The Best Way to Get to Victoria Peak: Bus Up, Peak Tram Down

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Most people head straight for the Peak Tram when planning a visit to Victoria Peak, and fair enough—it’s iconic. You can also get there by bus, minibus, taxi or on foot, but if you ask me, the best way is to flip the script: take the No. 15 double-decker bus up and ride the tram down.

Why? Because the bus ride is part of the experience. It winds its way through some of Hong Kong Island’s lushest hills, with killer views of the skyline and harbour. It’s cheap, scenic and far less chaotic than the tram queue. Then, on the way down, hop on the Peak Tram for a fun, steep descent straight back into Central. Easy. Efficient. And you get the best of both worlds.

Here’s how to do it, with clear, step-by-step instructions on where to catch Bus 15 and the Peak Tram, when they run, what they cost and exactly what to expect. I’ll also briefly cover the other ways to get to Victoria Peak so you can decide whether my preferred route is right for you.

Option	Best for	Approximate time	Relative cost	My verdict
Bus 15	Views and low cost	40–50 minutes	$	Best journey up
Peak Tram	Iconic first-time experience	Around 10 minutes, plus queues	$$$	Best taken down
Taxi	Convenience and groups	About 20–30 minutes	$$$	Easiest door-to-door
Green Minibus 1	Frequent local alternative	Around 30 minutes	$	I don’t recommend visitors use minibuses
Walking	Active travellers	1–1.5 hours	Free	Steep and weather-dependent

My choice: Take Bus 15 from Central Ferry Piers to The Peak, then return on the Peak Tram.

👉 You can read more about why I love the No. 15 Peak Bus in my guide to Hong Kong’s best double-decker bus rides, which also includes another overlooked scenic journey: the bus to Stanley.

How to take the No. 15 Peak Bus from Central

The No. 15 bus isn’t just a way to get to The Peak, it’s one of the best sightseeing experiences in the city for the price of a bus fare. As it climbs Magazine Gap Road, the skyline starts to open up: Victoria Harbour, the curve of Happy Valley, and rows of high-rises stacked against the hills.

It’s my favourite way to get to the Peak and the one I recommend for first-time visitors, unless you’re on a very tight layover.

🚍 PRO TIP: To make sure you get a seat upstairs, catch the bus at its first stop the Central Ferrys Pier, or you may miss out. They fill up fast, especially on weekends.

Where to Catch the No. 15 Peak Bus

The best place to hop on the No.15 Peak Bus is at the bus terminus located a few minutes’ walk from the Central Ferry Piers (Pier 5).

This pier is easily accessible and well-known as the terminal for the iconic Star Ferry.

It’s just a short walk from popular landmarks like the IFC Mall and the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.

How to get to the Central Pier from Kowloon

There are two main ways to get to the Central Ferry Pier from Kowloon:

👉 Catch the Star Ferry across (from Tsim Sha Tsui).

👉 Catch the MTR to Hong Kong Station and follow the signs to the Central Pier (EXIT A). This route takes you up into the IFC mall and then outside on the overbridge to Central Pier. The walk from the station to the pier is well-signposted and should take about 10 minutes.

How to get to Central Pier from Hong Kong Side

Depending on where you’re staying, the easiest way to get to the Central Pier is via taxi or the MTR.

👉 If you’re taking the MTR, get off at Hong Kong Station (EXIT A) and follow the signs to the Central Piers. Like the Kowloon directions above, this route takes you up into the IFC mall and then outside on the over-bridge to Central Pier. The walk to the pier is well-signposted and will take you about 10 minutes.

Once at the Central Pier, take the stairs on your left (follow the sign to the Outlying-island ferries), then continue walking along the waterfront until you see the bus terminus (you can’t miss it).

You won’t need to go searching through the maze of buses parked there because the Peak bus is located parallel to the waterfront, near the outlying island ferries.

It’s a regular-looking bus, not a touristy hop-on-hop-off one.

👉 I’ve put together a detailed guide on getting around in Hong Kong if you want to dig deeper into the different forms of public transportation in Hong Kong.

Bus 15 Timetable and Journey Time

Bus 15 runs from early morning until around midnight, with departures generally every 10–20 minutes.

The journey takes roughly 40-50 minutes, depending on traffic. Check the Citybus app or official Route 15 timetable for live departure times.

The Peak bus gets very busy at the weekends, so be sure to get on at the first stop by Central Pier or you may find the bus is full at the other stops.

How to Pay for the No. 15 Peak Bus

The adult fare is around HK$13, but check the Citybus app for the current fare before you travel. There are several ways to pay for your ride:

Tourist Octopus Card: Useful for frequent travellers and can be used across various transport modes.

Standard Octopus Card: Also works if you’ve already got one.

Cash: You must have the exact fare. You can pay more if you don’t have the exact amount, but you won’t get change.

Contactless Credit or Mobile Wallets: You can also pay with a contactless Visa, Mastercard or UnionPay card, or with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.

Check the official Citybus website for more information for different payment types as this area is constantly changing.

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

Where Bus 15 Drops You at The Peak

The Peak bus ends at the terminus underneath the Peak Galleria (a building with shops and restaurants), and you’ll find the No. 15 at the same spot if you want to use it for your return journey.

But if you’re game for mixing it up, I recommend riding the Peak Tram down.

👉 The other scenic double-decker I suggest for first-time visitors is the bus to Stanley, an easy, budget-friendly way to explore the south side of the island.

How to Get to Victoria Peak by Peak Tram

Most visitors take the Peak Tram both ways. It’s the obvious choice if you want the quickest, simplest option and don’t mind the queues.

Where to catch the Peak Tram in Central

📍The Peak Tram Lower Terminal: 33 Garden Road Central

Finding the Peak Tram terminal in Central can be a bit tricky for travellers since it doesn’t share tracks with the public trams and has its own dedicated line. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk from Central Station.

Start at Central MTR Station: From Central MTR, follow the signs for Exit J2. This exit will bring you up to street level at Chater Garden, a small park area surrounded by tall buildings. It’s the easiest starting point for finding the Peak Tram Lower Terminus.

Cross Chater Garden: Once you’re outside, cross Chater Garden diagonally, heading towards Bank of China Tower. You’ll see the iconic building with its unique triangular shape.

Walk Along Garden Road: After crossing the garden, continue walking straight onto Garden Road. You’ll pass by St. John’s Cathedral on your left as you continue up the road.

Head Up Garden Road: Continue walking up Garden Road for about 10 minutes. The walk is slightly uphill, so be prepared for a bit of a climb.

Arrive at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus: You’ll arrive at the Peak Tram Lower Terminus, which will be on your left. Look for the red and white sign indicating the Peak Tram entrance and the small building with tram tracks leading up the hill.

The Peak Tram runs daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., usually every 10–15 minutes.

Pre-Purchase your Peak Tram Tickets

You can purchase your Peak Tram tickets on the day at the Peak Terminal in Central (or at the Peak Terminus at the Peak), but you will likely be faced with long queues.

Sometimes, I’ve had better luck with shorter queues for the return journey, but this can be pretty random.

I recommend you pre-purchase your Peak Tram tickets online so you can avoid lining up to buy a ticket at the terminal.

You can do this on the day or pre-pay ahead (if you’re someone who likes to be super organized and plan ahead).

A standard adult Peak Tram ticket currently costs HK$82 one way or HK$116 return.

Standard Peak Tram tickets do not include Sky Terrace 428. If you want access to the paid viewing platform, choose a Peak Tram + Sky Terrace Special Combo ticket, currently HK$146 one way or HK$182 return for an adult.

There’s discounts of a buck or two depending on whether you want to book a tram ride for that day or one in the future, and whether it is morning ride, or a ride on a weekend or weekday.

To be honest, I would not buy a ticket for a particular time of day or weekday or weekend to save a few dollars, I would buy the Open Date ticket. That’s because an Open Date Ticket will get you a ride whenever you want.

This will give you the most amount of flexibility, because this is Hong Kong and you might get caught up doing other things, and we are only talking about a couple of dollars difference.

How to board the Peak Tram

Depending on what time of day it is, and whether it’s a weekday or weekend, the queues can be quite long. So it’s a matter of queuing and waiting your turn. For the best views on the way up, try to sit on the right-hand side of the tram.

What to expect on the Peak Tram Journey

The ride itself takes about 5–10 minutes, and it’s a steep climb, so be prepared for a bit of a thrill as you ascend.

The tram will take you directly to The Peak, with no stops along the way.

When you arrive, you’ll step directly into the Peak Tower, a popular tourist building with shops, restaurants, and the Sky Terrace 428 viewing platform.

Once outside, you can enjoy walking around The Peak and taking in the views of Hong Kong’s skyline, Victoria Harbour, and beyond.

Where to catch the Peak Tram from Victoria Peak

📍 The Peak Tram Upper Terminal: The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road (for the journey down)

For the journey back down to Central, you’ll need to get yourself to the Upper Terminal. It’s super easy to find. Just head toward the Peak Tower and you’ll see the Peak Tram entrance.

It will take you directly back down to the Peak Tram Lower Terminus in Central.

I’ve written more about what the Peak Tram is like in my guide Hong Kong Trams: Which One Is Best for First-Time Visitors? if you want to decide if taking the Peak Tram is the right thing for you.

Other Ways to Get to Victoria Peak

Taxi

A taxi is the easiest option if you’re travelling with a group, have limited mobility, or simply want to get there without dealing with public transport.

From Central, the journey usually takes around 20-35 minutes, depending on traffic, and you can expect to pay roughly HK$120–200. The fare can be higher if traffic is heavy.

A taxi drops you close to the Peak Tower and Peak Galleria, so it’s convenient—but you’ll miss the experience of travelling up by bus or tram.

Green Minibus 1

Green Minibus 1 runs between Hong Kong Station and The Peak. The fare is around HK$13.20, and the journey usually takes roughly 25–35 minutes, depending on traffic.

It can be a useful local alternative, but I don’t recommend it for most first-time visitors. Minibuses are smaller, the boarding process can feel less obvious, and you don’t get the same upper-deck views as Bus 15.

Unless you already know your way around Hong Kong transport, I think Bus 15 is the much better experience.

Walking

It is possible to walk from Central to The Peak, but it takes around 1–1.5 hours and involves a long, steep climb.

I don’t recommend walking up as your main way of getting there, especially in Hong Kong’s heat and humidity. The route is more of a workout than a relaxed sightseeing walk, and you’ll arrive hot and tired before you’ve even started exploring The Peak.

There are some excellent walks once you reach the top, including the much easier Peak Circle Walk, so I’d save your energy for those instead.

Final Thoughts: Take the Tram Down, Not the Stress Up

So here’s my advice as a frequent visitor to Hong Hong: skip the uphill Peak Tram queues, ride the bus for the views, and glide back down on the tram when you’re ready.

You’ll save yourself time, stress and see more of Hong Kong that way.

There you have it. You’ve got the step-by-step instructions. You’ve got the options. Now go enjoy your ride and the amazing Victoria Peak.

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