Need help with my Hong Kong itinerary!

You might consider taking the fast ferry over to Macau for a day...takes about an hour as I recall. It's best known as the gambling mecca of the Far East, with several casinos that dwarf those in Las Vegas, but it also has a fascinating history from its days as a Portuguese colony.
Can do it on your own or go with a tour from HK.

I took the ferry to Macau, easy-peasy, but you have to go through customs/immigration so don't forget your passport. You can use HK dollars, but if you use large bils, you'll get change in small Macau $ bills that you may have trouble spending in Hong Kong. Macau uses HK coins. It's well worth going, Portuguese/Catholic heritage is completely different from from the English/Protestant HK history. The markets and museums of Kowloon can easily fill 2 days.

Macau's main draw is its casinos. In my opinion, Hong Kong has a lot more to see. Still, you do have five days there. I visited Macau in 1981 in route to a day trip to China. There was not much to see there.

I don't think we plan on going over to Macau. With only 5 days I think there will be enough in Hong Kong to keep us busy and entertained. Plus, the last thing I need to do is lose money in a casino :)

I agree with the poster above who says there is not much to see in Macau. I'm not sorry we went but the ferry to and from was the best part.

I think 5 days is too much! I was there last year for a week and after 1 day I was ready to leave! I was SO sorry I had planned so much time. I had been in Hong Kong back in the late 80's and it was wonderful. It has changed SO much now that the Chinese have taken it back. I found it extremely expensive.

I did take a day trip to Macau and saw the show Dancing Waters which I thoroughly enjoyed. I thought it was well worth it, and I enjoyed the day. I would say shorten your trip if you can. The shopping wasn't that great anymore. When I was there in the 80's I went to Lantau Island and had a great time. Hired a taxi for half a day - that was real entertaining because he didn't speak much English and we spoke no Chinese!

Get the HKTA tourist guide book. Available all over Hong kong. They have some great ideas of where to go and what to do.

Not knowing your interests, it is difficult to make more precise suggestions. But

• Why "one full day for Lantau Island"? Half a day should suffice.

• Many big temples are "restored" or "newly" constructed. They will remind you of Home Depot, and there will be hordes of tourists. This one is close to other attractions and authentic. You will see locals making offerings, but hardly any tourists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Hau_Temple_Complex,_Yau_Ma_Tei

Another bit more "restored" and on the tourist trail is this one.

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/en/monuments_96.php

Both are free admission, and donations are welcome. IOW, no need to go to NT just for temples.

• If you are interested in HK's history and heritage, check out this site. Or drop by their centrally located office for maps. Unlike the info at the tourist office, some of their trials are off the beaten path.

http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/trails.php

Five full days is barely enough time just to sample all the food.

I just got back from my fifth trip to Hong Kong; love the place, can't get enough of it. In all my trips the only temple I've visited in Hong Kong proper is the beautiful Nan Lian Garden complex, easily reached via subway. My favorite island is the car-free Cheung Chau. Last Thursday I spent an enjoyable day biking the island and visiting a couple of lovely temples.

We went on a very interesting "Heritage Tour" booked through the HK tourist office. This was before the handover from Britain, so it may not be still available, but if it or something similar is, then I highly recommend it.

I did a self-guided walking tour of Macau and found it very interesting, especially the Portuguese history which paralleled that of the British. I spent a full day (albeit a winter one, when the days are short). I only went into a casino because I was desperate for a toilet.