Getting around a new city can sometimes feel like a challenge, but Hong Kong’s public transportation system is so efficient and user-friendly that it’s often considered a destination highlight in itself. For exhibition visitors, business travelers, and tourists, understanding how to move around this dynamic city is key to a smooth and productive trip.
Whether you are commuting to a convention center, heading to a business dinner, or exploring a famous market, the city’s network of trains, buses, ferries, and trams makes it simple and affordable to get where you need to go.
To see how transportation fits into your overall travel plan, including accommodation and dining guides, be sure to visit our main Visitor Information Hub.
A Quick Overview of Your Travel Options
Hong Kong offers a variety of transportation methods that are seamlessly integrated. Here’s a brief look at what this guide covers to help you get around like a local.
- The MTR System: This is the city’s extensive subway network, praised for its speed, cleanliness, and efficiency. It connects nearly all major districts and is often the fastest way to travel.
- Buses and Trams: Double-decker buses cover almost the entire city, including areas the MTR doesn’t reach. On Hong Kong Island, the historic trams offer a charming and scenic way to travel along the northern corridor.
- Ferries: The iconic Star Ferry provides breathtaking views as it crosses Victoria Harbour. Other ferry services connect to Hong Kong’s beautiful outlying islands.
- Taxis and Minibuses: Taxis offer a convenient point-to-point service, while minibuses provide a faster, more flexible alternative to standard bus routes.
- The Octopus Card: This rechargeable smart card is your all-in-one key to the city. It can be used on virtually all forms of public transport, as well as at many retail stores, making payments quick and easy.
Your Essential Travel Tool: The Octopus Card
Before you even think about which mode of transport to take, the first thing you should acquire is an Octopus Card. This versatile stored-value card is the lifeblood of daily transit in Hong Kong. You can purchase one at any MTR station, including the Airport Express counter upon your arrival.
While grabbing your Octopus card, you’ll notice contactless payment is standard across Hong Kong. This convenience extends to the event floor, as organizers adopt contactless payments at events to improve the attendee experience.
Using it is simple: just tap the card on the reader when you enter and, for some transport like the MTR, again when you exit. The fare is automatically deducted. The beauty of the Octopus Card is its wide acceptance.
Beyond transportation, you can use it to pay for items at convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, and vending machines. It eliminates the need to carry exact change for buses or trams and simplifies the entire process of getting around. When you leave Hong Kong, you can get a refund for the remaining balance and the initial deposit at any MTR station.
Your Octopus Card is your key to the city’s transport. For more helpful local knowledge, be sure to review our essential Travel Tips for Hong Kong Visitors, which covers everything from currency to safety.
The Backbone of the City: The MTR System
The Mass Transit Railway, or MTR, is Hong Kong’s highly efficient subway system and the primary way most people travel. It’s clean, safe, air-conditioned, and impressively punctual. The network is extensive, covering all major urban areas on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon, and throughout the New Territories.
Using the city’s transport is often an experience in itself, taking you to some of the Top Attractions and Activities in Hong Kong.
For exhibition visitors, the MTR is particularly convenient.
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has its own station. It is the “Exhibition Centre Station” on the East Rail Line. This station provides direct, under-cover access to the venue.
Similarly, AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) also has a dedicated station. It is located on the Airport Express line. The journey from the airport terminal only takes minutes.
Station signs and announcements are in English and Cantonese. This makes the MTR easy for international visitors to use.
On the Streets: Buses and Trams
While the MTR is fantastic for covering long distances quickly, buses and trams offer a different perspective of the city. Hong Kong’s double-decker buses are operated by several companies and their routes cover virtually every corner of the city. They are a great option for reaching destinations that are not located near an MTR station, such as Stanley Market on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Riding on the top deck offers wonderful views of the bustling city streets.
On Hong Kong Island, you will find the historic trams. Locals affectionately call them “ding dings” for their bells.
These double-decker trams have been running since 1904. They offer a nostalgic and inexpensive way to travel. They run along the island’s northern coast. The route goes from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan.
The pace is slow. This provides a fantastic opportunity to see the city. You can observe the vibrant street life of many districts. See places like Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay.
Crossing the Harbour: The Ferries
A trip to Hong Kong is incomplete without a ride on the iconic Star Ferry. For a very small fare, this ferry service has been carrying passengers between Hong Kong Island (from Central or Wan Chai) and Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui) for over a century. The short journey provides one of the most spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and the city’s stunning skyline. It’s both a practical means of transport and a beloved tourist attraction.
Beyond the Star Ferry, other ferry services connect the central urban areas to Hong Kong’s many outlying islands, such as Lantau, Lamma, and Cheung Chau. These ferries offer a refreshing escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, transporting you to places with quiet beaches, hiking trails, and quaint fishing villages.
Point-to-Point Convenience: Taxis and Minibuses
Taxis are plentiful in Hong Kong and offer a convenient option for direct, door-to-door travel. They are relatively affordable compared to other major world cities. Taxis are color-coded based on their service area: red taxis operate throughout most of Hong Kong, green taxis serve the New Territories, and blue taxis are found on Lantau Island. It’s a good idea to have your destination written down in Chinese, as not all drivers are fluent in English.
For a more local experience, you might try a minibus. These are small, 19-seat vans that offer faster and more direct routes than standard buses. There are two types: green minibuses operate on fixed routes with fixed fares, while red minibuses have more flexible routes and passengers pay as they alight. They can be a bit intimidating for first-time visitors, but they are a very efficient way to get around if you know where you are going.
Getting Around with Ease
Hong Kong’s public transport system is a marvel of integration and efficiency. With an Octopus Card in hand, you can effortlessly switch between the MTR, buses, trams, and ferries to explore every facet of this incredible city. The system is designed to move millions of people each day, and its reliability makes it a stress-free experience for visitors. Mastering these options will not only save you time and money but also deepen your appreciation for how this world-class city works.