Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China on the southern coast, made up of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon peninsula, the New Territories and more than 200 outlying islands. It pairs one of the world's densest skylines with country parks, beaches and fishing villages, all linked by an efficient metro and ferry network.
- Public
- World-class. The MTR subway, trams, Star Ferry, buses, minibuses and ferries reach almost everywhere, and one Octopus card pays for all of them. MTR trains run about 06:00 to 00:30.
- Taxi
- Plentiful, metered and cheap by Western standards: urban red taxis start at HK$29 (~$4) for the first 2 km. Drivers may not speak English, so carry the destination written in Chinese.
- Rental
- Not recommended. Roads are congested, parking is scarce and expensive, traffic drives on the left, and public transport is faster. A car makes sense only for remote New Territories trips.
- Walking
- Good in dense districts (Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok) but hot and humid in summer and full of stairs and hills. Covered footbridges and the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator help.
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 5/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 1/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HK$120 (~$15) | 24 min | Fastest. Free hotel shuttle from Kowloon and Hong Kong stations. Morning Express service from around 05:50. | |
| About HK$33 (~$4) | 60-75 min | Cheapest. Octopus or exact coins. | |
| About HK$40-45 (~$5-6) | 60-70 min | Good if the hotel is on the island away from an MTR station. | |
| HK$300-350 (~$38-45) | 35-45 min | Use the official rank at Arrivals. Luggage HK$6 per piece. | |
| About HK$450-700 (~$58-90) | 35-45 min | Book in advance through Klook or the hotel. |
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Apps
- HKTaxi (books licensed red, green or blue taxis), Uber (available in Hong Kong), DiDi (mainland app with English interface)
- Fares
- Red taxi: HK$29 (~$4) up to 2 km, then about HK$2.1 (~$0.3) per 200 m up to HK$102.5 on the meter, then about HK$1.4 per 200 m. Luggage HK$6 (~$0.8) per piece. Tunnel tolls extra.
- Colours
- Red urban, green New Territories, blue Lantau. A green or blue taxi is not permitted to pick up passengers in the urban red-taxi zones.
- Payment
- Cash and Octopus are widely accepted. Many taxis now accept mobile wallets (Alipay HK, WeChat Pay HK) and some cards, but not all; ask before boarding.
- Tips
- Ask for a receipt: the driver must provide one on request., Tipping is not expected; rounding up to the nearest HK$1-5 is customary., Carry the hotel address in Chinese; the driver may not read English maps., Complaints about overcharging can be made to the Transport Department complaints line +852 2804 2600, or to the police on 999 if in danger.
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Hong Kong has one of the world's densest public transport networks. The MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is the backbone, reaching the airport, the border crossings and the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus. Historic Ding Ding trams cross Hong Kong Island, Star Ferry boats cross Victoria Harbour, and buses, minibuses and outlying-island ferries fill the gaps. One Octopus card pays for nearly all of it. Cars are unnecessary for visitors.
Airports
Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
MTR Mobile
Citymapper
Google Maps
Uber
HKTaxi
Citybus and KMB apps
MyObservatory
Octopus app
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy an Octopus card at the airport (Customer Service counters in the Arrivals Hall) or at any MTR station Customer Service Centre. An adult card costs about HK$150 (~$19): HK$50 refundable deposit plus HK$100 stored value. Confirm the current price at octopus.com.hk.
Visitors can also add an Octopus to a phone wallet (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or the Octopus app) and top up with an overseas card, with no plastic card needed. Contactless bank cards also work at MTR gates.
The MTR Tourist Day Pass (about HK$65, ~$8, 24 hours from first use) pays off only with 6 or more MTR rides in a day. Otherwise a standard Octopus is cheaper.
Eating and drinking in MTR stations and trains carries a fine of HK$2,000 (~$256). Stand on the right of escalators and let others pass on the left.
Octopus is accepted on MTR, trams, Star Ferry, buses, minibuses, most ferries, convenience stores and many restaurants. Trams and buses give no change if paying cash.
Ask the taxi driver to use the meter. Cross-harbour tunnel tolls and luggage (HK$6 per bag, ~$0.8) are extra and paid by the passenger.
Typhoon signal No. 8 or above suspends ferries, most buses and trams. The MTR generally keeps running. Check the Hong Kong Observatory hotline +852 1878 200 or the MyObservatory app.
The last MTR trains leave around 00:00-00:30. After that use night buses (N-prefix routes) or red taxis.
Download the MTR Mobile app, Citymapper and Google Maps for routing. Google Maps transit data is reliable in Hong Kong.