Hong Kong Transportation: How to Get around Hong Kong
How to travel in Hong Kong after your arrival there? Convenient and handy Hong Kong public transport can take you to any place there. Follow us to know how to get from airport to Hong Kong city downtown, from city center to nearby islands, etc. by including MTR system, ferries, public buses, trams, taxis, and so forth.
How to Travel Around Hong Kong
Hong Kong Airport to City
Hong Kong International Airport is about 34 kilometers from Hong Kong downtown. After your landing, MTR Airport Express Line, Airport Express buses, and taxis can be easily found.
By Airport Express (MTR)
MTR Airport Express Line takes you directly from Airport stop to reach Hong Kong Station at Central area for only about 50 minutes, which usually costs HKD115 by single ticket and HKD110 by Octopus Card. Besides, it stops at Kowloon Station in the middle way and needs about 40 minutes from the airport, and costs HKD100 by Octopus Card and HKD105 by single ticket. Usually, the train arrives every 10-12 minutes.
By Airport Express (Bus)
There are some airport buses running between Hong Kong Airport and Hong Kong city area. Among all the bus, H1, H2, H3 and H4 serve for passengers to and from Hong Kong Island, including Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, etc. And K1, K2, K3, K4 and K5 shuttle to Kowloon area, so you can get on to arrive at Hung Hom, Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, etc. those buses usually depart every 15-20 minutes during around 06:15-23:00.
By Taxi
Of course you can transfer by local taxis. It usually takes about 40-50 minutes and costs HKD200-300 accordingly.
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong Airport Bus
Hong Kong MTR
MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is a fast, clean, efficient, modern and cheap network of underground. At present, there are 11 underground lines (Airport Express, Island Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Tung Chung Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Disneyland Resort Line, East Railway Line, West Railway Line, Ma On Shan Line and South Island Line), and those lines can take you to various places at Kowloon area, New Territory and Hong Kong Island. MTR is very popular among locals and tourists. With a lot of clear signs in both Chinese and English and voice broadcast in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, it is very easy to take MTR during your trip in Hong Kong. Furthermore, MTR is relatively a cost-efficient way for traveling, and it usually takes about HKD4.5-50 for a single take according to your journey length. Using the Octopus Card or a tourist day pass, you will save a big amount of budget on transportation.
Check more about Hong Kong MTR | Hong Kong MTR Map
Hong Kong MTR
Hong Kong Light Rail
Light Rail is a part of Hong Kong MTR System, however, they mainly serve in New Territories, within Tuen Mun and Yuen Long districts. So far in 2019, there are 12 light rail lines, and West Rail Line run from Tuen Mun to Hung Hom, also reaches East Tsim Sha Tsui, Austin, Tin Sui Wai, etc. Also, this line is well connected for transfer to MTR East Rail Line, Tsuen Wan Line and Tung Chung Line.
Hong Kong Ferry
Once to be a fishing village, Hong Kong enjoys many waters and piers. So taking a ferry to visit Hong Kong would be a good idea. The Star Ferry is a top recommendation by Lonely Planet, on which you can appreciate the fascinating Victoria Harbor and modern buildings on both banks. Besides, it is a cheap and fast way to transfer between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. The ferries depart nearly every 6-15 minutes during different period of day from early morning till late night, and the riding usually needs only about 8-9 minutes. There are two main routes going between Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island, in bothway, namely Central - Tsim Sha Tsui, and Wan Chai - Tsim Sha Tsui. Please check detailed ticket price and operating hours at below.
| Route | Tickets (HKD) | Operating Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon. to Fri. (except public holidays) | Sat. Sun. & public holidays | Mon. to Sun. | |
| Central - Tsim Sha Tsui | 2.2 for Lower Deck; 2.7 for Upper Deck | 3.1 for Lower Deck; 3.7 for Upper Deck | About 06:30-23:30 |
| Wan Chai - Tsim Sha Tsui | 3.7 | About 07:30-23:00 | |
Note: the above info of ticket prices and operating hours of Star Ferry is only for your reference. Please contact us to know the latest information for ferry experience.
Ferry Boarding Location
Central: Central Pier No.7, Central, Hong Kong; 10 minutes’ walking from Central MTR Station.
Wan Chai: Wan Chai Ferry Pier (Convention Avenue)
Tsim Sha Tsui: Kowloon Point Ferry Piers (Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong); 10 minutes’ walking from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station.
Recommended Hong Kong Tours to Experience Star Ferry
>> 3 Days Hong Kong In-depth Tour with Escorted Walking Experience
Hong Kong Star Ferry
Central Pier at Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Bus & Minibus
Hong Kong buses are handy available everywhere in Kowloon, Hong Kong Island and New Territories in Hong Kong. Nearly all buses in city area are double-deck, and well provide air conditioner. English, Cantonese and Mandarin are used for voice broadcast, and English and Chinese are displayed for next stop. Besides, final terminus of the route is displayed in front of the bus.
Minibus
Furthermore, there are many minibuses operating in Hong Kong. At present, there are minibuses in red and those in green. The green ones have fixed routes, schedules and fares, however, those red ones are not and can stop anywhere in different districts in Hong Kong, except the special forbidden area. Those buses are small and occupy no more than 19 passengers once. If there are no seats available, the driver won’t stop on the middle way unless there are passengers getting off the bus. They run very fast and stops are not very far. You won’t wait long if you missed one. Just tap your Octopus Card to get on the minibus. Cash is available for most minibus. However, some minibus drivers do not speak English but only Cantonese. Please pay attention to the voice broadcast in English, Mandarin and Cantonese for getting off at your destination.
Bus in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Minibus
Hong Kong Tram
The narrow double-decker city trams (in Cantonese called “ding ding”) trundling along the northern coast of Hong Kong Island are a Hong Kong icon. Operating since 1904, the tramways are well preserved to seek the old Hong Kong and also offer you a relaxing way to discover the historical streets on the island. Trams are slower and bumpier than other any modern transport and they are not air-conditioned. But the 6 routes spreading along Hong Kong Island’s center cover many places visitors would want to see. Those routes are Sheung Wan (Western Market) - Shau Kei Wan, Happy Valley - Shau Kei Wan, Shek Tung Tsui - North Point, Shek Tung Tsui - Causeway Bay, Kennedy Town - Happy Valley, and Kennedy Town - Shau Kei Wan, and all of them run both from west to east and vice versa. Trams run from 06:00-07:00 to 23:00-24:00 every day according to different routes. The tram fare costs only HKD2.6 per adult, HKD1.3 per child no more than 12 years old, and HKD1.2 per elder no less than 65 years old. Like most other buses, just tape your Octopus to get on.
Peak Tram
Opened in 1888, the peak tram is Hong Kong’s first mechanized mode of transport. It once served as the transportation for the wealthy and foreigners living on the mountain. The 1.7 km track up from Central to Victoria Peak is worth at least one trip, not only for your longing panorama of Hong Kong from the 428m high observation deck. The journey takes only seven minutes and is a visual experience to remember, as skyscrapers glide past at what appear to be impossible angles while the tram makes its ascent. The peak trams run 07:00 to midnight daily and take HKD52 for return trip and HKD37 for single trip each person. Check the detailed ticket prices at below.
Recommended Tours to Experience Peak Tram
>> 1 Day Classic Hong Kong Tour
>> 1 Day Hong Kong Culture Tour with A Savory of Victoria Harbor
>> 2 Days Essence of Hong Kong Tour (Hong Kong Island + Lantau Island)
Historical Hong Kong Trams
Peak Tram
| Ticket Type | Return Trip (HKD) | Single Trip (HKD) |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Tram | 52/adult; 23/child (aged 3-11); 23/senior (aged 65 and above) |
37/adult; 14/child (aged 3-11); 14/senior (aged 65 and above) |
| Peak Tram Sky Pass (Peak Tram + Sky Terrace 428) | 99/adult; 47/child (aged 3-11); 47/senior (aged 65 and above) |
84/adult; 38/child (aged 3-11); 38/senior (aged 65 and above) |
Hong Kong Taxi
Taxis in Hong Kong are plentiful, clean and efficient, so you can take one to your destination conveniently and fast. There are three types of taxis in Hong Kong: red, green and blue. The Urban taxis (red) can travel anywhere within Hong Kong and also the most expensive. The meter starts at HK $24.00 for the first 2 kilometers, and a further HK $1.70 for every 200m and every 1 minutes waiting time thereafter. Lantau taxis (blue) operate only on Lantau Island (including the airport and Disneyland). It charges HK$19 for the first 2 kilometers and HK $1.5 for other every 200m and every 1 minutes waiting time. New Territories taxis (green) are confined to New Territories, the airport, Hong Kong Disneyland. For this kind of taxi, HK $20.5 is charged for the first 2 kilometers, and HK $1.5 is charged for extra 200 meters and every 1 minutes waiting time. It is very easy to hail a taxi along the street, besides some restricted zones. Despite the relatively higher costs, taking a taxi is really a good choice to get to anywhere you want in Hong Kong.
Taxi in Hong Kong
Discover by Walking
Hong Kong boasts a wide range of good places to visit and interesting historical and cultural sites, and also, many famous interesting buildings and places are not far. Walking is also a very good way to discover this city. Meanwhile, a lot of accommodation, restaurants, shops, stores, etc. are well linked with Hong Kong MTR, you can get so many fun and convenience just by walking.
Recommended Hong Kong Walking Tour
>> 3 Days Hong Kong In-depth Tour with Escorted Walking Experience
Octopus Card
Octopus card is an extremely versatile stored-value electronic card that can be used for most public transport, as well as purchases in convenience stores, fast food shops, department stores, supermarkets, cake shops, vending machines and more. Traveling Hong Kong with an Octopus Card, you will save lots of money and time both. Tourists can buy an Octopus card in most of the shops. There are several kinds of Octopus Card, and for tourists in Hong Kong, there are standard type for child, adult and Sold Tourist Octopus. Please see the prices and more info at below
| Types | Deposit (HKD) | Value (HKD) | Return or Keep? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child (aged 3-11) | 50 | 20 | Better return it at any MTR stations to get your deposit |
| Adult | 50 | 100 | |
| Sold Tourist Octopus (for adult) | 39 | 100 (some have no initial stored value) | Can keep as a souvenir |
Note: the above info about prices of Octopus Card is only for your reference. Please contact us to know the latest information.
Hong Kong Octopus Card
Hong Kong to Outlying Islands
Facing the South China Sea, Hong Kong houses more than 230 islands where fabulous sea view, fresh sea food, pleasant fishing village view, and leisure life style is good to have a sip. Lautau, Lamma, Tai O, Cheung Chau, etc. are also very popular for both local residents and travelers. So how to get to those favored outlying islands from Hong Kong city center?
To Lantau Island
Lautau is the largest island in Hong Kong. There you can find the traditional fishing village appearance, holy look of the giant Buddha, dreaming Disneyland, etc. Visiting there, you can driver directly from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and New Territories.
By MTR to Disneyland
There are three lines linking Lantau with Kowloon. But those famous sandy attractions cannot directly reached by the underground, besides Disneyland Resort. From Central, you can take Tung Chung Line to Sunny Bay Station and transfer on Disneyland Resort Line to get off the train, which takes about 50 minutes in total.
>> 3 Days Hong Kong Disneyland Tour for Family with Kids
By Car
Usually, it will need about 1 hour to Ngong Ping Plaza where you can enjoy the Buddha Statue, Nong Ping Market, Nong Ping 360 Cable Car; about 1-1.5 hours to Tai O Fishing Village to see the offshore landscape and village scenes; about 40-60 minutes to enjoy diverse kinds of delicacies at Discovery Bay; about 1 hour to Mui Wo.
By Ferry
Besides, you can also take a ferry to different coastal areas on Lantau Island from the downtown
| From | To | Operating Hours | Duration | Tickets (HKD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central (Pier No.6) | Mui Wo | 00:30;03:00; departs nearly every 20-40 minutes during 06:10-23:30 | 50-55 minutes for ordinary ferry; 35-40 minutes for fast ferry | 15.9/23.5 for ordinary seat; 26.2/38.4 for luxury seat |
| Tuen Mun | Tai O | Nearly on 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 | 53 minutes | 25/30 |
| Central (Pier No.3) | Discovery Bay | Departs nearly every 20-30 minutes during 06:30-01:00 and every 1-1.5 hours during 02:00-05:00 | 25 minutes | 46 during day time; 65.5 during night |
>> 2 Days Essence of Hong Kong Tour (Hong Kong Tour + Lantau Island)
Hong Kong Disneyland
Tian Tan Giant Buddha at Lantau Island
To Lamma Island
Lamma Island is attractive with its Chinese and Western charming. Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan are two mainly popular sites for touring and have daily ferries from Central Pier.
| From | To | Operating Hours | Duration | Tickets (HKD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central (Pier No.4) | Yung Shue Wan | 00:30; 02:30; departs nearly every 20-40 minutes during 06:30-23:30 | 27 minutes | 17.8 during Mon. to Fri.; 24.7 during Sat., Sun. and public holidays |
| Sok Kwu Wan | Departs nearly every 1.5-2 hours during 07:20-23:30 | 30-40 minutes | 22 for single trip during Mon. to Sat.; 31 for single trip during Sun. and public holidays; 44 for round trip | |
| Aberdeen | Yung Shue Wan | Departs nearly 1-1.5 hours during 06:00-22:00 | 35 minutes | 19/21 |
| Sok Kwu Wan | Departs nearly every 1.5-2 hours during 06:40-19:25 | 35 minutes | 12/18 |
Lamma Island Sok Kwu Wan
To Cheung Chau Island
You can only take a ferry to Cheung Chau Island from Central, Lantau Island or Aberdeen. For most travelers from Hong Kong downtown, Central is an advantageous pier to get on the ferry to Cheung Chau.
| Departure Pier | Route | Operating Hours | Duration | Tickets (HKD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central (Pier No.5) | Central - Cheung Chau | 01:30; 04:15; departs nearly every 20-40 minutes during 06:10-00:30 | 55-65 minutes for ordinary ferries; 35-40 minutes for fast ferries | 13.6/21.3 for ordinary ferries; 26.8 for fast ferries |
| Lantau (Mui Wo) | Inter Islands | Departs nearly every 2 hours during 06:00-23:59 | About 0.5 hour | 13.4 |
| Aberdeen | Aberdeen - Cheung Chau | Departs nearly every 2 hours during Around 07:00-22:45 from Mon. to Fri. and every 1 hour durong around 07:30-22:45 | 55-65 minutes | 30 for single trip during Mon. to Fri.; 32 for single trip during Sat., Sun. and public holidays; 50 for round trip |
Note: the above info of ticket prices, operating hours, duration, etc. of ferries, car driving, MTR to Hong Kong outlying islands is only for your reference. Please contact us to know the latest information.
Cheung Chau Island Sea Landscape
Hong Kong to Macau
A great number of travelers visit Macau with Hong Kong in one go. So far you can go by taking a ferry from downtown, getting on a coach across the new big Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge, flying by a helicopter, or hiring a private car.
By Ferry
Ferries operate very frequently from morning till night hours, and some even serve all night long. The whole journey takes only about 1 hour. There are four ferry terminals used for ferries to and from Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal and Hong Kong SkyPier are more frequently chosen for travelers.
| Departure | Arrival | Duration | Operation Hour | Ticket (HKD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal (香港港澳码头) | Macau Outer Harbor (澳门外港客运码头) | 55 minutes | Depart every 0.5-1.5 hours during 00:30-06:00 and 15-30 minutes during 07:00-23:59 | 171-391 |
|
Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal (香港中港澳码头) | 1 hour | 07:30; 09:00; 10:30; 14:00; 15:30; 17:00; 18:30 | ||
|
Hong Kong SkyPier (香港机场海天码头) | 70 minutes | 11:00; 18:00 | 270-425 | |
|
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal (香港港澳码头) | Taipa (澳门氹仔客运码头) | 1 hour | Depart nearly every 30 minutes during 07:00-23:59 | 171-536 |
|
Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal (香港中港澳码头) | 1 hour | 08:15; 09:15; 09:30; 11:15; 11:30; 12:15; 12:30 | 171-391 | |
|
Hong Kong SkyPier (香港机场海天码头) | 65 minutes | 14:15; 16:15 | 270-438 |
Note: the above info of ticket prices, operating hours, duration, etc. of ferries from Hong Kong to Macau is only for your reference. Please contact us to know the latest information.
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal is at Sheung Wan at Hong Kong Island. Located at No.168-200 Connaught Rd Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong (香港上环干诺道中200号信德中心); 4 minutes walking to Sheung Wan MTR Station, Exit D.
Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal
Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal is on Kowloon Peninsula side. It is situated on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong (香港九龙尖沙咀广东道33号中港城); 10 minutes walking distance to Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station, Exit A1.
Hong Kong SkyPier
The SkyPier is within Hong Kong International Airport. several ferries between Hong Kong and Macau depart and dock there. The address is: Sky City Road East, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong (香港赤鱲角航天城东路 SkyPier, 4楼). You can get there for 8 minutes by Bus B4.
Know more about Hong Kong to Macau Ferry >>
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal Map
Turbo Jet Ferry between Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal
Macau Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal
By Coach
Shuttle buses are newly under service for passengers between Hong Kong and Macau. The route goes the magnificent Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge, so it presents you the terrify experience to witness this great world project and admire the marvelous seascape along your way to Macau. The shuttle buses are serving 24 hours a day, and depart every 5 minutes during peak period, 10-15 minutes during non-peak period, and 15-30 minutes overnight. It takes only about and costs 65 during day and 70 during night. The whole journey will need about 2 hours. You can take one at Hong Kong Port near the Airport. Besides, there are some cross-boundary coaches in downtown Hong Kong, such as Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Kowloon Station, etc. to Macau.
By Helicopter
Sky Shuttle offers frequent daily helicopter between Hong Kong and Macau. It usually takes off every 0.5-1 hour during 10:30-22:59. The whole flight needs only 15 minutes and costs about HKD4300 for each person. If you are not considering about the expense, the terrific panorama of Hong Kong, Macau and South China Sea and also short time are really big advantages.
By Car
Of course, you can hire a car to get to Macau, and it usually needs about 1.5 hours. Also, you can choose the private car service from China Discovery. We will arrange comfortable private car to escort you from your hotel in anywhere in Hong Kong to Macau with speed and safety.
Learn More about From Hong Kong to Macau | Hong Kong Macau Maps
Hong Kong Macau Shuttle Bus
Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge
How to Plan Your Hong Kong Tour
Hong Kong is a super appealing tourist city. Apart from its famous reputation of “Shopping Paradise”, there are a lot to discover during your stay! Usually, many travelers spend 1-2 days to visit the iconic Victoria Peak to catch her panorama and skyline, Lantau Island to see the holy Giant Buddha, Stanley Market to find some interesting articles, Nan Lian Garden & Chi Lin Nunnery to see peaceful land in bustling urban core, Aberdeen Fishing Village to hide from the urban, and also to taste the delicious Cantonese cuisines and seafood, etc. If you have 1-2 days more, you can discover Hong Kong deeper to Hong Kong Museum of History, Disneyland, and one of the popular outlying islands, such as Lamma, Cheung Chau, Tai O, etc., or spend time in Macau to seek the historical relics and nice food and snacks.
Furthermore, it is highly recommended to spend 4-6 days or more in total to discover more destinations in the Pearl River Delta, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, etc.
Moreover, many visitors enjoy a China tour from Hong Kong, so you can also take that popular way to begin there and explore more highlight destinations in the vast country, such as Guilin, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, etc.!
Learn More About: How to Plan a Trip to Hong Kong >>
Recommended Hong Kong Tours:
>> 6 Days In-depth Guilin Tour from Hong Kong (Hong Kong / Guilin / Longsheng / Yangshuo / Guilin)
>> 6 Days Best Hong Kong Guilin Tour with Guangzhou Layover (Hong Kong / Guangzhou / Guilin)
>> 7 Days Vibrant & Ancient China Tour from Hong Kong (Hong Kong / Shanghai / Beijing)
>> 8 Days Hong Kong Macau Shenzhen Guangzhou Tour (Hong Kong / Guangzhou / Shenzhen / Macau / Hong Kong)
Night Panorama of Hong Kong
Ruins of St. Paul in Macau
Travel with China Discovery
To help you enjoy a worry-free travel experience in Hong Kong, you can travel with China Discovery to enjoy a private transfer service. Our local guide and driver will escort you from your hotel to the tourist spots with comfortable private car in speed and comfort, so you can avoid spend much time on the planning and waiting for the public transportation in Hong Kong. Also, our guide will give professional and interesting introduction and ideas for your best understanding of the charming Hong Kong to ignite your visit there. Besides, our experienced travel expert can help you plan your trip according to your needs, interests and budget to suit your best. If you are planning a Hong Kong China tour to extend to other hot tourist destinations, we will do the best to help with your unforgettable trip to China, which is customizable! If you are interested, please feel free to contact us directly!
Useful Hong Kong Maps & Transportation to & Around
- Hong Kong China Map
- Hong Kong Asia Map
- Hong Kong District Map
- Hong Kong Attractions Map
- Hong Kong MTR Map
- Hong Kong Macau Map
- All 2024 Hong Kong Maps
- How to Get to Hong Kong
- How to Get Around Hong Kong
- Hong Kong MTR (Metro)
- From Hong Kong to Macau
- From Hong Kong to Guangzhou
- From Guangzhou to Hong Kong
- From Hong Kong to Shenzhen
- From Shenzhen to Hong Kong
- Hong Kong to Shenzhen Visa
- Shenzhen Hong Kong Border Crossing
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- Victoria Peak
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Recommended Hong Kong Tours
Top 3 Hong Kong tours chosen by most customers to explore Hong Kong in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.
7 Days Vibrant & Ancient China Tour from Hong Kong
Hong Kong / Shanghai / Beijing
8 Days Amazing Greater Bay Area Tour
Hong Kong / Guangzhou / Shenzhen / Macau / Hong Kong
6 Days In-depth Guilin Tour from Hong Kong
Hong Kong / Guilin / Longsheng / Yangshuo / Guilin
Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.
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