Hong Kong has train, bus, taxi and pre-booked options from the airport. Here is the cost breakdown, using published fares and tariffs only.
Price comparison
| Transport | Cost (HKD) | Time to the city |
|---|---|---|
| Airport bus (Cityflyer) | A21 HK$34.6, A11 HK$41.9, A29 HK$44.0 | see Citybus timetable |
| Airport Express train | HK$120 to Central (Octopus) | 24 min |
| Taxi | Metered on the government tariff, see below | depends on traffic |
| Pre-booked transfer | Fixed price, quoted before you book | depends on traffic |
Fixed-price private transfer
HKG Hong Kong City Center
From€68for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €84 per vehicle, about €21 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
Airport Express
At HK$120 to Central with an Octopus card (HK$130 on a smart single journey ticket), the Airport Express is the usual default:
- 24 minutes to the city centre
- In-town check-in at the city stations, free, for your return flight
- Trains every 10 minutes
- Some hotels run their own shuttle from Hong Kong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi stations (11 hotels are listed by MTR) -- ask your hotel, as the service is operated by the hotels and can change
Ways to pay less:
- Octopus or contactless bank card: the Octopus fare is HK$120 to Central versus HK$130 on a smart single journey ticket. Contactless bank cards are charged the Octopus adult fare.
- Same-day return: using the same Octopus for a round trip between the airport and Hong Kong, Kowloon or Tsing Yi on the same day is covered by the single journey fare in MTR's table.
- Group tickets (2 to 4 people, one journey, bought in one transaction): from Hong Kong Station HK$170 for 2, HK$230 for 3, HK$280 for 4.
- Taxi interchange offer: from 18 September 2026 to 17 September 2027, a same-day taxi receipt of HK$50 or more gives 50% off Octopus fares to the airport (up to 5 people per receipt), redeemed at the station customer service centre.
| Airport Express fares (adult, one way) | Octopus | Smart single journey ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Tsing Yi | HK$73 | HK$80 |
| Kowloon | HK$105 | HK$115 |
| Hong Kong (Central) | HK$120 | HK$130 |
Children aged 3-11 pay HK$60 from Hong Kong Station with Octopus; children under 3 travel free. Fares are reviewed from time to time, so check mtr.com.hk before you travel.
Taxi fares
Hong Kong taxis are metered on a government tariff. A red urban taxi starts at HK$29 for the first 2 km, then charges HK$2.1 per 200 m (or per minute of waiting) until the fare reaches HK$102.5, after which it drops to HK$1.4 per 200 m (Transport Department, effective 14 July 2024). Luggage is HK$6 per piece. A harbour crossing (Cross-Harbour, Eastern or Western Harbour Crossing) adds a HK$25 toll plus a HK$25 return toll, unless the trip starts at a cross-harbour taxi stand or ends on the same side of the harbour. Other tunnel tolls are added too, for example Tai Lam Tunnel HK$28 and Tate's Cairn Tunnel HK$20.
The meter is the authority: the final fare depends on the route, tolls and traffic, and tariffs are revised from time to time. Red urban taxis cover most of Hong Kong; blue Lantau taxis only serve Lantau and the airport island.
Airport bus
| Route | Adult fare |
|---|---|
| A11 | HK$41.9 |
| A21 | HK$34.6 |
| A29 | HK$44.0 |
Check Citybus for each route's stops and timetable. Same-day return discounts apply when both journeys use the same Octopus or e-payment account.
Taxi or train for a group
Compare the group ticket prices above (for example HK$280 for four people from Hong Kong Station) with a metered taxi on the tariff above. The train is door-to-station; a taxi is door-to-door. For a quote you can compare directly, a pre-booked transfer is a fixed price shown before you book.
Sources (checked 2026-10-17)
- Airport Express fares (Octopus, single journey ticket, round trip, child), children under 3 free: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tickets/tf_index.html
- Airport Express 24 minutes to the city centre, free in-town check-in, hotel shuttle service listed: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/airport_express_index.html
- Airport Express runs every 10 minutes: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/train_service_index.html
- Urban taxi tariff (HK$29 first 2 km, HK$2.1 per 200 m, HK$1.4 after HK$102.5, HK$6 per bag, harbour crossing tolls and return toll): https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/taxi/taxi_fare_of_hong_kong/index.html
- Taxi colours and operating areas, e-payment rule from 1 April 2026: https://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/taxi/index.html
- Cityflyer airport bus fares A11, A21, A29: https://www.citybus.com.hk/en/uploadedFiles/concession/cityflyer_e_txt.html
- Airport Express group tickets (2 to 4 people): https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tickets/promotions_4persons.html
- Octopus on-loan card HK$50 deposit: https://www.octopus.com.hk/en/consumer/octopus-cards/products/on-loan/standard.html
- Airport Express taxi interchange offer: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/tickets/ael_taxi.html
- Airport Express hotel shuttle service: https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/hotel-shuttle-service.html
When a private transfer from HKG is the right choice
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Hong Kong City Center is from €84, about €21 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
- Going to a specific address rather than the main station: the car goes to the door, so the public-transport fare is not the whole cost of the trip.
- Arriving tired or late: the driver waits at arrivals with your name, included for 60 minutes after landing.
HKG → Hong Kong City Center from €68Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Airport Express worth it for 2 people?
Often, for two people. Two Octopus tickets to Central come to HK$240; a group ticket for 2 from Hong Kong Station is HK$170 in total (MTR group tickets, 2 to 4 people on one journey). Compare with a metered taxi on the government tariff.
Do I need an Octopus card?
It gives the lower Airport Express fare (HK$120 to Central versus HK$130 on a smart single journey ticket). An on-loan adult Octopus carries a HK$50 refundable deposit plus stored value.
Are Hong Kong taxis metered?
Yes, on a government tariff: HK$29 for the first 2 km, then HK$2.1 per 200 m, dropping to HK$1.4 once the fare passes HK$102.5 (Transport Department, effective 14 July 2024). The meter is the authority.
What are the extra costs in a Hong Kong taxi?
HK$6 per piece of luggage and tunnel tolls. Harbour crossings carry a HK$25 toll plus a HK$25 return toll unless you boarded at a cross-harbour taxi stand or end on the same side of the harbour. Other tolls include Tai Lam Tunnel HK$28 and Tate's Cairn Tunnel HK$20.
How much is a taxi from Hong Kong Airport to Central?
It is whatever the meter shows on the government tariff, plus tolls and luggage charges. There is no published flat rate for this journey. For a price known in advance, a pre-booked transfer is a fixed price quoted before you book.