Hong Kong has an efficient public transportation system that makes getting around easy and comfortable. Consider purchasing an Octopus Card and staying somewhere within walking distance from an MTR station, or use MyMapHK app as a walking navigational aid to guide your way.
Hong Kong streets teem with people shopping and eating. Experience an unforgettable sweet treat by trying dragon’s beard candy – similar to cotton candy but even sweeter! Cathay Pacific flights allow you to easily experience this with countless routes, including Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong.
1. Get an Octopus Card
Octopus Card is an indispensable tool for both locals and travelers, offering convenient transport in Hong Kong with store-value contactless payment card that makes travel simple – MTR (train), city buses, ferries, trams and taxis are all covered! You can use it to pay in convenience stores such as 7-Elevens, Wellcomes or Watsons stores too!
Make sure to purchase an Octopus card before leaving for Hong Kong either online or at an airport store before you arrive, preloaded with $100 and featuring a $50 refundable deposit that can be topped up any time. They can also be found at MTR Customer Service Centers or Add Value Machines and even booked through tour operators WAUG as part of your travel package.
If you want a physical souvenir card as a souvenir from Hong Kong, there are two different kinds: On-Loan cards and Sold cards. Both types are readily available throughout MTR stations and the airport. On-Loan cards cost HK$150 with $100 of initial stored value; these can be returned at any metro station when leaving the country and your deposit plus any leftover value will be refunded back to you when returned.
Sold cards, similar to On-Loan cards but non-returnable, can be purchased at all MTR stations as well as some shops and restaurants accepting Octopus payments. Their adorable design makes them great souvenirs! These cards do not store an initial value and must be added at authorized add-value services such as customer service centers in metro stations, Add Value machines at MTR and certain light rail stations, and a few select banks (HSBC and Hang Seng among them). Your Octopus offers two convenient methods for you to move money between credit card and Octopus: its Automatic Add Value Service (AAVS), or you could use O! ePay which links bank accounts with Octopus accounts so you can send funds directly from one to another card; although O! ePay may take longer, but is still very easy and hassle-free.
2. Stay on the Island
Hong Kong is an economic powerhouse and cultural gem rolled into one, offering something for everyone from foodies and nature enthusiasts to adventurers and more. A bustling metropolis offering something new around every corner, Hong Kong provides something special for visitors from business travellers to adventurers and beyond.
Hong Kong offers one of the best ways to experience its metropolitan center: walking. Thanks to an expansive public walkway network, exploring all corners of this megacity is effortless without incurring transportation expenses. Just make sure that your shoes are comfortable as this may take quite some time when exploring Hong Kong!
The Avenue of the Stars in Kowloon, Hong Kong is renowned for being a waterfront promenade offering breathtaking views of Victoria Bay and beyond. People visit it to take in this incredible panorama while it also serves as home for Hong Kong’s premier light show – Symphony of Lights!
Hong Kong Disneyland is another must-visit for families, children and romantic couples alike. There’s plenty to enjoy here with rides, meet & greet opportunities with your favorite Disney characters as well as world-class stage shows to witness.
Visit the Yau Ma Tei Theater for an authentic cultural experience: falsettos, gongs and stunning Cantonese opera performances await at this iconic theatre – it is the only place in Hong Kong where live Cantonese opera performances can be witnessed live!
Are you seeking some peace and serenity? Look no further than Sha Tin’s Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery for respite; its stunning collection of Buddha statues makes this an ideal spot to seek spirituality and tranquillity.
The Dragon’s Back Trail is a well-known hiking trail and considered to be among Hong Kong’s most scenic. This easy to follow path winds its way through stunning natural surroundings that are both captivating and tranquil. Reach the trail by taking MTR to Shau Kei Wan station and following the path from there; alternatively take Bus No. 9 between Shau Kei Wan and To Tai Wan stations for transport to this unique experience.
3. Take the Star Ferry
Experience Hong Kong on board the Star Ferry is a must! Since 1898, this beloved symbol of the city has served to connect Hong Kong Island and Kowloon by sea and remains one of the cheapest ways of crossing Victoria Harbour (tickets cost under HKD$5 per adult). Regular trips across Victoria Harbour last under 10 minutes with breathtaking seaside views offering respite from bustling streets in HK.
Star Ferry is a beloved option among locals and visitors alike, drawing in families, couples and students looking for cost-cutting alternatives to MTR tunnel travel. A ride on Star Ferry gives visitors front row views of Hong Kong’s breathtaking skyline while providing unforgettable panoramic views from this relaxing journey that showcases some of its world-renowned skyscrapers.
On the day of your voyage, tickets may be purchased either from a machine at the pier or using an Octopus Card – the city’s multipurpose transport system. Payment via credit card may also be accepted but beware that a 3% processing fee applies for such transactions.
If you don’t already own an Octopus Card, cash payments at the turnstiles are also accepted; however, Octopus Cards provide many other advantages over cash payment and may even allow access to other public transport such as Big Bus Tour, which features an open top deck offering panoramic views of Hong Kong’s skyline.
Star Ferry rides are not only one of the top tourist experiences in Hong Kong, but they can also serve as a convenient means of commute for residents and offer travelers an unforgettable experience. Although it might just seem like a short, five-minute trip across Victoria Harbour for some passengers, other riders take this ride as an opportunity to witness its distinctive culture – senior citizens even get free admission!
4. Go to Macau
Macau may be best known for its casinos, but there’s so much more to this historic city than just gambling. Macau was under Portuguese control for 442 years until 1999 when it returned to China; Portuguese influence can still be seen through architecture, food, street names and street names in its streets. For maximum experience it’s best to take a day trip from Hong Kong – choose either private tours or seat-in-coach group tours as your best way of seeing Macau!
Ferries are one of the most convenient ways to reach Macau from Hong Kong Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and typically take around an hour. Although ferry travel can be more costly than crossing-boundary bus or bridge transportation services, this method offers unique experiences along the way.
Once in Macau, there are free shuttle buses or you can walk. With its compact layout and numerous attractions within walking distance, Macau makes for an easy visit. Taxis may also be available but may be expensive; as they don’t speak English well it may help if your hotel or other destination were written out on paper and displayed to drivers as this will aid communication between driver and passengers.
If you plan to spend an entire day in Macau, an approximate budget of HKD 500 should cover transportation (roundtrip fast ferry tickets plus meal and pocket wifi rental). Klook offers affordable package deals that combine this budget-conscious option with roundtrip fast ferry tickets to Venetian as well as pocket wifi rental for 24 hours – perfect!
Macau is another special administrative region of China, like Hong Kong but with a separate government and some Western-style freedoms that don’t exist on mainland China. English is widely spoken here among tourism industry workers but not everywhere else – therefore many tourists find it helpful to bring along an English-speaking guide who can assist them in exploring Macau and explain what its attractions have to offer.
