At a glance

  • Octopus is a stored-value card you can use for transit and small purchases. If you bought a separate Airport Express ticket, you don’t need to load that fare onto your card too, but you’ll still want a balance for MTR and bus rides around town.
  • The standard On-Loan card has a HK$50 deposit. If you return it within 90 days of issue, an HK$11 refund fee applies. The purchase price of a Tourist Octopus is nonrefundable, so keep the purchase cost separate from any remaining stored value.
  • Get one physical card for each person in your group. Before adding a card to your phone, check the operating system and overseas payment requirements. Also note that children ages 3–11 who qualify for child fares won’t automatically get the discount by tapping an adult bank card.

Day by day

Suggested itinerary

See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.

Arrivals hall · 15 minutes

Choose physical or mobile → check purchase cost and balance → top up

Getting to your hotel

Train station or bus stop → get off near your hotel → walk to the hotel

Last day

Set aside your return-trip fare → spend the balance or visit a refund counter

How to fit it in

After collecting your luggage, choose a card type and initial top-up amount. Check the door-to-door route to your hotel, then head to the Airport Express or bus boarding area.

Reality check

Transport

The Airport Express runs from the airport to Tsing Yi, Kowloon, and Hong Kong stations. It doesn’t stop at Tsim Sha Tsui, so compare options that include the final leg from Kowloon Station. For buses, check A21 for the Nathan Road area in Kowloon and A11 for Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay.

Time

Allow 15 minutes to buy and top up a card, and 10 minutes to check routes and stops. The Airport Express ride from the airport to Hong Kong Station takes about 24 minutes, but choose based on your estimated door-to-door arrival time, including waiting and another 20–40 minutes to get from the station to your hotel.

Cost

A one-way adult Airport Express fare with Octopus is HK$120 to Hong Kong Station, HK$105 to Kowloon Station, and HK$73 to Tsing Yi Station. A regular Smart Ticket costs HK$130, HK$115, and HK$80, respectively. HK$100 is a planning amount for an initial top-up for local transit; add the Airport Express fare if you’ll use Octopus to pay for that ride.

Safety

Don’t tap your card while it’s stacked with your phone or another contactless card, and keep an eye on the balance. If a physical card isn’t registered in your name, it may be difficult to recover if lost, so don’t leave it loose in an outer pocket of your wallet.

If plans change

If mobile card setup fails

If you can’t quickly resolve device compatibility or payment card issues, use a physical Octopus or a single-journey Airport Express ticket. Try setting it up again over Wi-Fi at your hotel.

If you don’t have time to return the card

Don’t delay checking in for your flight to get a refund. After setting aside your final transit fare, use the balance for small convenience store purchases or save the card for your next visit.

Small tip

On your first day, check how the card deposit or purchase price is itemized separately from the usable balance on your receipt. If mobile setup doesn’t work, start your trip with a physical card or single-journey ticket. Set aside your return-trip fare before spending down the balance to avoid needing another top-up at the airport.

Final check before departure

  • Check the requirements for child and adult cards, and phone compatibility.
  • Save the Airport Express station and bus stop closest to your hotel.
  • Compare the On-Loan card refund fee with the purchase price of a Tourist Octopus.

MTR publishes Airport Express fares and first and last train times; Octopus explains refund conditions for each card type. For airport transport, distinguish regular trains and buses, which don’t require seat reservations, from tourist products purchased separately. If you arrive late, check the operating hours of the city MTR connections you’ll need after the train.

Information checked: 2026-10-03

Google Maps

Check the location on the map

Use Google Maps to review the location and nearby route. Recheck opening hours and prices with the official source before visiting.

  • Compare the Airport Express and bus all the way to your hotel door

    This article links to these materials for further reading.

    Even if the Airport Express is faster, you’ll still need to get from the station to your hotel. The bus may take longer, but some routes stop closer to where you’re staying. The better option depends on your luggage and travel companions. Plan your arrival-day schedule around when you’ll drop off your bags at the hotel.

  • For a simple setup, choose either a physical Tourist Octopus or a mobile Octopus

    This article links to these materials for further reading.

    Both a physical card and a mobile Octopus are convenient, but their top-up and refund processes differ. Consider device compatibility, overseas-issued cards, and battery concerns, then choose one option to keep things simple on the ground.

  • For Hong Kong, prepare first for walking, air conditioning, and rain

    More articles to explore in the same category.

    For Hong Kong, start by choosing shoes that can handle stairs and hills, a light jacket for air-conditioned spaces, and bags that keep your belongings dry in sudden rain. Organizing your umbrella, water, and power bank so they’re easy to reach in a small bag can greatly reduce fatigue as you move between humid streets and cold MTR trains.

  • Plan for Hong Kong’s heat, rain, and air-conditioning by season

    More articles to explore in the same category.

    Plan outdoor activities in Hong Kong by looking at the season as well as the day’s wind and rain. From May to September, it’s hot and often rainy, so it works well to take a morning walk and visit indoor attractions in the afternoon. Keep booking options flexible for viewpoints, islands, and cable cars so you can move them to a clear day.