The main airport in Hong Kong is Hong Kong International (aka Chek Lap Kok) located north of Lantau Island west of Hong Kong Island. This is the major airport for the region offering several options for transportation into the city including trains, buses, and taxis.

If you have not booked a private transfer through us, you have a few options including the Airport Express train which connects passengers to Hong Kong Station in 24 minutes, the train is a quick and comfortable option and departs from the airport every 10 minutes from 5:54 am to 11:28 pm and every 12 minutes from 11:28 pm to 12:45 am. Tickets cost approximately HK$115 per adult for a single journey and HK$57.50 for children. You can also travel to Kowloon Station for approximately HK$105, child HK$52.50 and Tsing Yi Station for approximately HK$70, child HK$35.

A cheaper option from the airport would be to take the Airport Express to Tsing Yi Station and then change to the Tung Chung MTR line which takes you to Hong Kong Station. The cost is approximately HK$65 with an Octopus card. There is a free connection on the MTR offered (if using the same Octopus Card) for anyone traveling from the Airport Express to the MTR stations at Central, Kowloon and Tsing Yi. As well as a free shuttle bus transfer to various hotels nearby offered to passengers on the Airport Express, porter services are free to passengers at all Airport Express Stations, there is no need to tip. Airport Express can be found inside the arrivals hall, follow the signs for `trains to the city`. For more information visit www.mtr.com.hk

Buses from the airport are cheaper than the train or a taxi but can take longer to get into the city. The two major bus companies at the airport are Citybus Limited (CityFlyer Routes) and Long Win (Airbus Routes). The CityFlyer routes that service Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are the best options for tourists and the most popular routes are A11 costing approximately HK$44 per adult and HK$16.50 per child taking around 45 minutes into central Kowloon and A21 costing approximately HK$40 per adult and HK$20 per child this journey takes around an hour taking passengers to the central areas of the city. Most of the bus stops found around the city are within walking distance to many of the major hotels and other attractions. The bus stops can be found outside the arrivals hall toward the right, follow the signs. For more information visit www.citybus.com.hk or www.lwb.hk

Taxis provide a fast, flexible and direct route into the city. Taxi stations are located towards the left-hand side outside the arrivals hall, follow the signs. The approximate costs to Central are around HK$250 - $350. Taxis are metered and color coded based on their coverage areas: Red = Urban, Green = New Territories and Blue = Lantau Island. Ask the staff at the taxi stations for assistance.

The main train station on the island of Hong Kong is Central. If you have taken the Airport Express train there is a free shuttle provided from the station to some hotels nearby, the shuttles depart every 20 minutes from Hong Kong Station. If your hotel is not offered as a drop off with the free shuttle they may offer independent pick up services from the stations, check with your hotel directly. Taxis are available outside of the station along with metro and bus stations located close by, and many attractions are within walking distance.

Kowloon Station is located on the northern side of Hong Kong Island and is another major train station. The Airport Express shuttles depart from here every 12 minutes to some hotels in the area, there are metro stations nearby and taxis available outside of the station.

Hong Kong features a very fast and efficient Mass Transit Railway system (MTR) that covers all the major attraction in the region with 11 rail lines including 5 underground lines, 3 subway lines, over land lines and Light Rail. The stations in the city are color coded and the most frequently used lines for visitors include the Tsuen Wan Line which is red, the Island Line which is blue, the Tung Chung Line is orange and the Disneyland Resort Line is pink. The trains run every 2 - 14 minutes starting at 6:00 am until around 1:00 am, with the busiest times during peak hours from 7:30 am to 9:30 am and 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm during the weekdays. Ticket prices depend on the distance traveled with prices ranging from HK$8 to HK$35 for adults with children and senior citizens over 65 paying half the price of an adult ticket. Ticket machines can be found at the stations but do not accept credit cards, food and drinks are prohibited on the trains and inside the stations.

The city features a historic tram system on board double-decker streetcars that were established in 1904 and run along the northern coast of the Island. An affordable, scenic way to see parts of the city with some of the best views around and some great prices. A flat fare of HK$2.30 is paid when you exit the tram, passenger`s board at the rear and trams run from 6:00 am until midnight.

The Peak Tram takes passengers from Central Hong Kong up to Victoria Peak, a popular journey that has been around since 1888, the steepest railway in the world. The tram operates from 7:00 am until midnight and departs every 10 -15 minutes taking around 7 minutes to reach the peak. Tickets are approximately HK$28.

There are plenty of taxis in the city providing a fast, affordable service to get around Hong Kong. Taxis are metered and can be hailed from the streets, ordered by phone or found outside many major attractions including the train and bus stations. Taxis are color coded in the city with three lines, Red is Urban and runs in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island but cannot go to Lantau, Blue is Lantau covering Lantau Island and Green covers the New Territories. Prices depend on the line you are traveling and the distance.

Buses are available in the city and a great way to explore the southern side of the Island including Lantau Island and the New Territories. The main bus stations are in Central and Admiralty

Hong Kong`s extensive bus system will take you just about anywhere in the territory. Since Kowloon and the northern side of Hong Kong Island are so well served by the MTR, most visitors use the buses primarily to explore the southern side of Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and Lantau Island. Buses run from 5:30 am until around midnight with a few buses that run through the night from 12:45 am until 5 am. Prices start around HK$4 and go up depending on the distance and destination. Night buses cost around HK$7.

Hong Kong features the longest outdoor escalator in the world; it travels from Central through the Soho neighborhood to the Mid-levels and through some of the oldest streets in the city. During rush house the escalator moves down, the rest of the time it moves up and it is free.

Taxis are plentiful in the city and can be found on the streets, outside major attractions, outside the stations and ordered over the phone. You can hail a cab from the street and if the red sign on the taxi is illuminated this means it is available for hire.

Renting a car in the city is not necessary with a wide range of public transportation options provided for getting around the island. Driving in Hong Kong can be confusing with one-way streets, heavy traffic and the lack of, and expense of parking in the city make renting a car un-popular.

Hong Kong is an island, therefore, traveling by boat or ferry is popular as well as a necessity to get to certain areas. Star Ferry is the star of the show when it comes to ferries; the fleet features electric vessels named Morning Star, Twinkling Star, and Celestial Star. There are two routes that run from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central at Pier 7 and Wan Chai. The ferries operate from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm with prices ranging from HK$2.50 for adults HK$1.50 for children on weekdays and HK$3.40 for adults HK$2.10 for children on the weekends.

The main ferry terminal for regular ferry services is located at Central across from the Star Ferry where services depart for the Outlying Islands.

The Octopus card is a rechargeable travel card that is valid for use on the MTR, buses, trams, and some ferries as well as retail purchases at certain stores including supermarkets and some restaurants like McDonald`s. The cost for the card is around HK$150 for adults and HK$70 for children and includes an HK$50 refundable deposit. The cards can be purchased at any of the MTR stations from the customer service centers and from the Citybus, New World First Bus, and Admiralty East bus terminals. Visit www.octopuscards.com for more information.

Certain areas in the city are fine for walking around, such as the Promenade where you can find plenty of attractions and entertainment outlets available along the waterfront. The downtown area is quite compact making it easy to walk around, plus walking down Temple Street and checking out the street markets is a great way to see parts of the city. Take a walk in one of the beautiful parks including Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Park. Dragon`s Back Trail is a 31-mile long hiking trail that runs along the coast in southeastern Hong Kong, the best urban hike in Asia.

Riding a bike is only recommended in the quieter areas of the city, Hong Kong Island and Kowloon are not safe for cycling, but southern Hong Kong Island and the New Territories offer cyclist a safe and scenic route with bike paths. Due to certain laws bicycles are not allowed to ride on the highways or in tunnels. Rentals can be found in several different locations across the city including popular spots such as Cheung Chau, Lantau, Tai Po Market and Tuen Mun, renting a bike usually costs around HK$50 a day for a regular bike.

Hong Kong is an excellent shopping destination filled with some of the largest shopping malls, department stores, chic street boutiques, a mixture of street markets and electronic stores all with no sales tax or VAT. The city offers a massive variety of products and prices depending on where you shop. Some of the products that are on offer include brand name clothing, luggage, antiques, jewelry, Asian art, electronics, cosmetics and herbs/medicines. Visit some of the main areas of shopping such as Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Victoria Harbor and Admiralty. Big sales are popular during the holiday season as well as the months of July and August, when many stores have huge sales including 50% off.

The Happy Valley Racecourse and Shatin (New Territories) feature horse racing from September through July where races take place twice a week. Race night can be enjoyed for around HK$10 at Happy Valley on Wednesdays nights; the course features a beer garden with English commentary and cheap draft beer.

The Hong Kong dollar (HKD, HK, $) is the currency used in Hong Kong you will need to exchange your dollars for Hong Kong dollars. The official exchange rates are fixed and USD$1 = HKD$7.80. Try to avoid major banks and popular tourist areas as you tend to get the worst exchange rates. ATMs are featured in urban areas and most retailers accept major credit cards. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Hong Kong by clicking Hong Kong

Please refer to our tipping guide for how to tip in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is said to be one of the culinary capitals of the world featuring Cantonese, Japanese, Sichuanese and French style cooking along with many Asian and Western restaurants available. The city`s love for food is shown in the long list of Michelin star restaurants, along with 4 of the best 100 restaurants in the world located here according to Restaurant magazine. Some of the popular dishes in Hong Kong include Dim sum which is normally served with Chinese tea, shrimp and pork dumplings, Hong Kong egg tarts and barbecued pork buns. Street food is offered all over Hong Kong featuring some of the most delicious and cheapest meals in the city. Tea time (Hang cha) plays a big part as one of the cities pastimes, due to its influential British past, normally tea time takes place between 2:00 - 3:00 pm daily and the spread consists of silk stocking tea, egg tarts, and sandwiches.

Some of the best nightlife districts in the city can be found in Lan Kwai Fong (Central), SoHo, Wan Chai and Knutsford Terrace (Kowloon) where there is a huge party atmosphere every night of the week. Ladies night on Wednesdays and Thursdays is popular in Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai with free entrance and some places offering free drinks for the night. The city offers plenty of restaurants, bars, pubs and nightclubs along with lively streets filled with locals and night street markets. You can take a nighttime cruise on the Victoria Harbor, see the Symphony of Lights show or a take a cable car ride to Victoria Peak with stunning views over the sparkling city below.

As far as safety goes Hong Kong is one of the safest places in the world to visit. Travelers should use common sense and practice street smarts when out and about in the city, especially late at night. Keep your belongings secure and close to you at all times, pickpockets are not uncommon especially in and around busy tourist attractions.

The spoken language in Hong Kong is Cantonese and English. Most people in Hong Kong can speak and understand English especially those working in the service industry. We suggest you get a good English-Cantonese guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1 - 10.

In the case of an emergency dial 999 for Police, Fire and Ambulance services.

For non-emergency police assistance dial 2527-7177

Hospitals:

Matilda International Hospital tel. 852 2849 0111

Tung Wah Eastern Hospital tel. 852 2162 6888

Hong Kong Adventist Hospital tel. 852 3651 8888