Getting around in Hong Kong
Once you’ve made it through immigration, and have a WiFi connection and some cash, it’s time to head into the city and start your adventure! Check out your options below to help you get into the city, and all around Hong Kong….
Airport Transfer
You can pre arrange a private airport transfer through Viator. They offer several tiers of service, from meet and greet pick up, to luxury Tesla Transfer. Make getting into the city as stress-free as possible with a private departure transfer. Taking a private vehicle means you’ll travel directly from the airport to your accommodation, without waiting for multiple drop offs. Plus, this transfer is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, so it doesn’t matter what time your flight arrives.
Hong Kong Airport Express: The Airport Express is one of the world’s leading Airport railway systems and offers you swift, sure links between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Hong Kong’s vibrant Central business hub. The 35.3km journey between the Airport and the city takes as little as 24 minutes.
Taxi/ Ride Share
TAXI: Hong Kong taxis are iconic, and over 18,000 taxis serve the urban areas. Each Hong Kong taxi is required by law to carry a taximeter, which is used to calculate the fare of your journey based on the distance traveled or time taken. You can hail a taxi on the street, walk to a taxi stand, or call the 24-hour taxi hotline.
HK taxis are designed in three different colors and operate in different permitted areas to ensure that passengers in suburbs receive services at lower prices.
RED Taxi: They cover most destinations within the city except Tung Chung Road and roads in southern Lantau Island.
GREEN Taxi: They serve the northeastern part, i.e., north of Sha Tin and the northwestern part, i.e., north of Tsuen Wan of the New Territories.
BLUE Taxi: They operate on Lantau Island and Chek Lap Kok.
UBER: Regulation in Hong Kong has put a great deal of pressure recently on Uber and its driver. The service has been technically banned though many drivers are still operating in defiance.
This all being said, it is not currently recommended to use Uber while in Hong Kong, even if travelers can find a driver. The risks they are taking of potentially angering government officials are just not worth it. There are plenty of taxi services in the city that travelers can enjoy.
Metro
Hong Kong MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is the most popular mode of transport in Hong Kong, which works usually quite efficient, friendly and punctual. All the trains are clean, air-conditioned and have free Wi-Fi all year around, helping passengers travel around Hong Kong City and get from Hong Kong to Shenzhen with ease and comfort.
You can use either Single Ride Ticket or Octopus Card (Smart Reloadable Card) to pay the fare for your ride on MTR. To use the Octopus Card at MTR stations, tap your Octopus card over the Fare machine at entry and exit at any MTR station, or insert your Single Journey Ticket.
Bus/ Tram
BUS: One of the best ways to see Hong Kong is from the top of a double-decker bus. There are five major bus companies in Hong Kong, with KMB in Kowloon and the New Territories, Citybus and NWFB in the area of Hong Kong Island, Long Win Bus in Tong Chung area, and lastly New Lantau Bus on Lantau Island.
Octopus card is obviously the easy pay option. For buses, just tap on and there’s no need to tap off. If you prefer doing it the old-fashion way, keep some change in your pockets, as the bus driver will need you to pay the exact change in coins. Regardless of how far you travel, each trip will only cost you $3.00 HKD!
TRAM: Hong Kong’s historic street trams still operate on the north corridor of Hong Kong Island through Western District, Wan Chai, Happy Valley, Causeway Bay and North Point. These double-decker streetcars have been travelling through Hong Kong’s busiest thoroughfares since 1904 and continue to be an affordable, inexpensive and fun way to get around.
No matter how far you travel, each tram ride costs the same flat fare and exact change is required if you are paying by cash. All trams accept Octopus cards. You need to get on the tram at the back and then pay the exact fare at the front when you’re getting off.
Ferry
The cross-harbour ferries are a fun way to hop between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon!
The Star Ferry is a charming vessel that transports passengers between Hong Kong Island (Central and Wan Chai) and Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui). It offers views of both sides of the harbor, and is as much an attraction as it is a mode of transport.
Passengers can pay by Octopus Card, coins or use cash to purchase a token from the machines at the pier.
Now that you have a full understanding of how to enter, exit, and navigate Hong Kong, you can focus on exploring and discovering! Keep checking my blog posts for the latest adventures, and more tips on finding beautiful architecture and design around the globe!
