Hong Kong and Macau - 12 hour stopover in Hong Kong-need advice?

Hi, my flight gets in HK at 6:30am and my next flight out is at 6:15pm. There are two different airlines but I checked from cathay and they said my bags would be checked in all the way thru my final destination.

However, I won't have a BP for my next flight and need to get it at the HK airport. Can I leave the airport without my next flights BP? I'll have an email printout confirmation with me...is that enough to go out to the city and come back in the evening to board my next flight?

Also, I'll have to store my carry on luggage (laptop + one bag) at the airport-is is safe and do I store it in the arrival terminal and then go pick it up from there and walk to the departure terminal?

I want to go to Lantau to see the big buddha and also check out victoria peak and harbor skyline...do you think I'll have enough time to see both places, even though they are in opposite directions? Since everything opens around 10am, I figured I could see the harbor/peak before that and head to Lantau around 10am...any suggestion on how you'll plan this 10 hour trip to see both places? I'm guessing I'll need to be back at the airport by 4:30 to get on my 6:15pm flight?

Thanks for the help!

Nobody can stop you from entering HK as long as you have valid passport (and visa for a handful of nationals). You just have to get back to airport in-time to get BP for your connecting flight.

There is luggage check on the landside after you get through HK immigration and customs into the arrivals area. Of course it's safe.

Definitely go to HK Island first. The Peak Tram starts running at 7am. After you're done with Victoria Peak and HK Island, then go to Big Buddha on Lantau, with the NP360 cable car opening much later.

If I were you, I'll get to the transit desk to get the BP for next leg - just ask any ground staff at the gate and I'm sure they will help you.

Thank you.

When I get back to the airport, do I go to the arrivals terminal to pick up my carry on baggage from the storage?

Also, what's the fastest way to get from the peak to lantau? Taxi?

If I were you, I'll get to the transit desk to get the BP for next leg - just ask any ground staff at the gate and I'm sure they will help you.

I agree. hongkongairport.com tells you which transfer desk your airlines uses. There is one on the west side of the terminal and two near the immigration on the east side.

Thank you.

When I get back to the airport, do I go to the arrivals terminal to pick up my carry on baggage from the storage?

Also, what's the fastest way to get from the peak to lantau? Taxi?

It's the same building. Arrivals on the lower level. Go there pick up your bags, then go back upstairs to departure level to go through immigration.

From Peak to Big Buddha, go back down to the Hong Kong MTR station in Central, take Tung Chung MTR line to Tung Chung (end of line), then switch to cable car. Urban (red) taxis cannot get to Big Buddha. You will have to take it to Tung Chung (Maybe HK$350-400 from Peak), then switch to a blue Lantau taxi (~HK$150 or so). And you aren't saving much time, which you have plenty anyways.

I agree. hongkongairport.com tells you which transfer desk your airlines uses. There is one on the west side of the terminal and two near the immigration on the east side.



It's the same building. Arrivals on the lower level. Go there pick up your bags, then go back upstairs to departure level to go through immigration.

From Peak to Big Buddha, go back down to the Hong Kong MTR station in Central, take Tung Chung MTR line to Tung Chung (end of line), then switch to cable car. Urban (red) taxis cannot get to Big Buddha. You will have to take it to Tung Chung (Maybe HK$350-400 from Peak), then switch to a blue Lantau taxi (~HK$150 or so). And you aren't saving much time, which you have plenty anyways.

Thank you. Appreciate your help. Yes, my transfer desk is W1. I'll try to get a boarding pass before I exit. Or, maybe I can do a web check-in 48 hours prior to my flight and print one before I even get to HK.

I just hope the weather is not too bad on Sept 23rd for me to check out both places. I heard if it's foggy/raining, the peak tram is not worth going on, so I might have to plan accordingly.

If you don't go up to the peak, you can take a tram on HK island and then cross the harbour with star ferry.

Have you left your contact no. with the airline? They might get in touch with you if the flight is early/delayed. My sister got a call by Swiss once that her flight will be left 15 minutes before schedule from HKG to ZRH.