Octopus Card in Hong Kong: The Complete Newcomer's Guide (2026)
The Octopus card (八達通) is the single most important thing you'll own in Hong Kong after your phone. One tap pays for the MTR, buses, minibuses, trams, ferries, convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food chains, parking meters, and even vending machines. Get one the moment you land — you'll use it a dozen times a day.
Which card should you get?
There are two main families, and picking wrong costs you money:
| Card | Price | Deposit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Octopus (Sold version) | HK$39, no stored value | None (non-refundable) | Short visits; the card is yours to keep |
| Tourist Octopus – China T-Union | HK$42, no stored value | None | Visitors who also travel to mainland China/Macau (works on transit in 336 mainland cities) |
| On-Loan Adult Octopus (standard) | HK$150 total (HK$50 refundable deposit + HK$100 stored value) | HK$50 refundable | Anyone staying a while — this is what locals use |
Newcomer advice: if you're moving to Hong Kong, skip the tourist card and get the standard On-Loan Octopus at any MTR Customer Service Centre. The HK$50 deposit is refundable when you return the card, and it works identically everywhere. If you return it within 90 days there's a small handling charge (around HK$11), so don't buy-and-return casually.
Where to buy on arrival
- Airport: 7-Eleven in the Arrivals Hall, the MTR Customer Service Centre at Airport Station, or Airport Express counters. The Airport Station also sells a Tourist Octopus bundled with Airport Express rides.
- In the city: any MTR Customer Service Centre, 7-Eleven, or Circle K (900+ locations, most open 24 hours).
- Online before you fly: Klook and similar platforms sell preloaded Tourist Octopus cards you collect at the airport's Arrival Hall counter.
Topping up and using it
Top up with cash at 7-Eleven, Circle K, MTR stations, or via the Octopus app linked to a bank account or credit card. The standard card auto-deducts per ride — MTR fares are distance-based (roughly HK$4–13 for typical urban trips in 2026), buses are flat per route.
Beyond transport, Octopus is accepted at McDonald's, Starbucks, PARKnSHOP, Wellcome, 7-Eleven, and thousands of small shops. When a cashier asks "八達通?" (baat-daht-tūng?), they're asking if you're paying by Octopus.
Octopus on your phone (no physical card needed)
- iPhone: add an Octopus directly in Apple Wallet (transit card) — no app needed, works with Express Transit.
- Android: use the Octopus app with NFC; Samsung Pay also supports Octopus.
- Tourists: the "Octopus for Tourists" app issues a digital tourist card.
Phone Octopus works on all the same readers. One catch: some discount schemes (like the MTR Monthly Pass) must be loaded onto a physical Octopus at a Customer Service Centre — check before going fully digital.
Fares and concessions
- Adult fares apply to ages 12–64.
- Children (3–11) and seniors (65+) get concession fares with the matching card type — buy the right card, because the discount is tied to the card, not the person.
- The old HK$2 senior fare scheme changed in April 2026 to a "$2 or 80% off" structure for eligible elderly and disabled passengers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Octopus on the Airport Express?
Yes — but the Airport Express has its own fare table (HK$120 to Hong Kong Station, HK$105 to Kowloon, HK$73 to Tsing Yi by Octopus). It deducts from your stored value like any other trip; it isn't covered by regular MTR passes.
What happens if my balance goes negative?
The card allows a small negative balance (one trip's worth) so you're never stranded at a gate. Top up before your next ride.
Can I get a refund on a Tourist (Sold) card?
The HK$39/HK$42 card fee is non-refundable, but any stored value you loaded onto it is refundable.
Sources
- Octopus Cards Limited, "Choice of Octopus" — card types and prices: https://www.octopus.com.hk/en/consumer/tourist/choices/index.html
- Octopus Cards Limited, "Tourist Octopus (Sold version)": https://www.octopus.com.hk/en/consumer/octopus-cards/products/sold-tourist/index.html
- MTR Corporation, Airport Express fares and the taxi interchange offer: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tickets/ael_taxi.html