By Taxi
A taxi is an ideal vehicle for short-runs. There are three colors of taxis in Hong Kong. Red ones can cover most Hong Kong destinations except Tung Chung Road and roads in south Lantau Island. Green cabs run around in New Territories and on some appointed roads on Lantau Island. Blue taxis serve most destinations on Lantau Island. If you are planning to go to New Territories or Lantau Island, choose a green or blue taxi as more reasonably priced than red. All the taxis can touch Hong Kong International Airport but may not be available in Discovery Bay.
Note: if your journey covers the Lantau Link, you are required to pay an extra toll fee of HK$30 even to downtown or Lantau Island. And if you using toll tunnels, the extra fee is also your responsibility
Hong Kong taxi prices:
| Price | Red Taxi | Green Taxi | Blue Taxi |
| Flag-down-rate (for the prior 2km(1.24 miles)) | HK$15 | HK$12.5 | HK$12 |
| Every 0.2km (0.12 mile) or one minute waiting | HK$1.4 | HK$1.2 | HK$1.2 |
| One piece of luggage (exclude portable luggage) | HK$5 | HK$4 | HK$5 |
| One pet | HK$5 | HK$4 | HK$5 |
| Reservation through telephone | HK$5 | HK$4 | HK$5 |
To avoid problems, always get your destination written in Chinese on a card. Be sure to bring loose change instead of HK$500 and HK$1,000 bank notes. Taxi drivers are not obliged to make change. Get on and off cars on the left side of the street.
Roads with painted double yellow lines are forbidden zones for picking up passengers; you cannot take a taxi here. During rush hours, taxis may stop in front of some hotels. Always ask for the bill before leaving the taxi as the car number is listed on it. If you are not satisfied with the service or you left something in the car, you can complain through (852)28899999.
By Public Light Bus
In Hong Kong, there is a kind of minibus called the public light bus and known locally as 'Van 仔' (Van Zai). This name is a combination of Chinese and English. In Cantonese, '仔' means 'small' or 'young'. The natives in Hong Kong also speak Cantonese; hence, they like to use this character.
The public light bus plays a very important role within Hong Kong's urban traffic system. It reaches the areas that subway trains and regular buses cannot go so many locals travel upon them. If you want to experience the life of ordinary people whilst there, you might want to have a go.
A public light bus has 16 seats. In Hong Kong, there are red and green-roofed public light buses and their bodies' color is light yellow. The red-roofed ones, also known as 'red vans' do not have regular routes, scheduled departure times, or fixed fares so red vans are not suitable for visitors unfamiliar with their routes. Most red vans provide a 24-hour service and usually, passengers pay for their journey in cash when they are ready to get off. As a rule red vans do not accept the Octopus Card With the exception of the forbidden zones indicated with a yellow line, they are free to stop anywhere.
Differing from the red vans, the green-roofed public light buses have regular routes, schedules and standard fixed fares and as such, provide a better service. In line with the Hong Kong Government’s policy to convert red vans to green, more scheduled routes are being introduced.
Tip: Most of the public light bus drivers are only able to speak Cantonese. They cannot speak English, or even Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese). Therefore, as a visitor, if taking the public light bus, you should be familiar with the bus routes or know some Cantonese.
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Travelers' Voices on Getting Around Hong Kong by Taxi & Public Light Bus
1.
Nov. 19,2009 19:54 Reply
Mr.cuison(Philippines) said:
hi! we are a family of 5,2 adults and 3 kids 10,5 and 6.how much would it cost from airport to bp intl hotel.would they charge us per person.
Nov. 20,2009 02:08
Mr.Leo replied:
The cab will charge by meter, not by person. The cab fare should be around HKD270.
2.
Nov. 17,2009 10:02 Reply
Ms.Stephanie(Malaysia) said:
Hi,
How much does it cost approx. to take a taxi (4ppl) from airport to Royal Plaza Hotel, East Mongkok ?
Nov. 19,2009 02:44
Ms.SISLEY(China) replied:
The cab fare is about HKD280.
3.
Nov. 17,2009 00:12 Reply
Ms.Irma(Philippine) said:
Hi,5 of us going to hk on dec 28 to 30, is this itinerary possible:
Dec 28 arrival hk 10am - check-in Panda Hotel, then stroll at TST in the afternoon and Victoria Peak at night
Dec 29 - 9 am to Macau for day tour, (which ferry station to take?)
back to hk at around 7 to 8pm.
Dec 30 - Go to disney after lunch, be back to hotel around 7pm.
Leave hotel at 9pm for 1 AM flight (dec 31)
Nov. 17,2009 02:35
Mr.Jason5 replied:
Yea, your itinerary is possible and well arranged. Panda Hotel is in Tsuen Wan, you should use MTR to Tsim Sha Tsim and walk about 20 minutes to China Ferry Terminal, or get to Central and change another MTR line to Sheung Wan (just one stop). Get off the mtr station you can find the ferry terminal of HK-Macau Ferry Terminal. Both terminals has ferry to Macau.
Nov. 17,2009 07:59
Ms.Irma(Philippines) replied:
Hi again, thanks a lot for the fast reply. May I know if public transport or taxi is convenient in Macau. What is the easiest way for 5 people to get to Senado Square in Macau from the macau-hk ferry terminal?
4.
Nov. 17,2009 00:26 Reply
Ms.irma(Philippines) said:
Hi,
May i know how much approx is taxi from HK Airport to Panda Hotel (NT), there are 5 of us.
thanks.
Nov. 17,2009 02:40
Mr.Jason5 replied:
It is about 220HKD from the airport to the hotel, 5HKD for every single piece of lugguage in the trunk. A taxi allows 5 person.
5.
Nov. 13,2009 19:02 Reply
Ms.Lindsey(Australia) said:
Hi, We are travelling to Hong Kong on the 26th of November and are unsure what is the best mode of transport to get to our Hotel. We are staying at the Salisbury YMCA in Kowloon. There are four of us, 2 adults and 2 teenagers (18yrs and 15 yrs old). From what I have read it looks like the red taxi's are our best option but am unsure on the acutal cost or do you think the Airport Rail Express would be better? We are also looking at getting perhaps an Octupus card as we plan on using public transport to get to Macau and various tourist spots - Is this the best thing to do, and where can we get our deposit back from the cards (assuming we need a card each) when we leave.
Thanks in advance for your help. This is a great site.
Nov. 13,2009 20:28
Ms.SISLEY(Afghanistan) replied:
By taxi: the cab fare is about HKD270, exclude the luggage surcharge which is HKD5/case
By Airport Express train: you could take it to arrive at Kowloon in 20 minutes and then please take the free shuttle bus K2 to arrive at Peninsula, Hong Kong. It is just to be opposite to the YMCA. Currently, you could purchase discounted tickets for 4 adult together. The total fare is HKD220.
By public bus: please take the bus A21 from the airport and then get off at its 14th station-Middle Road, Nathan Road. From the bus stop, you could walk to the hotel in 10 minutes. The journey is about one hour and takes HKD33/adult.
The Octupus card could be purchase and refund at any metro station in HK. You could get back the deposite and the balance when you refund the card. Ps: one card is for one person~
6.
Nov. 11,2009 04:11 Reply
Ms.Fiona (Indonesia) said:
Hi, I'm planning a trip to HK with my husband, 2 children aged 6 and 10 from Dec 15th to Dec 21st.
Itinerary will be as follows:
Dec 15th: arriving in HK late noon. We'll stay at Disney Hollywood Hotel. I assume cheaper to take a blue cab from airport to the hotel than the Airport Express? Or would you suggest taking the MTR instead? And also what you suggest to spend the rest of the evening in the hotel area?
Dec 16th and 17th: full two day in Disneyland
Dec 18th:
Morning: since in Lantau Island, go to Giant Buddha taking the Ngong Ping. What would be the most recommended transportation to take the cable ride? I heard cable ride was undergoing safety checks since it was derailed 6 mos ago. Is it safe now? How to get to the cable ride? By taxi or MTR?
Afternoon: check out from hotel to Royal Park Hotel in 8 Pak Hok Ting Street, Shatin. What's the best transport to get there? Any suggestion to go after we check in the hotel?
Evening: check out the Temple St Market and or Nathan Road. Would this be good and exciting for kids?
Dec 19:
Morning: take a taxi to Peak Tower. Lunch at Cafe Deco
Afternoon: go to Ocean Park or Ma Won Park Noah's Ark. Which one is closer? How to get there?
Night: Please recommend what to do at night.
Dec 20:
Morning: Visit one of the place above that has not been visited (Ocean Park or Ma Won Noah's Ark).
Afternoon: go to HK Cultural Centre to watch the Nutcracker. Go to Avenue of the Stars and Victoria Harbour
Night: Go to see symphony of lights. Where we should eat for dinner around the area?
Dec 21:
Morning: Go to IFC for city check in so don't have to bring luggages to airport.
What should we do to kill time until our flight at 3 pm?
Considering all the itinerary above, any other places you would recommend instead? Also, should we consider to buy Octopus Card? If so, which package should we purchase?
Thanks a lot.
7.
Nov. 10,2009 09:14 Reply
Mr.Jordan(Singapore ) said:
We'll be taking the Peak Tram to go up the Peak, but don't see the need to take the same way down. Are taxi's readily available from the Peak? How much does it cost to get down to Admiralty or Central?
Also, there used to be an EA attraction at the Peak. Do you know what happened to this? Thank you very much.
Nov. 10,2009 21:40
Mr.Shan replied:
Yes, you could take a taxi down to Central, the fare is about HKD60. The EA Experience could be found at 5F of the Peak Tower.
8.
Nov. 8,2009 01:29 Reply
Ms.Ivy(Malaysia) said:
Hi there,
I will have to travel from Tseung Kwan O back to my hotel(Royal Plaza) at Mongkok for some work(probably after midnight). Do you know what is the approximate price for a taxi between these 2 destinations? Thanks a lot!
And if possible, is there a train to catch for these destinations after midnight? Thanks.
Nov. 10,2009 02:57
Mr.Jason replied:
It is a about 14km and the taxi fare is about 100HKD and you should pay for the toll fee if the taxi pass though tunnel. You can get train (MTR) at Tseung Kwan O if you can get the mtr station around 24:30. The hotel is located nearby Mong Kok East MTR Station and you need to make several transfers: Tseung Kwan O to Tiu Ken Leng (one stop), then to Kowloon Tung (ten stops), then to Mong Kok East (one stop).
9.
Nov. 9,2009 10:12 Reply
Mr.Rani(Indonesia ) said:
Hello, is there a bus from Wanchai MTR station to the Hong Kong Convention Centre? Thanks.
Nov. 9,2009 21:11
Ms.Sisley replied:
I think there is no need to take a bus. When you out of the Exit A5 of Wanchai MTR Station, you could walk northwards to the HK Convention Center in 20 minutes. Very easy!
10.
Nov. 9,2009 09:23 Reply
Ms.Emma(Malaysia) said:
We are 3 adults and 4 kids (ages 11, 7, 5,4). Will we fit into a HK cab? How much would it cost from airport to HK Disneyland? Will we need 2 cabs? What is the best way? Is taking a bus to Lantau Link and then R8 an option as it says in the Disneyland website? Is this practical with kids and luggage?
Thanks in advance. Your site is most helpful and hospitable to visitors' concerns.
Nov. 9,2009 20:46
Ms.Sisley replied:
A Hong Kong cab could pack 5 adult passengers together, so I think you could use one cab with 4 little kids. Of course, you should ask for the driver's approval. At HK Airport, you could take the cab in blue color with a fare of HKD120 to arrive at the Disneyland. It should be the best way with kids and luggage.