Travel bucket list idea:
Stanley Market
Hong Kong, China
Last updated: 05 April, 2024
The market stalls and shops here give new meaning to the term ‘higgledy-piggledy’. The seaside location is uplifting, and there are plenty of restaurants and cafés dotted around for a pit-stop along the way.
There are no huge bargains to be had, but the sheer variety is impressive – everything from cheap clothing, art and bric-a-brac, to bamboo bird cages, embroidered silk and gadgets (you can’t buy fake watches here).
Don’t be afraid to bargain, particularly if you’re buying more than one item. Vendors will often knock 10% off the original asking price.
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 8+
When: All year around
Getting there & doing it
A number of buses and minibuses run from around the city to Stanley market, including the 6A and 6X, which leave from the Exchange Square in Central, and the number 40 minibus which departs every few minutes from Jardine’s Bazaar in Causeway Bay. A taxi costs between £10-£15 from the city centre.
Stanley has a waterfront promenade of open-air restaurants, but none of them are particularly memorable. Instead, walk around the corner to Classified, which serves tasty salads, wraps and burgers.
When to do it
The stalls are open all year round, seven days a week. It’s best to visit on a weekday. At weekends the market is jammed with tourists and locals.
