Hong Kong · Visitor Guide
Star Ferry (天星小輪, Tiānxīng Xiǎolún)
The Star Ferry has crossed Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula since 1888, making it one of the oldest public ferry services still running. The eight-minute ride costs less than a cup of coffee and frames the skyline better than any paid observation deck. National Geographic Traveler ranked the crossing among its '50 Places of a Lifetime' in 1999.
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Quick Answer
Is Star Ferry worth visiting?
An HK$5 double-deck ferry across Victoria Harbour that takes under 10 minutes — the cheapest way to see the Hong Kong skyline from the water, and it has been running since 1888.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Adult upper deck about HK$5.00, lower deck about HK$4.00 on the Central–Tsim Sha Tsui route (Octopus); child 3–11 and senior 65+ pay roughly half (HK$2.50–3.00). Wan Chai–Tsim Sha Tsui is slightly cheaper. Cash/token is a few cents higher. Monthly pass around HK$300. (as of 2026, verify) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Central–Tsim Sha Tsui: roughly 6:30am–11:30pm. Wan Chai–Tsim Sha Tsui: roughly 7:20am–10:50pm. Boats every 6–12 minutes. Times vary seasonally. (verify) |
| Recommended duration | 8–10 minutes per crossing; budget 30–45 minutes for a round-trip with photos. |
| Best time to visit | Sunset, roughly 6:00–7:30pm depending on season, when the skyline lights switch on. Weekdays before 9am or after 8pm to dodge both commuter and tourist crowds. |
| How to get there | Hong Kong Island side — Central Pier No. 7: MTR Central Station Exit A2, then the covered walkway through IFC Mall to the pier (~7 min); Hong Kong Station is just as close. Kowloon side — Tsim Sha Tsui Pier: MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit L6 (~5 min walk) or East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit J. Buses 5, 5A, 5C, 8, 8A and 8P stop near the piers. A DiDi or red urban taxi from most central hotels runs HK$30–50. |
| English signage | yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Founder | Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala (Parsee merchant) |
| Crossing time | ~8 minutes |
| Fleet | ~8 double-deck ferries, each named after a star |
| Routes | Central–TST & Wan Chai–TST, plus a harbour tour |
| Fare from | HK$4 (lower deck, Octopus) |
What to expect
You board a green-and-cream double-deck ferry at a concrete pier, tap an Octopus card, and pick a wooden bench. The upper deck is where everyone wants to be: open-air, with the full sweep of Victoria Harbour. The lower deck is enclosed, cheaper, and the better call in rain. The crossing from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central takes about eight minutes, longer if the boat dawdles at the pier. You get the skyline, the container ships, and the odd tugboat, all for less than the price of a Coke.
An Indian Parsee merchant, Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala, started the service in 1888 with a single steamboat named Morning Star. The company took the Star Ferry name in 1898 and has run continuously since, surviving war, the 1997 handover, and a pandemic ridership collapse. National Geographic Traveler put the crossing on its '50 Places of a Lifetime' list in 1999, and it is still the cheapest harbor crossing in any major city I can think of.
Here is the catch most guidebooks skip. The famous clock-tower pier that appears in every old photograph was demolished in 2006; the current Central Pier No. 7 is a flat-roofed modern shed with all the romance of a bus station. The real character lives on the boats themselves — teak benches, varnished wood, brass fittings. Ride at sunset, sit on the upper deck, and ignore the overpriced one-hour 'Harbour Tour' that uses the same ferries. The commuter crush between 8 and 9:30am is brutal; go mid-morning or after 8pm.
How to get there
Hong Kong Island side — Central Pier No. 7: take the MTR to Central Station, Exit A2, walk through IFC Mall and the covered elevated walkway to the pier (about 7 minutes); Hong Kong Station is equally close via the same walkway. Kowloon side — Tsim Sha Tsui Pier: MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit L6 (about a 5-minute walk) or East Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit J. Citybus and KMB routes 5, 5A, 5C, 8, 8A and 8P all stop near the piers. A DiDi ride or a red urban taxi from Central/Admiralty hotels runs about HK$30–50; from TST hotels about HK$25–40. Parking at either pier is minimal — do not plan to drive.
Best photo spots
- Upper deck, front row, leaving Tsim Sha Tsui at sunset — the ICC tower rises behind the skyline.
- From the Avenue of Stars promenade, shooting a ferry as it pulls away from the TST pier toward Central.
- The wooden-bench lower deck, with varnished teak and brass fittings, for a heritage interior shot.
- Stern deck on the Central-bound crossing with the skyline receding — best about 20 minutes after sunset in blue hour.
Tips
- Tap an Octopus card to skip the token-machine queue — it is also a few cents cheaper than the cash fare.
- Sit starboard (right side) on the Tsim Sha Tsui-to-Central run for the best skyline angle; port side coming back.
- Avoid 8–9:30am and 5:30–7:30pm, when commuters fill the lower deck and school groups take over the upper deck.
- Skip the one-hour 'Star Ferry Harbour Tour' (around HK$200+) — it uses the same boats and the same views. Ride the regular ferry twice instead.
- Upper deck is open-air and crowded; switch to the enclosed lower deck in summer rain or when the harbor is choppy.
Scams to avoid
- Touts near the Tsim Sha Tsui pier sell overpriced 'harbour cruise' tickets that turn out to be the regular ferry — the same ride costs about HK$5 at the pier itself.
- Self-styled 'guides' outside the piers offer to 'reserve' you a front-row seat for a tip; seats are first-come and unreserved, so walk past.
- Ignore anyone near the MTR exits pushing discounted 'tour' ferry packages — they upsell what is effectively a public crossing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Star Ferry cost?
Adult upper deck about HK$5, lower deck about HK$4 on the Central–Tsim Sha Tsui route with an Octopus card; children 3–11 and seniors 65+ pay roughly half. Cash/token is slightly higher. (as of 2026, verify)
How long is the crossing?
Eight to ten minutes between Tsim Sha Tsui and Central; the Wan Chai–Tsim Sha Tsui run is about the same length.
Do I need an Octopus card?
Not strictly — piers have token machines that take cash — but Octopus is faster and a few cents cheaper. If you will use the MTR or buses anyway, get one; the card costs HK$200 including a HK$50 refundable deposit.
Which route should I take — Central or Wan Chai?
Central–Tsim Sha Tsui has the better harbor view and runs later, until about 11:30pm. Wan Chai–Tsim Sha Tsui is cheaper and less crowded but stops around 10:50pm.
Is the Star Ferry wheelchair accessible?
Partially. Central Pier 7 and the TST pier have ramps and the lower deck is reachable, but the upper deck is stairs-only and the boarding gangway can be steep at low tide.
What time does the last ferry leave?
About 11:30pm from Central and roughly 11:20pm from Tsim Sha Tsui on the Central route; the Wan Chai route ends around 10:50pm. Times shift seasonally, so check the day's schedule. (verify)
Can I take luggage on the ferry?
Yes, but there is no luggage rack and space is tight at rush hour. A carry-on is fine; large suitcases will annoy commuters and may draw complaints.
Does the ferry run in bad weather?
It runs in light rain. Service suspends at typhoon signal No. 3 or above and when visibility drops below safe limits — usually a few hours before a direct typhoon hit.
Upper deck or lower deck?
Upper deck for the view: open-air, photo-friendly, more crowded. Lower deck if it is raining, the harbor is choppy, or you want quiet — it is enclosed and cheaper.
Is the Star Ferry Harbour Tour worth it?
For most people, no. It costs around HK$200+ for a one-hour loop using the same ferries. The HK$5 regular crossing gives you most of the view; ride it round-trip if you want more time on the water.
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