Transport in and to Hong Kong

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Hong Kong is a small (only 1,099 square kilometres), crowded and compact nation and boasts one of the world's most efficient and sophisticated public transport systems. Public transport in hong Kong is a practical way to get around because it's cheap and fast. The Octopus card is used as payment for trains, buses, trams, ferries and minibuses. You can also use it at parking meters, supermarkets and fast-food restaurants.

Hong Kong by Train - MTR

The Mass Transit Railway is a fast and easy way to get around. It is one of the world's most modern subway systems. Though it costs a bit more than other forms of public transport, it is the quickest way to get to most destinations. Especially for long distances the MTR is perfect, it is considerably faster than a ferry or bus and about the same price. The ten lines are East Rail Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, Tung Chung Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, West Rail Line, Ma On Shan Line, the Airport Express and the Disneyland Resort Line.

Hong Kong by Bus

Buses in Hong Kong are a very convenient way to get around aswell. They are the major public transportation for travelling to Hong Kong Island's Southern District, like Ocean Park, Repulse Bay and Stanley. Actualy most areas of Hong Kong are covered by bus routes. Buses are run by various companies. Choosing the right bus route that directly reaches your destination saves you time and money, because transferring between buses means paying twice. The large double-decker buses cover practically all of the territory, stop frequently and charge varying fares depending on the distance.

Another to get around is by minibus (public light buses). Minibuses are small passenger buses that carry about 16 people. There are two types of minibuses, the Green and the Red. The Green minibuses are more organised, and they are operated by big companies and run on fixed routes. The red minibuses, also known as maxicabs, are mostly operated by individuals and can pick their own routes.

Hong Kong by Taxi

Playing one of the key roles in Hong Kong public transport, taxi provides a convenient personalized point-to-point transport service. There are three types of taxis in Hong Kong, blue ones, green ones and red ones. The blue Taxis are the cheapest and green Taxis are cheaper than the red ones. The red ones typically serve the Island and Kowloon, and some parts of the New Territories. The green taxis serve the New Territories and the blue taxis serve Lantau island.

The Peak Tram

Getting to the Peak by the Peak Tram is an unforgettable experience. The tram makes a few stops, so it’s possible to go half-way and hike the winding roads. One of the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railways, the tram rises to 396 metres (about 1,300 feet) above sea level. It is so steep that the buildings you pass look like they are leaning a gradient of between 4 to 27 degrees! The price is steep aswell $22 one-way, $33 return.