Every Route from HKG to Central Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon

Every Route from HKG to Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon

The most common wrong assumption about the Hong Kong airport to city transfer is that the Airport Express is the only fast option after dark. It is not. The last Airport Express departs at 00:48, and once it is gone, public buses still run, taxis are available all night, and the N-series night buses cover the same routes for a fraction of the cost. The real problem is knowing which option still runs when your flight lands and which one is worth paying for at 1am. Here are exact costs, travel times, and last departures for every mode from Hong Kong International Airport to Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, and Kowloon, plus the specific bus you need for a late-night arrival.

Airport Express Hong Kong Price and Travel Time

The Airport Express is the fastest way to reach the city. Travel time from the airport to Hong Kong station in Central is exactly 24 minutes. The train stops at Tsing Yi, Kowloon, and Hong Kong station in that order. Frequency is every 10 minutes. First departure from the airport is 05:54; last departure is 00:48.

What It Costs

A single fare from the airport to Hong Kong station costs HKD 115 with an Octopus card or HKD 125 with a single ticket. The 2024 rates are published by the MTR and are revised annually. To Kowloon station the fare is HKD 105 with Octopus or HKD 115 with a single ticket. To Tsing Yi station it is HKD 70 with Octopus or HKD 80 with a single ticket.

Group Discount and Free Return

If you are travelling with others, the group discount applies. Two people to Hong Kong station cost HKD 170 combined; three cost HKD 230; four cost HKD 280. Same-day return is free when you use Octopus for the outward journey. Return on a separate day costs a full single fare.

Free Shuttle Bus Connections

Once you exit Hong Kong station, free shuttle buses connect to major hotels. Route H1 serves hotels in Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. Route K1 from Kowloon station serves hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, and Hung Hom. Operating hours are 06:12 to 23:12. If you arrive after 23:12, the shuttles have stopped and you will need a taxi from the station or a night bus.

In-Town Check-In

Both Hong Kong station and Kowloon station offer in-town check-in for most major airlines, excluding some low-cost carriers. Check the specific airline before you rely on it. Hours are 05:30 to 00:00 at both stations. Baggage must be checked in at least 90 minutes before your flight. You need a valid Airport Express ticket or an Octopus card with the same-day Airport Express journey recorded on it.

HKG to Tsim Sha Tsui Bus: A21 Route and Fare

The A21 bus is the direct public bus from the airport to Tsim Sha Tsui. It terminates at Hung Hom station and runs via Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, and Mong Kok. The fare is HKD 33. First departure from the airport is 05:30; last departure is 00:00. Frequency is every 10 to 15 minutes.

Travel time to Tsim Sha Tsui is 60 to 75 minutes, which is longer than the Airport Express plus shuttle, but the cost is roughly one third of the train fare. The bus has luggage racks, English announcements, and free Wi-Fi on most vehicles. Pay with Octopus or contactless credit card. Cash is not accepted.

Hong Kong Airport Taxi Central and Kowloon Fares

A red urban taxi from the airport to Central costs HKD 350 to 400 including tolls. To Tsim Sha Tsui the fare is HKD 300 to 350. To Causeway Bay it is HKD 350 to 400, to Mong Kok HKD 300 to 350, and to Hung Hom HKD 300 to 350. Travel time to Central is 30 to 45 minutes; to Tsim Sha Tsui it is 30 to 40 minutes. Tolls vary depending on which harbour crossing the driver uses: the Western Harbour Crossing adds HKD 70 return toll to the fare, the Cross-Harbour Tunnel adds HKD 10, and the Eastern Harbour Crossing adds HKD 25. The driver chooses the tunnel, not you.

Luggage and Payment

The luggage surcharge is HKD 6 per piece placed in the boot. The starting fare for red taxis is HKD 27 for the first 2 km, then HKD 1.9 per 200 m up to 9 km, then HKD 1.3 per 200 m beyond that. Taxis rarely accept credit cards. Carry small notes for fares under HKD 100. The driver will expect the exact fare or close to it.

Which Colour Taxi Goes Where

Red taxis serve Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Green taxis serve the New Territories. Blue taxis serve Lantau Island only. Red and green taxis can drop you at the airport but cannot take you to other Lantau destinations. For Central or Tsim Sha Tsui, take a red taxi from the official taxi stand outside the arrivals hall.

HKG Airport Bus A11: Route to Central and Causeway Bay

The A11 bus runs from the airport to North Point Ferry Pier via Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, and Causeway Bay. The fare is HKD 40. First departure from the airport is 05:35; last departure is 00:30. Frequency is every 15 to 20 minutes. Travel time to Central is 45 to 60 minutes. Like the A21, this bus has luggage racks, English announcements, and free Wi-Fi. It is the cheapest direct option to Hong Kong Island and runs later than the Airport Express last departure by 12 minutes.

Night Buses N11 and N21 for Late Arrivals

If your flight lands after the last Airport Express at 00:48 and after the last A-series bus, the N-series night buses are your cheapest option. The N11 runs to Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, and North Point. The fare is HKD 31. Operating hours are 00:50 to 04:50.

The N21 runs to Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, and Tai Kok Tsui. The fare is HKD 23. A variant, the N21A, also serves Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, and Mong Kok with the same fare. Both operate from 00:20 to 05:00. Frequency on night buses is roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Pay with Octopus or contactless. These buses have fewer stops than the daytime A-buses but still take 60 to 75 minutes to reach Tsim Sha Tsui and 70 to 90 minutes to reach Central.

Mode	Destination	Travel Time	Cost	Last Departure
Airport Express	Central (Hong Kong station)	24 min	HKD 115 (Octopus)	00:48
Airport Express + free shuttle	Central hotels	24 min train + shuttle	HKD 115	Shuttle ends 23:12
Red taxi	Central	30-45 min	HKD 350-400	24 hours
Red taxi	Tsim Sha Tsui	30-40 min	HKD 300-350	24 hours
A11 bus	Central	45-60 min	HKD 40	00:30
A21 bus	Tsim Sha Tsui	60-75 min	HKD 33	00:00
N11 night bus	Central	70-90 min	HKD 31	04:50
N21 night bus	Tsim Sha Tsui	60-75 min	HKD 23	05:00

What Goes Wrong Most Often

The most common mistake is arriving at Hong Kong station on the last Airport Express at 00:48, expecting the free shuttle bus to still be running, and finding that it stopped at 23:12. You then face a taxi queue at the station with no hotel shuttle option. The fix is simple: if your arrival is after 23:00, skip the Airport Express entirely and take a red taxi from the airport directly to your hotel. The fare to Tsim Sha Tsui is HKD 300 to 350 and the travel time is 30 to 40 minutes. That is faster than the train plus shuttle would have been even if the shuttle were running, and it costs roughly the same as two Airport Express single fares.

For arrivals between 00:00 and 00:48, the A21 bus to Tsim Sha Tsui has already stopped at 00:00, but the A11 bus to Central still runs until 00:30. If your destination is Tsim Sha Tsui and you land at 00:15, take the N21 night bus at HKD 23 or a taxi at HKD 300 to 350. Do not wait for the Airport Express at 00:48 if your hotel is in Tsim Sha Tsui, because the Kowloon station shuttle has also stopped and you will need a taxi anyway.

Before you leave the arrivals hall, check the time. If it is after 23:12 and your hotel is in Tsim Sha Tsui, go straight to the red taxi queue. If it is between 00:30 and 00:48 and you are going to Central, the A11 bus has already left; take the N11 night bus or a taxi. If it is after 00:48, take a taxi. There is no scenario in which waiting for a train or bus that has already left saves you money.