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🇭🇰 Hong Kong

Hong Kong is no. 17 in our list of the 50 most visited destinations, with 21.9 million international arrivals in 2024. Below: visa rules for every passport, cash limits at customs and the tourist traps official travel advice warns about.

Rank 17 of 50 by international arrivals (21.9 million, 2024) · Source: UN Tourism

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Visa rules for your passport ↓

Explore Hong Kong: things to do, shopping, food and getting around

From the Hong Kong Tourism Board's official website.

Things to do

  • Ride the Star Ferry

    Victoria Harbour

    The Star Ferry runs between Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon, with views of both sides of the harbour. Pay at the barrier with Octopus, a credit card, a mobile wallet or coins, or buy a token at the pier.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Getting around

  • The Peak by Peak Tram

    Hong Kong Island

    The Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island. The Peak Tram climbs past the skyscrapers; at the Peak Tower, Sky Terrace 428 gives a 360-degree view.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Your guide to experiencing Hong Kong

Places to visit

Shopping

  • Temple Street and Ladies' MarketBudget

    Kowloon

    Temple Street Night Market sells cheap souvenirs, clothing, accessories, bags and second-hand goods; Ladies' Market is the place to haggle for fashion, gadgets and souvenirs.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Your guide to experiencing Hong Kong

  • Harbour City, Canton RoadUpmarket

    Tsim Sha Tsui

    One of Hong Kong's largest malls, with more than 450 outlets, from high-end luxury brands to popular fashion, and over 80 places to eat.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Harbour City

Cheap ways to get around

  • Octopus card

    Hong Kong

    Pays for all major public transport plus shops and restaurants. Mobile Octopus has a refundable HK$50 deposit; the physical Tourist Octopus costs from HK$39 with no deposit.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Getting around

  • 'Ding Ding' trams

    Hong Kong Island

    Double-decker trams have run along northern Hong Kong Island since 1904, for one flat fare. Board at the back and pay at the front when you get off; exact change is needed if you pay cash.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Getting around

Nightlife

Food

General tips

  • 10% service charge

    Hong Kong

    Most restaurants add a 10% service charge, though some cafés don't. Tea, condiments or snacks you didn't order may be added to the bill.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Traveller essentials

  • Smoking bans

    Hong Kong

    Smoking is banned in buildings, restaurants, public transport and some outdoor areas such as beaches; the fixed penalty is HK$3,000. E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are prohibited.

    Source: Hong Kong Tourism Board – Traveller essentials

Summarised in our own words from the linked pages, official tourism boards and transport authorities first; items marked "Not official" come from other guides. Prices and opening times change, so check the source before you go. Last checked 24 Oct 2026.

Common tourist traps and how to avoid them

Scams and risky spots named in official travel advice for Hong Kong, plus a few reported in public visitor reviews (labelled), in our own words.

  1. Pickpocketing in crowds and hotels

    How it works: Street crime and pickpocketing happen in crowds and when checking in/out of hotels.

    How to avoid it: Keep passports, cards and cash close at those moments.

  2. Valuables on hikes

    How it works: Hikers in country parks carrying valuables have been targeted.

    How to avoid it: Stay on marked trails and leave valuables behind.

  3. Photographing military sites

    How it works: Photography of military installations is not allowed.

    How to avoid it: Do not photograph military installations.

  4. "Monks" handing out bracelets for donations (visitor reports)

    How it works: People in monks' robes press a bracelet, prayer beads or a quick blessing on passers-by, then ask for cash, especially in Central, Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui and Lan Kwai Fong. Residents and visitors on Reddit describe it, and police have arrested people for begging in these robes.

    How to avoid it: Don't take anything handed to you, keep walking, and don't feel obliged to pay. Genuine monks don't aggressively ask for money.

    From visitor reviews, not official Central, Lan Kwai Fong and Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Sources: reddit.com · reddit.com · scmp.com. Researched 23 Oct 2026; there is no official page to re-check, so this date is not updated automatically.

Official advice: FCDO: no areas advised against.

Emergency numbers in Hong Kong

Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: FCDO travel advice – Safety and security · FCDO travel advice – Warnings and insurance · FCDO travel advice – Getting help (emergency numbers) · FCDO page updated 1 Apr 2026 · Last checked 2 Nov 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Cash you can bring in and take out

Customs rules for banknotes and other cash when you enter or leave Hong Kong.

Cross-boundary Movement of Physical Currency and BNI Ordinance (Cap. 629)

Bringing cash in
Declare currency and bearer negotiable instruments worth more than HKD 120,000 at the Red Channel (or by e-form QR code) when arriving at a specified control point.
Taking cash out
When leaving, you must disclose and declare if a customs officer asks.
Local currency (HKD) in
No limit (declaration only).
Local currency (HKD) out
No limit (declaration only).
Foreign currency
No limit (declaration only).
  • Adults must declare for accompanying children under 16.
  • Airport transit passengers who do not pass immigration are not covered.
  • First-time minor breaches can be settled by paying HKD 2,000; otherwise prosecution.

Official source: customs.gov.hk · Last checked 2 Nov 2026

Hong Kong visa rules by passport

The general rule for each passport, from official sources. Open a passport to see conditions and options that depend on where you live.

Visa-free150 passports
Embassy visa47 passports
Entry suspended1 passport

Verified rules for Hong Kong: 194 of 198 passports; awaiting verification: 4; not yet covered: 0. A rule that is awaiting verification or not yet covered is not a negative visa decision: it only means we haven't confirmed it on an official source yet.

⚠ Unofficial sources: 152 rules for Hong Kong are not from an official Hong Kong government source (based on other governments' travel advice or secondary research). They are labelled on each page, are not counted as verified above, and should be confirmed with the embassy before travel.

Nearby destinations

Official travel advice

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Plan your trip to Hong Kong

Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 2 Nov 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.