● Currency HKD, pegged to the US dollar ● Visa-free stay up to 90 days for many nationalities ● Getting around Octopus card on MTR, tram & ferry ● Airport Express Central in 24 min ● Tap water boil before drinking ● Emergency number 999
The Hong Kong Index

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Getting to Hong Kong

Almost every visitor arrives one of three ways: by air into Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), by high-speed rail from mainland China, or by ferry from Macau and the Pearl River Delta. All three are well organised and well signed in English.

By air

Hong Kong International Airport sits on reclaimed land off Lantau Island and is the arrival point for the large majority of international visitors. From the airport, the Airport Express train reaches Central in about 24 minutes, and free shuttle buses connect the station to major hotels. Airport buses (the "A" and "E" routes) are slower but far cheaper, and taxis are metered and readily available outside both terminals.

By high-speed rail

The Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong Express Rail Link runs into West Kowloon Station, with immigration for both sides handled inside the same building under a co-location arrangement. It's the fastest way in from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and dozens of mainland cities.

By ferry

High-speed ferries connect Hong Kong to Macau and several Pearl River Delta cities, arriving at either the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan or the terminal at the airport (SkyPier), which lets travellers connecting onward skip Hong Kong immigration entirely.

Tip. If your flight lands late, the Airport Express keeps running until around midnight — check the current timetable before booking a hotel shuttle.
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