In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Take the Airport Express to Hong Kong Station in Central or Kowloon Station: a single adult ticket is HK$130 to Hong Kong and HK$115 to Kowloon, or HK$120 and HK$105 with an Octopus card (MTR). The ride to Hong Kong Island takes about 24 minutes (Hong Kong Tourism Board). The Cityflyer A21 bus (HK$34.60) runs down Nathan Road through Tsim Sha Tsui, and the A11 (HK$41.90) serves Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, both paid by Octopus or contactless card. A red taxi makes sense for a group with heavy bags: the meter starts at HK$29 and each bag in the boot adds HK$6.
Hong Kong airport to city: the options
| Option | Goes to | Adult fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express | Hong Kong Station (Central) | HK$130 single, HK$120 Octopus | Fastest; free in-town check-in at Hong Kong and Kowloon stations for the airlines that offer it |
| Airport Express | Kowloon Station | HK$115 single, HK$105 Octopus | The stop before Hong Kong, under the Elements mall at West Kowloon |
| Airport Express | Tsing Yi Station | HK$80 single, HK$73 Octopus | Interchange for the Tung Chung Line |
| Cityflyer A21 | Mong Kok, Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hung Hom | HK$34.60 | Direct to Nathan Road with no change of vehicle |
| Cityflyer A11 | Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, North Point | HK$41.90 | Direct to Hennessy Road on Hong Kong Island |
| Night bus N21 | Mong Kok, Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry | HK$23.80 | Late arrivals, when day routes have stopped |
| Night bus N11 | Central (Macao Ferry Terminal) | HK$32.10 | Late arrivals to Central and Sheung Wan |
| Red taxi | Anywhere on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon | Metered from HK$29 | Door to door; best for three or four people with bags |
Rail fares are from the MTR’s published fare data and bus fares from Citybus. Children pay half the adult Airport Express fare.
Airport Express: the fastest route
An Airport Express train on the line to the airport. Photo: LN9267, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Airport Express runs from the airport to Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong stations, and the line also serves AsiaWorld-Expo. Kowloon Station sits under the Elements mall at West Kowloon. The Hong Kong Tourism Board puts the ride to Hong Kong Island at about 24 minutes and says both Hong Kong and Kowloon stations offer free in-town check-in for specified airlines. Ask your airline whether it takes part before you leave your hotel.
The Airport Express concourse at Hong Kong Station. Photo: LN9267, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Paying: tap an Octopus card at the gate for the Octopus fare, or buy a single ticket. The Octopus guide covers which card to buy.
- Onward travel: Hong Kong Station connects underground to Central MTR station. Tsing Yi is the interchange for the Tung Chung Line. Hong Kong public transport covers the rest.
Cityflyer buses: no change of vehicle
A Cityflyer A21 double-decker in Kowloon. Photo: SBS6577P, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
Citybus runs the Cityflyer routes from the airport’s Ground Transportation Centre; the Hong Kong Tourism Board says to turn right when you leave the Arrivals Hall for the airport buses. Hong Kong International Airport’s bus page lists all the routes. Octopus is accepted on every bus, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board says Citybus takes contactless credit cards and mobile payments as well.
- A21 to Kowloon, HK$34.60. After the airport it calls at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, then Mong Kok, and runs down Nathan Road past Jordan to Tsim Sha Tsui, East Tsim Sha Tsui Station and the Science Museum, ending at Hung Hom Station. The Transport Department’s data gives the full route as 84 minutes.
- A11 to Hong Kong Island, HK$41.90. It crosses to Hong Kong Island, calls at the Macao Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, then Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, and ends at North Point Ferry Pier. The full route is listed at 94 minutes.
- Night buses. The N21 runs from the airport to Mong Kok, Jordan and the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry for HK$23.80, and the N11 to the Macao Ferry Terminal in Central for HK$32.10.
The Transport Department’s HKeMobility app gives routes, fares, journey times and arrival times for the MTR, buses, trams and ferries.
Taxis: the red ones go to the city
Red urban taxis at a Kowloon taxi stand, with Hong Kong Island behind. Photo: Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxis wait outside Arrivals. Red taxis go to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, green taxis serve only the New Territories and blue taxis only Lantau; any colour can take you to or from the airport. All are metered, and the Hong Kong Tourism Board advises asking for a machine-printed receipt.
The Transport Department’s urban taxi fares, effective from 14 July 2024:
| Charge | Red urban taxi |
|---|---|
| First 2 km | HK$29 |
| Each further 200 m or minute of waiting | HK$2.10 until the fare reaches HK$102.50, then HK$1.40 |
| Each piece of baggage in the boot | HK$6 |
| Western Harbour Crossing, if used | HK$25 toll, plus HK$25 return toll unless the trip starts at a cross-harbour taxi stand or ends on the same side of the harbour |
| Hiring by telephone | HK$5 |
Taxis must now offer at least two electronic payment methods, one of them QR-based, and cash is accepted; a driver is not obliged to give change for HK$500 or HK$1,000 notes.
Pre-booked transfers
Two GetYourGuide products cover the airport run if you want the transport fixed before you land. These are not cheaper than the Airport Express fare set out above; they save queuing and the walk from the station.
Hong Kong: Airport Express e-Ticket (Kowloon/HK/Tsing Yi)
From HK$86 · 4.3 stars from 277 reviews · valid 90 days
Airport Express e-Ticketad: a prepaid ticket for the three Airport Express destinations. It suits anyone who wants to be through the gates without queuing at a machine on arrival.
Hong Kong: Private HKG Airport Transfer to or from Hotel
From HK$315 · 4.7 stars from 141 reviews · 45 minutes
Private HKG Airport Transferad: a door-to-door private car between the airport and your hotel, with flight tracking and 90 minutes of waiting time. It suits a family or a group with heavy luggage, or a late arrival.
Airport Express tickets on Klookad{rel=“sponsored nofollow noopener”} are an alternative.
Which one to take
- Airport Express: your hotel is near Central, Sheung Wan or West Kowloon, or you want the quickest journey in the city.
- Cityflyer A21 or A11: your hotel is on Nathan Road or on Hennessy Road in Wan Chai or Causeway Bay, and you would rather ride one bus than change trains.
- Red taxi: three or four of you share the fare, or the hotel is a long walk from an MTR station.
- Night bus or taxi: your flight lands late. Check the last Airport Express train for your arrival time before you rely on it.
Once you are in the city, the public transport guide covers the MTR, trams and ferries, and Octopus is the card to carry. Where to base yourself is in where to stay and hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui and Central.
Common questions
What is the fastest way from Hong Kong Airport to the city centre?
The MTR Airport Express. The Hong Kong Tourism Board puts the ride to Hong Kong Island at about 24 minutes. Kowloon is the stop before it, so it is quicker still.
How much does the Airport Express train cost?
A single adult ticket costs HK$130 to Hong Kong Station in Central, HK$115 to Kowloon Station and HK$80 to Tsing Yi. Paying with an Octopus card brings these to HK$120, HK$105 and HK$73 (MTR fare data). Children pay half.
Which bus goes from Hong Kong Airport to Tsim Sha Tsui?
Cityflyer A21 runs from the airport's Ground Transportation Centre up Nathan Road through Mong Kok, Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui to Hung Hom Station. The adult fare is HK$34.60. The overnight N21 runs to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry for HK$23.80.
Are taxis from Hong Kong Airport metered, and what colour should I take?
All Hong Kong taxis are metered. For Hong Kong Island or Kowloon take a red taxi. Green taxis serve only the New Territories and blue taxis only Lantau. The red taxi flagfall is HK$29 for the first 2 km, and each piece of baggage in the boot is HK$6 (Transport Department fare table).
How do I get to central Hong Kong if my flight lands late at night?
Overnight Cityflyer buses run from the Ground Transportation Centre: N21 to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry (HK$23.80) and N11 to Central, by the Macao Ferry Terminal (HK$32.10). Red taxis wait at the airport taxi stand at all hours.
