From the airport to the city centre Hong-Kong 香港

Hong Kong airport is located on Lantau Island. There are several ways to reach Hong Kong Island or any of the areas where your hotel is located.

Airport Express. This is the fastest way to reach the center (Hong Kong Station) or Kowloon. The metro makes the 35.3 km journey from the airport to the city in just 24 minutes. Departures to/from the airport are scheduled every ten minutes between 5.50 a.m. and 00.45 a.m. A trip costs HK$115 for an adult and HK$57 for a child. Tickets can be purchased either at the airport terminal or at the metro station, but it is also possible to pay directly with the Octopus transport card or to buy them in advance online in the form of a QR code (www.mtr.com.hk > buy tickets). At Hong Kong station, the cab rank is opposite the metro exit.

Good tip: Hong Kong is one of the few cities in the world to offer in-city baggage check-in up to 24 hours before flight departure. Most airlines have check-in desks at Hong Kong Station and Kowloon. All you need is an airport metro ticket to access this service. You can then drop off your luggage and pick it up directly at your destination.

Cabs. Cabs are available at the airport 24 hours a day. They are color-coded according to the zones in which they operate (red for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green for the New Territories and blue for Lantau). Simply present your hotel address to an assistant who will direct you to the appropriate cab. It takes around 45 minutes and HK$370 to reach Hong Kong Island. Bring cash to pay.

Bus. There are many bus routes to/from the airport. The journey will cost you between HK$20 and HK$40, but will take longer. Night buses (N11 from Central or N21 from Tsim Sha Tsui, for example) can be useful if you have an early or late flight. Payment by Octopus or credit card directly on the bus.

Shuttle services. Some hotels offer shuttle services to and from the airport. Check with your hotel to see if they offer this service.

Arrival by train Hong-Kong 香港

If you're traveling in China, you can take advantage of the ultra-developed rail network to reach Hong Kong. West Kowloon Station is the main station for high-speedrail services linking Hong Kong with many cities on the Chinese mainland.

Among the many connections, here are a few that may be useful:

- Guangzhou (Canton): 45 departures a day, approx. 1 hour, HK$250.

- Shenzhen (Futian or Shenzhen North): approx. 20 minutes, HK$80.

- Beijing and Shanghai: daily departures, approx. 9 hours. Night trains also run between these two cities and Hong Kong at weekends.

- Other destinations such as Kunming, Changsha, Guilin or Xiamen are linked to Hong Kong.

Formalities. When arriving in or departing from Hong Kong by train, you must go through customs and immigration, as you are crossing a border. Be at the station at least two hours before your train departs.

You don't need a paper ticket; your seat is linked to your passport, which you'll just need to show.

Reservations. The www.trip.com website is a convenient and secure way to book your train tickets. Trains in China can only be booked two weeks in advance. Be prepared, especially if you're traveling during a busy period (a public holiday, for example).

Arrival by boat Hong-Kong 香港

It's not very common to arrive in Hong Kong by boat. However, if you're arriving from southern China or Macau, here are your shipping options.

To/from Macau. Two companies, TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet, organize ferry crossings between Hong Kong and Macau (Taipa or Old Town). Allow 1 hour for around HK$200. Departures every hour (minimum) between 7.30 a.m. and 11 p.m.

To/from Shenzhen. Several ferries run daily between Shenzhen (city and airport) and Hong Kong (city and airport). Allow 1 hour for around HK$200.

To/from Guangzhou (Canton). Ferries to/from Guangzhou arrive at the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui or at Sky Pier (airport). There are 8 per day. Allow between 1h30 and 3h travel time for around HK$200.

Public transport Hong-Kong 香港

The good news is that Hong Kong has one of the most efficient public transport networks in the world. Coverage is total, delays extremely rare and prices competitive.

Metro (MTR) : the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is Hong Kong's fastest and most convenient means of transport. With 11 main lines, the MTR covers Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and the airport. Busiest lines include the red line (Tsuen Wan), the blue line (Island Line), and the green line (Kwun Tong). The metro runs from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day. Trains run every 1 to 4 minutes during rush hour and every 5 to 10 minutes the rest of the time. The distance traveled (number of stations) determines the fare. On average, a journey in the city costs between HK$4.5 and HK$14.

Bus : Hong Kong's extensive bus network enables you to travel anywhere, even in areas not served by the metro. Buses are air-conditioned and often double-decker (so you can enjoy the view). Buses generally run from 5.30 a.m. to midnight, with night services on some lines. Payment is by card, Octopus or cash (but in the latter case, be sure to have change ready, as there is no exchange).

Minibuses : minibuses in Hong Kong are a convenient transport option in areas poorly served by the metro or conventional buses. Green minibuses have fixed routes and timetables. Fares vary according to distance, generally between HK$5 and HK$20. Red minibuses are more flexible, with no fixed routes or timetables. They stop at passengers' request. To ask the driver to stop, say Yauh Lok Mh'goi ("get off here please" in Cantonese), or tap on the bus ceiling. Minibuses are known for their speed, but some drivers can be quite brusque, so fasten your seatbelt!

Tramway: the double-decker streetcar, known as the "Ding Ding", is emblematic of Hong Kong Island, and is used to enjoy the view and its charm, but it is rather slow. It runs along the north coast of the island, between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town. Streetcars run from 5.30 a.m. to midnight, about every 2 to 10 minutes. You get on at the back and get off at the front, paying as you go. A trip costs HK$3 and payment is made via Octopus or directly by bank card.

Ferries : the ferry network is also very well developed, allowing you to reach islands such as Lamma (in 20 or 30 minutes), Cheung Chau (in 40 minutes) or Lantau (40 minutes) from Central's piers. Hong Kong's iconic Star Ferry links the island to Tsim Sha Tsui in 5 minutes. The view of the skyline is splendid. There are also ferries to Hung Hom and Wan Chai.

Means of payment: the indispensable Octopus card ! It can be used on all forms of transport, as well as in many stores, vending machines and restaurants. It can be recharged at metro stations, convenience stores (7-Eleven, Circle K), and via mobile applications. The initial deposit is HK$50, and you must load it with a minimum of HK$100 on your first purchase. At the end of your trip, you can return your Octopus card to MTR customer service centers (located in metro stations). They will refund the remaining balance and the HK$50 deposit. Since 2024, you can also use contactless credit or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay) to pay directly in the metro (blue kiosks), some buses and the streetcar.

Bike, scooters & co Hong-Kong 香港

Cycling is virtually non-existent on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. We do not recommend this means of transport for visiting the city. However, on islands such as Lantau and Cheung Chau, and even in the New Territories, cycling is much more popular, and there are even networks of cycle paths. It's a great way to get off the beaten track and explore a different side of Hong Kong, on the islands or in the more remote territories.

The Hong KongTourism Board (HKTB)website provides ideas for itineraries and addresses of bicycle rental companies: www.discoverhongkong.com

With a driver Hong-Kong 香港

Cabs. Red cabs are the most common, operating mainly on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon. Green cabs serve areas of the New Territories and blue ones are mainly for Lantau Island. The basic fare for the first 2 km is HK$29. Thereafter, HK$2.1 is charged for each additional 200 meters or minute of waiting time.

Additional charges apply for luggage (HK$6), tunnel tolls (HK$50 for the three tunnels linking Hong Kong Island to Kowloon), and night-time travel (11pm to 6am). Payment is in cash, and since 2024, more and more cabs have been equipped with a terminal for Octopus cards. You can hail a cab on the street, call one by phone, or use the HK Taxi app to locate a nearby cab and pay online. There are also cab ranks in key locations: there will be a queue for cabs going to the Hong Kong Island side and a queue for cabs going to the Kowloon(cross harbour) side.

Smart tip: most cab drivers speak broken English. It's a good idea to have the address of your destination in Chinese. The TakeTaxi app translates addresses into Cantonese. To get to the airport, show this: 香港國際機場 一號客運大樓.

Uber. The Uber app works in Hong Kong. But it's not as essential as elsewhere, as the cab network is highly developed and efficient.

By car Hong-Kong 香港

As the public transport network is very extensive, renting a car is not essential. If you rent a car, always carry your driving license and passport. Although there are specialized companies, major hotels often have their own car rental service, with or without driver, by the hour or by the day. Few tourists rent a car without a driver, as it's often difficult to stop and almost impossible to find a parking space in town. What's more, driving is on the left - a vestige of the British colony - and traffic is often congested. In Hong Kong, a car is more a status symbol than a necessity.

Accessibility Hong-Kong 香港

Priority. In Hong Kong, cars, trucks, streetcars and other vehicles have priority over pedestrians. So you need to be particularly careful, and not cross just anywhere, anyhow. What's more, you drive on the left, just like in England.

Wayfinding. Some major thoroughfares, such as Queen's Road and Des Voeux Road, are so long that they are divided into several sections (Queen's Road Central, Queen's Road East, etc.). So it's important to refer to the point of the compass to get to a specific address. For example, there will be several parts of the city at n°80 Queen's Road...West, East, etc.

Disability. Hong Kong has made significant efforts to make its transport infrastructure accessible to people with reduced mobility. Most metro stations are equipped with ramps, elevators and widened doors to facilitate wheelchair access. In addition, staff are trained to provide assistance. Many Hong Kong buses, especially the newer models, are wheelchair accessible. Most ferries (to Lantau, Lamma or Macau, for example) are also accessible and equipped. However, minibuses and streetcars are not accessible. Cabs should be ordered in advance, as not all are fully equipped. The airport is, of course, fully equipped and accessible.

Tourist traps Hong-Kong 香港

Hong Kong is a very safe destination, and scams are not common. However, as is the case everywhere, some people can take advantage of travelers' ignorance. Some cab drivers may refuse to use the meter and impose a fixed fare, often much higher than the normal fare. To avoid this, check that the meter is running (and displays HK$29 at the start), if the driver refuses, ask to get out and, as a last resort, you can take a photo of his accreditation card on the dashboard.