Unless you have more change than a church on Sunday, you shouldn’t even attempt to tackle Hong Kong’s myriad of transport without a Hong Kong Octopus Card. Pioneered in HK, and now mirrored in London and New York, the Hong Kong Octopus card is a stored value card, which will win you access to all of Hong Kong’s public transport. Local ferries, trams, subway, buses and minibuses all accept the cards, you can even, with the MTR regional rail, travel to China with an Octopus. The card is ubiquitous around Hong Kong, with almost all residents using it and it’s an excellent way to save time.
A first card costs HK$150, which is inclusive of a HK$50 refundable deposit and HK$100 credit, in addition, any cash left on the card at the end of your stay will be returned. You can pick up a card at MTR subway stations and at the Airport Express Counter, which also has cards including Airport Express rides.
The card couldn’t be simpler to use, as you walk on and off transport, aside from trams (where it is only off), you simply wave the card in front of the yellow Octopus readers and the machine will deduct the correct amount. You are allowed to go overdrawn upto HK$35 and for one ride only, however the card must be in credit and the deduction will be billed the next time you top up. To check how much credit you have remaining, use the signed machines inside MTR stations, where you can also recharge with cash or credit card.
Is Octopus only valid in Hong Kong?
No, since 2006 several retailers in both Macau and Shenzhen have been accepting the card. However, especially in Macau, the number of participating outlets is limited, and you should check ahead of time. Neither city is anywhere near as universally covered as Hong Kong. 7-Eleven's in Shenzhen and two KFC’s in Macau are now accepting the card.
Can Octopus be used for anything else?
Octopus can also be used for a host of other things in Hong Kong, such as paying at 7-Elevens and paying for parking. Major stores who accept the card include 7-Elevens, Park n Shop Supermarket, Circle K, Watson’s Chemists, McDonalds, Cafe de Coral, Delifrance, KFC and the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This is to name just a few, and the list is ever expanding, check in at the Octopus official website for a fuller and printable list.
