MTR fares explained: Octopus, single tickets and day passes
The MTR is the one thing in Hong Kong that works exactly as advertised. What trips people up is the ticket, not the train: a paper single-journey ticket costs more than the same ride on an Octopus card, and the Tourist Day Pass only makes sense past a certain number of rides. Here is how the fare is actually worked out.
1How an MTR fare is calculated
Fares are distance-based with one deliberate premium: any journey that crosses Victoria Harbour costs more than a journey of the same length on one side. That is why Tsim Sha Tsui to Admiralty, one stop, costs noticeably more than several stops through Kowloon.
Urban journeys sit roughly in the HK$4–20 band. Longer runs into the New Territories, to the airport, or across the border cost more again. Three things decide what you pay:
- Where you enter and exit. The system charges station to station, not by time or zones.
- Which ticket you use. Octopus and contactless bank cards are charged a lower fare than a single-journey ticket bought from a machine.
- Concessions. Children aged 3–11 pay about half; under-3s travel free. Seniors 65+ pay a flat concession fare on Octopus.
2Octopus beats a paper ticket on almost every trip
A single-journey ticket is a small plastic token printed for one trip. It is priced above the Octopus fare, cannot be reused, and any overpayment is not refunded. The gap is small on a short hop and grows on longer journeys — but on any journey it is money you did not need to spend.
If you have a contactless Visa or Mastercard, you can tap straight through the gates without buying anything. You are charged the adult Octopus fare, which makes it the fastest option for a short visit and the one most visitors now use. An Octopus card is still worth getting if you plan to ride buses, trams, ferries and convenience stores with the same card.
3The passes that exist — and what they exclude
There are only two pass products worth knowing about, and one of them is airport-specific.
| Product | Price (adult) | Covers | Does not cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Day Pass | HK$75 (child HK$35) | Unlimited MTR rides for one calendar day | Airport Express, MTR Bus, East Rail first class, Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau |
| Airport Express 30-day return | HK$215 to Hong Kong Station (HK$195 Kowloon, HK$130 Tsing Yi) | Two Airport Express trips within 30 days | Any other line |
Older blog posts still describe a three-day pass bundled with Airport Express rides. That product was withdrawn in November 2022 and is no longer sold; if a page offers it, the page is out of date.
4When the HK$75 day pass actually pays off
Do the arithmetic before you buy. A day pass costs about the same as six to eight short urban rides. If your day is three or four stops around Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, an Octopus card is cheaper and you keep the leftover value.
The pass wins on days that cross the harbour repeatedly: Central in the morning, Tsim Sha Tsui at midday, Mong Kok in the afternoon, Causeway Bay at night. That pattern is common enough among first-time visitors that the pass exists at all.
One more limit worth repeating: the pass will not get you to Lo Wu, Lok Ma Chau or the airport. Those trips are charged on top.
5Two rules that catch visitors out
- No eating or drinking on trains and inside paid areas. It is enforced, and the fixed penalty is not small.
- Luggage is limited. Large suitcases are expected on the Airport Express and East Rail, but on ordinary lines each piece should be roughly within 170 cm total dimensions and 30 kg. Bulky items can be refused at the gate.
Our MTR route tool works out interchanges, stop count and journey time between any two stations, which is usually the part that takes longest to plan.
Quick answers
Is Octopus really cheaper than a single-journey ticket?
Yes, on essentially every journey. The single-journey ticket is priced above the Octopus fare and any overpayment is not refunded. Contactless Visa and Mastercard are charged the adult Octopus fare.
Does the HK$75 Tourist Day Pass cover the Airport Express?
No. It also excludes MTR Bus, East Rail first class, and travel to Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau. Those are charged separately on top of the pass.
Can I just tap my credit card at the gate?
Yes. Contactless Visa and Mastercard work at MTR gates and are charged the adult Octopus fare. You need a physical card or a phone wallet that supports contactless payment.
Do children need a ticket?
Children aged 3 to 11 pay a concession fare of roughly half the adult fare. Children under 3 travel free.
How late does the MTR run?
Most lines run until around 00:30, with last trains varying by station and direction. Check the first and last train information for your specific station rather than assuming a single closing time.
Sources: MTR fares and tickets · MTR Tourist Day Pass. Last checked 28 October 2026; operators and government departments can change fares and arrangements at any time.