Hong Kong's outlying islands are one of its less-visited assets. Ferries from the Central Piers make most islands accessible within an hour, and the contrast with the mainland bustle is immediate.
Lantau is the largest, twice the size of Hong Kong Island, and home to the Tian Tan Buddha, Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the international airport. Much of it remains covered in hill country.
Lamma Island is the closest to Central (25 minutes) and the most relaxed. The two main villages — Yung Shue Wan in the north and Sok Kwu Wan in the south — are connected by a well-worn hiking path. Sok Kwu Wan has a row of seafood restaurants on the waterfront where tanks full of live fish and shellfish line the entrance; pick what you want and it's cooked to order. There are no private cars on the island.
Cheung Chau is a dumbbell-shaped island southwest of Hong Kong Island with a dense, traffic-free village at its waist. The seafood is good, the beaches are decent, and the annual Bun Festival (May) — when competitors climb towers made of steamed buns — is one of Hong Kong's more peculiar traditions. Bicycles are the main form of transport.
Peng Chau is the smallest and quietest of the ferry-accessible islands: a traditional fishing village feel, good walking, and views from Finger Hill across to Lantau. Worth visiting for a slower half-day.