Hong Kong has one of the world’s complete public transport systems. From double-decker bus to MTR subway, here’s everything you need to know about getting around the city!
MTR (Mass Transit Railway)
- Type: Metro/Subway
- Appearance: Air-conditioned underground trains with different colored lines.
- Operation Area: Covers Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, Lantau Island, and connects to Shenzhen.
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, Ticket, QR Code (via mobile payment app), Credit Card (“touch payment”).
Buses (KMB, Citybus, New Lantao Bus etc.)
- Type: Double-decker & single-decker buses
- Appearance: Brightly colored with digital route displays in front and back.
- Operation Area: All over Hong Kong.
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, QR Code (via mobile payment app), Cash (exact change), Credit Card (“touch payment”).
Trams (Ding Ding)
- Type: Double-decker street trams
- Appearance: Narrow, old-fashioned trams running on tracks (only in HK Island).
- Operation Area: Hong Kong Island (Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan).
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, Cash (exact change, drop-in fare box), QR Code (via mobile payment app), Credit Card (“touch payment”).
Star Ferry
- Type: Passenger ferry
- Appearance: Classic green-and-white boats with open decks.
- Operation Area: Crosses Victoria Harbour.
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, Tokens/Cash (purchased at pier), QR Code (via mobile payment app), Credit Card (“touch payment”).
Taxis
- Type: Urban taxis (red), New Territories (green), Lantau Island (blue).
- Appearance: Brightly colored sedans with roof signs.
- Operation Area:
- Red: Almost everywhere (most expensive).
- Green: Only New Territories.
- Blue: Lantau Island only.
- Payment Method: Mainly Cash (some accept Octopus or credit cards).
Minibuses (Public Light Buses)
- Type: Small 16-19 seater vans
- Appearance: Green (fixed routes) or red (flexible routes).
- Operation Area: Various routes, often filling gaps in bus coverage.
- Payment Method: Octopus (green minibuses only), Cash (exact change for red ones), some accept QR Code (via mobile payment app).
Peak Tram
- Type: Funicular railway
- Appearance: Historic cable-hauled tram climbing steep slopes.
- Operation Area: Central ↔ The Peak.
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, Credit Card (“touch payment”), QR Code (via mobile payment app), Cash at ticket counter.
Airport Express
- Type: Metro/Subway
- Appearance: Modern trains with luggage racks.
- Operation Area: Connects Airport to Kowloon & Hong Kong Island.
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, Ticket, QR Code (via mobile payment app), Credit Card (“touch payment”).
High Speed Rail (HSR)
- Type: Cross-border high-speed railway
- Appearance: White CRH trains with red/maroon stripes
- Operation Area: West Kowloon Station ↔ Mainland China (44+ destinations including Shenzhen/Guangzhou)
- Payment Method: Octopus Card, Ticket, QR Code (via mobile payment app), Credit Card (“touch payment”).
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