Trams and the Star Ferry: Hong Kong's cheapest rides
Two Hong Kong rides are worth taking for their own sake rather than to get somewhere: the double-decker tram along the north shore of Hong Kong Island, and the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour. Together they cost less than a sandwich and cover the two best views in the city.
1The tram: board at the back, pay at the front
Trams — everyone calls them the ding ding — run along Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town in the west to Shau Kei Wan in the east, with a branch up to Happy Valley. The fare is a flat HK$3.30 for any distance, which makes it the cheapest transport in the city.
Boarding works in the opposite direction to a bus. You get on at the rear door, ride, and then get off at the front, paying there — Octopus reader or exact cash in the box. There is no change.
End to end takes 80–90 minutes, which tells you what kind of vehicle it is: slow, open-windowed, no air conditioning, and stopping every couple of blocks.
2Which stretch to ride
The scenic and useful section is between Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay, where the tram runs through the older street-level city — dried seafood shops, wet markets, colonial-era buildings, and the tram itself as part of the traffic.
- For the classic view: board around Western Market and ride east to Causeway Bay, roughly 25 minutes.
- For the full experience: Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, but treat it as a half-day activity, not a transfer.
- Avoid at rush hour if you have luggage or a schedule. Trams are packed and slow between 08:00 and 09:30.
3The Star Ferry: eight minutes, two dollars of view
The Star Ferry runs two routes across Victoria Harbour: Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, and Tsim Sha Tsui to Wan Chai. The crossing takes about eight to ten minutes and costs around HK$5–6.50 depending on the day and which deck you sit on.
Pay at the turnstile with an Octopus card or a token bought from the machine. Sit on the upper deck, and on the Tsim Sha Tsui to Central route sit on the side facing the skyline as you leave Kowloon.
The ferries are old, wooden, and diesel-smelling in the best way. They also have a habit of cancelling in bad weather, so do not build a tight connection around one during a typhoon.
4The other ferries worth knowing
From the Central piers, ordinary ferries run to the outlying islands: Cheung Chau, Lamma, Mui Wo on Lantau, and Peng Chau. Fares run from around HK$18 to HK$50, with a fast and a slow service on most routes — the slow one is cheaper and has an open deck, which is the point.
These are commuter ferries, not sightseeing boats. They are also the only practical way to reach some of the best weekend escapes in Hong Kong.
5Putting the two together
A good afternoon: tram from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay, walk to the harbour, Star Ferry from Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui, then the promenade at sunset. Total transport cost under HK$15.
Both accept Octopus, so the card you already loaded for the MTR covers them. Check live conditions before you set out — our weather tool shows Observatory warnings, and ferries suspend when typhoon signal 8 goes up.
Quick answers
How much is the tram?
A flat HK$3.30 for any distance, paid at the front when you get off, by Octopus or exact cash.
Do I board the tram at the front or the back?
The back. You board at the rear and exit and pay at the front, which is the opposite of the bus arrangement.
How much is the Star Ferry?
Roughly HK$5–6.50 for the Tsim Sha Tsui to Central or Wan Chai crossing, depending on the day and deck. Octopus is accepted at the turnstile.
Is the Peak Tram the same as the ding ding?
No. The Peak Tram is a funicular railway to Victoria Peak with a separate fare and a long queue. The ding ding is the street-level tram on Hong Kong Island.
Do trams and ferries run in a typhoon?
Ferries suspend when typhoon signal 8 is hoisted, and trams stop in severe weather. Check the Observatory warnings before relying on either.
Sources: Hong Kong Tramways · Star Ferry. Last checked 28 October 2026; operators and government departments can change fares and arrangements at any time.