Travel tips · Hong Kong · China
Hong Kong travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Hong Kong blends Cantonese tradition with a century and a half of British rule, so you will hear Cantonese and English, see temples beside banks and find feng shui shaping building design. The pace is fast, space is tight and efficiency is prized; Chinese festivals such as Lunar New Year, Ching Ming and Mid-Autumn are widely observed.
Key facts
- Language
- Cantonese, English and Mandarin
- Currency
- HKD
- Plugs
- Type G (three square pins), 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water meets international standards, but many locals boil or filter it…
- Emergency
- 999 (police, fire and ambulance)
Things to know
- Eating and drinking are not allowed in MTR stations and trains.
- Queue in line for buses, ferries and taxis; pushing in is frowned upon.
- Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice; it resembles incense at a funeral.
- Give and receive business cards or gifts with both hands.
- Keep voices down on public transport and avoid blocking the MTR doors and escalators.
- Book Victoria Peak and the Peak Tram ahead: Buy Peak Tram tickets online or with an Octopus card to skip the ticket queue, though the boarding queue remains at busy times.
- Book Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery ahead: Book cable car tickets online for weekends and holidays; a crystal (glass-floored) cabin costs more.
- Book Hong Kong Palace Museum ahead: Timed tickets are released online and the most popular exhibitions sell out on weekends.
- Use the Star Ferry, trams and buses for sightseeing; they cost a few dollars and show the city well.
Tipping
A 10% service charge is added in most sit-down restaurants, so further tips are optional. Locals round up taxi fares and may leave small change in cha chaan tengs.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Néih hóu | Hello |
| M̀h'gōi | Thank you (for a service) / excuse me |
| Dō jeh | Thank you (for a gift) |
| Màaih dāan | The bill, please |
| Géi dō chín? | How much is it? |
What to wear
Dress for humidity from May to October and bring a warm layer for December to February evenings. Malls and the MTR are strongly air-conditioned all year.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type G (three square pins), 220 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water meets international standards, but many locals boil or filter it because of older pipes in some buildings.
- Emergency number
- 999 (police, fire and ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport, MTR stations and many public venues; tourist SIM cards and eSIMs are sold at the airport and convenience stores.
- Time zone
- Asia/Hong Kong
Hong Kong has low street crime, though pickpocketing happens in crowded markets and on the MTR. Watch for typhoon and rainstorm warnings in summer, and take heat seriously on hikes.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check China's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Hong Kong?
A 10% service charge is added in most sit-down restaurants, so further tips are optional. Locals round up taxi fares and may leave small change in cha chaan tengs.
+Can you drink the tap water in Hong Kong?
Tap water meets international standards, but many locals boil or filter it because of older pipes in some buildings.
+What plugs are used in Hong Kong?
Type G (three square pins), 220 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Hong Kong?
Cantonese, English and Mandarin.