Octopus card | Must-have item for Hong Kong trip! The app is also available for iPhone users
Hong Kong has a very convenient public transportation system and it is easy to get around anywhere by bus, metro, tram, etc.
To explore Hong Kong, you must feel more comfortable and convenient with an Octopus card.
Let me introduce this must-have item at this time:)
*Some of the posts include affiliate links in the blog.
What is an Octopus card?
Octopus(八達通) card is a transportation IC card in HK like Suica in Japan or T money in Korea.
You can use this Octopus card on the bus, metro, tram, ferry, taxi, etc.
It covers almost all the means of transportation in Hong Kong.
You only need to touch the card to the leader like Suica in Japan or T money in Korea.
For buses and ferries, you need to touch it only when you ride on.
*Doesn’t have to touch it when you get off.
Why do you need it? Definitely convenient!
“Broad utility” and “Convenience” are the reasons to recommend having an Octopus card.
You can use this card for various transportation and you don’t need to struggle with payment by unfamiliar local currency and small changes.
FYI, you need to be careful about the changes as you might not be able to receive the changes when you ride the bus!)
Many places accept credit card payments, and moving around without cash in Hong Kong is not too difficult.
Recently, you can use touch payment by credit card on a double-decker bus, tram, and metro.
I could use VISA and Master card touch payment on the bus.
However, the transportation you can use a credit card is still limited.
I used the credit card payment on the bus when I visited Hong Kong as a transit.
I prefer not to take lots of cash with me so I don’t usually exchange or use cash advance service wherever I go.
The double-decker bus accepted credit card touch payment but not at the minibus.
You can use an octopus card on the green minibus.
Note
The red minibus seems to only accept cash and even the Octopus card is not available.
However, it might be better to use other transportation for tourists as this bus has no designated route and the drivers tend to speak only Cantonese.
I could use a green minibus but it’s said the red one is more difficult.
Octopus card is more useful than credit card touch payment and that makes your travel easier and more comfortable.
I didn’t have enough cash to take the green minibus at that time so I took Uber instead.
But I could use the minibus the next day after I installed the Octopus app, which is explained in “③ Install the Octopus app if you’re an iPhone or Apple Watch user“.
Various uses of the Octopus card
Not only the transportation fares but you can also use the card at dining and shopping like convenience stores, supermarkets, cafes, fast food shops, amusement facilities like movie theaters, and restaurants, etc.
It might be digressing , but let me share some information as below: )
For Your Information
Pacific Coffee is a famous chain cafe that originated in Hong Kong.
You can use an Octopus card in the shops too!
I recommend going to the one in The Peak Tower, where you can see the Hong Kong view from Victoria Peak and enjoy coffee or light meals:)
Where can you get it?
Here are the ways how you can get the Octopus card!
①Buy it on-site directly
②Buy beforehand at travel sites
③Install the Octopus app if you’re an iPhone or Apple Watch user
①Buy it on-site directly
You can buy the card at convenience stores or customer centers(客室中心) in the MTR stations.
You can get it at seven eleven in the Hong Kong airport arrival loby and the store is open 24 hours.
②Buy beforehand at travel sites
You can buy the card beforehand in KKday, klook, Rakuten Travel if you feel uneasy about getting the card directly at the local stores.
The only thing you need to do is just receive it and you’re able to use your limited time effectively.
Sometimes foreign cards don’t work when you are out of your country somehow.
You might feel relief if you prepare it beforehand when we consider the situation no cash and no usable credit cards at there.
Klook seems just a little bit cheaper than kkday.
You can choose a 4G SIM card(8 days) included option at both sites. (Only rental cards can choose this option.)
Charged amounts are the following.
For tourist Octopus card： HKD 50
Rental octopus card： HKD 150
Returns or refunds are available at the service counter in the MTR stations.
【Comparison of “tourist Octopus card”】
| KKday | Klook | 楽天 |
|---|---|---|
| ¥1,954 | ¥1,949 | ¥2,108 |
| JPY 500 OFF for first-time purchase | 5%OFF for first-time purchase | Earn Rakuten point |
I think you can get better deals from Rakuten Mobile for SIM cards 🙂
Please refer to the following blog post if you want to learn more about Rakuten Mobile!
③Install the Octopus app if you’re an iPhone or Apple Watch user
This is only for iPhone and Apple Watch users but you can pay the transportation fares or charge the amount by the Octopus app without a physical card!
If you had physical cards in the past, you can also transfer the deposit and amount to the app.
Please install the app “Octopus for Tourists” if you’re a tourist as you need to register a Hong Kong-originated phone number to use the normal version.
Then you can register your credit card and charge the amount following the instructions on the screen.
I could use a JCB card (Japanese credit card).
It’s pretty easy if you can pay by iPhone without a physical card!
Which one you should use for the physical card? “For tourists” is recommended!
There are some types of physical cards but “for tourists” is recommended if you stay in Hong Kong for 180 days or less as the deposit is not required and the charged amount is slightly increased.
Normal version
Minimum price HKD 150
*This includes a deposit of HKD 50.
The actual charged amount is HKD 100
Valid for 3 years(You can extend if you use it before expires)
Card for children is available
For tourists
Minimum price HKD 150
*You don’t need to pay a deposit but this includes a card fee of HKD 39
The actual charged amount is HKD 111
Valid for 180 days
No card for children
It might be digressing , but let me share some information as below: )
For Your Information
It seems there are not only cards but also key chains as physical payment methods.
You just need to put it to the leader like you use the physical card.
They sold a Sailor Moon 3D Octopus ornament in 2017!
I’m not a big fan of Sailor Moon but it’s so cute and that makes me want to buy it :))
Other than that, you can find Hello Kitty, Kuromi Chan, Pokémon, and some other various options♪
Notes
Both physical card and app are very convenient but please note the following points.
FYI, “top up” is a more general word in Hong Kong.
You may struggle if you say “Charge”
Notes for the physical card
You might feel relief if you have a physical card when you cannot use your smartphone somehow.
I do have both a physical card and an app but here is what you need to take care of.
①Credit card charges are not available for a physical card
②You can’t use the card after you proceed to refund or return
①Credit card charges are not available for a physical card
You need to pay by cash when you charge the amount in convenience stores or so.
If you don’t have cash or want to use a credit card, the app is more convenient.
②You can’t use the card after you proceed to refund or return
Once you proceed with the refund or return the rental card, the deposit and the amount will be returned to you but the cards are no longer valid.
If you have any chance to go to Hong Kong again, it might be good to keep it.
But the card will be invalid tentatively if you don’t use the card for over 3 years.
You can reactivate it but please keep it in your mind.
Note for Octopus app
This is pretty convenient and easy when you can’t find the convenience stores near you or the service centers in MTR stations are closed.
You can register it on your smartphone whenever you need.
I downloaded the app when I arrived in HK late time as my Octopus card hasn’t been used for over 3 years and has expired.
I was rushed at that time so that was a pretty easy and reasonable solution:)
I can recommend using the app!
We live in modern society and I understand it’s convenient to figure out by smartphone for us:))
Based on that, here are some notes for the Octopus app.
①Android is not available to use Octopus for tourists
②Deposit is required even for the app for tourists
③The minimum charge is HKD 100
④Sometimes the app doesn’t work somehow
①Android is not available to use Octopus for tourists
It might be available in the future but you can not use the app for tourists as of now if you use Android.
The normal Octopus card is ok for Android users but you need to register the phone number issued in Hong Kong.
So please use a physical card if you don’t have an iPhone or Apple Watch.
②Deposit is required even for the app for tourists
You need to pay HKD 50 for the deposit even if it’s the tourist version.
That’s the difference between physical cards for tourists.
You can refund the amount from “Refound Card” in the “Settings” below.
③The minimum charge is HKD 100
You need to charge over HKD 100 at least.
As a running cost, you have to pay HKD 150 in total (deposit HKD 50 + minimum charge HKD 100).
④Sometimes the app doesn’t work somehow
I can use the app so far but I heard some people couldn’t charge the amount.
This is not always and seems like it’s recovered when you take a moment.
But you might feel more relieved if you have several payment methods just in case.
Wrap-up
Octopus card makes your Hong Kong travel very easy and comfortable.
You can use this card at many places and you don’t have to manage small changes if you use it.
You can get the card at convenience stores, MTR service centers, and travel sites.
The app is downloadable wherever you are.
If you can’t decide which to use, please refer to the following criteria.
【Physical card】
・Prefer to have more charged amount even a little.
・Want to have one for emergency when you can’t use your smartphone.
【App】
・iPhone or Apple Watch users
・ Minimalist
・Prefer to charge the amount by credit card.
In any case, this card makes your travel more comfortable!
Bring the card and enjoy your lovely Hong Kong travel:))