Sleeping in Hong Kong Airport

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Hong Kong airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Hong Kong airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Hong Kong Airport

Locations & Seating

Hong Kong Airport sleepers — Airside (Photo courtesy of a Guest traveller / 12Sep2014)

This airport gets very busy with travellers, so arrive early in the evening to grab a good spot to rest. Seating is limited in the landside/public areas, but much more plentiful on the airside. You’ll find numerous seats, benches, and many without armrests. Some nooks and crannies offer some privacy, but you’ll have to seek them out. If you prefer to sleep on the floor, decent spots can be found away from foot traffic. Bring an extra layer to serve as some cushion on the hard floors.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

Take the stairs near Gate 23 to a relaxation room with comfortable reclining seats. It is often crowded, so keep your eyes peeled for a seat to open up.
A relaxing bed near Gate 214.
Terminal 1, at Gate 26, some permanently reclined lounge chairs are behind the bathrooms and water station, facing the tarmac.

Rest Zones

Hong Kong Airport offers designated zones with comfortable rest chairs, perfect for tired travellers looking to relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight. Locations: Departures Level near Gates 21, 34, 31, and 61.

Hotels

Prefer some privacy and comfort? If you want a good solid sleep between flights without the stress of going far from the airport, you can head to Refreshhh by Aerotel to rent a private relaxation cabin. Or, for a more traditional hotel room, you’ll find the Regal Airport Hotel, connected to Terminal 1 via an air-conditioned pedestrian bridge. The hotel offers day rooms and free airport shuttle service.

A few more hotels are located within a 5-minute drive of the airport. See the hotel section of our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Hong Kong Airport.

Lounges

If you are looking for a private place to nap for a few hours between flights, check out any of the Plaza Premium Lounges (4 locations), open 24 hours. In addition to offering a comfortable environment to hang out, each location offers a few private sleep rooms that can be rented. Book a private room at the lounge door. For details and locations, check out our Hong Kong Airport Guide.

Airport Conditions

Hong Kong Airport sleeper — Airside (Photo courtesy of Prakash / 13Oct2009)

Temperature – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about the terminal temperature. Still, you can expect the airport to cool down at night as air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
Lighting – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers about terminal brightness. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – This busy airport is loud 24 hours a day, thanks to flights coming and going. Even in the wee hours of the morning, you’ll hear plenty of announcements and noise from TVs and other travellers. Nightly cleaning crews do make the rounds, too. Any relative nighttime quiet is pretty much gone by 5:00 AM. Come prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors:

Terminal 1 – Airside: Moon Thai Express (Level 7, food court) • Putien (Level 7, food court) • Starbucks (Level 6, near Gate 15 and near Gate 21) • Tasty Congee & Noodle Wantun Soup (Departures Level, L7)
Terminal 1 – Landside: 7-Eleven (Check-in Aisle F) • Cafe de Coral (Check-in Aisle F) • Hung Fook Tong (Check-in Aisle F) • McDonald’s (Check-in Aisle F) • Starbucks (Level 7, Check-in Aisle A)
Terminal 1 – Arrivals: 7-Eleven (before Immigration Hall • Arrivals L5) •Tonkotsu 8 (Level 5) • Tai Hing (Level 5)
Terminal 2 – Landside: 7-Eleven (Check-in Hall, Departures 5 • Mainland/Macau Transport Center) • Hung Fook Tong (Level 3)

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Shower facilities are available in four Plaza Premium Lounge locations. See our Hong Kong Airport Guide for more details.

Security & Safety

Airport staff tolerate sleepers, no matter the time of day or night. In general, there seems to be an overall feeling of safety and security on the airside, which are the more comfortable areas, especially for overnight sleeping.

We have received a few reports from travellers who dealt with sketchy characters in the landside/public areas of Terminals 1 and 2. One person in particular seems to be a sort of con man, looking for free beer, money, handouts, and even perhaps inviting people to his home.

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.