Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a place of dramatic contrasts, where one of the world's great skylines rises against steep green hills and island-dotted waters. The view from Victoria Peak over the harbor is the classic image, and the humble Star Ferry crossing between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon remains one of travel's great bargains. Dense, vertical, and fast-moving, the city packs an enormous amount into a small footprint.

The pleasures range from refined to raw. Dim sum in a clattering tea house, bargaining through the markets of Mong Kok, and neon-lit streets give way surprisingly quickly to quiet hiking trails, beaches, and outlying islands just a short ferry away. It is a food lover's city at every price point, from Michelin-starred kitchens to humble noodle shops.

The most pleasant weather comes in autumn, from roughly October to December, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures. Summers are hot, humid, and prone to typhoons, while winters stay mild but can turn grey and cool.