How To Get To Victoria Peak (with pictures)

Most people head straight for the Peak Tram when planning a visit to Victoria Peak, and fair enough, it’s iconic. But if you ask me the best way to get there 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—clear, step-by-step instructions on where to catch each, when they run, what it costs, and exactly what to expect.

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How to take the No. 15 Peak Bus from Central

Smiling woman riding a double-decker bus in Hong Kong with purple patterned seats, taking public transport on the way to Victoria Peak; city buildings are visible through the bus window. This image illustrates how to get to Victoria Peak using affordable and scenic local transportation. — I love catching the public bus to The Peak—it’s super cheap and a fab way to see the city.

The No. 15 bus isn’t just a way to get to The Peak, it’s one of the best views 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 one of my favourite top three double-decker experiences in Hong Kong.

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

How to Find the No. 15 Peak Bus

An Exit sign at the MTR, Central, Hong Kong with the names of each place located around that exit written in English and Chinese. — Use Exit A to get to the Central Pier Bus Terminus.

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.

People walk across the Central, Hong Kong over-bridge at the Star Ferry Pier. There is blue signs with directions on how to get to the different outlying island piers.

How to get to the Central Pier from Kowloon

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

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

👉 Catch the MTR to Central 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 the sign to the Outlying Ferries), then continue walking along the waterfront until you see the bus terminus (you can’t miss it).

Central Pier bus terminal in Hong Kong with multiple double-decker buses parked in front of modern skyscrapers, a common starting point for those figuring out how to get to Victoria Peak by public transport.

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.

Timetable for the No. 15 Peak Bus

The bus runs every 10-20 mins from 6 a.m. to midnight.

The journey takes roughly 35-45 minutes, depending on traffic.

The Peak bus gets very busy on 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 fare is around HKD $12.20 (about USD $1.50). There are three ways to pay for your ride:

Tourist Octopus Card: Useful for frequent travelers 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.

Who’s the Tourist Octopus Card For?

✅ First-time visitors who want a stress-free experience using Hong Kong transport
✅ Independent travellers who don’t want to deal with cash or language barriers
✅ Anyone staying more than a few hours, whether it’s a stopover or a week
✅ Travellers who like to get the logistics sorted before they land

Where to Get Off & Back On for Your Return Journey—the Peak Galleria

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. However, in the next section, I’ll walk you through how to catch the tram from Central since that’s the route most people take.

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 Catch the Peak Tram from Central

The Peak Tram in Hong Kong, filled with passengers and ascending a steep track surrounded by greenery, offering a scenic and historic route for those learning how to get to Victoria Peak.

The Peak Tram is pure tourist bait, but sometimes that’s the point. The tram’s been running since 1888, originally built to shuttle wealthy residents and colonial officials to their hilltop homes.

These days, it’s a bucket list ride: short, steep, and kind of surreal as the city tilts around you.

Pre-Purchase your Peak Tram Tickets

A hand holds a green and cream ticket for The Peak Tram, Hong Kong

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 the queue for the tickets altogether.

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

Generally, a round trip ticket costs around USD $20, and one way ticket around USD $15.

Both types will also gives you entry to the Sky Terrace viewing deck, the highest point to view Hong Kong.

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.

Where to catch the Peak Tram in Central

📍The Peak Tram Lower Terminal: 33 Garden Road Central (for the journey up)

People sitting and standing outside the Peak Tram Terminal in Hong Kong.

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.

Start at Central MTR Station: From Central MTR, follow the signs for Exit J2. This exit will take you to Chater Garden, which is the easiest starting point for finding the Peak Tram Lower Terminus.

Take Exit J2: After exiting the turnstiles, head towards Exit J2. This exit will bring you up to street level at Chater Garden, a small park area surrounded by tall buildings.

Screenshot of a map of how to get to the Peak Lower Terminal Central Hong Kong.

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 5-10 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.

How to board the Peak Tram

Crowd of passengers queuing to board the Peak Tram in Hong Kong, one of the most popular and scenic ways for tourists to get to Victoria Peak.

Depending on what time of day it is, and whether its 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

A panoramic view of Hong Kong's skyline from The Peak, showing a dense cluster of skyscrapers leading down to Victoria Harbour. The cityscape stretches across to Kowloon under a vivid blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds, with lush green trees framing the foreground.

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 be at 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)

Entrance to The Peak Tram terminal in Hong Kong, with visitors lining up under the sign and fare board visible, showing a key access point for travelers who want to leave Victoria Peak.

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 entrance to The Peak Tram there.

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

👉 Tips for a Great Peak Tram Experience

Avoid Weekends and Peak Times: If possible, try to visit on a weekday and early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Buy Tickets Online Instead: The queue for the tickets is separate to the one for boarding the tram. No one wants to be stuck in two queues.
Be Prepared for Queues: Queues can be long, especially on weekends, so plan accordingly and be patient.

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.

Interested in more Hong Kong tram rides?

The Peak Tram is not the only tram game in town. One of my favorite ways to see Hong Kong is atop a public tram. Another tram ride I recommend to first-time visitors is the TramOramic Tour: a no brainer sit down sightseeing tour in an open-top tram that takes you from one side of Hong Kong island to the other.