Considered to be one of the world’s best public transportation, travelling around Hong Kong can be easy, affordable and convenient. Be it an exclusive taxi ride or travel on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), the fixed price guide allows all travellers to travel with a peace of mind. You need not worry about getting ripped off! With 87 stations and 68 Light Rail stops, there always seems to be a MTR station around, assuring you that you will never get lost.
What fabulous reasons these all are to get out there and explore everything you can see and experience in Hong Kong! Sometimes, even the transportation itself can be a sight to see. Read on for tips and guidelines handpicked for you on how to get started and what you should know about the public transportations in Hong Kong.
An outstanding invention called the Octopus Card!
The Octopus card is your key to opening the doors of transportation within Hong Kong. The very first thing you should do when arriving in Hong Kong is to buy an Octopus card. You can purchase this card from the airport or at any customer service point within the MTR stations. It enables easy travelling in a versatile mixture of the MTR, light rail, trams, Peak Tram, Star Ferry and buses of Hong Kong.
When you buy the Octopus card, you need to have a minimum of 150 HKD (approximately 19 USD). From this amount, 50 HKD (approximately 6 USD) is the refundable deposit while 100 HKD (approximately 13 USD) will be reflected as stored value. Children aged 3 to 11 and seniors over 65 years old may purchase this card at a lower rate of 70 HKD (approximately 9 USD), similarly with 50 HKD for the deposit and 20 HKD (2,60 USD) for stored value.
Make full use of your Octopus card, which is more than just a card for transportation! You may want to top up the card value and use it to pay for your grocery shopping, meals at popular fast food chains, cafes and various other places or services scattered around Hong Kong. It is so easy, convenient and fast; simply wave the card on top of an Octopus reader! You do not even need to take it out of your wallet. Perfect for a convenient vacation in Hong Kong!
Cost of public transportation in Hong Kong
The MTR is by far the most popular choice of travel within Hong Kong. Your fare is calculated based on the distance that you travelled for each trip. The cost ranges from 3,50-15 HKD (approximately 0.45 to 2 USD) per trip. The bus fares are usually 6,80 HKD (approximately 0.90 USD) and 2,80 HKD (approximately 0.36 USD) for trams. Keep in mind, that the trams of Hong Kong can be the slowest choice of public transportation, but just perfect for low-budget city sightseeing!
What on earth are the Peak Tram and Star Ferry?
In case you were wondering what are “Peak tram” and “Star Ferry”; the Peak tram is a tram ride that will take you to one of Hong Kong’s major tourist attractions, the Peak! Victoria Peak, by its proper name, offers a magnificent panorama view of this wonderful city. If you plan on visiting only once, make sure to go after or during sunset to experience the breath-taking sparkling sea of city lights opening up under you.
On another note, the Star Ferry carries passengers between Hong Kong’s two main areas; The Island and Kowloon, but it is also a tourist attraction itself. Remember the use of trams in budget sightseeing? With approximately the same pricing, this certainly fits the Star Ferry well. In case you want a broader experience, you can participate in the Harbour Tour or perhaps a Symphony of Lights night Cruise arranged on the ferry.
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Don’t miss the Symphony of Lights!
The Symphony of Lights is a spectacular and unique multimedia light show occurring every evening at 8pm, whereby over 40 major buildings of Hong Kong will be brought to life under dazzling lights. At this time the Star Ferry will thoughtfully stop at mid-harbour, giving you a chance to capture the beautiful moments. For the budget conscious, if you are not convinced on spending 195 HKD (approximately 25 USD) on the Symphony of Lights Cruise, you may consider hopping on the ferry’s regular ride just before 8 pm.
Finding your way to the Peak Tram and Star Ferry
If you are convinced to see Hong Kong through a different perspective, here is how you will find your way to the Peak Tram and Star Ferry. When heading for the Peak Tram, get out of the J2 Exit in Central MTR station. The Star Ferry is easy to reach from either the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier or the Central Pier. In case you are aching for those Harbour Tour or Symphony of Lights Cruise -tickets, you will need a little patience. The tickets can be purchased from the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier or The Central Pier, but you can start to prepare yourself by reading everything you need to know from
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