Hong Kong

Yes for the view, no for the way most people do it. The Peak Tram has been climbing the side of Hong Kong Island since 1888 and the view from the Sky Terrace 428 over Victoria Harbour and Kowloon is the postcard. The problem is the queue at the Garden Road lower terminus — 90–120 minutes on a Saturday or any cruise day with two ships in. Two fixes: (1) book a timed Peak Tram + Sky Terrace combo online in advance for HK$148 (US$19) adults — skips the standby queue. (2) Take a red taxi from your terminal to the Peak for HK$120–160 (US$15–20) from Tsim Sha Tsui, more from Kai Tak — get out at the Peak Tower, do the view, then ride the tram down (the downhill side has a much shorter queue). The Peak Tram runs every 10–15 minutes from 7am to midnight.

Only if you are in port for 9+ hours and you start early. The Tian Tan Big Buddha sits 34 metres tall on a hilltop at Po Lin Monastery on Lantau, and the experience is the Ngong Ping 360 cable car up to it — a 25-minute ride over the mountains from Tung Chung MTR. The full round trip from either cruise terminal is 4.5–5 hours: MTR to Tung Chung (40 min from Tsim Sha Tsui, longer from Kai Tak), cable car (HK$235 / US$30 round trip standard cabin, book online to skip the 60-minute queue), 90 minutes at the monastery and 268-step climb to the Buddha, then reverse. The cable car closes for maintenance every January–February; check before you commit. On a 7-hour port day this is doable but tight. Backup: skip the cable car and take Bus 23 from Tung Chung for HK$17.10 (US$2.20), 50 minutes each way, scenic mountain road.

Two answers depending on where you dock. From Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui: walk 8 minutes to Tim Ho Wan at Olympian City or take the MTR two stops to Sham Shui Po for the original branch — the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, HK$40–60 (US$5–8) per plate, around HK$200 (US$25) per person to fill up, expect 30–45 min wait at lunch. Closer to Ocean Terminal: Hutong (Aqua Restaurant Group, 28th floor, 1 Peking Road) for tourist-priced dim sum with the Hong Kong skyline view, HK$400–600 (US$50–75) per person. From Kai Tak: take the shuttle to Kwun Tong and walk to One Dim Sum or grab a taxi to Lin Heung Tea House in Central (cart-pushing aunties, HK$180 / US$23 per person, cash preferred, brutal at peak times in the best way). Dim sum service in Hong Kong runs 11am to 3pm sharp — do not show up at 4pm and expect anything good.

Yes, get an Octopus. The Octopus card is the city's contactless payment system and you tap it on every MTR turnstile, every bus, the Star Ferry, the Peak Tram, plus 7-Eleven and most cafés. Buy a Tourist Octopus at the terminal arrivals desk or any MTR Customer Service window for HK$39 (US$5) preloaded with HK$50 of fare, no deposit, keep as souvenir — or a regular Octopus for HK$50 deposit plus HK$100 fare, deposit refundable when you leave. The MTR runs every 2–4 minutes from 6am to midnight, every station signed in English, every fare HK$5–20 (US$0.65–2.55). The Star Ferry between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central runs every 6–12 minutes from 6:30am to 11:30pm — HK$5 (US$0.65) upper deck weekdays, the cheapest seven-minute world-class harbour view on earth. Single-journey MTR tickets are available from machines but Octopus is faster and you avoid the awkward 'oh no I need to top up' moment.

Yes. Hong Kong is one of the safest large cities in Asia for visitors — Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok are all fine to walk after dark and the MTR runs until midnight (1am Friday/Saturday). Taxis come in three colours: red (urban Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, what you want from either cruise terminal), green (New Territories), blue (Lantau). Flagfall is HK$29 (US$3.70) for the first 2 km, then HK$2.10 per 200 m. A red taxi from Ocean Terminal to Central via the Cross Harbour Tunnel is HK$80–110 (US$10–14) including the HK$25 tunnel toll round trip. From Kai Tak to Central is HK$120–180 (US$15–23). Uber operates in Hong Kong but is the same price as a taxi and harder to find — taxis are easier. All taxis take Octopus and most take card, but cash (HK$ only) is still preferred by older drivers. Tipping is not expected; round up the fare.

Octopus card and contactless card cover 95% of a cruise day. The currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD); as of mid-2026 the rate is roughly HK$7.80 to US$1, pegged to the US dollar and stable. Octopus pays for MTR, Star Ferry, Peak Tram, buses, 7-Eleven, most chain cafés and many restaurants. Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and contactless mobile payment work in mid-range and upscale restaurants and all malls. Bring HK$200–400 (US$25–50) cash for older dim sum houses (Lin Heung, Lung King Heen for cash discount), street markets in Mong Kok, and Star Ferry single tickets if you didn't get an Octopus. ATMs are at every MTR station and every 7-Eleven; HSBC and Hang Seng machines give the best rates. Tipping is not customary — restaurants add a 10% service charge automatically and you don't tip on top. Round up the taxi fare and that's it.