DHL Hong Kong Balloon

Update: Due to unknown reasons, DHL Hong Kong Balloon has been cancelled and is not there anymore. But you still can take a look of how it was from this article.

Located on the West Waterfront Promenade (close by the new iconic ICC skyscraper), the DHL Hong Kong Balloon attraction offers visitors a new perspective on the world famous Hong Kong Skyline. The bright yellow and 22m wide air balloon is filled up with 6,500 cubic meter of helium and can easily be spotted and recognized from the other side of Victoria Harbor. Floating up to 100 meters (328 feet) high, visitors can enjoy spectacular and amazing panoramic views of Victoria Harbor and the West Kowloon side of Hong Kong.

The crew of the DHL Hong Kong Balloon will take you on quiet and comfortable ride which will last approx. 15 minutes. Photographers as well as normal visitors will love the open octagon shaped gondola to take memorable and great pictures of the unique and beautiful Hong Kong skyline.

Opening Hours: Daily from 10:00am to 9:45pm
DHL Operation Hotline (from 9:00am-5:00pm): +(852) 2559 2983

Ticket Prices:

There are two type of tickets offered:

1. the Day-Flight Tickets (from 10:00am to 6:45pm)
Adults HK$ 150
Children HK$ 75 (must be over 1.2 meter height)

2. the Night-Flight Tickets (from 7:00pm to 9:45pm)
Adults HK$ 250
Children HK$ 175 (must be over 1.2 meter height)

Tickets can be purchased either directly at the venue or online.

Ticket Enquiry Hotline: +(852) 2559 2944

Address:West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade

The location of the DHL Hong Kong Balloon is a little bit inconvenient. Basically you have the following options to get there:

1. Take the bus from “The Big Bus Company”: If you already booked a sightseeing tour with the “Big Bus Company” you easily can hop on and off at this sightseeing spot.

2. Public transportation with the MTR:

From TST:

Take the dark purple West MTR Line towards Tsuen Wan West. Exit at the Austin Station through exit D. Travel time approx. 4 minutes. Fare for a single trip journey is HK$ 4. Both exits (D1 and D2) will lead you towards the Elements Shopping Mall. When you arrive at the Elements shopping mall cross the street and walk towards the West Waterfront Promenade. It’s an approx. 15 minutes’ walk to the DHL Hong Kong Balloon. Make sure to take enough water with you since there are no vending machines on your way. The ICC skyscraper should be on your right hand side when walking along the street. One last piece of advice: Currently, there is a lot of construction for the new railway terminal going on. So walkways can be detoured.

From Central:

If you start in the MTR Central station walk towards the Hong Kong Station and take the orange Tung Chung line. Align at the first station (Kowloon station). Travel time approx. 11 minutes. Fare for a single trip journey is about HK$ 9. Exit the Elements Mall and cross the street to get to the West Waterfront Promenade. The walk towards the DHL Hong Kong Balloon is approx. 10-15 minutes. Make sure to take enough water with you since there are no vending machines on your way. One last piece of advice: Currently, there is a lot of construction for the new railway terminal going on. So walkways can be detoured.

3. Take a taxi which is the most convenient and probably efficient way if you are pressed for time and/or don’t want to walk outside in the heat and humid air.

The Bottomline:

Is it worthwhile to take the DHL Hong Kong Balloon? Advertised as a cheap and inexpensive option to a helicopter ride, it is questionable if the DHL Hong Kong Balloon attraction really fulfills its promises and if it is worth the money and effort. Let me explain why. First, the observation deck “Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck” in the ICC tower is just a few steps away. Tickets are priced similar and the view from Sky 100 is definitely more spectacular. Second, the views from the gondola are limited by the balloon constructions (safety net, wires, etc.). You cannot really move freely and take different shots from different positions or angles, especially if the gondola holds the maximum amount of passengers. The Sky 100 offers a “true” 360 degree surround view experience of Victoria Harbor and Kowloon. Besides that getting to the DHL Hong Kong Balloon is a little bit inconvenient if you don’t take the bus tour with the “Big Bus Company”. Either you take a taxi from the MTR station or walk by foot. Walking by foot takes at least 15-20 minutes from the MTR station and can be quite exhausting especially during the hot and humid summer months. Basically, we only can recommend this attraction for those of you who like to ride a balloon or the photographers among you. The balloon provides you a unique opportunity to take pictures of the Hong Kong skyline without any disturbing windows reflections. For everyone else: save the money and either go to the Sky 100 or enjoy a beer in one of Hong Kong’s upper scale bars such as the Ozone Bar in the Ritz-Carlton.

Let’s preview the remarkable views on the balloon now!

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