Hong Kong Tourist Octopus Card: What It Is & How to Get One

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The Hong Kong Tourist Octopus Card is a tap-and-go travel card, designed especially for visitors.

I recommend the Tourist Octopus Card because it makes getting around Hong Kong so easy. The card works on just about every form of transport including the MTR, buses, ferries, even trams, and saves you the hassle of ticket machines, cash, or figuring out local fares. No lines. No coins. Just tap and go.

Bonus: you can also use it at convenience stores, bakeries, Starbucks, and fast food spots all over Hong Kong.

After decades of regularly using every form of Hong Kong transport, I can tell you that having a single tap-and-go card that works almost everywhere makes a huge difference.

One of the smartest things you can do is order your Octopus card online before your trip starts. Then you just pick it up at the airport before heading into the city.

1. What Is the Tourist Octopus Card?

The Octopus Card is Hong Kong’s contactless payment system used by local Hong Kongers every day. You buy it once, add credit, and tap to pay across the city.

Tourists can get a regular Octopus card just like locals do. But there’s also a version made specifically for visitors called the Tourist Octopus Card, which is designed to be even easier to use.

You can use it on:

• MTR (Hong Kong’s subway)
• Public buses (double-decker & green mini-buses)
• Trams
• Star Ferry and the main outlying-island ferry routes
• 7-Eleven, Circle K, grocery stores like Marks & Spencer and Wellcome, Starbucks, Maxim’s Cakes, McDonald’s, KFC, other chain restaurants, local bakeries and cafes.
• Pharmacies (the local Hong Kong pharmacies are called Mannings & Watsons)

Keep in mind that Octopus is not accepted in every taxi. Hong Kong taxis must now offer electronic-payment options, but the methods vary by cab, so check the stickers on the window to see if Octopus is accepted and keep some Hong Kong cash as a backup.

Another useful thing to know is that unlike the unlimited tourist transport day passes you might use in other countries, where you pay a fixed flat fee, the Tourist Octopus works more like a regular transport smart card you would use on your own transport system back home. You simply add money to it, and the correct fare is deducted each time you tap. It’s basically pay as you go.

2. What is the difference between Octopus and Tourist Octopus?

Both types of Octopus card work the same way when it comes to paying. You tap either one on the MTR, a tram, at 7-Eleven, or wherever else it’s accepted. They’ll both get you through the gate or let you buy your drink.

But the difference is in how they’re set up, and which one makes more sense depending on your trip.

The Tourist Octopus Card is designed for visitors. You don’t pay a deposit, there’s no registration, and you can pre-order it online and pick it up at the airport when you land. The official Tourist Octopus costs HK$39 without stored value. The Klook Tourist Octopus package I recommend includes HK$50 of stored value. It’s simple, quick, and there’s nothing to return or cancel at the end.

The Regular Octopus Card—sometimes called the On Loan card—is what locals use. The Standard On-Loan Octopus normally costs HK$150 for an adult, which includes a HK$50 refundable deposit and HK$100 of stored value.

You buy it after arriving in Hong Kong and can return it before leaving to claim the deposit and remaining balance, subject to any applicable handling fee.

So if you’re a first-time visitor, stopping over for a few days, or just want something sorted before you land, the Tourist Octopus is the way to go.

If you’re staying for a month, moving to Hong Kong, or want a refundable deposit, go for the regular card once you arrive.

But for most travellers, especially if it’s your first trip, the tourist version is faster, easier, and one less thing to think about.

👉 Get your Tourist Octopus here with HK$50 pre-loaded

3. Why the Tourist Octopus makes getting around Hong Kong super easy

I recommend getting a Tourist Octopus card for your Hong Kong trip because:

• it makes transport dead simple.
• it lets you buy snacks and drinks without fumbling for cash.

It Reduces Your Cognitive Load (and makes getting around super easy)

As a regular traveller myself, I know how important it is to keep things simple, especially when it comes to transport in a new city.

And here’s the thing: one of Hong Kong’s greatest strengths as a destination is how compact and well-connected it is.

You’ve got the MTR (you’ll use this the most), double-decker buses (hello, Stanley and The Peak), trams (both the public trams and the historic Peak Tram), and ferries (including the Star Ferry and outlying island ferries). All fast, cheap, and safe.

But imagine having to figure out separate fares for each of those? No thanks.

And don’t expect change on buses. If the fare’s $4.80 and all you’ve got is a $20 bill… you’re paying $20.

Last time I was in Hong Kong, I saw a guy—clearly a budget traveller—trying to catch the bus to Stanley. He didn’t have an Octopus card and only had a $20. He was asking strangers in line to break it. No one could. He had to eat the full $20 fare for a $7 ride. Brutal.

Don’t be that guy. Tap-and-go with an Octopus card makes getting around Hong Kong low-effort and friction-free.

You Can Use It for Snacks, Drinks, and Everyday Purchases

You can also use your Tourist Octopus card like a wallet at most convenience stores and bakeries.

When I’m out and about, I grab cold drinks from 7-Eleven (they’re everywhere), jelly babies at M&S Food (I’m obsessed), fish balls at Circle K, or a sausage bun at Maxim’s. I just tap my card and move on.

Even the MTR stations have bakeries and snack shops where you can just grab something quick, tap, and go. No need to grapple with change or the language barrier. And yes, you can even use it at Starbucks when you’re craving something familiar.

4. Where to Buy Your Tourist Octopus Card

My advice is to buy your Hong Kong Tourist Octopus transport card online before you arrive. That way, you can skip the cash machines, queues, and kiosk confusion at the airport.

• You pick it up at the airport when you land.
• It comes pre-loaded with HK$50.
• It’s ready to use straight away.

Here’s how to order your Tourist Octopus card online

1. Pre-order on Klook before your trip. It takes less than two minutes (select a date, pay via credit card).
2. After you land, head to Arrival Hall Counter A13 in Terminal 1. It’s marked “OBS” (see the image above).*
3. Show your confirmation and passport at the collection counter to receive your card.
4. Then you’re good to go.

These instructions are correct at the time of writing this post. Be sure to check the collection instructions and counter hours shown on your voucher before travelling, just in case there is a change.

Other Places to Buy Your Tourist Octopus Card in Hong Kong

• Hong Kong Tourism Board – Kowloon Visitor Centre
• Relay – Hong Kong International Airport (T1, restricted area)
• Travelex – Airport Meeters & Greeters Hall & Pre-Immigration Hall

You also have the option of buying the general Octopus Card from any MTR station.

👉 Get your Tourist Octopus here with HK$50 pre-loaded

5. How to Use The Tourist Octopus Card

To pay for your fare or purchase, simply hold the card over the card reader. The amount is deducted from the balance.

There’s no minimum spend.

6. Adding Money to Your Tourist Octopus Card

If you buy your card online through my Klook link, it comes with HK$50. Even though that’s usually enough to get you into the city and cover your first few rides or snacks, I recommend topping it up straight away when you get into your first MTR station, just so you don’t have to think about it again for a few days.

Cash is the most reliable top-up method.

Here’s how to add money to your Tourist Octopus card:

• 7-Eleven or Circle K: Just say “Octopus top-up” and hand over cash.
• MTR Customer Service Counters: The glass booths near the turnstiles. Easy to find and helpful. The last time I was there, they only accepted cash. You’ll find most MTR stations have ATMs.
• Add Value Machines: Located near most MTR entrances. Add Value Machines accept HK$50 and HK$100 banknotes.

You can load in increments (HK$50–500). Personally, I load HK$500 (approx. US$60) on it. That keeps me going for about a week, even when I’m zipping all over Hong Kong on the MTR, ferries, buses, trams, plus grabbing drinks and snacks along the way.

You can always get a refund at the end, so you won’t lose any money (the HK$39 cost of the Tourist Octopus itself is not refundable, just what you’ve loaded on to the card).

Alternatively, you can always just carry the balance forward to your next trip. And don’t worry, every time you tap in, your remaining balance shows up on the reader. So you’ll always get a heads-up when you’re running low.

7. Do you need to return your card at the end of your trip?

No. You can keep it or dispose of it. But if you do return it, you’ll be able to get a refund for the remaining balance if there is any. Just take it to an MTR Customer Service Centre before you leave Hong Kong.

If you’re a frequent traveller or think you may return to Hong Kong, I recommend holding onto it. You never know when you might be stopping in Hong Kong on a layover (more on this below).

Keep in mind that if the card has been unused for a long period, it may need to be reactivated before you can use it again, but once that’s done you should be able to use it as normal.

8. Getting a Tourist Octopus Card Is Even Worth It for a Short Layover

In fact, I think it’s your layover secret weapon. Even if you’ve only got 6–10 hours, the Tourist Octopus is worth it because you can:

• Leave the airport without needing to change currency or get cash out
• Explore Hong Kong by MTR, ferry, tram, and bus
• Pick up lunch, cold drinks, or snacks

✅ If you grab an Airport Express ticket online before you arrive at the same time as buying a Tourist Octopus card, your entire layover can be cash free. The Airport Express ticket is a QR code that you scan directly at the Airport Express payment gate, so there’s no need to pick up physical tickets for this. There is a discount if you bundle an Airport Express Ticket and a Tourist Octopus card together.

I have written a detailed post with step-by-step instructions on how to use the Hong Kong Airport Express if you want to learn more.

9. Still not sure if the Tourist Octopus Card is right for you?

Here’s exactly what the Tourist Octopus card offers, and why it makes such a difference when you’re exploring Hong Kong.

Feature	Why It Matters
Works on MTR, buses, trams, and ferries.	No fumbling with coins, no figuring out fares. Just tap and go. You can explore the whole city (and even the outlying islands) without needing multiple tickets.
Accepted at 7-Eleven, Circle K, bakeries, and more	Buy snacks, drinks, or lunch without pulling out your card or changing cash. Great for quick lunches, snacks and bottled water.
No minimum spend required	Tap to buy a bottle of water, or a pack of gum.
Pick-up at the airport	You land, grab your card at the OBS counter, and start your trip, no stress, no extra steps.
No deposit or account setup	It’s ready to use immediately. No admin, no sign-ups, no app required.
Keeps your travel budget flexible	Load only what you need. You can top-up anytime, and the balance is visible every time you tap in.
Get a refund on the money you don’t use	If you have money left on the card at the end of your trip, you can get a cash refund from any MTR Service Counter.
Keep the card for next time or dispose of it	If you think you’ll be back, keep it for an easy top-up next time you’re in Hong Kong. Perfect layover secret weapon.

👉 Get your Tourist Octopus here with HK$50 pre-loaded

Final Thoughts: Is the Tourist Octopus worth buying?

For most first-time visitors, yes.

It may not make every journey cheaper, but it makes Hong Kong transport much easier to use. You can collect it at the airport, use it across several types of public transport, and avoid buying individual tickets or finding exact change.

I recommend the Tourist Octopus if you’re visiting for a holiday, plan to use public transport regularly, and want everything sorted before you arrive.

For a longer stay, relocation, or an arrival outside the airport collection counter’s opening hours, a Standard Octopus may be the better option.