails like MacLehose and beaches 10-18 km from the center; Singapore is flat, equatorial (26-32°C year-round) with gardens like Cloud Forest and districts like Orchard.Budget-wise, a 3-star costs €80-120 in Hong Kong and €90-140 in Singapore; public transport weighs in at €5-8 per day versus €6-9 for the MRT.In this guide you’ll find twelve criteria with data: daily budget, top attractions with prices and times, food with real restaurants (e.g., Tim Ho Wan, Tian Tian), climate with seasonal averages, transport from airport to downtown, nightlife, families, beaches, shopping, safety, days needed, and how to combine the two cities with flights from €140-220.
Hong Kong vs Singapore
| Feature | Hong Kong | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget | In Hong Kong, a 3-star hotel costs €80-120 per night in areas like Mong Kok or North Point; a 4-star in Tsim Sha Tsui is €120-200, while a 5-star in Central runs €250-450.Meals: cha chaan teng €5-8, dim sum at Tim Ho Wan €12-20 pp, average dinner €18-30. Transport: Octopus €4-7/day, MTR Day Pass €7.8, Airport Express €13 (24 min).Beer in Lan Kwai Fong bars €6-9. Realistic daily budget: €90-140 (budget/mid), €180-250 (comfort).✓ Better | In Singapore, a 3-star in Bugis or Little India costs €90-140, a 4-star on Orchard €150-220, and a 5-star in Marina Bay €260-500.Meals: hawker €3-5 (e.g., Tian Tian chicken rice €3.4), mid-range restaurant €12-18, chilli crab at Jumbo €45-65 pp.Transport: Singapore Tourist Pass €6.8/day, single MRT €1.2-1.8. Cocktails at Clarke Quay €12-18. Daily budget: €100-160 (budget/mid), €200-280 (comfort). |
| Top attractions | The Peak Tram + Sky Terrace 428 costs about €17 (HK$148) and takes 1.5-2 hours with views of Victoria Harbour.The Ngong Ping 360 cable car round-trip is €27-36 (25 min each way) for the Big Buddha and Po Lin (total 4-5 hours).The Star Ferry costs €0.45 (10 min) between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui.The Avenue of Stars is free (walk 30-45 min) with the A Symphony of Lights show at 20:00. | The Marina Bay Sands SkyPark costs €22 (SGD 32) and can be visited in 45-60 min with views of Marina Bay.At Gardens by the Bay, the Flower Dome + Cloud Forest cost €36 (SGD 53) and take 2-3 hours; the OCBC Skyway walkway is €8.2 (15 min).Universal Studios on Sentosa costs €56-61 (SGD 83-89) for 6-7 hours of rides.The Singapore Zoo is €35 (SGD 51) for 3-4 hours between Rainforest and River Wonders.✓ Better |
| Food and restaurants | Signature dishes: wonton noodles at Mak’s Noodle €6-8, roast goose at Yat Lok €18-25, dim sum at Tim Ho Wan €12-20 pp.Temple Street dai pai dong serve claypot rice €6-10. Markets like Graham Street for snacks €2-4. Michelin-starred restaurants in Central (e.g., Amber) offer tasting menus €140-220.Cocktail bars in Soho €12-18. Reservations recommended on weekends (wait 15-30 min). | In Singapore, hawker centres like Maxwell and Lau Pa Sat offer chicken rice from Tian Tian at €3.4, laksa from 328 Katong €4.7, and satay €0.7-1 per skewer.Chilli crab at Jumbo costs €45-65 pp, while restaurants in Chinatown and Little India offer meals €12-18. Cocktails at Ce La Vi €14-20 with views of Marina Bay.Markets are open 7:00-22:00, with queues of 10-20 min at peak hours.✓ Better |
| Climate and best time | Hong Kong has a humid summer 28-33°C with heavy rains (June ~456 mm), and a mild winter 14-20°C.Typhoon season runs from June to October; the best months are October-November (max 23-27°C) and March-April (18-25°C).Average humidity 75-85%.Wear light layers and bring a 200 g rain jacket.Avoid long hikes under a T8 signal (reduced transport). | Singapore is equatorial: stable temperatures 26-32°C year-round, with more frequent rains between November and January (~250 mm/month).Humidity 80-90%.Air conditioning on the MRT and in malls calls for a light cardigan (150 g).Recommended months: February-March and July-August for events like National Day.Occasional haze episodes in September; N95 masks are useful for 60-90 min walks.✓ Better |
| Transport and how to get there | HKG airport is connected by the Airport Express (24 min, €13) to Hong Kong Station; bus A21 to Tsim Sha Tsui costs €4 (45-60 min).Typical MTR ride €1.4-2.2 (8-15 min between Central and Mong Kok).Airport-to-center taxi €42-45 (30-40 min).The Octopus requires a €6 deposit (HK$50).Direct flights with Cathay and HK Express to Singapore in 3h55. | Changi is connected to City Hall via MRT in 28 min for €1.2-1.5.Taxi/Grab to Marina Bay costs €16-20 (20-25 min).The Singapore Tourist Pass is €6.8/day with a refundable €6.8 deposit.Typical MRT rides €1.2-1.8 (8-20 min between Orchard and Bugis).Flights to Hong Kong with Singapore Airlines and Scoot take 3h55 and cost €140-220 round-trip on promotion.✓ Better |
| Nightlife | In Lan Kwai Fong and Soho bars are open until 02:00-04:00.Beer €6-9, cocktails €12-18, club entry €15-35.Rooftops like Ozone (118th floor of the ICC) serve drinks €18-25 with views of Kowloon.The MTR closes ~00:30-01:00; night taxis €8-12 for 3-5 km.Lively areas: Wan Chai (historic bars) and Tsim Sha Tsui (K11 Musea).✓ Better | In Singapore, Clarke Quay and Boat Quay have clubs like Zouk (entry €27-34 with 1 drink).Beers €6.8-9.5, cocktails €12-18.Rooftops like Ce La Vi offer views of Marina Bay.Retail sale of alcohol is limited after 22:30 (Liquor Control Act), with a ban on public consumption in areas like Little India.The MRT closes ~00:15; night Grab €10-16 for 4-6 km. |
| For families with children | Hong Kong Disneyland costs €75-95 pp (1 day, 9:30-20:00) on Lantau, reachable in 35-45 min.Ocean Park is €58 (HK$498) for 5-6 hours between aquariums and coasters.The Hong Kong Science Museum costs €2.4 (HK$20) with interactive exhibits 1.5-2 hours.MTR with elevators in Central, stroller-friendly paths on the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade (2 km). | Universal Studios Singapore is €56-61 for 6-7 hours on Sentosa.The S.E.A.Aquarium costs €29 (SGD 43) for 2-3 hours, while the Singapore Zoo is €35 (3-4 hours).The Night Safari costs €38-45 (SGD 55-65) with a 40 min tram.Flat walks at Gardens by the Bay (OCBC €8.2) and shaded areas at Jacob Ballas Garden (free).MRT equipped with elevators at Orchard and Bayfront.✓ Better |
| Beaches and nature | Beaches like Repulse Bay are 10 km from Central (bus 25-30 min), Shek O is 18 km (45 min).The Dragon’s Back hike is 8.5 km (2.5-3 h).Lamma Island is reached in 25-30 min by ferry (€2.5) from Central Pier 4.The MacLehose Trail (Section 2) is 13.5 km (5-6 h) in the Sai Kung Country Park.✓ Better | In Singapore, the beaches of Sentosa (Palawan, Siloso) are 15 min from HarbourFront.East Coast Park is 12 km from Dhoby Ghaut (bus 30-40 min).MacRitchie TreeTop Walk offers 7-11 km of trails (3-4 h).Pulau Ubin is reached by bumboat in 15 min (€4.1) from Changi Point, with Chek Jawa 2.5 km by bike (30 min). |
| Shopping | Markets in Mong Kok like the Ladies’ Market offer T-shirts €5-8; Temple Street for gadgets €2-10.Electronics in Sham Shui Po (Golden Computer), cameras €300-800.Malls like IFC and Harbour City with luxury.Tailors like Sam’s Tailor in TST offer bespoke suits from €300 in 48-72 h.Tax-free on tourist purchases with receipts HK$120+. | In Singapore, Orchard Road (e.g., ION, Ngee Ann City) offers fashion €50-200.Bugis Street has souvenirs €2-5, while Mustafa Centre is 24/7 for electronics €100-700.Be cautious at Sim Lim Square: ask for written prices.Chinatown for teas €6-15.GST refund on spending over SGD 100 per store with eTRS within 12 h of departure. |
| Safety and practical tips | Hong Kong is very safe; emergencies at 999.Avoid scams like the tea house scam in Tsim Sha Tsui and pushy bars in Wan Chai.During T8 typhoons, stay in the hotel 6-12 h.csl SIM 5 days 10GB €6.9.Keep your Octopus: top-ups from €5.Avoid isolated ATMs after 23:00. | Singapore enforces zero tolerance: no chewing gum (fines €70-350) and no public alcohol after 22:30.Emergencies 999 (police) and 995 (ambulance).Avoid jaywalking (fines €35-700).Singtel SIM SGD 12 (€8.1) with 100GB local.Tourist districts (Marina Bay, Orchard) are monitored 24/7.Bring a Type G adapter and a 10,000 mAh power bank.✓ Better |
| How many days do you need | Minimum 3 days: Day 1 Central, Peak and TST (8-10 hours); Day 2 Lantau (Ngong Ping 360 4-5 h) + Mong Kok; Day 3 Dragon’s Back 3 h + Stanley.Ideal 4-5 days for Disneyland or Ocean Park (6-7 h).MTR travel €5-8 per day, coffee breaks €3-4 in Soho. | Minimum 3 days: Day 1 Marina Bay (SkyPark 45-60 min) + Gardens 2-3 h; Day 2 Sentosa (USS 6-7 h) + S.E.A. 2 h; Day 3 Chinatown 2 h + Orchard 3 h.Ideal 3-4 days including the Singapore Zoo 3-4 h or MacRitchie 3-4 h.Transport €6-9 per day, hawker meals €3-5. |
| How to combine the two cities | After 4-5 days in Hong Kong, fly to Singapore in 3h55 (distance 2,580 km) with Cathay or HK Express.Round-trip tickets often €140-220.Depart from HKG T1, check in 2 h earlier; Airport Express €13 (24 min).Bring a G adapter and insurance €2-4/day. | Start with 3-4 days in Singapore, then fly to Hong Kong with Singapore Airlines or Scoot (flight 3h55).Typical cost €160-260 if you book 30-60 days in advance.From Changi take the MRT at €1.2-1.5 (28 min) or a taxi €16-20.Avoid luggage over 20 kg if flying low-cost (surcharges €20-40). |
The Verdict
Choose Hong Kong
Choose Hong Kong if you want a mix of skylines and nature with a budget of €90-140/day in March-April (18-25°C).4-day itinerary: Day 1 Central + Peak Tram (€17, 2 h); Day 2 Ngong Ping 360 (€27-36, 5 h) + Tsim Sha Tsui; Day 3 Dragon’s Back (8.5 km, 3 h) + Shek O; Day 4 Mong Kok markets and Temple Street.Transport with Octopus €5-8/day, dim sum dinners €12-20 pp.Regional flights connect with Japan and Taiwan in 2-4 hours.
Choose Singapore
Choose Singapore if you want order, family-friendliness, and stable weather 26-32°C, with a budget of €100-160/day between hawkers and MRT €6.8/day.3-day itinerary: Day 1 Marina Bay + Gardens by the Bay (€36, 2-3 h); Day 2 Sentosa with Universal Studios (€56-61, 6-7 h); Day 3 Chinatown, Orchard and MacRitchie (3 h).Cocktails at Ce La Vi €14-20, taxi €16-20 airport-center.Great for a 48-72 h stopover with flights to Bali or Bangkok in 2-3 hours.