Although, Hong Kong does have its fair share of rush hour traffic to contend with, as a traveller you will soon begin to realise that covering the length and breadth of the city can be achieved with minimum fuss and effort. Therefore, should you be considering coming over in the near future, then do have a look at the available transportation facilities.

Tram in Hong Kong - Photo by Yoyo Dy on Unsplash

Coming off as your ‘one-stop journey planner,’ the HKeMobility application that was developed by the Transport Department in Hong Kong is an absolute ‘must’ when you are mulling over your prospects. Aside from presenting real time traffic conditions concerning the MTR, mini buses, trams, ferries and water taxis, users will be able to access popular routes, travel times and applicable fares as part of a unique point-to-point transportation facility that can be downloaded on all iOS, Android and Huawei phones.

Whether you purchase the physical card or its digital equivalent, the Octopus Card will be your cash-free payment gateway that will not merely make accessing public transportation a breeze but will also help you pay for multiple aspects of your stay ranging from shopping, dining and entertainment. The Mobile Octopus can be downloaded via the Octopus App and affords you a refundable deposit of HKD 50. Further, top-ups can be done by using your credit or debit card which alleviates the need to queue up. On the other hand, the physical travel card called the Tourist Octopus can be obtained for a cost of HKD 39 and does not require any deposit to be placed. What makes the Tourist Octopus a wise investment boils down to the possibility of it being used on future visits as well as it serving as a lovely souvenir owing to its distinct design features.

Often described as "speedy," "efficient" and "easy to use," Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway System or ‘MTR’ for short will get you to your desired location on time, whether it be anywhere in the major districts or even towards the boundary at Mainland China. For instance, in the event you are based at Dorsett Wan Chai which is a Hong Kong deluxe hotel, then you will be well served by the Causeway Bay and Wan Chai MTR stations which are some 8 minutes away.

Hong Kong’s bus network is underpinned by 5 providers who operate across the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island respectively. Buses are a common sight and offer air-conditioned comfort while route numbers and destinations are displayed in a manner which makes for hassle-free commuting.

Easily recognised owing to the colour of the vehicle, the minibus is one such service that can accommodate up to 19 passengers at any given point in time. The green minibuses ply along specific routes and the fares are fixed depending on the distance that you intend on covering. On the flip side, the red minibus does not always adhere to tried and tested routes which will tell you that you can hop on and hop off as and when you please, albeit where special prohibitions apply.

Operational since 1904, the street trams are one of the cost-effective ways of getting about Hong Kong. Covering the northern portion of Hong Kong Island, travellers can delight in journeys across a multitude of stops that will pass through Western District, Happy Valley, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay & North Point accordingly.

Taxi travel though, being on the pricier side of things will have you at your desired location within a short span of time. Excluding some of the more remote sections, this service is divided into 3. Namely, the blue taxis which function on Lantau Island, the green ones which cover the New Territories and the red taxis which will take you to a majority of regions except for Tung Chung Road and the southern part of Lantau Island.

The cross-harbour ferries are a sought-after draw which hand intrepid vacationers ease of access to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Captivating vistas of Victoria Harbour and the dazzling city skyline will be yours to take pleasure in when aboard these vessels.

Have one whale of a time on the water taxi

Staying well clear of the traffic will never feel better when you avail the services of a water taxi. Move through Victoria Harbour at a leisurely pace where the sights and sounds of the city can be experienced. These include the Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront Promenade, Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.