Hong Kong: Victoria Peak & Transit Guide
Hong Kong is one of the cheapest cities to fly in and out of Asia. Thanks to the two systems, one country policy established since 1997 when the British gave back the territory to China, most travelers don’t require tourist Visas! Getting around in Hong Kong is super easy with 11 subway lines, plus many ferries, trams and buses. Find your way through this concrete jungle of a city with our transit tips, get all day passes and all the info you need to visit Victoria Peak for that perfect Hong Kong Skyline selfie!
This is the first of a three article we’ll do on Hong Kong. It’s only one city but there is simply way too much to mention all at once! Next week, we will check out Lantau Island and the Great Buddha!
First Impression of Hong Kong
I prefer not to mention how naive I was in my youth but having been raised on the east coast of Canada, I didn’t really know anything about Hong Kong. Or rather, I didn’t care to know. I had visited New York City, Boston and Montreal… large, old and wealthy cities. So why should I care about Hong Kong?
Later, I kept hearing the same thing again and again while living in Vancouver… “Hong Kong is the jewel of Asia!” “It’s a fabulous city, it’s amazing!” “It’s so rich”… I seriously had my doubts, but I became very curious to experience Hong Kong for myself.
The truth is Hong Kong was the first super metropolis with wealth, international banking and western values to appear in Asia (other than Japan). For some twenty years no other city in Asia could compare! Today, this sounds like I’m describing Singapore rather than Hong Kong, But back then it was the first super city to reign supreme in the east in terms of freedom to conduct business, growth, education etc… An entire generation of Hong Kongese grew up with freedoms and economic opportunities unheard of in the rest of Asia. They lived in hundreds of high rise buildings that soared high into the sky.
Due to the population levels and dramatic increase in wealth, Hong Kong quickly surpassed many western cities with the number of modern skyscrapers, innovative transit lines and incorporating green space into the design of the city. Out of necessity, Hong Kong was pushed to the bleeding edge of innovation.
Where New York is the concrete jungle of the west, Hong Kong rose out of the jungle in the east in the 1970s. Leaving Hong Kong to mainland China was actually walking into a third-world country. The crazy technology city of Shenzhen didn’t even exist yet. No other feature of Hong Kong best personifies the history of development than the old tram carts leading to Victoria Peak.
Note: When applying for the mainland China Visa, if you are flying into Hong Kong first, you may be required to show proof of airfare to Hong Kong in addition to proof of airfare leaving China. I will touch on all other travel requirements for China in a future post similar to our “Vietnam 101” page. It’s in the pipeline.
Victoria Peak
Soaring 552m above the city of Hong Kong is the area known to the locals are “The Peak”. The beautiful mountain top is where all the famous tourist photos of the Hong Kong Skyline are taken. The Peak has a small park, walking path, some residential houses for the super wealthy, and a fantastic lookout platform called “Sky Terrace 428” open to tourists!
- Hours: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday – Friday & 8:00 am to 11:00 pm Saturday, Sunday & Holidays
- Fee: 99 HK Dollars ($12.50 USD) for the Viewing Platform & Return Trip on the Peak Tram
- Services: 360 degree viewing platform, restaurants, cafés, gift shops & parks
Note: When applying for the mainland China Visa, if you are flying into Hong Kong first, you may be required to show proof of airfare to Hong Kong in addition to proof of airfare leaving China. I will touch on all other travel requirements for China in a future post similar to our “Vietnam 101” page. It’s in the pipeline.
Warning: If you are looking for the perfect shot of Hong Kong, be wary of the weather and the crowds! Between the 7 million tourists every year and all the clouds, getting a clear shot of the skyline can be a challenge! I recommend picking up a ‘selfie stick’ at the airport or before you go. In Asia, selfie sticks are socially acceptable so you don’t have to worry about looking silly.
I met my friend Pascal waiting in line at the Tram Station at 7 am, neither of us realized the viewing tower only opened at 10 am on weekdays, so we had three hours to spend walking around the Victoria Peak paths, park and chilling in the café.
The walking paths are a popular spot for Hong Kong’s elite who live nearby. Before 1930, Victoria Peak was only inhabited by non-Chinese, but today it’s home to some of the wealthiest families in the city. In 2014, a house on the Peak sold for $87 million USD. Even Vancouver’s highest priced house only reached a listing price of $50 million (USD) in 2017. Watching the luxury cars leave one after another in the morning was very entertaining too! The life of the super wealthy is so fascinating!
For budget travelers, the view is definitely worth the ticket price, the tower gives you an extra 80+ meters above the city and it’s wonderful!
Victoria Peak Gallery
Tram Ride Through Time
The Hong Kong tram is a legacy feature of the city’s British influence. The Official Governor’s Residence and Summer House has been located on the Peak since the 19th century. When the tram opened in 1888, 600 passengers rode on the first day. The tram has been overhauled in 1989 and today operates the same way carrying an average of 11,000 passengers every day!
- Hours: 7:00 am to 12:00 Midnight
- Fee: Return 52 HK Dollars ($6.50 USD)
- Services: Tram to the Peak & Museum Gallery
Note: Hong Kong’s currency is called the ‘Dollar’ but it trades between 7-8 to $1 USD which is super confusing and annoying. Just do the calculations on your phone, it’s far easier.
Until 1949, the first two seats were reserved for the Governor until 2 minutes before departure. Today, you can view 15 museum galleries located along the tram tunnel showcasing around 200 artifacts. It doesn’t require much time and the period pieces are pretty neat. The fashion of the early 20th century is quite something! I can’t imagine wearing so much heavy clothing the a city that experiences 30+ degree weather almost all year.
World Class Transit System
There are so many awesome places to go and things to do in Hong Kong, so getting around is always your first step. So it’s best we get this out of the way now before diving into more articles about this great city. Any traveler knows that public transportation is always cheaper, less risky and often much faster. Immediately from when you leave the airport you hop on your first express train headed downtown, it’s pretty simple but after that you have to figure out the rest on your own.
If you are planning on staying in the city more than a few days, I recommend picking up an Octopus Card at any grocery store. Pre-load the card and save time by not having to buy individual tickets every time. The card can also be used to buy snacks and other goods at stores, so even if you have a small balance left, it’s easy to spend it on things other than transportation. Here are your options for getting around in Hong Kong.
MTR: Subway System
This is your first choice! With 11 lines covering almost all of Hong Kong, you won’t have to walk far to find your way. Every stop name is listed in English and all announcements are made in several languages. Beware of rush hour times as it’s super crowded and you may be left standing on the platform with your baggage unable to board. Hong Kong is a city where you will want to get an early start to the day… or sleep in and avoid the crowds. At one point I counted 18 subway cars on a platform nearly 1/2 a kilometer long, but don’t be fooled by the size, it’ll be filled to capacity and you’ll probably have to stand shoulder to shoulder to your destination.
Hong Kong Tramways
Another tourist favorite for getting around in Hong Kong is by using the old tramways. The trams run from east to west on Hong Kong Island, snaking their way through the downtown core. Two of the trams are true antiques, while the remainder are authentic replicas. Check out the routes here. Recently, on my second trip to Hong Kong, I took the tram to Quarry Bay. The trams are slow, very slow, but offer beautiful views of the city on a sunny day. The seats are small and the wood framing of the tram gives it a wonderful impression of the history.
- Price: $2.60 HK ($0.50 USD) per ride
- Great Tour of the City – A Must for First Timers to HK
Buses & Mini Buses
If for some reason you can’t use the MTR system… I recommend trying the bus lines. Stops are posted along the main roads and the larger buses come often. All buses, including the small green and red mini buses accept the Octopus Card (Super useful). In my experience taking the regular bus, you can’t depend on service in English, so an Offline GPS app like Maps.me will be essential for tracking your stop. I tried to figure out the Mini Buses but failed miserably, apparently the small mini buses only stop when someone is getting off and never exceed the 19 person capacity so you may be left waiting. I wouldn’t plan my trip around using them.
- Bus Price: $6-12 HK ($1-2 USD)
Ferries
Taking the ferry is Hong Kong is an experience and a way to get around. The view of both Kowloon and Hong Kong Island is wonderful. Take your camera and get some fantastic shots from Victoria Bay. Hong Kong is a city built on islands, so naturally you have a lot of options! From the Central Ferry Piers (marker on the map below), you can venture forth to Lantau Island, Kowloon, Lamma Island and more! The Star Ferry is the most famous tourist ferry, between Kowloon and the Central Ferry Pier.
- Ferry Price: $2.50 HK ($0.45 USD)
Directions to Victoria Peak
Getting to the Tram Station
I found the buses a little confusing, you might know how often I get lost from my article in Arashiyama, Japan. I always recommend walking or choosing the train network, it’s more or less foolproof which is exactly what I need. The closest station to the Peak Tram Terminal is Central Station.
- Make your way to Central Station on the Tsuen Wan Line
- Walk 15 minutes South East until you see the Royal Bank of Canada Building.
- If you arrive at the Hong Kong Park or Botanical Gardens, you are close and the Tram Station is between them!
Victoria Peak by Bus No. 15
From the Star Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island, a short walk from Hong Kong MTR Station, travellers can grab bus #15 to Victoria Peak. Unless you get to the Peak Tram early, you’ll find the double-decker bus a lot more reliable and faster.
- Look for the #15 Bus at Star Ferry/Hong Kong Station bus terminal
- 1h 30 minutes to Victoria Peak.
- Sit back and enjoy the views as you slowly climb the mountains overlooking the cityscape.
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