A Savvy Insider’s Guide to Getting Around Hong Kong

A hill that I’m willing to die on is that Hong Kong may be a contender for the most convenient city in the world. And that is all made possible because it has one of the most comprehensive transport networks I’ve ever encountered. 

From a transportation network of British double-decker busses that carve the city with ease, to leisurely tram rides on the beloved ‘Ding Ding’, iconic voyages cross-harbor on the football-shaped Star Ferry, shoulder to shoulder commutes via the metro, tri-color taxis skewering the city into three, and red minibuses that barrel around corners like bats out of hell, Hong Kong transportation isn’t just convenient, it’s legendary. 

There’s rarely a pocket of the city that you would have trouble reaching via public transport. And in that case, there’s no shortage of private transport options to get you there. I’m looking at you ‘Sampan lady’ down off the coast of Ap Lei Pai. What a lifesaver. 

To ensure that you expertly navigate Asia’s World City once you arrive, here is the complete guide to getting around Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong Transportation Essentials

If you live in the traditional village of Tai O, you probably don’t need any of these essentials – just a small motorboat.

Part of effectively navigating Hong Kong is having the proper tools at your disposal. There’s (really) only four things you’ll need: 

• Octopus Card
• eSIM
• Cash
• Citybus and/or Citymapper App (optional)

Think of the Octopus card as your all-in-one transportation key that unlocks your access to the city. It’s accepted by nearly 100% of all major transportation options in the city – there are one or two exceptions I explain below – and can be used to pay for dining, goods, services, and other entertainment. 

You can secure a mobile Octopus card by downloading the Octopus phone app or picking up a physical Octopus card at a handful of stores in Hong Kong International Airport (7-Eleven, MTR Ticket & Octopus Machine, Travelex, Hung Fook Tong), at most convenience stores in the city, and all MTR stations. 

You can even pair an Octopus card with mobile payment platforms like Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, or Huawei Pay, meaning you simply just need to scan your phone at the Octopus reader when boarding transport. 

Frankly, I wouldn’t leave the house without it. Even if I forget my wallet at home, I know that as long as I have my Octopus card I can feasibly tackle almost anything I want or need. Hint: it’s mostly eating and drinking. 

An eSIM is just straight-up headache and confusion prevention. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” No matter where I touch down in the world, I always make sure that I have an eSIM set up/ready to roll so that I can immediately connect to the internet, and access maps and messages. 

This guy has an extremely comprehensive write-up of different Hong Kong e-SIMs, so I recommend checking it out if you’re in the market for one. Klook (non-affiliate link) is another popular option for affordable and reliable eSIMs. You can also pick up physical SIM cards at Hong Kong International Airport, 7-Eleven, or Watsons. 

Riders can add money and top up their Octopus cards at ‘add value machines’ found in MTR stations, at MTR customer service counters, and even at convenience stores like 7-Eleven. HKD$50 is the minimum amount you can add to your card, so simply have it ready and let the cashier/clerk/customer service member know that you want to add ‘X amount’. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: There have been occasions where I simply showed up in a new country without a local SIM card. However, I always download Google Maps offline before I arrive somewhere, which is a godsend when it comes to preventing getting lost. 

Cash is necessary as a failsafe. As noted above, you can use your Octopus card for 99% of all public transportation options. However, there is one mode of transport in particular, the red minibus, which doesn’t always have an Octopus card reader to tap your card. 

Taxis are overwhelmingly “cash-only.” However, more digital payment options (including Octopus) are being integrated. While a late 2024 report by the company behind the Octopus card found that roughly 7 out of every 10 drivers have registered to use the Octopus POS system, I can’t say my first-hand experience validates that. 

What I would say is that whoever issued that report is riding in far different taxis than I am. Payment options are driver-dependent, so carrying cash will never steer you wrong. 

Hong Kong is a digital society until it isn’t. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry and carry several hundred HKD of varying denominations and some coins. 

Don’t worry if you didn’t exchange your local currency for HKD before you touch down in Hong Kong, as you can always head to my go-to currency exchange for reasonable and efficient rates. And they are open on Sundays!

Finally, while not mandatory, life and getting around Hong Kong may be simplified by downloading either the (a) Hong Kong Citybus App, or the (b) Citymapper App. 

Both allow you to find and compare travel routes in real time. Google Maps is also a formidable way to find direct routes, transport stations/stops, and estimated travel times. I use the latter to this day (as a seven-year Hong Kong resident). 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Unsure of what you should bring on your trip to Asia’s World City? Make sure to check out my Hong Kong packing list.

MTR

I love all the different colors for each MTR station.

The Mass Transit Railway, more commonly referred to as the ‘MTR’, is Hong Kong’s major transport system and network that connects the city. While it’s commonly associated with both heavy and light rail (the metro), it also includes public bus services. However, for the sake of this section, we will only focus on the metro. 

The MTR network boasts nearly 180 stations, including 99 heavy rail stations, 68 light rail stops, and 1 high-speed rail link between Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. It’s the most popular mode of transport in Hong Kong and sees nearly 6 mill trips completed on a typical weekday. It’s affordable and also incredibly punctual. 

Things can get hectic on the MTR at rush hour, so I generally ride it at off-peak hours.

I love the MTR because it serves all major territories and districts and allows you to get almost anywhere in the city in under 45 minutes (there are a few exceptions). If your phone is dead or finding yourself somewhat lost, look for signs that have the MTR symbol, a red circle with a vertical white and semi-rings – meant to symbolize a stylized map of the MTR, initials, and Chinese word for ‘wood’ (木).

The two key rail lines that tourists should acquaint themselves with are the (1) Tsuen Wan Line (red line), and (b) Island Line (dark blue line). 

The Tsuen Wan Line connects travelers and commuters going from Central Station (Hong Kong Island) to Kowloon, stopping in popular areas like Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, and Sham Shui Po. The Island Line runs east to west (and vice versa) across Hong Kong Island. 

Always check the signs above each platform, which show the direction the train is going and subsequent stations. 

Some notable areas in Hong Kong that the metro doesn’t serve are:

• Areas to the south and southeast of Hong Kong Island like Stanley, Repulse Bay, and Shek O.
• Pokfulam and Cyberport on the west side of Hong Kong Island,
• Sai Kung Town and its country parks, 
• Happy Valley,
• The south of Lantau Island. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Many people don’t know that each Hong Kong metro station is color-coded. For example, Tsim Sha Tsui is black and yellow, Choi Hung is rainbow, Central is red, and Sha Tin is purple. This wasn’t just in improving the aesthetics of the rail system. It’s because when the MTR first opened in the early 1970s, many residents were illiterate. The colors were introduced to provide a visual aid for residents and commuters. Read more fun Hong Kong facts here.

Airport Express

The Airport Express is spacious, has luggage racks, and only takes 24 minutes to get from the airport to the city center!

As I emphasized in my post explaining the best way to get from Hong Kong airport to the city center, the Airport Express line is undeniably the most efficient means of transportation between the two. 

Specifically, the Airport Express connects HKIA to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. 

24 minutes is all it takes to get from Point A to Point B (and vice versa) – with a single journey ticket costing just HK$110 (USD 14). The Airport Express runs from 5:54 AM to 12:48 AM, so you should be more than covered for arrivals and departures. 

Just remember to set aside 15 to 20 minutes to enter and exit stations and wait for trains, as they depart at roughly 10-minute intervals. 

Further, both Hong Kong and Kowloon stations offer free in-town check-in for certain airlines. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: If your arrival or departure falls in that awkward period between 12:48 AM and 5:54 AM, consider taking the N11 or N21 Citybus from Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. Both run through the night to HKIA. 

Bus

I always love heading over to Kowloon and walking up Nathan Road from TST until I hit Mong Kok.

The second prong of Hong Kong’s MTR network is buses. And let me tell you, they aren’t too shabby either. Hong Kong buses are the most common way this Big Body navigates the city. I attribute that to having always lived across several bus lines that carve most of Hong Kong Island. 

I digress. 

Hong Kong is served by four franchised and non-franchised public bus services, operating more than 700 routes across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. A fun fact is that Hong Kong is one of the few cities in the world where buses are privately owned and operated, instead of by the government. 

A size comparison of a double-deck and cars.

Buses in Hong Kong are clean, efficient, and relatively timely, equipped with air conditioning for sweltering summer days. They typically run from 6 AM to midnight but there are a handful of overnight/late-night buses (‘N’ buses) that are in service, many originating at MTR stations. 

They range from single-decker buses to the iconic British double-deckers, the latter introduced during its former days as a, you guessed it, British colony. If my bus trip is over 15 to 20 minutes, I almost always sit at the top of the double-decker. Make sure to grab the railings when climbing up the stairs to the top deck as bus drivers sometimes take off like a spooked horse, making for a shaky ascent. 

A handful of bus stops have ‘electronic estimated time of arrival boards’ mounted above them, which is another easy way to identify what bus is coming and when. 

All buses have several small standing-room areas, which is recommended for those bringing luggage with them. However, buses in Hong Kong can get quite crowded which can be daunting for first-time travelers. My recommendation, you can always wait for the next bus if you aren’t in a rush!

Finally, while other passengers may press the red bell/buttons on handrails and between seats to let the driver know to stop at the next bus stop, you still might need to do so to get off. Press the red button/bell to let them know you want to disembark at the next stop/station. 

That’s why I always recommend you know exactly what stop you’re planning to get off at, otherwise, the driver may not stop at all if no one is waiting at the stop or indicated they wish to get off. Some buses also have ‘electronic time of arrival boards’ at the front of the bus, with all upcoming stations and the estimated time of arrival. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Have some time to kill or want to go on an adventure not many tourists experience? The N42A bus runs from Luen Ho Wei in the New Territories (near the China border) to Tung Chung Station on Lantau Island (where HKIA is), clocking in at a whopping 74 km. Or, consider hopping on the E22A Citybus, another one of Hong Kong’s longest routes, stretching over 60 km between Hong Kong Airport and Tseung Kwan O.

Boss Bus Tips

For some reason, I always have a great deal of anxiety when I show up in a new country and am unsure of when to tap my transport card and/or pay. Do you tap it right when you get on or when you get off? Do you tap it twice? I always psyche myself out and get worried that I’m about to commit some major faux pas. 

First, no one cares. Second, Hong Kong drivers (of all types) will not so subtly let you know. Even as someone who has lived in the city for seven years, if I enter a bus and take a minute or two to retrieve my Octopus card from my wallet or bag, I always receive a stern reminder that I need to pay. 

For Hong Kong buses, both double-decker and single-decker, you will generally tap your Octopus card or deposit change into the coin box when you board at the front. Some buses now accept Alipay, Apple Pay, and other digital payments.

You do not need to tap your Octopus card or phone again when you exit, as you’ll alight from the middle section of the bus. 

Green & Red Minibus

The 101M green minibus from Hang Hau is my preferred way to get to Sai Kung.

For a true Hong Kong experience, consider taking a minibus. Minibuses transport anywhere from 16 to 19 passengers (at capacity), do not have standing room, and exist in service areas/districts of Hong Kong that major bus routes and MTR lines can’t reach as easily. They are also considerably faster than standard Hong Kong buses (attributed to their smaller size). 

Think of them as a shared taxi/van that doesn’t always need to play by typical transport rules and timetables. 

Now, minibuses in Hong Kong come in two forms: 

• Green,
• Red.

Both operate differently and are worth acquainting yourself with before you arrive in Hong Kong. 

First, a general rule of thumb is that, like standard buses, you can tap your Octopus Card or pay with cash/change when you board. If you place cash or change in the payment box, you will not receive change (this is the same on standard buses). 

There is one exception to this rule that I’ll address below. 

Green minibuses are the most common of the two in Hong Kong and operate similarly to standard buses, meaning they have fixed operating hours and a scheduled route with designated stops. 

Like standard buses, some green minibuses have red bells for passengers to press and let the driver know they want to exit at the next stop, while those without require passengers to shout out ‘yau lok, mm goi’ (“next stop, please”) to alert the driver. 

Because of their scheduled routes and operating hours, it’s not uncommon for green minibuses to depart before filling up. 

Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Red minibuses, on the other hand, can be somewhat of a free-for-all as their routes and operating hours are what I’d refer to as ‘fluid’. Simply put, red minibus passengers can hail it from anywhere along the route and can request to get off anywhere along the journey to its advertised final destination. 

This is because they are relatively unregulated and privately owned, so drivers are incentivized to pack in as many people and trips in a single day as possible. Red minibuses also run later than green minibuses and are popular for late-night travelers/commuters.

Because of this, they fly around streets and expressways at warp speed. My Spanish buddy refers to them as the ‘Red Devil’ due to their (sometimes) reckless and speedy driving. 

Unlike green minibuses which don’t typically wait to fill up with passengers before taking off, you may encounter red minibus drivers who wait until every last seat is filled. 

Only some red minibuses have Octopus card readers, so it’s important to carry cash/change on you if you anticipate you might take one at some point in the day. Second, the exception to the rule mentioned above is that most red minibuses don’t require you to pay when boarding. You almost always pay when you get off. This is because different destinations and stops may be charged differently. 

For example, the cash-only red minibus which runs from Shek O to Shau Kei Wan has riders pay for the journey when they arrive at the Shau Kei Wan MTR station. In this case, drivers will provide change. 

My recommendation is to always keep an eye out for what other people do and follow their lead. 

I know it’s common sense but always wear your seatbelt on the minibus. It can get hectic and be herky-jerky. Make sure to hold onto the railings near the window or handles on the back of seats to prevent yourself from being tossed into the aisle. 

Getting Off a Red Minibus Made Easy

To get off a red minibus, it’s in your best interest to have one or more quick Cantonese phrases ready to go. I’m not going to lie, it can feel a little embarrassing or stressful at first but it’s just how things are done on red minibuses (as there is no red bell/button). Otherwise, you’ll find yourself riding the bus to the final stop. 

Similar to green minibuses, simply shout out ‘yau lok, mm goi’ and the red minibus driver will stop at wherever the next logical stop is on the route. This isn’t a perfect solution though. The goal, be as descriptive as possible so that you’re dropped off in the correct spot. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: A meme that popped up in Hong Kong amongst foreigners riding minibuses is the phrase ‘Pass the jam, old boy’, which when said quickly faintly sounds like ‘Next stop, mm goi’. 

Common phrases that passengers use to signal to the driver where to stop are, ‘baa si zaam, mm goi’ (“bus stop, please”), ‘baa ai zaam, yau lok (“next bus stop, please”), ‘dang wei, mm goi’ (“at the traffic lights, please”), or ‘lou hau, mm goi’ (“road intersection, please”). You can also shout out street names, estate names, and other landmarks, followed by ‘yau lok’ to let the driver know you want to alight. 

I’ll tell you this. There’s no rush like that first rush after you shout out ‘next stop’ to a red minibus driver and he stops at the correct spot. You did it.

The Ding Ding (Tram)

Make sure to stop in Causeway Bay when you ride the tram.

Next to the Star Ferry and The Peak, you’d be hard-pressed to find any one thing more sacred and venerated as the Hong Kong tram, aka the ‘Ding Ding’. 

Opened in 1904 and colloquially named after the unmistakable double-bell ring emitted by tram drivers to warn vehicles and pedestrians of their impending arrival, the Ding Ding stretches from Kennedy Town in the west of Hong Kong Island to Shau Kei Wan to the east. It also has a route that diverges from the primary east-to-west line and circles through Happy Valley (where the Happy Valley Racecourse is!). 

These double-decker behemoths, which are typically covered in banking, crypto, and other advertisements, aren’t just popular with commuters, they are a hit with tourists. They are also environmentally friendly and one of the most leisurely ways to take in Hong Kong’s sights and sounds. Just make sure to snag a seat on the top deck!

All fares are a flat fee, no matter where you hop on and off, and are generally no more than HKD$3 (USD .40). All passengers enter at the rear and pay via Octopus or change as they get off. 

Thanks to their dedicated tram lines, they can be surprisingly efficient and a preferred way to escape being stuck in rush hour traffic with buses and taxis!

The Peak Tram

Views like this are why you take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak.

While not technically a ‘tram’, it’s in the name and an extremely popular method of reaching the top of Victoria Peak, the Peak Tram is Hong Kong’s (and Asia’s) first funicular (cable) railway system. 

It begins at Garden Road in Central/Admiralty, and takes just 6 minutes to slingshot passengers to the top of Victoria Peak, achieving speeds up to 6 meters per second. The glass cabin offers unobstructed views of Hong Kong’s skyline, lush greenery, and surrounding residential buildings. 

Many riders experience what’s referred to as the ‘The Peak Tram Illusion’ on their way up, which makes buildings and high-rises below appear as if they are falling towards The Peak. 

At The Peak, viewing points like Lion’s Pavilion and The Peak Galleria Rooftop Terrace offer some of the most breathtaking views of the city (especially at night). 

As The Peak Tram is popular with tourists, it not only accepts Octopus cards but cash, major credit cards, and other digital payment wallets/options. 

Taxi & Uber

Red taxis are the most common taxi that you’ll come across in Hong Kong.

From the second you touch down at Hong Kong International Airport, taxis are at your fingertips. Once in the city, it’s difficult to miss drivers of the 18,000-plus strong fleet of taxis veering around corners, honking their horns, and racing down expressways (at speeds that would make Max Verstappen blush). 

What’s worth noting is that there are three types of taxis in Hong Kong, all of which service a specific geographical area:

1. Red – urban taxis that service most of Hong Kong (except for parts of Lantau Island) and are the most common type of taxi that you will see on your trip.
2. Green – only operates/services the New Territories (which is a massive area).
3. Blue – only operates on Lantau Island (where Hong Kong International Airport is).

While Hong Kong’s taxis are color-coded for the specific district/areas of Hong Kong that they service, all will/can take you to the airport and the most magical place on earth, Hong Kong Disneyland. 

Hong Kong taxi drivers get a lot of grief for their brusque and perceived rude behavior, refusal to take riders to specific areas, and attempts (often successful) to negotiate prices without the meter. However, that’s all part of the game. 

I think the Lantau Island blue taxis have to be my favorite color.

Having lived in Hong Kong for over seven years now, I’ve only had a handful of negative interactions with taxi drivers. 

My point? Be patient. Be stern. Always ensure they use the meter. Do a little research beforehand on how much things should cost. Keep that in the back of your brain. And, if they refuse to take you to a specific area in the city, move on to the next one. They are stubborn and arguing with them will undoubtedly be in vain. 

Honestly, I’ve had worse experiences with Uber drivers, primarily because they don’t know how to follow the map and sometimes don’t even know the major areas of the city. This takes me to my next point, Uber is available in Hong Kong. It exists in somewhat of a regulatory gray area but appears to be growing stronger by the day – especially after the popular local app ‘HKTaxi’ shut down in early 2025 and migrated drivers to Uber’s platform. 

Read more about the world’s most popular ride-hailing app in my post ‘https://palealetravel.com/uber-hong-kong/’. 

Ferry

Central Ferry Pier is your go-to spot to hop on a ferry to an Outlying Island.

Founded nearly 140 years ago, the Star Ferry is a cross-harbor, two-story boat, connecting areas like Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island with their Kowloon counterparts, Tsim Sha Tsui and Hung Hom. 

Not only is it a practical way to get from one side of the harbor to the other, taking just 8 to 10 minutes per trip, but it’s incredibly scenic as well – offering up sweeping, water-level views of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon’s iconic skylines. 

Fares differ slightly depending on whether you sit in the upper or lower deck but run no more than HK$6.5 per trip. I prefer the upper deck and recommend it for the best views. It also has air conditioning (which the lower deck does not). 

Taking the Star Ferry at night might be a contender for my favorite activity in Hong Kong (next to eating).

Ferry passengers can pay either with an Octopus Card or by purchasing a token from one of the many token machines at the entrance. 

While the Star Ferry is undeniably Hong Kong’s most popular mode of transport and the most scenic way to cross Victoria Harbour, there’s more than a handful of ferries that primarily operate between Central Ferry Pier, Lantau Island, Discovery Bay, and surrounding Outlying Islands. 

The inside of a ferry to Cheung Chau!

A Hong Kong experience that many tourists never get is venturing to one of the many Outlying Islands like Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, and Peng Chau. Ferrying to the expat enclave of Discovery Bay or the rural village of Mui Wo (one of my favorites) on Lantau Island is highly recommended by this Big Body. 

There are generally two types of ferries available, standard (slow ferries) and fast ferries, the latter being a tad more expensive. They’re spacious, air-conditioned, and quite relaxing. Passengers can pay with an Octopus card, digital wallets like Alipay and Apple Pay, or at one of the several ticket machines with cash. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: Several ferry services operate from the south of Hong Kong Island to islands like Po Toi, Tuen Mun, Sai Kung, and Ma Liu Sui in the New Territories, and Yau Tong in southeastern Kowloon. 

Water Taxi

A second scenic way to take in the mighty Victoria Harbour is by water taxi. It’s an official ‘water tourism route’ that is approved by the Hong Kong government. It just looks like a regular modern, more spacious ‘ferry’ to one of the Outlying Islands, so don’t let the term ‘taxi’ mislead you. 

The Hong Kong Water Taxi also isn’t particularly used for commuting or travel, but rather for sightseeing and leisure, as it boasts spacious outdoor viewing decks and offers food and beverage. 

It sets sail 7 times every day and has locations in Wan Chai, Central, the Avenue of the Stars (Tsim Sha Tsui), Kai Tak, and West Kowloon. 

Speedboat

A typical sampan (green).

The major occasions where you’ll find yourself, hair blowing in the wind as you squint into the distance, catching random sprays of salt water into your mouth, is when you are in a pocket of Hong Kong that’s (a) on the water, and (b) not served by any other mode of transport. 

For example, Sai Kung boasts more than a handful of beaches that can only be accessed via hike. As to not strand beachgoers and hikers, several of the beaches provide speedboat services. They don’t typically run on a predictable schedule and generally only operate until 5 or 6 PM. 

Speedboats can also be hired for several hours or the full day to take you to specific locations along the water, like Sai Kung’s Geopark and the Soko Islands. 

Another type of boat that you may encounter in more remote areas of Hong Kong, such as during a hike that ends and/or carves by the water is what’s called a ‘sampan’. Sampans are flat-bottomed wooden boats that are incredibly humble in design and function. Many sampan operators (of the few that exist) in Hong Kong live on their boats. 

Areas like Sai Kung, Cheung Chau, and Aberdeen are popular for sampan owners. There are even several sightseeing sampans in Aberdeen that will take you around the entire Aberdeen Harbour where you can enjoy traditional boat noodles while learning about Hong Kong’s origins as a fishing village. 

As the Wu-Tang Clan said, ‘Cash rules everything around me’. Sampan operators accept cold hard cash. But don’t worry, prices are reasonable and the most I’ve ever paid for a ride was HK$10 per person. 

Keep in mind though that you may find yourself in a desperate situation, like the time some friends and I were stranded on a hike on a 38°C day in Ap Lei Pai, and the only feasible way we would have made it out unscathed was by taking a sampan. We could have easily been taken for a ride (so to speak) monetarily. However, it’s Hong Kong and a city full of incredibly honest and hard-working people, so that wasn’t even on the table. 

Gondola

The recommended way to get from Tung Chung to the Tian Tan Buddha.

Remember how I mentioned above that most areas of Lantau Island aren’t served by the MTR? Well, why would it when you have a 5.7-kilometer cable car that connects the bustling hub of Tung Chung with the quaint little mountain village of Ngong Ping, the Tian Tan Buddha, and Po Lin Monastery? 

The Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car is owned and under the umbrella of the MTR, providing panoramic views of Lantau’s mountainous terrain, Hong Kong International Airport, the never-ending Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, South China Sea, and Tung Chung Valley. As you approach Ngong Ping Village, the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery come into full view. 

Hong Kong’s second gondola is on the south of Hong Kong Island at Ocean Park and connects both sections of the popular marine and animal theme park. Over the course of its 9-minute ride, it offers unimpeded views of Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Ap Lei Chau, and of course, the park itself. 

Walking

Strolls along the Harborfront are one of my favorite ways to de-stress.

This is my favorite way to navigate the city in every single month that is not considered summer. I know it sounds like a cliche but walking is the best way to explore a new city or country. 

Take in the sights, the smells, the sounds, and the chaos. 

Don’t be afraid to pop into a shop or restaurant that catches your eye. Take mental notes of cool things you see, mark them down in Google Maps, and circle back at a later date. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: A major draw of Hong Kong’s SoHo district is the Central-Mid-Levels Escalators, which is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. What I especially love about it is that from the hours of 6 AM to 10 AM, it runs downhill and serves as a formidable way to commute to the Central MTR station and buildings like IFC. After 10 AM, it goes uphill and is popular for expats/residents to take on their commute home to Mid-Levels. 

Now You Know How to Get Around Hong Kong

As mentioned above, the Mid-Levels Escalators are a popular way for those living in Mid-Levels to commute to and from Central.

Efficiency and comprehensiveness are both the name of the game when it comes to Hong Kong’s transport networks. 

In most places across the world, taking public transport is far more of a nuisance than it is a joy. Not in Hong Kong. Well, it can still be a nuisance too when you’re packed in a subway car like sardines and directly under some guy’s oh-so-pungent armpit. 

However, Hong Kong’s extensive public and private transportation networks are emphatically a driver of the city’s draw and ability for tourists to acquaint themselves with it in even just several days. 

If you have any questions about traveling to Hong Kong or navigating the city, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at info@palealetravel.com. 

I also offer customized Hong Kong travel itineraries for all types of budgets, so if this sounds like something you would be interested in, inquire about pricing!

Travel well everyone,

Big Body