Hong Kong Transportation: Getting Around

As a financial and cultural center of the vast Asiatic region, Hong Kong is visited by millions of leisure and business travelers a year. When you take into account all of the great restaurants, nightclubs, and sights, you begin to realize just how frequently traveled this place is. And thankfully, Hong Kong transportation options are well equipped to handle the influx of visitors. Once here, you'll find convenient public transportation and some enjoyable means of getting around to whisk you from one location to another.

Getting to Hong Kong

Firstly, you have many options to choose from to just simply get to Hong Kong. Flight is naturally the preferred option for most travelers, and the Hong Kong International Airport is your best option. As a hub for East Asia, it is one of the busiest airports in the world, as well as one of the best. Between 2001 and 2008, it was voted as the world's best airport six times. If you're coming by sea, you'll probably want to dock in the Port of Hong Kong or Victoria Harbor. Other options, including rail and car, will take you from China to Hong Kong. And if you drive yourself, be careful! The roads switch directions as you cross the border, and road signs are treated as mere suggestions.

Mass Transit

Secondly, when you're already here and need to get around efficiently and quickly, there is no better method than Hong Kong's mass transit. More than 90% of daily travel in Hong Kong is done using buses, trains, ferries, and the subway network. The Mass Transit Railway has ten lines and more than a hundred stops, so most attractions worth seeing are within a short distance of the train system.

To travel from one of Hong Kong's islands to another, take the ferry. It is very inexpensive, and while not necessarily the swiftest mode of transportation, it offers unique views of Hong Kong. Even if you don't have any place you'd necessarily like to go, take some time to ride the ferry and see the sights.

Bikes

In all but the most urban locations, bikes are a popular way to get around and to take in the sights and sounds of Hong Kong. Consider renting bicycles to roam around Hong Kong's less developed areas.

The Peak Tram

For a unique transportation experience, take the Peak Tram up Victoria Peak. It leaves from Central District and will carry you 1.4 km up to the top of the mountain. Over four million visitors and residents use the tram each year, and when you get to the top you'll have a fantastic view of the city below.

The numerous Hong Kong transportation options make getting to and around the region very easy.