Hong Kong Octopus Card & ATM Guide 2026: Airport Tips

Hong Kong Travel Budget

How to Exchange Hong Kong Dollars

The Essential Octopus Card for the MTR

Hello, fellow travelers!

I'm travel influencer Nabongsoon.

Whether you pair it with Macau or visit it all on its own,

even a short 2-day, 1-night or 3-day, 2-night trip

gives you plenty of time to dive deep into this vibrant city.

I've been visiting Hong Kong regularly for 20 years now.

It's the perfect destination for a spontaneous weekend getaway,

especially if you love solo travel!

It feels wonderfully familiar yet somehow reveals new charms on every visit.

To help you get the most out of your trip, I've put together some key tips:

how to exchange HKD at the airport,

the benefits of the Hong Kong Octopus Card and how to book it,

subway navigation tips, and a breakdown of travel expenses.

Let's dive right in!

1. Making the Most of the Hong Kong Octopus Card

Recently, with the rise of international travel cards,

you can pay for some public transit and dining directly.

For those planning a quick 2-day or 3-day getaway,

you can easily travel solo

with just a minimal amount of exchanged cash

and have absolutely no trouble exploring.

Even so, I still find

using the classic Octopus Card—a prepaid transit card similar to Korea's T-money or London's Oyster card—

to be the most convenient option by far.

It's not just for public transit like the MTR, buses, trams, and ferries;

it's also widely accepted at major attractions, convenience stores, and supermarkets.

That's just the baseline!

Since there are many local eateries

that only take cash or Octopus cards,

having one saves you from dealing with annoying loose change,

saving you a ton of time and hassle on the go.

Though the physical card design you get is random,

you can easily book it in advance on Klook before you leave.

You can choose a Tourist Octopus preloaded with HKD 50 (worth about ~$6),

which makes getting around incredibly smooth.

Once you arrive, simply head to the designated counter

at Hong Kong International Airport to pick it up,

and you're ready to kick off your adventure!

Hong Kong Octopus Card - Klook3ha.in

Beyond the preloaded Octopus card,

you can also find convenient combo packages

that include the Airport Express (AEL) train and SIM cards,

allowing you to pick exactly what suits your itinerary.

During peak tourist hours,

withdrawing cash from the ATM right after arrival

and queuing at convenience stores to top up can be a hassle,

but picking up a preloaded Octopus card

makes the start of your Hong Kong adventure incredibly light and breezy.

You can also check your balance easily right on your phone via the app,

allowing you to top up exactly what you need

and manage your budget wisely during your solo trip.

2. How to Exchange Hong Kong Dollars via ATM

These days, multi-currency travel cards are so widely accepted

and incredibly handy

that even as someone who travels constantly for business,

I rarely exchange foreign cash before leaving home anymore.

When traveling to Hong Kong, you can easily withdraw cash

right at the airport ATMs upon arrival,

or if it's too crowded with tourists, you can head into the city

and use an HSBC ATM to easily get your cash.

With popular travel cards like Travel Wallet, Travellog,

and SOL Travel, you can exchange money in the app and withdraw HKD fee-free

up to a certain limit at any bright red HSBC ATM.

Since you can easily find them both at the airport and all over the city,

there's absolutely no need to worry. Since I visit often,

I usually load plenty of funds onto my Octopus card first,

head straight into the city from the airport,

and withdraw cash at my own pace when it's convenient.

At the airport, if you follow the signs "To City,"

you'll find an HSBC ATM right next to the 7-Eleven.

There's also one near the bus stop heading to the city,

so keep that in mind if the lines are long!

💵 💳

How to Withdraw HKD from an HSBC ATM

➡️ Insert your travel card, enter your PIN, and

➡️ press ENTER.

If the screen asks for a 6-digit PIN,

don't panic! Just add '00' to the end

of your usual 4-digit PIN.

➡️ Cash withdrawal

➡️ Savings

➡️ Select your withdrawal amount and press ENTER

➡️ To avoid extra fees, choose to proceed without HSBC conversion

(Continue without HSBC conversion)

➡️ When asked if you want a receipt,

I usually press YES to keep a record.

Since large bills can sometimes be inconvenient to use,

some travelers prefer to make multiple

smaller withdrawals instead.

3. Hong Kong Travel Budget

I rarely take taxis when traveling in Hong Kong.

Instead, I mostly use my Octopus card to navigate public transit, including the MTR,

and enjoy exploring every corner on foot,

hopping from one delicious spot to the next tourist attraction.

Lately, you can use various mobile payment apps to ride public transit (including the MTR)

with contactless payments,

but they still aren't quite as universally accepted

as the Octopus card.

From riding buses and the subway to paying at convenience stores and restaurants,

it works similarly to transit cards at home,

but with even broader acceptance, making it incredibly convenient.

For a quick getaway like a 2D1N or 3D2N trip,

your budget can vary significantly

depending on where you go and what you eat.

Based on a solo trip with budget-friendly accommodations and flights:

Round-trip budget flights: around ~$192,

Accommodations: around ~$96 per night,

Transportation & basic city attraction entry fees: around ~$64 per day,

Meals & cafe visits: around ~$64 per day.

I tend to budget on the safer, generous side, so

a 2D1N trip comes out to around ~$384,

and a 3D2N trip is usually around ~$512.

Of course, your actual budget might look a bit different

depending on whether you add Disneyland, fine dining,

or shopping to your itinerary.

Hong Kong used to be known as a budget-friendly DIY getaway, but

lately, the cost of living feels quite high, which is a bit of a shame.

In particular, accommodation prices are quite steep,

and the rooms tend to be smaller and in less ideal condition,

so it’s best to keep your expectations managed here!

4. For Those Planning a Solo Trip

As a seasoned visitor to Hong Kong,

I hope the currency exchange tips

and the Octopus Card booking, pick-up, and usage guide I shared

will help you start your journey feeling lighter and smarter

so you can make the absolute most of your trip.

Even though I can now navigate the Hong Kong MTR, trams,

and city streets with complete ease,

I still constantly find new hidden-gem restaurants and charming alleys,

discovering a whole new layer of excitement every single time.

Hong Kong Octopus Card - Klook3ha.in

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