Last updated September 5, 2026

The Tian Tan Buddha statue at Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island

Béria L. Rodríguez / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hong Kong

Where to Stay in Lantau Island

Lantau Island is Hong Kong's largest island, a greener and much quieter counterpart to the urban core across the harbour. It's home to the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Hong Kong Disneyland, the fishing village of Tai O, and the international airport. Tung Chung is the island's main town and the base most visitors use for reaching Lantau's sights. Don't miss the cable car ride up to the Big Buddha, an afternoon in Tai O's stilt-house village, and a walk along Tung Chung's harbourfront promenade.

Quick facts

Best time to visit
October through December is the best stretch — dry, mild, and clear, which matters here since the island's main draws (the cable car, the Buddha, Tai O, hiking trails) are all outdoors. Summer (June–September) is hot, humid, and the main typhoon season, when the cable car sometimes suspends service; winter (December–February) is cooler and driest but can turn damp and chilly after dark.
Renting a car
Skip renting a car. The Tung Chung MTR line, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, and local buses cover Tung Chung and Lantau's main sights, while parking near Tung Chung and Ngong Ping is limited and roads in South Lantau are narrow.

Where to stay

Best for families riding the cable car to the Big Buddha and visiting Hong Kong Disneyland, travelers who want to be close to the airport for an early flight or late arrival, and shoppers who want Citygate Outlets on their doorstep.

Aerial view of Tung Chung new town between the mountains and the sea on Lantau Island, seen from the Ngong Ping cable car

Dennis Y.C. Wong / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5

Tung Chung

Best for: Families, First-time visitors, Architecture lovers

Our picks for Lantau Island

A handful of editorial calls across every neighborhood above, not just the highest star rating — see each hotel's own card further down for the full case for and against it.

💰 Best valueFour Points by Sheraton Hong Kong, Tung ChungTung Chung❤️ Best for couplesSheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung HotelTung Chung✨ Best luxuryThe Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery CollectionTung Chung📍 Best locationThe Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery CollectionTung Chung

A couple of hotels in Tung Chung

Tung Chung is the top-recommended area to stay in Lantau Island.

Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel

★★★★★
  • ❤️ Best for couples

Our take The higher-end half of a shared Tung Chung hotel complex, with its own entrance, pool, and quieter public areas a short walk from the MTR.

Highlights

  • A short walk from Tung Chung MTR station and Citygate Outlets
  • Its own check-in, elevators, pool, and fitness centre, separate from the adjoining Four Points tower
  • Modern rooms with large windows, many facing the surrounding hills or bay

What to know

  • It shares the building with the separately run Four Points by Sheraton — check which tower you've booked
Check availability on Booking.com

The Silveri Hong Kong - MGallery Collection

★★★★★
  • ✨ Best luxury
  • 📍 Best location

Our take A quiet, plant-filled counterpoint to Tung Chung's more functional hotels, with covered access to the MTR and a short walk to the cable car.

Highlights

  • Covered access to Tung Chung MTR and Citygate Outlets, so no stepping outside with luggage
  • A large outdoor pool and landscaped terraces that feel removed from the surrounding new town
  • Boutique-scale, smaller and quieter than the area's bigger convention-style hotels

What to know

  • Being connected to Citygate Outlets means the mall-facing side of the hotel can see more foot traffic on weekends
Check availability on Booking.com

Useful travel information

Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). An Octopus card, sold at the airport and any MTR station, covers the MTR, buses, and most convenience-store purchases with a single tap. English is an official language alongside Cantonese and is widely used on signage and by MTR staff. The Tung Chung line reaches Hong Kong Station on Hong Kong Island in about 30 minutes, and local buses from Tung Chung connect to Tai O and South Lantau's beaches. Most of Lantau beyond Tung Chung is protected country park, so terrain away from the town gets hilly and undeveloped fast.

Tips

  • Book Ngong Ping 360 cable car tickets online in advance, especially for weekends and public holidays — queues at the Tung Chung terminal can run over an hour without a pre-booked time slot.
  • Bus 11 runs from Tung Chung to Tai O — go in the late morning or early afternoon to see the stilt houses and fishing boats before the village quiets down toward evening.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lantau Island a good base for visiting Hong Kong?
It works well if your trip centers on Disneyland, the Big Buddha, Tai O, or an early flight, since Tung Chung sits close to the airport and has direct cable-car access to Ngong Ping. First-time visitors focused on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon's street life may prefer to base there instead, since Tung Chung is a 30-45 minute MTR ride from either.
How do you get to the Big Buddha from Tung Chung?
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car departs from its Tung Chung terminal, a short walk from Tung Chung MTR station, and takes about 25 minutes to Ngong Ping. Bus 23 covers the same route by road for a cheaper, longer alternative.

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