Using the Octopus Card in Hong Kong: Everything You Need to Know

Like Charlie and Grandpa Joe after that serendipitous purchase of a Wonka Bar, the Octopus Card is your golden ticket. 

However, instead of unfettered access to an eccentric, authoritarian, and braggadocious chocolate proprietor’s mysterious factory and its white-overall-wearing orange-faced miniature constituents, it grants you access to Hong Kong’s expansive, efficient, affordable transportation network. 

Hong Kong’s Octopus card is ubiquitous. Hence the name and its Cantonese name ‘Baat Daaht Tung’, which translates to ‘eight-arrived pass’, or more aptly ‘go anywhere pass’ and/or ‘reaching everywhere’. Just like an Octopus’s eight tentacles. 

As the city’s most popular contactless, stored-value, rechargeable smart card for electronic payments, the Octopus card is used everywhere. From Hong Kong’s metro (MTR) to buses, trams, ferries, convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theaters, horse races (you heard me!), and even utility services, this is the one card both residents and tourists need to survive in the city. 

And, it’s as easy as pie to use. However, there are still several questions both tourists and newly settled residents of Hong Kong might have about it, like ‘Where can I buy one?’, ‘How can I customize it?’, ‘How do I recharge it?’, and ‘Is there a special card for seniors, students, or disabled persons?’. 

Everything you need to know about using an Octopus Card in Hong Kong is covered below. 

What is the Octopus Card?

There’s definitely some wear and tear on my current Octopus.

The Octopus card is Hong Kong’s contactless, reusable, smart value-added card. Launched in 1997, it was the world’s second contactless smart card system, coming just one year after Korea’s prepaid transportation card called the UPass. 

The goal? 

Provide an easy way for residents and tourists to pay for Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway, aka the MTR, by swiping in and out with just the tap of a card.  Its widespread adoption and success inspired other similar contactless smart cards worldwide, such as London’s Oyster card, Paris’s Navigo card, and Singapore’s EZ-Link. 

The terms ‘Octopus card’ and ‘Baat Daaht Tung’ (its Cantonese name) are both widely used in Hong Kong and understood by locals and expats alike. 

As the years progressed, it became possible to swipe the Octopus card on buses, ferries, trams, and even some taxis, along with supermarkets, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, vending machines, car parks, and government offices and service kiosks. They even double as building access control cards for schools, and residential and office buildings. 

Today, roughly 99% (you heard me, 99%) of Hong Kong’s residents use an Octopus card, with more than 30 million cards in circulation. 

Enter via the green arrow and simply tap your Octopus card at the orange card reader!

To make a payment with an Octopus card, simply place it against or slightly above the top of an Octopus reader, a point of sale system and module identifiable by its orange card shape with the signature Octopus ‘infinity symbol’ in the middle. After successful payment, which takes just a fraction of a second, the Octopus reader will emit a beep and display the remaining amount of money available on the card. 

While you can pay for most necessities and 99% of transportation options in Hong Kong, there are still occasions when you will need to pay with cash or credit card. 

Further, adding value to a physical Octopus card, you can only use cash to top up your balance. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: For further information on navigating Asia’s World City, check out my post breaking down everything you need to know about getting around Hong Kong. 

Is There an Octopus App?

Don’t overcomplicate things. A physical Octopus card will serve you best in Hong Kong.

Yes, there is an Octopus mobile phone app. It is commonly referred to as the ‘Octopus App for Tourists’. Support is only available for iPhone and Huawei users, not Android.

Simply download the Octopus App for Tourists and top up your balance with a credit or debit card.  

To pay for transport or services with your Octopus app, open your app and a digital Octopus card will appear on screen. Tap it against the Octopus reader and wait for the beep!

However, I strongly recommend against tourists going the mobile app route. Instead, pick up a physical Octopus card at the Hong Kong Airport service counter, 7-Eleven, or any MTR customer service center. 

Too many travelers run into issues with adding value, recharging, and managing the Octopus App for Tourists. It isn’t worth the headache, especially for such a simple solution (a physical card). Further, it charges a conversion fee when transacting so it isn’t exactly the most economical way to navigate the city. 

While there is a second Octopus App for Residents, this requires a working Hong Kong phone number. I know what you might be thinking, “But I can just pick up a SIM card at the airport and voilà, I’m good to go!’. Not exactly. Many tourist/temporary SIM cards are recycled, so there is a high chance the one you grab may already be tied to another Octopus card/account. 

In my humble opinion, a physical Octopus card is the most practical way to ensure your trip goes off without a hitch. It also makes for a memorable souvenir when you leave. And, you can reuse it once you return to Hong Kong!

Finally, Hong Kong has gradually rolled out contactless credit card support on popular modes of transportation like the MTR, buses, and trams. Mobile e-wallets like Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, AliPay, and UnionPay are also accepted. At MTR stations, look for the light blue entrance gates for tapping your credit card or mobile wallet. 

Keep in mind that this may add up if your credit card has foreign transaction fees. 

How Much Does an Octopus Card Cost?

There are two types of Octopus cards that you might consider purchasing: (1) Sold Octopus card and (2) On-loan Octopus card. There’s a slight nuance to both that is important to understand before picking one up. 

A Sold Octopus card is a card that you purchase outright and does not require a deposit. It costs just HK$39. However, it doesn’t come with any initial stored value, unless specified to a customer service agent upon purchase. 

Sold Tourist Octopus cards are for both adults and children, meaning there is no difference in pricing. 

Since it is sold outright, the card belongs to you and cannot be returned. The remaining value on the card can be refunded, however, the card will be deactivated. 

This is the most popular Octopus card for tourists and short-term visitors, as it is often available with limited edition themes and designs and doesn’t require you to return anything when leaving Hong Kong. The limited edition designs, which include Disney themes, cityscape designs, and iconic landmarks make for the perfect souvenir. 

The only downside of a Sold Octopus card is that because it doesn’t require a deposit, it lacks support for negative balances, meaning that if you attempt a transaction that will cause your card to incur a negative value, it will be declined. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: For purchases of any type of Octopus, On-loan or Sold, I recommend adding at least HK$200 to HK$300 to it initially. This will cover most of your transportation and small-purchase costs for the next several days. Just let the customer service agent know. 

The second type of Octopus is an On-loan Octopus card. As a seven-plus-year resident of the city, this is what I use. A standard adult On-Loan Octopus card costs HK$150, which includes a refundable HK$50 deposit and an initial top-up value of HK$100. Child On-Loan Octopus cards cost just HK$50 for the deposit and come with an initial stored value of HK$50. 

An On-Loan Octopus card remains the property of Octopus Holdings Limited. 

The deposit covers a negative balance up to HK$ -35 to HK$ – 50 (the latter for Octopus cards issued after October 1st, 2017). The next time you top up your Octopus, the negative value that you owe will be deducted from the amount. 

Should you no longer need your Octopus card, return it to any MTR customer service center or other authorized location. You will receive your HK$50 deposit back along with any remaining balance, minus an HK$11 handling fee. 

Where Can I Buy an Octopus Card?

I weirdly like this picture I took. You can buy an Octopus card from MTR customer service centers: Hong Kong Station/Central, Admiralty, TST, West Kowloon, and Hong Kong Airport Station recommended.

The beauty of the Octopus card and its entrenched function in Hong Kong society is that it is widely sold. So, there is no shortage of stores, kiosks, and transport stations to pick one up from. 

The three key ways to purchase an Octopus card are:

Klook

The online travel and experiences platform Klook is a popular way to purchase an Octopus card before arriving in Hong Kong. 

Think of purchasing it on Klook as a ‘travel voucher’ that allows you to redeem an Octopus card at the Hong Kong International Airport customer service desk/center A13 in the Arrival Hall. 

A Sold Tourist Octopus card that comes preloaded with HK$50 costs roughly USD 12.50 (HK$100). You can also select an option to pre-load a Tourist Octopus card to cover the cost of the Hong Kong Airport Express trip into the city or select an On-Loan Octopus card that comes pre-loaded with HK$150 and an 8-day 4G SIM card. 

I wouldn’t stress too much about selecting a pre-loaded option before you arrive in Hong Kong, as there are plenty of add-value kiosks, service centers, and convenience stores where you can top-up your card. 

When ordering your Octopus card on Klook, you will be prompted to select the day of your arrival. Head to the Arrival Hall customer service counter A13, show your confirmation QR code and receive your Sold Octopus card. 

The Hong Kong Airport Arrival Hall A13 counter is open from 8 AM to 9 PM. If your flight lands in Hong Kong outside of this timeframe, I don’t recommend pre-ordering an Octopus card. In that case, purchase an Airport Express single journey QR code ticket via credit card from one of the payment kiosks at the entrance of the Airport Express. 

You’ll then want to purchase an Octopus card at one of the next locations:

Hong Kong MTR Customer Service Centers

Both Sold Tourist Octopus cards and On-loan Octopus cards can be purchased at any MTR station customer service counter. These are typically situated adjacent to the turnstiles where commuters swipe in and out. 

That’s right, all MTR station customer service centers are fair game to pick one up. 

The most popular locations to purchase an Octopus card are (1) the MTR customer service center at Hong Kong International Airport, (2) Hong Kong Station, (3) Admiralty Station, (4) Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, and (5) Tsim Sha Tsui Station. 

Customer service centers in Lo Wu Station and Lok Ma Chau Station at the Hong Kong/China border are also popular spots to purchase an Octopus card if you are entering from Mainland China. 

Cash is the primary accepted payment method at all MTR customer service stations, so make sure to withdraw or exchange at least HK$100 to HK$300 beforehand. 

Both On-Loan and Sold Octopus cards are also available at select MTR station ticket issuing and vending machines. These also primarily accept cash (both notes and coins). Options are typically limited to adult cards at these locations. 

Popular machine locations include Hong Kong Airport Station’s Arrival Hall and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. This might be a viable option for travelers who land outside of the service desk’s 8 AM to 9 PM hours and want to secure their Octopus card at HKIA.

Convenience Stores 

You can easily buy an Octopus card at any of the two major convenience store branches in Hong Kong, 7-Eleven and CircleK. Keep in mind that only the Sold Octopus card is available at convenience stores, not the On-loan Octopus card. 

You can’t walk a block or two without encountering at least one of these convenience stores, so just keep your eyes peeled. 

Additional Locations

Octopus cards may also be purchased from: 

• Kowloon Visitor Center Star Ferry Concourse in Tsim Sha Tsui, 
• Hung Fook Tong – a chain of herbal tea stores, 
• China Travel Service stores, and 
• Travelex locations (only at Hong Kong International Airport). 

While the above are all viable options, my recommendation is don’t overcomplicate things. Stick to Hong Kong MTR station service counters and convenience stores. 

Pale Ale Travel Tip: The Octopus card is the number one thing you need to get to ensure a smooth and successful trip to Hong Kong. But that’s not all. Make sure to check out my ultimate Hong Kong packing list so that you don’t find yourself scrambling to pick something up at a retail or home goods store. 

How Can I Buy a Personalized Octopus Card?

Snagging a personalized Octopus card with your name and photo isn’t feasible for tourists, as they are only available for Hong Kong residents or those with a Chinese identity card or passport (including Macau identity cards). 

Further, personalized Octopus cards take 2 to 4 weeks to turn around. 

Hong Kong and China residents can apply to customize an Octopus card by filling out an application and submitting it to an MTR customer service center or via the Octopus app.

Pale Ale Travel Tip: Now that you’ve secured your Octopus card, it’s time to put it to the test. And, there’s no better way than the Airport Express. Check out my article breaking down the best way to get from Hong Kong airport to the city center for more information. 

Octopus Cards For Children, Students, Elderly, & Disabled

As noted above, Sold Tourist Octopus cards are the same price for both adults and children. There is no carved-out Sold Tourist Octopus card for disabled persons or students. 

First, children under the age of 3 do not require a ticket or Octopus card to ride public transport. 

Children ages 3 to 11 can use an On-Loan Child Octopus card, granting half-price fares for holders. These may be purchased at any MTR station service counter or the Airport Express service counter. They are also not available from MTR Octopus selling machines or able to be ordered on Klook.  

Hong Kong residents aged 60 or above and eligible persons with disabilities may apply for particular On-Loan Octopus cards, which allow them to enjoy the HK$2 per trip government concession scheme. These personalized On-Loan Octopus cards are referred to as ‘JoyYou Cards’. Applications may be obtained at most MTR stations and light rail service counters and submitted via the Octopus app or by post. 

Important For Senior Citizen Tourists: Senior citizens and tourists, aged 65 or above, can also pick up an On-Loan Anonymous Elder Octopus card to enjoy half-off concessionary fares.

Identification will most likely be required when acquiring one at an MTR service counter. 

Finally, students who have not yet reached the age of 26 may apply for the MTR Student Travel Scheme. The requirement is that you must be enrolled in a ‘full-time day course’, which generally means 20 or more hours per week of academic instruction. This isn’t just for university students but for secondary school students as well. 

When I completed a master’s degree in Hong Kong, all I needed to do was submit my enrollment confirmation form, along with a passport photo and my student ID to an MTR customer service counter. I was provided a temporary student Octopus card and ordered to pick up my official card at a later date. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: Right before my father left Hong Kong, he was very excited as he acquired a Joy You card, meaning he began enjoying HK$2 rides on public transport with his Octopus. 

How Do I Add Value & Recharge My Octopus Card?

Look for machines like this in the MTR to add money to your Octopus!

When your Octopus card runs low or out of money, you will need to ‘top it up’. Otherwise, you’ll hear the dreaded ‘dood-dood-dood’ sound after tapping it on an Octopus reader. A feeling I know all too well, especially when I have a line of impatient commuters behind me. 

The most efficient way to add value and/or recharge your Octopus card is at any one of the countless MTR add-value machines. These are almost always right next to the standard ticket machines. They are cash-only and only accept HK$50 or HK$100 banknotes. Insert your Octopus card into the designated slot and then insert your bills. The machine will inform you what your new balance is. Press the ‘eject’ button and your Octopus card will pop out. 

Don’t try and insert anything less or more (I once tried to add $500 to it to no avail). 

My second go-to spot to add value/recharge my Octopus card is at 7-Eleven or CircleK. This is also cash-only. Inform the cashier how much you would like to add to your Octopus card, hand them the correct bills, and place your Octopus card on the reader at the register. It will beep and you will see your new Octopus balance appear on the small electronic monitor.

The third key location to add value is at any MTR station customer service center/counter. I generally avoid these as the lines can take some time. However, just as you would charge at a convenience store, inform the customer service member how much you’d like to add and place your card on the Octopus reader. 

Additional locations to add value to your Octopus card include healthy and beauty chains like Mannings and Watsons, supermarkets like ParknShop and Wellcome, and even fast food outlets like McDonald’s and Starbucks. 

At customer service centers, convenience stores, and supermarkets, the maximum amount that you can load onto an Octopus card is HK$3,000, while the minimum amount you can add is HK$50. However, students and persons with disabilities may recharge their cards with as little as HK$10 at customer service centers. 

Most tourists won’t load anywhere close to HK$3,000 onto their Octopus card, so it’s not anything to pay too much attention to. 

How Do I Check My Octopus Card Balance?

The most obvious (and convenient) way to check your Octopus card balance is to keep an eye on the Octopus reader display when you tap your card. It will show how much was deducted from your card and your remaining balance. 

You can also insert your Octopus card into any of the add-value machines in MTR stations and it will show your remaining balance on the screen. This is usually what I do if I suspect I may have a negative balance and don’t want to embarrass myself and hold up a line of commuters behind me. 

And, just as you can add value/recharge your card at convenience stores, supermarkets, and other outlets, keep an eye on the electronic monitor in front of you after making a payment with (or recharging) your Octopus, as it will show your balance. 

Inquiring with an MTR customer service counter is also an option. However, I wouldn’t suggest waiting in line just to do that, especially when the add-value machines in the MTR get the job done. 

Finally, if you bite the bullet and download either Octopus app, you can check the remaining value on your card in the app. 

Pale Ale Travel Note: A fun fact about the Octopus card is that you can actually have a negative balance. For example, say that you have HK$20 remaining on your card and you use it to purchase $50 worth of goods at 7-Eleven. The transaction will still go through, however, you will now have a negative balance of HK$-30. Cards can incur a negative value of up to HK$35, which is covered by the initial HK$50 deposit you put down for it. 

Can I Get a Discount on Transportation With My Octopus Card?

A general rule of thumb about using an Octopus card is that it does not provide any discounts, it’s simply about convenience. 

There is, however, one exception to the rule, MTR fare savers.

Keep an eye out for MTR fare-saver readers inside specific shopping malls, estates, buildings, and centers (and even the Mid-Levels Escalators walkway system). 

Simply tap your adult Octopus card over the fare saver reader and you will receive a HK$2 discount on your next MTR ride (from specific stations). 

Where Can & Can’t I Use an Octopus Card?

At 1:15, I show you how to swipe into the MTR with an Octopus Card.

The Octopus card is accepted at over 190,000 locations in Hong Kong. Simply look for any merchant that has the orange Octopus card sign. 

In my post about getting around Hong Kong, I explain that your Octopus card will cover 99% of all transportation modes in the city. So, if you have any questions about what that entails, please see my post ‘How to Get Around Hong Kong’. 

The only caveat is that red minibuses and taxis are almost entirely cash-only.

A general rule of thumb is that the larger, more popular a retail outlet, shopping mall, or restaurant is, the higher the likelihood they will accept Octopus payments. 

If you look through the open part of the window of this Hong Kong-style cafe (cha chaan teng), you’ll see an orange Octopus reader.

Convenience stores, supermarkets, vending machines, car parks, and home goods stores (Japan Home Centre, Watsons, Mannings) accept Octopus payments 99% of the time. The only time they don’t is if there is a temporary technical issue. Mom-and-pop shops, small stalls, and vendors in more remote areas of Hong Kong are almost always cash-only (ex. Shops in Tai O Fishing Village). 

Some shops in malls and shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, and an occasional bar or two will also accept Octopus. Octopus is most widely accepted at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s, Yoshinoya, and Fairwood. Most casual and slow-casual restaurants won’t generally accept Octopus, while you’d be hard-pressed to find a single fine-dining spot in the city that accepts it. 

If you’re ever in doubt, I always look at their Google Maps profile (under accepted payments) or OpenRice (under accepted forms of payment). 

Unfortunately, most night markets and food stalls accept cash, so I wouldn’t bank on using your Octopus card at spots like Temple Street Night Market. 

Major attractions and parks in Hong Kong, like Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park, and The Peak Tram all accept Octopus cards, including the vendors inside said parks. Most museums and cinemas also accept Octopus payments. However, iconic rides like the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car don’t yet support it. 

My favorite spot to use my Octopus card? The Happy Valley Racecourse for Happy Wednesdays. I love bettin’ on some ponies!

You can even use your Octopus card at government buildings/offices to pay for services and utilities. I generally pay my utility bills at 7-Eleven with my Octopus card though, where they scan your bill’s QR code. You can either tap your Octopus card or pay with cash. 

Finally, you might think it’s common sense, however, I’ve witnessed this first-hand in the MTR on more than a handful of occasions. You CANNOT share an Octopus between two people. It can’t be used twice within a designated period. So, avoid swiping through at the MTR turnstile and then trying to pass it back to your friend, partner, or family member. 

Outside of Hong Kong

The Octopus Card is also international (and becoming increasingly international). Octopus cards can be used at select locations in Macau and are supposed to be supported for some goods and services in Japan by the 3rd quarter of 2025. 

While there is a cross-border electronic card with Octopus functionality called the China T-Union Card that already exists and is accepted in over 330 cities in Mainland China for transportation, 2025 is also believed to bring acceptance of the standard Octopus card in those cities (albeit tied to a China T-Union Card). 

Is My Octopus Card Refundable?

As mentioned above, the refundability of your Octopus card depends on which card you purchased.

Sold Tourist Octopus cards may enjoy a refund of the remaining value of the card when they leave. This can be done at any MTR service counter. However, you cannot receive a refund for the cost of the Octopus card itself. Once refunded, it is no longer valid and able to be used. 

On-Loan Octopus cards are refundable as they are a ‘loan’. This includes both the remaining balance on the card and the initial HK$50 deposit. Keep in mind that an HK$11 handling fee or 1% of any remaining value (whichever is higher) may be levied. 

Damaged Octopus cards will be charged a HK$30 fee, so try to keep them in as best of condition as possible!

A major consideration to keep in mind is that high-value Octopus card refunds are not always possible on the same day. It can sometimes take over one week to process the refund. So, I always recommend spending down your Octopus balance as low as possible before you refund your card. 

If I Leave Hong Kong, Can I Use My Octopus Card When I Come Back?

Once you have an Octopus card, you have it for life. Octopus cards have no expiration date and can be reused anytime in the future. I’ve been using the same Octopus card for the last five years and without any issues, having left the city for several 3 to 6-month stints away. 

However, it’s worth noting that if you haven’t used your Octopus card in three years, it will become inactive. But that doesn’t render it completely useless and means you have to pick up a new Octopus card when you return.

 Simply head to any MTR station service counter and have them reactivate it. You’re now good to go!

Why Isn’t My Octopus Card Working?

Nw and then you may run into a situation where your Octopus card doesn’t work. The most common culprit, something that happens to me roughly once per week, is that there is no remaining money on your Octopus card. In that case, head to an add-value machine and/or customer service counter to top-up. 

The second most common culprit is that you swiped into the MTR but didn’t swipe out properly. 

I’ve had this happen to me before during heavy rush hour traffic in the metro, where everyone was shoulder to shoulder and pushing one another. I was so close to the person in front of me when trying to exit the station that I took his successful swiping out to be mine and simply walked through. The next time I attempted to swipe into the metro, I was denied. 

Luckily, it is an incredibly simple solution to fix this. Head to any MTR service station and support window, and let them know your Octopus card isn’t working, they will ‘recalibrate it’, and you’ll be on your way in no time. 

If you’re inside the MTR and unable to exit, don’t worry, you aren’t trapped there forever and set to live your very own nightmare like Tom Hanks in The Terminal. Just head to the MTR service counter. They will then ask where you started your journey so that they can deduct the correct amount from your Octopus. 

Finally, if neither of the above is the issue, and your Octopus card is just straight-up malfunctioning or badly damaged, take it to an MTR customer service center. You may then have to pay a replacement fee. 

The Octopus Card is Your Key to Exploring Hong Kong

It all starts and ends with the Airport Express in Hong Kong.

The Octopus card is mightier than the sword. If there is any single thing that you make sure to purchase before and/or after landing in Hong Kong, it’s this add-value smart card. 

I won’t lie to you, it will make your life exponentially easier and allow you to focus on what’s most important when visiting Hong Kong – eating, drinking, and exploring. 

If you have any questions about traveling or moving to Hong Kong, please don’t hesitate to contact me at info@palealetravel.com. Or, feel free to comment your question below!

If you just moved to the city and/or have lived here for any length of time, make sure to subscribe to my super secret Hong Kong newsletter, where I deliver the insider scoop on restaurants, bars, cafes, events, and everything in between. 

Finally, I provide customized itineraries for travelers of all budgets, so if this is something you might be interested in, reach out to inquire about pricing!

Travel well everyone,

Big Body