Hong Kong Buses, Trams & Ferries: Getting Around Without the MTR
The MTR is fast, but Hong Kong's buses, trams, and ferries are cheaper, more scenic, and sometimes more direct. An Octopus card (八達通) ties them all together.
Buses (巴士)
- KMB (九巴) runs Kowloon and the New Territories; Citybus (城巴) covers Hong Kong Island plus most airport routes.
- Fares are distance-based (roughly HK$5–25 on urban routes); check the fare display by the driver and tap your Octopus when boarding. A few routes collect on alighting — follow the signs.
- Sit upstairs at the front of a double-decker for the best city views — the ride itself is sightseeing.
- Google Maps and the Citybus/KMB apps show real-time arrivals; at busy stops, flag the bus or it may sail past.
Trams (叮叮 / 電車)
The double-decker tram has run along Hong Kong Island's north shore (Kennedy Town ↔ Shau Kei Wan) since 1904, and it's the cheapest ride in town:
- Flat fare: HK$3.3 adult, regardless of distance — one stop or the full 80-minute run costs the same.
- Board at the back, pay at the front when you get off. Octopus, cash (no change given), and contactless all work.
- Grab the upper deck front seats for photos; the tram is slow enough to enjoy them.
Star Ferry (天星小輪)
The 10-minute crossing between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central is the world's cheapest harbour cruise (running since 1888):
- Weekdays: upper deck HK$5.0, lower deck HK$4.0
- Weekends/public holidays: upper HK$6.5, lower HK$5.6
- Pay at the pier gate with Octopus or cash. Upper deck = open-air views; go at sunset if you can.
The Wan Chai ↔ TST route is upper-deck only.
Octopus tapping (拍卡) and transfer discounts (轉乘優惠)
- One Octopus covers MTR, buses, trams, ferries, and minibuses. Keep the balance above HK$50 or so.
- Transfer discounts apply automatically: designated bus–bus and bus–rail interchanges deduct a few dollars when you tap through within the time window. You don't need to do anything — just use the same Octopus.
- Tourists can also use contactless credit cards on much of the network, but Octopus still gets the best transfer deals.
Which to pick when
- Harbour views: Star Ferry, then a tram ride along the island.
- Kowloon–NT hops: KMB buses are often one-seat rides where the MTR needs changes.
- Late night: night buses (N-prefixed routes) cover the gap after the MTR closes.
Minibuses (小巴): the gap-filler
- Green minibuses (專線小巴) run fixed routes with set fares (shown on the windshield) — tap Octopus on boarding. They're the fastest way into places like Sai Kung or Clear Water Bay.
- Red minibuses (紅色小巴) run semi-flexible routes, can stop on request, and historically were cash-only — most now take Octopus too.
- Both seat 16–19 passengers; when full, they skip stops. Flag them down like a bus.
A sample car-free day
Morning: Star Ferry (upper deck) from TST to Central → tram west to Sheung Wan for dim sum → tram east to North Point, watching the city slide past the windows. Afternoon: bus up to The Peak or across to Stanley. Evening: ferry back as the harbour lights come on. Total transport cost: under HK$30.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need exact change for buses?
No if you use Octopus — strongly recommended. Cash fare boxes give no change.
How late do trams run?
Roughly 06:00 to midnight depending on the route; frequency drops late at night.
Are there ferries to the outlying islands?
Yes — separate operators sail from Central's piers to Cheung Chau, Lamma, Peng Chau, and Mui Wo. They're covered in the day-trip transport guide.
Sources
- https://www.hktramways.com/tc/schedules-fares
- https://www.starferry.com.hk/tc/service
- https://www.discoverhongkong.com