Hong Kong is a small but extremely busy city. Tourists usually only see the modern and urban part of the city but not the local and hidden attractions as many might think it is difficult or expensive to do so. Sometimes, the lesser known attractions are also very interesting and cheap too.
#1 Take HK Tramways - Ding Ding for the Cheapest Fare
The best way to get around Hong Kong Island is via Ding Ding! It is also the cheapest mode of transportation in the island at HKD2.30 per way as compared to MTR with a minimum range of HKD4.50 to HKD5.30 per ride. Apart from being the cheapest, it is also one of the earliest public transports in Hong Kong with over 100 years of history. Ding Ding has been transporting people from the Colonial Hong Kong era until the current Modern Hong Kong era.
Everything in the tram including the seats is so old but still durable. It felt like we were being transported back to the olden days of Hong Kong. Travelling along the busy streets, we got to experience the fast walking pace of Hong Kong’s people, crowded restaurants and roadside stalls with long queues. No doubt that the Ding Ding’s speed is slow but we got to see the city at a slower pace. The entire journey was so interesting and enjoyable with a tiny bit of nostalgia.
Note: The tram should be boarded from the back and exited from the driver side (front exit). Don’t forget to tap your Octopus Card when getting down from the tram.
Check out their official website for more information.
https://www.hktramways.com/en/
#2 Take Public Bus from Hong Kong Airport to the City
The cheapest way to get into the city from Hong Kong Airport is via the public buses. The travelling time is about 15-20 minutes longer compared to the airport express (train). The fare ranges between HKD33 to HKD45 per way depending on the routes. The airport express is priced from HKD100 to HKD110 per way instead. During our recent trip, CityFlyer (one of the bus service providers) was having a promotion for tourists to purchase the return ticket at only HKD65 from the airport’s CityFlyer counter! Don’t forget to check the bus service providers’ website for their latest promotions.
CityFlyer is a double-decker bus with luggage storage area as well as comfortable seats. Most importantly, the bus frequency is very frequent. Passengers get to enjoy the view from Hong Kong Airport all the way to the City. There are definitely many amazing views such as the Tsing Ma Bridge and many others.
Note: We would suggest checking which bus stop is near to your accommodation. You can then refer to this website to identify the number of bus stops to your accommodation. The bus will announce the current and next stop from time to time.
Check out their official website for more information.
#3 Visit Attractions with Cheap Transportation Cost and Admission Fees
Putting aside the theme parks such as Disneyland or Ocean Park with expensive entrance fees, there are many hidden gems waiting to be explored with cheaper budgets. There are quite a number of attractions in Hong Kong Island such as Sai Wan Swimming Shed, Instagram Pier, etc. while Kowloon has the popular markets (ladies market, goldfish market, etc.), Choi Hung Estate, etc. You may never expect what kind of amazing views you can see from these places plus you even get to experience how the locals live. All these places require just a little travelling cost and ZERO admission fees but plenty of energy (a lot of walking)!
#4 Take Star Ferry
Star Ferry will always be the best option to travel from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon or vice versa. It only cost HKD2.70 per way on weekdays and HKD3.70 per way on weekends and public holidays. There are 2 service points at Hong Kong Island (Central Star Ferry Pier and Wan Chai Star Ferry Pier) while only 1 service point in Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier). There is MTR station and tram stop nearby all 3 piers. If you are staying in Hong Kong Island, the total fare for ferry and tram to cross over to Kowloon is just HKD5. Using the MTR, it can easily cost HKD11 for the same journey. Just jump onto the Star Ferry and enjoy the magnificent skyline of Hong Kong with wind blowing on your face while capturing the beauty of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong’s skyscrapers. What a lovely and colorful city Hong Kong is.
Check out their official website for more information.
http://www.starferry.com.hk/en/home
#5 Get an Octopus Card
Chase the hassle away with an Octopus Card! It is a must to get an Octopus Card when you arrive in Hong Kong because the card can get you anywhere easily. Besides being convenient, you can also travel at a cheaper rate. All single journey tickets or fares are more expensive than the Octopus card's rate. The Octopus Card is similar to Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go which can be used in the MTRs, buses, trams, convenience stores, etc. When you are leaving Hong Kong, you can return the card to the MTR station's customer service to cash out your remaining value and refund your card deposit fees.
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