Hong Kong and Macau - Made my 10-hour transit itinerary-possible or too ambitious?

Hi everyone,

Can you go over my 10-hour trip and see if this is possible or am I being overly ambitious?

My flight lands at 5:30am and connecting flight leaves at 6pm. (so, I'd like to be back by 4:15) I want to see the Peak/Harbor and Lantau/Giant Buddha. I also don't mind spending HKD$2-300 extra for taxi, if it can save me some time and more importantly any extended walking distance. (I hurt my leg and want to minimize my walking time)

With that in mind, here's what I planned and I'll appreciate if you can give me your suggestions and answer few of my questions-

1. Arrive 5:30am- leave airport by 7am (immigration, check-in carry-on..)

2. Take Airport Express around 7am to HK Station-7:45am

3. HOW DO I GET TO PEAK TRAM STATION FROM HK STATION? For walking, I read I have to walk thru Central Station and look for exit J2 then walk towards Peak Tram Terminus on Garden Road. How long is this walk? Can I get a taxi/Do I need a taxi here?

4. Reach Tram station by 8:30?

5. Take Peak tram and back by 9:30?

6. Taxi to star ferry terminal 10:15?

7. Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui and check out Ave of stars-11:30?

8. WHERE DO I GET A MTR TRAIN TO TUNG CHUNG? Is it right next to Ave of stars or Do I walk to somewhere? or take ferry back to star ferry terminal?

9. I read its about a 40 min MTR ride to Tung Chung (IS IT THE SAME MTR..DO I JUST SIT UNTIL I GET TO TUNG CHUNG OR DO I NEED TO CHANGE TRAINS?) Reach by 12:30

10. IS THE CABLE CAR to LANTAU RIGHT BY THE TUNG CHUNG station? Do I need a taxi here or walk to the cable car?

Say I get to Lantau Ngong Ping Terminal by 1pm... is 3 hours enough to see the buddha, take the cable car back to Tung Chung and then take a Blue Taxi to the airport? I might skip walking up the steps to Giant Buddha if I'm too tired or running out of time.

Can I take a taxi anywhere in this trip to save time/walking?

Also, can I buy the octopus card using a credit card?

Should I exchange $ at the airport or are there any locations outside (within my way) where I can exchange $?

Any help will be appreciated..Thank you!

Hi everyone,

Can you go over my 10-hour trip and see if this is possible or am I being overly ambitious?

My flight lands at 5:30am and connecting flight leaves at 6pm. (so, I'd like to be back by 4:15) I want to see the Peak/Harbor and Lantau/Giant Buddha. I also don't mind spending HKD$2-300 extra for taxi, if it can save me some time and more importantly any extended walking distance. (I hurt my leg and want to minimize my walking time)

With that in mind, here's what I planned and I'll appreciate if you can give me your suggestions and answer few of my questions-

1. Arrive 5:30am- leave airport by 7am (immigration, check-in carry-on..)

2. Take Airport Express around 7am to HK Station-7:45am

You should be able to leave the airport by around 6:15a and get to HK station before 7.

3. HOW DO I GET TO PEAK TRAM STATION FROM HK STATION? For walking, I read I have to walk thru Central Station and look for exit J2 then walk towards Peak Tram Terminus on Garden Road. How long is this walk? Can I get a taxi/Do I need a taxi here?

4. Reach Tram station by 8:30?

5. Take Peak tram and back by 9:30?

Taxi is cheap and easy, especially since it's uphill to the Peak Tram terminus. But it's also nice walking through Central, if it's not too hot. There are many ways to walk there, but I suggest this one, which allows you to see some of the sites of Central:

- Take the B2 exit of Hong Kong Station, where you are, not Central.
- Cross the street and go between the General Post Office and Jardine House (the high-rise with round windows)
- Cross Connaught Rd to Statue Square using the pedestrian tunnel
- Cross Statue Square and Des Voeux Rd and go up one floor into the Standard Chartered Bank building (immediately next to HSBC HQ)
- Take the footbridge over Queen's Road Central onto Battery Path
- Continue up Battery Path, around St. John's Cathedral to Garden Road
- Up Garden Road and cross it in front of US Consulate

You'll see the Peak Tram terminal. You can do it in 15 minutes, or 20 if you stop to take pictures and such.

Yeah, you can come down from the Peak by 9 or 9:30.

6. Taxi to star ferry terminal 10:15?

Just walk. Perhaps take taxi up to the Peak Tram terminal, and walk down to Star Ferry. Just the reverse of my route. There's also the 15C bus, but it's not frequent.

7. Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui and check out Ave of stars-11:30?

8. WHERE DO I GET A MTR TRAIN TO TUNG CHUNG? Is it right next to Ave of stars or Do I walk to somewhere? or take ferry back to star ferry terminal?

9. I read its about a 40 min MTR ride to Tung Chung (IS IT THE SAME MTR..DO I JUST SIT UNTIL I GET TO TUNG CHUNG OR DO I NEED TO CHANGE TRAINS?) Reach by 12:30

There's the MTR entrance in front of the InterContinental. You should take the West Rail Line from the East Tsim Sha Tsui station, and not the Tsuen Wan Line from Tsim Sha Tsui. The two stations (ETST and TST) are connected and both accessible from the entrance in front of the IC.

Switch to the Tung Chung line at Nam Cheong. Total journey is 32 minutes, but may add a few waiting for the Tung Chung line.

10. IS THE CABLE CAR to LANTAU RIGHT BY THE TUNG CHUNG station? Do I need a taxi here or walk to the cable car?

Short walk through a plaza straight out from the Tung Chung station. Signs everywhere.

Say I get to Lantau Ngong Ping Terminal by 1pm... is 3 hours enough to see the buddha, take the cable car back to Tung Chung and then take a Blue Taxi to the airport? I might skip walking up the steps to Giant Buddha if I'm too tired or running out of time.

Plenty of time. Even including a vegetarian meal at Po Lin Monastery. On the way back, either take blue taxi, or the S1 bus at the same transportation plaza outside the cable car terminus at Tung Chung.

Can I take a taxi anywhere in this trip to save time/walking?

Probably only from HK station up to the Peak Tram station, since it's uphill. And taxi back to airport from Tung Chung. You have plenty of time to do your itinerary, so time is not really a concern unless you really linger in Ngong Ping, which I don't envision.

Also, can I buy the octopus card using a credit card?

Should I exchange $ at the airport or are there any locations outside (within my way) where I can exchange $?

Any help will be appreciated..Thank you!

Cash only for regular Octopus. (You don't want a tourist card, which can be purchased with credit card).

Use ATM card at one of the many machines from major banks at HKG. HSBC, Bank of China, Citibank all have ATMs there. Don't use ones from Travelex, as they may have extra fees or poorer rates.

Make sure you buy a same day return Airport Express ticket from the manned counter. It costs the same as a one-way, but they are not the same ticket.

Thanks Rkkwan..you're awesome!

Just a few clarifications-

If I can't use a credit card to buy a Octopus card, then I'll need HKD at the airport to pay for the octopus card prior to getting on AE. So, I'll need to convert some USD at the airport to buy the octopus card I presume.

Also, I'm not planning to carry/use my ATM..so, should I just go ahead and convert like $200 USD at the airport. It's not a big amount where the conversion rate will hurt me..unless they have currency conversions counters at the places I'm visiting. But, I'll need HKD before/(at) I get to HK station and plan to take a taxi to peak tram station.

I'll get the same-day return AE tik, but if I take a blue taxi from Tung Chung back to the airport, I really won't be using the roundtrip return on AE right. Just making sure I have it right.

Pushing my luck, but is there a good place to grab a bite (maybe dim sum) around the areas I'll be in? (HK station-peak-star ferry-ave of stars-lantau) If I have time, I can swing by and get a taste of infamous HK dim sum. :)

Thanks again.

Thanks Rkkwan..you're awesome!

Just a few clarifications-

If I can't use a credit card to buy a Octopus card, then I'll need HKD at the airport to pay for the octopus card prior to getting on AE. So, I'll need to convert some USD at the airport to buy the octopus card I presume.

Also, I'm not planning to carry/use my ATM..so, should I just go ahead and convert like $200 USD at the airport. It's not a big amount where the conversion rate will hurt me..unless they have currency conversions counters at the places I'm visiting. But, I'll need HKD before/(at) I get to HK station and plan to take a taxi to peak tram station.

I'll get the same-day return AE tik, but if I take a blue taxi from Tung Chung back to the airport, I really won't be using the roundtrip return on AE right. Just making sure I have it right.

Pushing my luck, but is there a good place to grab a bite (maybe dim sum) around the areas I'll be in? (HK station-peak-star ferry-ave of stars-lantau) If I have time, I can swing by and get a taste of infamous HK dim sum. :)

Thanks again.

The regular banks won't be open at HKG at that time, and you do need HKD right away. If you can't or won't use a ATM, then I guess Travelex will be there.

You are absolutely right you won't need a same-day return ticket. In fact, in this case, I suggest you to take the Cityflyer bus A11 out to Central, instead of the train. It's a bit cheaper, but most importantly you can see more - the Tsing Ma Bridge, the container port, etc. And that early in the morning, you won't hit traffic. First bus starts at 6:10a, and runs every 25 minutes. Get off in front of Connaught Center in Central, and then walk up to Peak Tram.

I suggest you have the vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery. Food's okay, price moderate, and the meal ticket allows you to go into the base of the Big Buddha for some exhibits, including a Buddha's relic. Consider the cost of the meal as a donation, rather than for the actual food item.

Then go back to HKG a bit early and have dim sum at Chao Inn in T2. Quality pretty good and they're running 30% off in the afternoon. Very good deal.

The regular banks won't be open at HKG at that time, and you do need HKD right away. If you can't or won't use a ATM, then I guess Travelex will be there.

You are absolutely right you won't need a same-day return ticket. In fact, in this case, I suggest you to take the Cityflyer bus A11 out to Central, instead of the train. It's a bit cheaper, but most importantly you can see more - the Tsing Ma Bridge, the container port, etc. And that early in the morning, you won't hit traffic. First bus starts at 6:10a, and runs every 25 minutes. Get off in front of Connaught Center in Central, and then walk up to Peak Tram.

I suggest you have the vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery. Food's okay, price moderate, and the meal ticket allows you to go into the base of the Big Buddha for some exhibits, including a Buddha's relic. Consider the cost of the meal as a donation, rather than for the actual food item.

Then go back to HKG a bit early and have dim sum at Chao Inn in T2. Quality pretty good and they're running 30% off in the afternoon. Very good deal.


This sounds good..Thanks Rkkwan!

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9800; en) AppleWebKit/534.8+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0.0.600 Mobile Safari/534.8+)

Taxi is cheap but it is subjected to traffic jams which MTR is not. My personal fastest way of getting around is MTR followed by taxi from the station closest to the destination, just like Airport express to peak tram if walking up/down stairs and ramp is not suitable for you. All MTR stations have detail maps of exits showing eixt locations and local points of interest.

If one has time a great ride is bus 15 from the peak down sitting in front row upstairs.

Best cash money changers are in the shopping areas. Use bank ATM at airport.

Check weather; if it is cloudy/overcasted then you will need to reconsider your plans.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9800; en) AppleWebKit/534.8+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0.0.600 Mobile Safari/534.8+)

You can buy AE ticket at the ticket vending machine with a credit card.

For a day trip changing $200 at the airport is a good idea to save time looking around for a changer later.

Base on your route for dim sum Maxim's at CityHall just by the Star ferry on the HK side is probably a good bet iff you are there before 11 am.

Will there be lines at the Tram stations early in the morning? Last few times I went up the Peak, in the afternoon, there were always long lines.

Will there be lines at the Tram stations early in the morning? Last few times I went up the Peak, in the afternoon, there were always long lines.

Depends on the day. Weekends are usually busy by 12pm with lines of an hour or more. Weekday mornings should be fine, with the exception of HK and Chinese holidays (i.e. October 1 and the days surrounding it where large numbers of mainland visitors visit).

Maxim's at City Hall only opens at 11a on weekdays (9:30a on weekends), leaving too little time to do the rest of the itinerary. It is convenient on the way down from the Peak, but it's not THAT close to the Star Ferry anymore. :p

Lines won't be a problem for Peak Tram since you'll be there really early.

Did a little of recon this morning. If you decide to walk up to the Peak Tram station from HK/Central...

After you walk through Statue Square, just walk THROUGH the ground level of HSBC HQ. Cross Queen's Road Central at the crosswalk, then up the escalators for Cheung Kong Centre. Make a right at the top of the escalators and you'll see the stairs leading to St. John's Cathedral. Go directly in front of the main Western Portal of the church, bear left and you'll hit Garden Road.

It is actually a lot easier than it sounds. :)

I walked from the HK station this morning. I figure it's about a 20-minute walk to the Peak Tram station at a leisurely pace.

Did a little of recon this morning. If you decide to walk up to the Peak Tram station from HK/Central...

After you walk through Statue Square, just walk THROUGH the ground level of HSBC HQ. Cross Queen's Road Central at the crosswalk, then up the escalators for Cheung Kong Centre. Make a right at the top of the escalators and you'll see the stairs leading to St. John's Cathedral. Go directly in front of the main Western Portal of the church, bear left and you'll hit Garden Road.

It is actually a lot easier than it sounds. :)

I walked from the HK station this morning. I figure it's about a 20-minute walk to the Peak Tram station at a leisurely pace.

Thank you. I checked the weather for next week and there's no rain on the day I'll be there, so hopefully the walk to the station and tram ride will be possible.

This might be a silly Q, but am I supposed to carry my passport/ticket/some form of ID in the city? The baggage storage area, I believe is after customs and immigration, so I can technically leave my passport in the bag...any problems getting back to the storage area without a passport/ticket/ID?

This might be a silly Q, but am I supposed to carry my passport/ticket/some form of ID in the city? The baggage storage area, I believe is after customs and immigration, so I can technically leave my passport in the bag...any problems getting back to the storage area without a passport/ticket/ID?

Even though it's unlikely you will be stopped by police for an ID, it is actually mandatory to carry one around in HK since the late 70's (when there was an influx of illegals sneaking into HK from China).

The checked-luggage counter is landside. No ID necessary to get there. But still, I suggest carrying it with you.

Rkkwan, just wanted to thank you again for the help-I printed your directions and suggested route directions and I didn't get lost and made it back to the airport well before my departure time. There were no lines or traffic for the most part (longest wait was at the cable car ticket counter) It's a beautiful city and I'll be back to explore more next time around.