In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Five day trips from Hong Kong need nothing more than public transport. Cheung Chau and Lamma are the cheapest by ferry from Central (from HK$16.70 each way, Monday to Saturday). Lantau and Tai O pairs the Big Buddha with a fishing village (the Ngong Ping 360 cable car is HK$295 return). Sai Kung has the Geopark’s rock columns and a seafood promenade, by minibus for about HK$11. Macau (from HK$192 by ferry) and Shenzhen (HK$79 by High Speed Rail) cross a border, so take your passport and check the entry rules first. Or book a tour: the Ngong Ping 360 tour of the Big Buddha and Tai Oad (from HK$530, 4.7 stars from 764 reviews) books the priority cable car boarding and the coach between Ngong Ping and Tai O.
The five trips compared
| Trip | Gets you there | Cost, one way | Passport? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheung Chau | Sun Ferry from Central Pier 5, 35 to 60 minutes | HK$16.70 ordinary or HK$32.90 fast (Monday to Saturday) | No | A temple, a pirate cave and snacks |
| Lamma | Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry from Central Pier 4 | HK$24.90 to Yung Shue Wan, HK$30.90 to Sok Kwu Wan | No | The Family Walk and seafood |
| Lantau and Tai O | MTR to Tung Chung, then cable car or bus 11 | HK$24.30 MTR, plus HK$14 bus 11 or HK$295 cable car return | No | The Big Buddha and stilt houses |
| Sai Kung and the Geopark | MTR to Diamond Hill, then minibus 1A | HK$15.80 MTR, plus HK$10.90 minibus, and HK$12.80 for minibus 9A to the East Dam | No | Rock columns and seafood |
| Macau | Ferry from Sheung Wan, about 60 minutes | HK$192 to HK$212 ferry; HK$65 bridge bus | Yes | The UNESCO historic centre |
| Shenzhen | High Speed Rail from West Kowloon, or East Rail to Lo Wu | HK$79 to Futian; HK$52.20 East Rail from Admiralty | Yes, plus a visa or exemption | Electronics markets and tech |
Fares are weekday adult fares from the operators: Sun Ferry, Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry, TurboJET, Cotai Water Jet, Ngong Ping 360, MTR and the Transport Department’s routes and fares data. Each guide lists the Sunday and public holiday fares, which are higher on most routes.
Choosing
- No border, least effort: Cheung Chau or Lamma. Both are a single ferry ride from Central.
- Sights with a view: Lantau for the cable car and the Big Buddha, with Tai O in the afternoon.
- Walking: Sai Kung for the East Dam and Sharp Island, or Lamma’s Family Walk. The East Dam minibus runs only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
- History and food: Macau, for the Portuguese-built historic centre and Macanese dishes.
- Technology: Shenzhen, for Huaqiangbei’s electronics markets.
Macau
Senado Square, Macau. Photo: The Red Hat of Pat Ferrick, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
Macau’s Historic Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with Senado Square, the facade of the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Mount Fortress within walking distance of each other. Ferries leave from the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan: TurboJET to the Outer Harbour on the peninsula and Cotai Water Jet to Taipa. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle is HK$65, but it starts at Hong Kong Port, next to the airport. The Macau guide has the fares, the passport rules and a one-day route.
Lantau and Tai O
The Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping. Photo: Béria Lima de Rodríguez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Hong Kong Disneyland is also on Lantau; see Disneyland tickets. The Ngong Ping 360 cable car takes 25 minutes from Tung Chung to the Big Buddha, and New Lantao Bus 21 runs from Ngong Ping to Tai O in about 20 minutes. Tai O’s stilt houses and 20-minute boat ride suit the afternoon. Bus 11 runs between Tai O and Tung Chung (HK$14 Monday to Saturday, HK$23.30 on Sundays and public holidays). The Lantau and Tai O guide covers the cable car’s hours and ticket prices.
Cheung Chau and Lamma
A ferry at Cheung Chau’s pier. Photo: Hiroki Ogawa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
Cheung Chau has Pak Tai Temple, a pirate’s cave and beaches near the pier; Lamma has the Family Walk between Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan and the seafood restaurants at the end. Sun Ferry’s ordinary ferry to Cheung Chau takes about 55 to 60 minutes and the fast ferry about 35 to 40; Sok Kwu Wan has only about one sailing every 1½ to 2 hours. The island guide has both operators’ fares.
Sai Kung and the Geopark
The rock columns at the East Dam. Photo: Minghong, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sai Kung’s minibuses 1A and 101M cost HK$10.90 and take about 20 minutes from Diamond Hill and Hang Hau. The East Dam’s volcanic rock columns are part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark and need minibus 9A, which runs only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The Sai Kung guide has the connections and the boat trips.
Shenzhen
The High Speed Rail runs from West Kowloon to Futian and Shenzhen North; immigration for Hong Kong and the mainland is cleared in the station before boarding. Fares are HK$79 to Futian and HK$88 to Shenzhen North in second class, effective 1 November 2026. Mainland China needs a visa or an exemption for most passports, and Octopus cards do not work, so set up Alipay or WeChat Pay. The Shenzhen guide has the border rules.
Tours to each destination
A tour costs more than the public fare but covers the transfers and the border paperwork. These are the best fits for each trip.
Macau day tour with lunch
From HK$1,800 · 4.7 stars from 215 reviews · 10 hours · hotel pickup
From Hong Kong: Macau Day Tour via HZMB w/Lunch & Transfersad goes to Macau by ferry, returns by seat-in coach over the bridge and includes hotel transfers and a buffet lunch.
Ngong Ping 360 cable car, Tai O and Big Buddha
From HK$530 · 4.7 stars from 764 reviews · 5 hours
Hong Kong: Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Tai O & Big Buddha Tourad includes priority cable car boarding, a guided Big Buddha and Po Lin visit, a Tai O boat excursion and a private coach.
Geopark yacht tour
From HK$320 · 4.5 stars from 140 reviews · 2½ to 4 hours
Hong Kong UNESCO Geopark Four Sea Arches Volcano Yacht Tourad is a guided yacht trip along the Geopark’s volcanic coast.
Private Shenzhen technology day tour
From HK$2,077 · 5 stars from 46 reviews · 8 hours
From Hong Kong: Shenzhen Technology Day Tour (Private)ad meets in Hong Kong; the guide books the tickets and takes you through immigration.
Official fare or tour: the prices side by side
| Trip | Public transport, one way | Tour price | What the tour adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macau | HK$192 to HK$212 ferry | From HK$1,800 (10 hours) | Hotel transfers, lunch, guide, border handled |
| Lantau and Tai O | About HK$24.30 MTR, HK$295 cable car return and HK$14 and HK$7.90 on buses | From HK$530 (5 hours) | Priority boarding, guide, boat, coach |
| Sai Kung Geopark | About HK$27 for the MTR and minibus 1A | From HK$320 (2½ to 4 hours) | The sea arches from a yacht |
| Shenzhen | HK$79 train | From HK$2,077 (8 hours, private) | Tickets, escort through immigration |
For the walks on Hong Kong Island, start with things to do in Hong Kong, and for a day-by-day plan that fits in one of these excursions, see 3 days in Hong Kong.
Common questions
What is the easiest day trip from Hong Kong?
The islands. Sun Ferry's Central to Cheung Chau fare is HK$16.70 each way on the ordinary ferry from Monday to Saturday, and Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry's Central to Yung Shue Wan on Lamma is HK$24.90. There is no passport check, and you can be back by evening.
Which day trips need a passport?
Macau and Shenzhen. Both are separate immigration zones. Macau requires a passport valid for at least 90 days beyond your stay and an onward or return ticket. UK, Canadian, Australian and most EU passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days (set to run initially until 31 December 2026), US citizens need a visa or the 240-hour transit rule, and the National Immigration Administration's current rules decide, so check before you book. Macau gives UK citizens up to 6 months, EU citizens 90 days and US, Canadian and Australian citizens 30 days without a visa.
How much is the ferry to Macau?
TurboJET's Economy Class fare is HK$194 on weekdays and HK$212 at weekends and holidays. Cotai Water Jet's Cotai Class fare is HK$192 on weekdays and HK$209 at weekends and holidays. The bridge shuttle bus is HK$65, plus an airport bus to reach Hong Kong Port.
How much is the train to Shenzhen?
MTR's High Speed Rail fare from West Kowloon is HK$79 in second class to Futian and HK$88 to Shenzhen North (effective 1 November 2026). The East Rail line to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau is HK$41.50 to HK$52.20 by Octopus.
Which day trip is best for walking?
Sai Kung and the Geopark for the East Dam rock columns, or Lamma for the walk between Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan. The Sai Kung minibus to the East Dam runs only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
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