Hong Kong Octopus Card is a versatile smartcard of every Hong Kong local’s life. As a tourist, it will definitely smooth your journey in Hong Kong. It works similar as those e-payment ways, such as ApplePay, SamsungPay and Alipay. This pre-stored electronic card now is widely applied on most forms of public transport, convenient stores, supermarkets, chain shops and restaurants, shopping malls in Hong Kong.
As a tourist or visitor to Hong Kong, you probably wonder whether it is worthwhile to purchase one if you only stay shortly, and if yes then where to buy and how to use the Octopus Card for Tourist. Here is the ultimate guide for Octopus Card including most of the asked questions. If I missed anything, please do let me know.
All you need to know about Octopus Card
What is Octopus Card? – Essential for life
The Octopus Card is a pre-paid smartcard being applied in every aspect of Hong Kong life.
Launched in 1997 by the Octopus Ltd., it is the first and most successful contactless smartcard system in the world.
It is similar to London’s Oyster Card, New York’s MetroCard and SUICA and PASMO Card in Japan. But Hong Kong’s contactless smart card is used not only in transportation system, but almost in every aspect of people’s life.
Hong Kong Octopus Card is applied widely in
TravelMetro (MTR), Star Ferry, trams, ferries, buses; Airport system: Airport Express, airport bus; Peak Tram and Some of the taxis;
DineFast food chains, bakeries and Hong Kong style cafés, e.g. McDonald’s, KFC, Starbucks, Café de Coral;
ShopConvenient stores like 7-Eleven, Circle K, Vango; Supermarkets: ParknShop, Wellcome, Market Place; Shopping malls, department stores, personal care stores;
This smart-card makes life not only more convenient and easier, but also more hassle-free.
It is not only easy to use, convenient to add value but also possible to get refund when returning.
If you want me name one thing that every Hong Kong local owns, besides the Identity Card, it must be the Octopus Card. Some even joke that it is like a Swiss Army knife.
Is it necessary for tourists to get an Octopus Card ? – What are the advantages of the smart card ?
So, why you should buy an Octopus Card in Hong Kong?
Get an Octopus Card, if you
– don’t want to search for exact fare when taking bus and tram;
– don’t want to stand in line for buying subway and Peak Tram tickets;
– don’t want to waste time preparing and exchanging cash when paying;
– don’t want to collect a bunch of coins at the end of the day;
This rechargeable smart card is a game-changer for both tourists and locals alike.
Even if you have only a short stay in Hong Kong, you should consider purchasing one. Not only because it can save you tons of time when travelling on public transportation system, but also free you from the burden of preparing cash for many aspects. So, buying this contactless Smart Card is absolutely no-brainer.
Benefit 1: Convenience at your fingertips – It applies on most forms of the public transport
Hong Kong’s public transport is not only economic but also accessible to all the popular attractions. Today’s Octopus Card almost covers all the public transportation, from metro (MTR), bus, tram, Star Ferry, Airport Express, Peak Tram to the light railway.
No matter you decide to use the public transportation extensively, or you will use just for a few rides, this card will definitely make your travel much easier and more convenient.
Needless to say that the Star Ferry, Peak Tram and Hong Kong tram are a must-do for tourists. Trust me, you would not want to stand in line for purchasing tickets.
Some of the taxis (but not all) are also installed with Octopus Card readers.
Benefit 2: Saving time and money on metro and Star Ferry
Ready to prepare the sufficient cash and coins for tickets everytime? If not, get the Octopus Card.
Hong Kong’s metro/subway (MTR) is the major means of public transportation for tourists and Star Ferry is a must-try on the highlight list. Without Octopus Card, you will need to get tickets/tokens for metro and Star Ferry from ticket machines.
Be aware that vending machines accept only the selected banknotes/coins (not all banknotes). Otherwise, you will have to exchange money at the Customer Service Counter and get back to the vending machine in queue. (The MTR Customer Service can only answer questions and exchange money. They DON’T sell tickets)
Extra bonus: Paying with Octopus Card on metro is around 10% cheaper than buying ticket.
People standing in line to buy metro/subway tickets
Benefit 3: No worries for preparing changes on bus and tram
Tram and bus in Hong Kong don’t sell tickets. Passengers need to prepare cash of the exact fare for the ride and no change will be given.
As a visitor, you should not miss riding on the historic double-decker tram during your Hong Kong journey (check out why tram is one of the must-do for tourists).
Besides, the airport bus service traveling between downtown and airport is an economic option for many. Get an Octopus Card to avoid the embarrassment that dozens of passengers stare at you when you are searching for change.
Benefit 4: Widespread acceptance in convenient shops, vending machines or many restaurants
This little card works seamlessly with different vendors and public transportation systems. With this card, you can easily grab a cup of coffee in Starbucks or order a dish with touch-screen machine in a restaurant.
Benefit 5: Paying at some of the attractions, museums, theme parks and racecourses;
The Smart Card now is also used for paying entrance fees for some of the attractions and all the museums. The entrances of the two Hong Kong horse racing courses can also use the little card to pay.
Benefit 6: Peace of mind – Relax your travel
Exploring and traveling in a foreign city can sometimes feel overwhelming. With the Octopus Card, you won’t have to worry about running out of change or navigating complex ticketing systems and machines.
For MTR, simply tap or swipe the smart card over the reader when you enter and exit the subway system. The ticket fare is automatically calculated.
Benefit 7: Souvenir Value
The Tourist Octopus Card can serve as a unique souvenir from Hong Kong. In case you plan to visit Hong Kong more often you can get one of the Standard Cards. From time to time, some special or limited editions collectable cards are issued (e.g. Chinese New Year, popular cartoon characters, local themes or to commemorate special events and anniversaries). This special and limited edition cards are popular among locals and visitors alike, making them a fun keepsake or gift for friends and family.
Run out of money? Reloading Octopus Card is super easy
Thousands of locations in Hong Kong provide Octopus Card reload service.
You easily can add value (top-up) on the card almost everywhere in town. The most popular option is the convenient stores, such as 7-Eleven and Circle K.
Starbucks, McDonald’s, and other chain restaurants also provide recharging service. Simply give the cash to the staff and then put the card on the card reader, and it’s done.
You can easily check the balance on the receipt / invoice or with one of the Octopus Transaction Checkers and many other ways.
Which Octopus Card is suitable for tourists?
There are many types of Octopus Card for locals. But there are two main categories popular amongst tourists: Standard Octopus and Sold Octopus Card. Now there is a new package of the Rental Octopus Card with Data Plan which is great deal for short-stay visitors.
Both of them are anonymous, thus no personal data is recorded. There is no function difference between these two cards. They both serve in the same way. You can easily get the cards from many locations in Hong Kong as well as from online shops.
Sold Tourist Octopus Card – good gift and souvenir
A special Sold Tourist Octopus Card is designed for visitors. These cards make a perfect gift or souvenir for many visitors. Unlike the Standard Octopus Card, the Sold Tourist Octopus Card is sold at the price of HK$ 39 without deposit and initial value. It means that the HK$ 39 charged for the card is the fee for the card itself and is not refundable.
Sold Tourist Octopus Card (Adult and Child)
Many people will purchase the card online as a special gift and present to their friends or family who are about to visit Hong Kong. Some visitors would like to have a nice and small souvenir for their memory in Hong Kong.
Where to get the Sold Octopus Card?
In case you would like to purchase the Sold Tourist Octopus Card, you can do it at every:
- 7-Eleven Store
- Circle-K Store
- VanGo Convenience Store
- China Travel Service (CTS) Store
In Hong Kong you will easily find a 7-Eleven or Circle-K store. They are also the best options for adding the value on the card.
Besides, you can also purchase a card in advance from online sellers and pickup from the airport directly.
Get A Sold Tourist Octopus Card online
Hong Kong Tourist Octopus Card
With HK$ 50 preloaded value
Pickup in the Hong Kong airport
Adult Card only: HK$ 97
Standard Octopus – On-Loan / Rental Octopus Card – economic option
The Standard Octopus is the most economic option for tourists as you do not need to pay for the card.
Standard Octopus Cards
This card is basically lent to you by the Octopus Card Company. The price for the Standard Card contains a refundable deposit (HK$ 50) and different amount of initial stored value.
The HK$ 50 deposit covers the card cost in case of loss or damage as well as a possible negative value on the card. You will get back the deposit and the remaining value on the card as long as you return the card. Please note that HK$ 11 will be charged if the card is returned within 90 days.
Currently, there is no personal information, details or registration needed to purchase a Standard Octopus (except the personalized ones). Child and Senior Octopus Card are not only for the local citizens but also available to the tourists.
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Different cards |
Card Price (HK$) |
Price including (HK$) |
|
|
Refundable Deposit |
Initial Value ready for using |
||
|
Adult |
200 |
50 |
150 |
|
Child (3-11 years) |
100 |
50 |
50 |
|
Elder (65+) |
100 |
50 |
50 |
Usually you will be not be asked to present certificates / documents when purchasing senior or child cards. The MTR company has other ways to prevent misuse behaviours.
Please note: In case you purchase a Standard Card via the City’s Ticketing Office at the Citybus Terminus at the Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao-Bridge the initial stored value is HK$ 70 (child) and HK$ 150 (adult and senior).
Where to get the Standard Octopus Card?
It is only available in all the Customer Service Counters. The highlighted ones are the most convenient ones for tourists. These includes:
- Every MTR Customer Service Center (except Racecourse station) (recommended);
- Airport Express stations (including in the airport) (recommended);
- First Ferry Octopus Service Centers (Piers of Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, Peng Chau, Central Piers 5 & 6);
- Light Rail Customer Service Centres (Ferry Pier Terminus, Leung King, Town Centre, Yuen Long Terminus, Tin Yat stations);
- KMB Lok Ma Chau Ticketing Office;
Although you can top the card’s value in thousands of different places throughout Hong Kong, except the above locations, other shops and stores DO NOT sell the Standard Octopus Card.
Rental Octopus Card with data plan
There is another better deal for the short-stay tourists which includes 8-day SIM card in the package. The card is a standard card with HK$ 150 pre-saved value and CSL 8GB 4G data. Do a simple math, it costs less than HK$ 9 (US$ 1.2) per day for surfing internet.
Remember to prepare extra HK$ 50 deposit when picking up the card. You will get the deposit back when returning the card.
Hong Kong Rental Octopus Card with data plan
With HK$ 150 preloaded value
+ Hong Kong 4G SIM Card (8 days)
Pickup in the Hong Kong airport
Adult Card only: HK$ 218
How to use Octopus Card ?
Standard Octopus Card has HK$150 initial value ready to use as the Sold Tourist Octopus Card has no initial value.
Entrance and exit gates of MTR subway
Octopus Card is a contactless smart card. Simply swiping or “waving” the card over the fare deduction processor (card reader machine) is sufficient. Successful payment should have a sharp “beep” as signal.
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How to use for paying bills?
Using the card to pay bills is similar to ApplePay or Paywave creditcard. All you need to do is to look for the yellow card readers near cashier. Let the staff know what you would like to pay with Octopus Card, then they will choose the payment method on their computers.
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How to use on metro system?
Metro requires to use the card for both entering and exiting. The fare will be automatically calculated and deducted from your stored-value card according to your travelling distance.
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Use it for paying other transportation
Except metro system, all the other public transportation needs to use the card only once. Don’t forget, bus, Peak Tram and Star Ferry need to pay when boarding while the Ding Ding tram needs to pay when exiting.
Swiping the Octopus Card
Where to add value and how much to top up on Octopus Card?
Don’t worry about running out of money on the card. Recharging can be conveniently and easily done at any MTR Customer Service Center, in-station add-value machines or numerous retailers, supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants.
Value can be added from minimum HK$ 50 up to maximum HK$ 1000 each time. There is no fee charged for adding value. I always prefer not adding too much each time in case of losing or damage. When returning the card, you can get the remaining money and deposit back (only for the Standard Card).
The main authorized add-value service providers include 7-Eleven, Circle K, Vanguard, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Park’n Shop, Wellcome, Fairwood, Mannings, Watsons, 759 Store, Arome, Saint Honore Cake Shop, VanGo, AEON, Vanguard, Maxim’s, and Café de Coral.
Did You Know
Where’s the best place to add value?
For tourists, the efficient places are the convenient stores and chain restaurants. Not only because there are less people in the convenient stores, but also they are everywhere. Especially like 7-Eleven, Circle K, McDonald’s and Starbucks, you will easily find one of them nearby. Simply tell the staff how much you would like to add on your card and leave the rest to them.
Don’t try at the Customer Service Center in the metro stations unless there is no queue.
Did You Know
How to check balance on the card?
- Every time when using the card getting in and out of MTR gate, the card reader will show the money value on the card.
- When using the card to pay bills, the balance will show on the receipt.
- Every MTR station also has a Card Transaction Checker to check the balance and the last 10 transactions.
Transaction Checker
Where can I return the Octopus Card?
Only the Standard Octopus Card can be returned and refunded. Basically, you can return the Standard Card to any MTR Customer Service Center, including those in the airport. You will get back all the remaining value as well as the paid deposit (HK$ 50). A small handling fee of HK$9 will be deducted if you return your card within 3 months of purchase.
More frequently asked questions about the Octopus Card
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Can I share the card with my travel partner?
Yes and No. You cannot share the card when taking metro/subway system since each one needs to use the card for both entering and exiting. In addition, Octopus Card machines on public transportation also are programmed with safety control that one card cannot be used on the same machine twice within 5 mins. It is designed to prevent the accidental wipes and payments.
Having said that, for transportation, each person needs to buy a separate card. Let’s do an example: you are a family of four with 2 adults and 2 kids (under the age of 12 years). Hence, you need to purchase two adults and two child ones.
But if you just use the card for paying food and drink, of course, one card is sufficient.
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Can I buy an Octopus Card with a credit card?
All the Standard Octopus Card needs to pay with cash at the Customer Service Counter. It is a cash card that you can get cash refund immediately when returning the card. Thus paying with other means is not accepted.
However, there is an option to purchase the Sold Tourist Octopus Card online and you are able to pay with either Credit Card or Paypal.
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Can I purchase an Octopus Card online?
You can purchase the Sold Tourist Octopus Card online. Especially, if you arrive by plane and don’t want to stand in line after a long-haul flight as well as save some time, this is a perfect option for you. You easily can purchase the card and pick up in the counter in the arrival halls.
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How long is the validity of an Octopus Card?
The smart card is valid for 1000 days and will be deactivated if within this period of time no further amount of value is added. However, you don’t need to worry if you didn’t use your card for 3 or more years. You simply can re-activate it at any MTR service center.
The Sold Tourist Card will be not be charged any service fee when reactivating. For Rental Octopus Card, a HK$ 15 will be deducted annually after three years of inactivity.
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Where does the Octopus Card get its name from?
The smartcard is named after an octopus with 8 tentacles. This has not been a coincidence. The card can be used with 8 different public transportation systems, including MTR, KCR, Airport Express, Peak Tram, Hong Kong trams, Star Ferry, outlying island ferries and the different buses. Also, in Chinese and especially in Hong Kong’s dialect Cantonese, the number 8 represents “getting rich”.