Short answer
The Airport Express is the fastest way in: 24 minutes to Hong Kong Station in Central, 22 to Kowloon, 14 to Tsing Yi, running every 9–12 minutes. Adult fares are HK$120 to Hong Kong Station, HK$105 to Kowloon and HK$73 to Tsing Yi when you tap an Octopus card, a contactless bank card or an eligible QR ticket. A separate single-journey ticket costs HK$10 more.
The airport buses are the cheap option and often stop closer to your hotel. The A21 to Kowloon costs HK$34.60; the A11 runs down the north shore of Hong Kong Island. They take 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and reach hotels the train does not.
A taxi is the only door-to-door option, and the one to take if you land after midnight or have heavy luggage. Expect roughly HK$270–350 to Tsim Sha Tsui and HK$335–400 to Central, including tunnel tolls and the HK$6-per-bag charge. At the airport you want a red urban taxi for Kowloon or Hong Kong Island.
The four options at a glance
The airport sits on Chek Lap Kok, an island joined to Lantau. Everything below starts in the arrivals hall and assumes you are heading to Kowloon or Hong Kong Island.
| Option | Time to the city | Typical adult cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express | 22–24 min | HK$105–120 by Octopus | Speed, luggage space, Central or West Kowloon hotels |
| Cityflyer "A" bus | 45–75 min | About HK$35–45 | Budget, hotels along the route, no transfer needed |
| "E" and night buses | 60–90 min | HK$24–32 | Late arrivals after the last train, cheapest fares |
| Taxi | 30–50 min | HK$270–400 all-in | Groups of three or four, heavy bags, 2am arrivals |
Two rules of thumb. If your hotel is near Hong Kong Station or Kowloon Station, the train wins on every measure except price. If it is in Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok or Causeway Bay — anywhere the Airport Express does not stop — compare the bus that passes your door against the train plus a transfer. The train is fast; the transfer is what costs you time.
The Airport Express in detail
A dedicated MTR line with only five stations: AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport, Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong. Trains run roughly every 9–12 minutes from early morning until around midnight, and the carriages are built for luggage — there are racks, and they are never as crowded as the commuter lines.
| Station | Time from airport | Octopus / contactless / QR | Single ticket | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsing Yi | About 14 min | HK$73 | HK$80 | HK$130 |
| Kowloon | About 22 min | HK$105 | HK$115 | HK$195 |
| Hong Kong (Central) | About 24 min | HK$120 | HK$130 | HK$215 |
Children aged 3–11 pay lower fares and under-threes travel free. The round-trip ticket is valid for 30 days, and group tickets for two, three or four people travelling together on the same day are also available.
Free in-town check-in
At Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station you can check in for your flight and drop your bags before you travel to the airport — free, on the day of departure, for participating airlines, if you hold an electronic travel document such as an e-passport. It opens as early as 24 hours before your flight and closes 90 minutes before departure.
The payoff: you spend your last afternoon in the city without luggage, then walk straight to security at the airport. Airline participation and service hours vary by station, so confirm with your airline before planning around it.
Airport buses
Cityflyer "A" routes are the airport coaches, double-deckers with luggage racks on the lower deck, taking Octopus, running roughly every 15–20 minutes. The trade-off is traffic: the same journey can take 45 minutes at 7am and 75 minutes at 6pm. Fares are flat, so you pay the same whether you get off at the first stop or the last.
- A21, to Kowloon. Runs along Nathan Road through Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan and Mong Kok to Hung Hom. Fare HK$34.60. This is the route to take if your hotel is anywhere on Nathan Road.
- A11, to Hong Kong Island. Through Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay to North Point. More than the A21, but well under the Airport Express fare.
- "E" routes are the cheaper, slower airport services that also serve airport staff, the budget option for Tung Chung and the New Territories.
Landing after midnight
This is where the choice collapses. The Airport Express stops running around midnight, and the first train back to the airport leaves Hong Kong Station shortly before 6am. In between, your public transport options are the overnight "N" buses, cheaper than the daytime routes but slower and infrequent:
- N21, to Tsim Sha Tsui, following a similar line to the A21. Around HK$23.80, running from about 00:20 to 04:40.
- N11, to Central, covering the Hong Kong Island corridor. Around HK$32.10, running from about 01:50 to 04:50.
If you land in the small hours and do not want to wait, take a taxi. Night buses run infrequently, and a bus stop at 3am with luggage is not how anyone wants to start a holiday.
Taxis: the colour rule matters
Taxis are colour-coded by operating area and the rule is enforced, board the wrong colour at the airport and the driver cannot legally take you where you are going.
- Red (urban), Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and most of the New Territories. This is the one you want for Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Wan Chai.
- Green (New Territories), restricted to parts of the New Territories, so it cannot take you into the city.
- Blue (Lantau), Lantau Island and Chek Lap Kok only, for Tung Chung, Disneyland and other Lantau destinations.
The rank is on the ground floor of the passenger terminal, follow the "Taxi" signs from arrivals.
What the meter does and does not cover
- Flag fall covers the first two kilometres, with a per-200-metre rate after that.
- Luggage in the boot adds HK$6 per piece. Light hand baggage carried inside the cabin is not charged.
- Tunnel tolls are extra and the driver chooses the crossing, which is why the same trip can vary by tens of dollars.
- Payment is increasingly electronic, but many drivers still prefer cash. Carry small notes.
Expect roughly HK$270–350 to Tsim Sha Tsui and HK$335–400 to Central once tolls and bags are included. A taxi makes financial sense for three or four people, where the per-person cost lands close to the Airport Express fare.
Which one should you actually take?
- Hotel near Hong Kong Station, Central or Kowloon Station → Airport ExpressNothing else is close on time, and in-town check-in on the way back is a genuine bonus.
- Hotel on Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui or Mong Kok → A21 busHK$34.60 and it stops on the street you are staying on, no transfer at the other end.
- Hotel in Causeway Bay, Wan Chai or North Point → A11 busThe Airport Express does not serve the island's east side, so the bus saves both the fare and a taxi from Central.
- Landing after midnight → night bus or taxiCheck whether the N21 or N11 reaches your area. If not, take the taxi and accept the cost.
- Three or four people with luggage → taxiSplit four ways, an airport taxi is competitive with the train.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Airport Express from Hong Kong Airport?
Adult fares are HK$73 to Tsing Yi, HK$105 to Kowloon and HK$120 to Hong Kong Station by Octopus, contactless bank card or eligible QR ticket. A single-journey ticket costs HK$10 more, and round trips are cheaper per leg.
How long does the Airport Express take?
About 14 minutes to Tsing Yi, 22 minutes to Kowloon and 24 minutes to Hong Kong Station in Central. Trains run roughly every 9–12 minutes from early morning until around midnight.
Can I use an Octopus card on the Airport Express and the airport buses?
Yes, both. On the Airport Express, Octopus is HK$10 cheaper than a single-journey ticket. On Cityflyer buses you tap once when you board, and fares are flat.
What is the cheapest way from the airport to the city?
The overnight N buses are cheapest at around HK$24–32, followed by the A21 at HK$34.60. If you are heading to Tung Chung rather than the city, a short MTR hop costs only a few dollars.
Are there buses after midnight from Hong Kong Airport?
Yes. The N21 runs to Tsim Sha Tsui from roughly 00:20 to 04:40 and the N11 to Central from roughly 01:50 to 04:50. They are cheaper than the daytime routes but run infrequently, so check the current timetable before relying on one for a tight connection.
How much is a taxi from Hong Kong Airport to Kowloon or Central?
Roughly HK$270–350 to Tsim Sha Tsui and HK$335–400 to Central, including tunnel tolls and the HK$6-per-bag luggage charge. The driver chooses the harbour crossing, which is why the total varies.
Which colour taxi do I take at Hong Kong Airport?
A red urban taxi for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon; that covers Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. Blue Lantau taxis serve Lantau destinations such as Tung Chung and Disneyland. Green New Territories taxis cannot take you to the city.
Can I check in for my flight at the station instead of the airport?
Yes, on the Airport Express. Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station offer free in-town check-in and baggage drop for participating airlines, on the day of departure, if you hold an electronic travel document.
Related reading
Airport Express journey times, fare bands, ticket types and the in-town check-in service follow MTR's official Airport Express pages and Hong Kong International Airport's baggage and check-in information. Airport bus fares and night-bus hours follow Cityflyer route information. Taxi flag fall, luggage charges and tunnel toll arrangements follow the Transport Department's published fare structure. All figures are current as of September 2026 and are revised periodically, confirm on the official site before you travel.