Hong Kong essentials

Visa-free stays (checked 23 October 2026)

The Immigration Department’s table gives British citizens 180 days without a visa; nationals of the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea and most of the EU 90 days; the UAE, Qatar and Thailand 30 days; and Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina 14 days. Serbian non-biometric passports need a visa. Indian nationals get 14 days after completing online pre-arrival registration (immd.gov.hk).

Check the table for your passport on immd.gov.hk before you travel. All visitors go through customs and must declare dutiable goods (HKTB).

Smoking, vaping and litter

Smoking is banned in buildings, restaurants, public transport and many outdoor areas, including beaches and escalators, with a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. Importing, selling or possessing alternative smoking products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, is prohibited. Littering and spitting also carry a HK$3,000 fixed penalty (HKTB).

Money, tax and tipping

The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar at about 7.80 to 1; shops may refuse HK$500 and HK$1,000 notes. Cards, Octopus, Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge, and tea or snacks brought without asking may be charged. All goods except alcohol and tobacco are free of sales tax; a hotel accommodation tax applies to hotel charges, and an Air Passenger Departure Tax of HK$200 to passengers aged 12 and over (HKTB).

Airport Express, MTR, ferries and trams

The Airport Express links the airport with Kowloon Station and Hong Kong Station in Central. The MTR covers the island, Kowloon and the New Territories; the Star Ferry crosses the harbour; the trams run along the north shore of the island; and ferries leave the Central piers for Lamma, Cheung Chau and Peng Chau. An Octopus card pays for all of them. Let passengers off first and stand on the right on escalators (HKTB).

When to go

Hong Kong is hot, wet and humid from May to mid-September, and typhoon season runs from May to November; from November to April it is cooler (HKTB). Follow the Hong Kong Observatory’s warnings (hko.gov.hk).

Health and emergencies

Call 999 for the police, fire brigade or an ambulance; the police hotline is +852 2527 7177. If you lose your passport, report it at a police station and contact your consulate. Medical charges for visitors are higher than for residents, so carry travel insurance, including for hiking and water sports. Buy prescription medicines only at registered pharmacies showing the ℞ symbol (HKTB).

Language, plugs and wi-fi

Chinese and English are the official languages, and official signs and public transport announcements are bilingual; Cantonese is the main spoken language. Sockets take three square-pin plugs at 220 volts, 50 Hz. Wi-Fi.HK hotspots are found at attractions, malls, parks and museums (HKTB).

Questions and answers