Arriving Hong Kong and Getting Around the City
Hong Kong is an easy city to navigate, including the trip into the city center from the airport. The public transport system is clean, efficient and cheap, one of the best in the world. Taxis are reasonably priced and always on meter. Plus, there’s an extensive ferry system servicing Hong Kong’s numerous outlying islands.
Arriving Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport
Hong Kong is serviced by Hong Kong International Airport. Unless you’re arriving overland from Mainland China or by ferry from Macau, you’ll be entering Hong Kong through HKIA. In 2019, the airport saw 7 million passengers pass through on 420,000 flights and is the busiest cargo terminal in the world and in 2019.
For many visitors, entering Hong Kong is a straightforward process. Though busy, HKIA is efficient. Immigration lines tend to move quickly and most passengers with nothing to declare will be waved through customs. Holders of US, UK and EU passports are eligible for visa-free. For a full list of visa requirements by country, see here (scroll down to Part 3).
Covid-19 Restrictions
During the pandemic, Hong Kong had some of the world’s strictest entry precautions, with inbound travelers having to be tested before boarding their flights, and on arrival, and having to do a hotel quarantine of as many as three weeks. Those restrictions began easing in late 2022. As of publishing, all testing and quarantine restrictions had been removed. Please see here for the latest: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html
Getting to the city
From HKIA, you can take either the train, a taxi or a bus, all of which are easily accessible from the Arrivals Hall. You won’t need to board any airport trains or shuttles. All you need to do is to walk straight ahead from the Arrivals Hall. You’ll come to the Airport Express platform. To the left you’ll find the taxi stand and to the left, the bus terminal.
Let’s go over your options (click the links for more information):
Airport Express: The airport express train runs about every ten minutes from 6am to just shy of 1am every day. The ride into Central Station is 24 minutes and a one-way trip costs approximately USD15.
Taxis: To the left of the Airport Express platform, you’ll find the taxi stand. If you’re heading to Hong Kong Island or lower Kowloon, as most visitors will, you’ll want the red or “Urban” taxis, which is the first line on the left. Taxi fare into the city will run about USD40 depending on your exact destination; this price includes tolls and a luggage fee of USD0.80 for every bag not a piece of hand baggage. Note that Hong Kong taxis generally do not accept credit card.
There are Uber pickup spots located in the airport parking lots. If you get an Uber, the app will direct you to the closest one.
Public Bus: The cheapest way to get to your destination is to find the bus route that goes there. There is extensive coverage from HKIA to Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Lantau Island.
Getting around Hong Kong
[insert MTR map]
Public Transport
Hong Kong has an extensive public transportation network and service is excellent. For certain trips you will definitely want to take the metro and avoid the street traffic. One caveat is that MTR stations can be extensive, with different exits being many blocks apart. It’s best to figure out which exit you want based on your destination and follow the signs to that exit.
You can purchase single tickets at MTR stations, or you can load money onto an Octopus card. If spending a few days or more in Hong Kong, get yourself an Octopus card. You can use the Octopus card on the MTR, as well as buses, ferries, trams and at many stores and restaurants.
Taxis and Rideshare Apps:
Hong Kong’s red-liveried taxis are everywhere on Hong Kong Island and lower Kowloon. You can flag them down on most streets or catch them at designated taxi stands. Taxis run on a meter and the drivers always stick to them. Hong Kong is not a city where you will find that the meter “doesn’t work.” Like many places, Hong Kong taxi meters have a minimum, but unlike many other places, the meter stays put until you’ve gone the minimum distance. Hong Kong tax drivers do not expect to be tipped, but I often round up to the nearest HKD10 or 20.
Uber does operate in Hong Kong, but it doesn’t have a very big presence. Hong Kong taxis have worked to make sure of that. However, taxis have generally low fares are usually easy to find. In my eight years living in Hong Kong, I generally only used Uber for long rides when I wanted a specific type of car or from places where cabs don’t generally congregate.
Buses, ferries and the “ding ding”
Hong Kong’s buses go everywhere and are comfortable and cool. For something a little different, catch a ride on a ferry or a “ding ding.”
Buses are good for trips to the south side of Hong Kong Island, say for beaches, or for trips up into Kowloon or the New Territories, to get to hiking trails. Put your destination in Google maps to find out the correct bus routes and times. There are four major bus operators in Hong Kong, as well as minibuses, but they all accept Octopus.
There are 20 different ferry routes offering service across Hong Kong harbor and to the outlying islands. Central Pier is where you’ll catch most of them.
Hong Kong Tramways, known locally as the “ding ding” was the city’s earliest form of public transportation. The trams have been in operation since 1904. Trams still run along the northern end of Hong Kong Island, with service from Kennedy Town in the west all the way to Shau Kei Wan in the Eastern District. The tramline follows roughly the same line as the MTR’s Island Line, so use the train if you’re in a hurry. But if you have some time and want the scenic route, hop on a ding ding.
