Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport, is one of the busiest and most efficient airports in Asia. Located on the island of Chek Lap Kok, approximately 35 km from Central Hong Kong, the airport serves as the primary hub for Cathay Pacific and handles over 70 million passengers annually.

The airport operates primarily from Terminal 1, a massive single-building terminal that is one of the largest airport terminals in the world. Terminal 2 is connected to Terminal 1 but primarily serves as a check-in and retail area rather than a full departure terminal. Beyond the main terminal, two midfield concourses extend into the airfield, connected by the Automated People Mover (APM) train system.

Key areas within Terminal 1:

• North Satellite Concourse: Gates 1-36
• Midfield Concourse: Gates 201-230, accessible via APM train (4 minutes)
• Sky Bridge: Gates 40-80
• South Concourse: Gates 501-510

Cathay Pacific operates the vast majority of flights from HKG, with most operations at the midfield concourse and main terminal gates.

Greater Bay Area Airports

Hong Kong sits within the Pearl River Delta's "Greater Bay Area," which includes multiple airports. Cross-boundary connections are common, especially for budget travelers and those heading to mainland China.

Macau (MFM) — 38 km west (across the water)

• Air Macau hub, LCCs to Asia
• Popular for flights to Taiwan, Southeast Asia, China
• Ferry connection from HKG airport (no Hong Kong immigration needed!)

Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) — 38 km north

• Major mainland Chinese airport
• More domestic China routes than HKG
• Connected via ferry or bus/train through border

Zhuhai (ZUH) — 65 km west

• Smaller mainland airport
• Connected to Macau via border crossing

Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) — 136 km north

• Massive China Southern hub
• More mainland connections than anywhere

Unique feature: SkyPier Ferry Terminal

HKG has a dedicated ferry terminal inside the airport that connects directly to mainland China and Macau ports. Transit passengers can take a ferry without entering Hong Kong:

Destination	Time	Frequency	Notes
Macau	70 min	Every 30 min	No HK immigration
Shenzhen Shekou	30 min	Hourly	Direct to Shenzhen
Dongguan, Zhongshan	60-90 min	Several daily	Various ports

Connecting via SkyPier:

1. After landing at HKG, follow signs to SkyPier (before immigration)
2. Check in for ferry at transfer desk
3. Board ferry directly from airport
4. Clear immigration at destination port

Minimum connection time: For ferry connections, allow 3 hours. For land border crossings (bus/train to Shenzhen), allow 4-5 hours including immigration queues.

Pro tip: If your final destination is Shenzhen or Guangzhou, compare flying directly there vs. transiting through HKG. Direct flights to SZX or CAN are often cheaper and avoid the border crossing hassle.

Hong Kong International Airport is located 35 km from Central Hong Kong on Lantau Island. The journey to central areas typically takes 25-50 minutes depending on mode of transport and traffic conditions.

Transport options at a glance:

• Airport Express: Fastest option, 24 minutes to Hong Kong Station (HK$115)
• Bus: Affordable option to various districts (HK$23-50)
• Taxi: Direct door-to-door service (HK$250-400 to urban areas)
• Ferry: Direct connections to Macau and Mainland China cities

A unique feature is in-town check-in at Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station, where you can check bags and receive boarding passes up to a day before your flight.

Uber operates in Hong Kong and can pick up at the airport. Vehicles arrive at the designated rideshare area on the arrivals level. Typical fares to Central Hong Kong run HK$300-400.

Taxis are plentiful and operate in color-coded zones:

• Red taxis: Serve Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories
• Green taxis: New Territories only
• Blue taxis: Lantau Island only

Typical taxi fares from HKG:

Destination	Fare
Central Hong Kong	HK$300-350
Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui)	HK$250-300
Mongkok	HK$280-320
Causeway Bay	HK$330-380

All fares are metered. Tolls for tunnels and bridges are added to the fare. Taxis accept cash; credit cards are not standard.

Airport Express

The Airport Express (AEL) is the fastest and most convenient option:

• Hong Kong Station: 24 minutes, HK$115
• Kowloon Station: 21 minutes, HK$105
• Tsing Yi Station: 13 minutes, HK$70

Trains run every 10-12 minutes from 5:54am to 12:48am. Free shuttle buses connect Hong Kong and Kowloon stations to major hotels.

In-Town Check-In: Available at Hong Kong and Kowloon stations from 1 day to 90 minutes before departure. Check bags, receive boarding passes, and travel hands-free to the airport. Most major airlines participate.

Discounts:

• Round-trip tickets offer savings (HK$205 for Hong Kong Station round-trip)
• Groups of 2-4 receive discounts
• Octopus card payments accepted

Buses

Citybus (A routes) and Long Win Bus (E routes) serve the airport:

Popular routes:

• A11: To Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai (HK$40, 60-75 min)
• A21: To Kowloon (Nathan Road, Mongkok) (HK$33, 50-60 min)
• A29: To Tseung Kwan O (HK$42)
• E11: To Causeway Bay (HK$21, 70-90 min) - cheaper but slower

Night buses (N routes) operate after midnight when Airport Express stops running.

Ferry (SkyPier)

SkyPier offers ferry connections directly from the airport to:

• Macau: 70 minutes, multiple daily departures
• Shenzhen Shekou: 30 minutes
• Shenzhen Fuyong: 45 minutes
• Zhuhai: 60 minutes
• Dongguan: 90 minutes

Transfer passengers can use SkyPier without clearing Hong Kong immigration. Check ferry schedules in advance as frequency varies.

Short-term and long-term parking is available in the multi-story car parks:

Car Park	Rate	Notes
Car Park 1	HK$22/hour	Closest to Terminal 1
Car Park 2	HK$18/hour	Short walk to terminal
Car Park 3	HK$14/hour	Covered parking
Car Park 4	HK$14/hour	Additional covered parking

Daily maximums apply. Pre-booking online offers discounts of 10-20% for stays over 24 hours.

Hong Kong International has extensive dining options across different price points:

Airside (After Security):

• Crystal Jade: Cantonese dim sum and noodles
• Café Deco: International menu with harbour views
• Tsui Wah: Classic Hong Kong-style café (cha chaan teng)
• Maxim's: Cantonese cuisine
• Ajisen Ramen: Japanese noodles
• Starbucks, Pacific Coffee: Coffee chains (multiple locations)

Landside (Before Security):

• Food Court (Terminal 2): Multiple quick-service options
• Various restaurants in SkyPlaza: Connected to Terminal 2

For authentic Hong Kong cuisine, try Tsui Wah or Crystal Jade for dim sum before your flight. Terminal 2's SkyPlaza mall has additional dining variety.

Free WiFi is available throughout the airport. Connect to "#HKAirport Free WiFi" network. The connection provides good speeds for browsing, email, and video calls.

No registration is required for the first 3 hours. For longer sessions, re-connect or register with an email address.

Premium WiFi with faster speeds is available in airline lounges, particularly the Cathay Pacific lounges.

SIM cards are available at multiple locations in the arrivals hall:

• 1O1O / CSL: Major Hong Kong carrier
• China Mobile Hong Kong: Good for cross-border usage
• 3 Hong Kong: Budget-friendly options
• Travelex: Also sells tourist SIM cards

Typical costs:

• Tourist SIM (8 days, 5GB): HK$88-118
• Data-only SIM (7 days, unlimited): HK$78-98
• SIM with Mainland China data: HK$120-180

Pre-ordering a SIM for airport pickup via Klook or KKday often provides better rates.

ATMs are located throughout both terminals, operated by major Hong Kong banks including HSBC, Hang Seng Bank, Bank of China, and Standard Chartered.

Currency exchange counters are available in arrivals and departures:

• Travelex: Multiple locations
• Money Exchange: Various operators in arrivals

Exchange rates at the airport are typically 3-5% worse than city center rates. For better value, withdraw HKD from ATMs using a bank card with low foreign transaction fees, or use Wise/Revolut.

Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD/HK$). The currency is pegged to the US Dollar at approximately HK$7.8 = US$1.

Hong Kong International offers extensive duty-free and retail shopping:

Duty-Free:

• DFS Galleria: Luxury goods, cosmetics, liquor
• Nuance-Watson: Cosmetics and perfumes
• King Power: Duty-free shopping

Fashion & Accessories:

• Burberry, Coach, Gucci: Luxury brands
• Swarovski: Jewelry
• Tumi: Luggage

Electronics:

• Fortress: Electronics and gadgets
• Relay: Travel tech and accessories

Local Specialties:

• Kee Wah Bakery: Traditional Hong Kong pastries and mooncakes
• Wing Wah: Wife cakes and Chinese sweets
• Chow Tai Fook: Jewelry

SkyPlaza (connected to Terminal 2, landside) offers additional shopping including an IMAX cinema. Accessible to both arriving and departing passengers.

Hong Kong International has excellent lounge options:

Priority Pass Lounges

• Plaza Premium Lounge (multiple locations): Solid food options, showers available, can get crowded during peak hours

Credit Card Lounges

• Plaza Premium accepts various credit card programs
• American Express Centurion Lounge: Currently not available at HKG

Airline Lounges

Cathay Pacific Lounges (oneworld):

• The Pier, First Class: One of the world's best first class lounges, featuring The Retreat spa, fine dining
• The Pier, Business Class: Excellent food hall, noodle bar, showers
• The Wing, First Class: Cabanas with daybeds and private bathrooms
• The Wing, Business Class: Long Bar, noodle bar, good views
• The Deck: Outdoor terrace area
• The Bridge: Near Gate 35, quieter option

Access: Cathay Pacific First/Business passengers, oneworld Emerald/Sapphire status

Other Notable Lounges:

• Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge: For Star Alliance Gold and SQ premium passengers
• Qantas Hong Kong Lounge: For Qantas/oneworld passengers
• United Club: For United premium passengers and Star Alliance Gold

Cathay Pacific's lounges are a highlight of HKG. If you have access, The Pier First Class lounge is considered one of the best in the world.

At/In the Airport:

• Regal Airport Hotel: Connected directly to Terminal 1, full-service hotel with multiple restaurants

Near the Airport (Lantau Island):

• Novotel Citygate: Connected to Tung Chung MTR and Citygate Outlets mall
• Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel: 5-minute shuttle to airport

Transit Hotel Options:

• Plaza Premium Lounge offers hourly rest areas with beds and showers

For early morning departures, the Regal Airport Hotel offers the most convenient option with direct terminal access. Budget travelers can stay in Tung Chung and take the S1 bus (HK$3.50, 10 minutes) to the airport.

Hong Kong offers incredible variety within a compact area:

From the Airport:

• Central Hong Kong: 24 minutes via Airport Express
• Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui): 21 minutes via Airport Express
• Lantau Island (Big Buddha): 25 minutes via bus
• Disneyland Hong Kong: 20 minutes via bus or taxi

Must-See Attractions:

• Victoria Peak: Iconic views of the harbour and skyline
• Star Ferry: Cross Victoria Harbour between Central and Kowloon
• Temple Street Night Market: Kowloon street market experience
• Big Buddha & Ngong Ping: Worth a visit if time allows (on Lantau Island, same island as airport)

Getting Around: Get an Octopus Card (stored-value card) for seamless payment on MTR, buses, ferries, and convenience stores. Available at Airport Express stations and 7-Eleven stores. The card can be refunded when you leave.

Practical Tips:

• English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas
• Tap water is safe to drink
• Hong Kong uses Type G electrical plugs (same as UK)
• Tipping is not expected but rounding up is appreciated