Arriving in Hong Kong: Airport Express, Taxis by Colour, and Paying with Octopus

Hong Kong International Airport is at Chek Lap Kok, beside Lantau. The Airport Express is the fastest way into the city. Buses are cheaper, and taxis go door to door. Entry rules are in Hong Kong’s visiting rules, and the allowance for bottles and cigarettes is in Hong Kong’s duty-free limits.

Airport Express

MTR says the 35.3 km run “takes as little as 24 minutes”. Its timetable, effective from 13 September 2026, lists 24 minutes between Hong Kong station and the airport, 22 minutes for Kowloon and 14 minutes for Tsing Yi.

The first train from the airport to the city leaves at 05:54 and the last at 00:48.

Adult single fares from the airport:

MTR says “Contactless Bank Card fare is the same as Adult Octopus fare.” Round-trip tickets are valid for 30 days from issue. MTR also lists a free in-town check-in service as an Airport Express privilege, without giving the locations, so ask at the station if you want to drop bags in town on your way out.

Airport buses

Citybus runs the Cityflyer and A-route airport buses. Its current concession gives “a 50% discount on the return fare” when you come back the same day, paying by Octopus or e-payment only, with the same card or account both ways. It covers routes A10, A11, A12, A17, A20, A21, A22, A23, A25, A26, A28, A28X and A29.

We could not confirm single fares from an official page on 4 November 2026, because the airport’s own pages refused our requests and other figures disagreed. Check the fare on the bus stop sign.

Taxis: the colour decides where it goes

The Transport Department sets three taxi zones:

• Red (urban): “available for hire throughout Hong Kong (except Tung Chung Road and roads in South Lantau).”
• Green (New Territories): serves Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po, North, Ma On Shan and most of Sai Kung, and can run to the airport’s passenger terminals on set routes.
• Blue (Lantau): “available for hire on Lantau Island, Chek Lap Kok”, including the airport.

For Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, take a red taxi. The fare table is displayed inside each taxi. Since 1 April 2026, drivers must offer “at least two electronic payment (e-payment) means”, one of them a QR code and one not. For complaints, the Transport Department hotline is 2804 2600.

Paying: a bank card at the gate

MTR accepts “Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay contactless credit, debit or prepaid cards” at its gates, including the Airport Express. It is “Not available for Light Rail and MTR Bus”, and UnionPay debit cards are excluded.

The Tourist Octopus

Octopus is Hong Kong’s stored-value travel card, and it pays at MTR gates and on the airport buses. Octopus Cards Limited sells a Tourist Octopus “Priced at HK$39 without initial stored value and no deposit is required.” The card price is not refunded. Any value left on it can be refunded at an MTR Customer Service Centre: under HK$1,000 straight away, and HK$1,000 or more by Octopus Cards Limited later.

Octopus on iPhone

A visitor can add Octopus to Apple Wallet with “a non-Hong Kong issued Mastercard, UnionPay, Visa credit / debit card in Apple Pay”, on an iPhone X or later. It comes with a HK$50 deposit, refunded through the app, and Octopus says a refund “may take 6-8 weeks.” A card cancelled within 90 days of issue carries an HK$11 handling fee.

Setting up Octopus in Apple Wallet, or topping it up later, happens in an app, so it needs a connection at the airport. That is where a Saily data eSIM helps: install it before you leave and it connects when you land. On a trip through several countries, the same Saily profile takes a plan for each.

The Tourist Day Pass

MTR’s Tourist Day Pass costs HK$75 for an adult and HK$35 for a child aged 3 to 11. It gives 24 hours of “unlimited travel on the MTR, Light Rail and MTR Bus” from the first entry. It does not cover the Airport Express, East Rail First Class or the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations. You must show a passport and be staying “less than 14 days at the time of purchase.” It cannot be refunded. Going on to Shenzhen? Border hours and East Rail fares to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau are in our Shenzhen guide.

Emergency numbers

The government lists 999 as the “Emergency Hotline for police, fire and ambulance services”, and 992 as an emergency SMS service for people with speech or hearing impairments.