Getting a taxi in Hong Kong
With over 18,000 taxis in Hong Kong, securing a ride anytime during the day is easy. They’re the most comfortable transportation option, offering door-to-door services all around Hong Kong, including the New Territories and Lantau Island.
All official taxis are metered, air-conditioned, and clean. Depending on where you are in Hong Kong, you will see three different taxi colours; red, green, and blue. Each type of taxi operates in different areas and at different rates.
To get a Hong Kong taxi, you can hail one from the street, use an online taxi-hailing app or order one over the phone. You can also head to the nearest taxi rank, usually found in front of hotels, main attractions, bus stations, and the airport, where you can take a Hong Kong Airport taxi; the options are many ensuring service around the clock.
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How much does a taxi cost?
| Taxi prices | Day time (05:00 - 24:00) | Night time (00:00 - 05:00) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FROM HONG KONG AIRPORT TO TSIM SHA TSUI | 34 € | 34 € | 30 MIN |
| FROM HONG KONG AIRPORT TO SHENZHEN BAY PORT | 28 € | 28 € | 25 MIN |
| FROM HONG KONG AIRPORT TO THE PEAK | 47 € | 47 € | 40 MIN |
| FROM HONG KONG CITY CENTER TO OBSERVATION WHEEL | 3 € | 3 € | 10 MIN |
| FROM TSIM SHA TSUI TO HONG KONG DISNEYLAND | 8 € | 8 € | 20 MIN |
| FROM TSIM SHA TSUI TO OCEAN PARK | 6 € | 6 € | 20 MIN |
| FROM HONG KONG CITY CENTER TO CHINA FERRY TERMINAL | 2 € | 2 € | 8 MIN |
Hong Kong taxi fare
Local authorities set the taxi prices in Hong Kong and the fare is calculated by using a taximeter that all taxi drivers must use throughout the trip. The main factors affecting the total fare are the type of taxi and distance traveled.
Three types of taxis operate in Hong Kong and they’re colour-coded according to their operating areas. Urban taxis are red and operate in most areas of Hong Kong. New Territories taxis are green and mainly operate in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the New Territories. Finally, Lantau taxis are blue and operate only on Lantau Island and Chek Lap Kok.
The Hong Kong taxi rate for each type of taxi is the following:
Urban taxi (Red)
First 2 km – €3.40 (HKD 29)
Rate per 200 m after 2 km – €0.25 (HKD 2.1)
Rate per 200 m after €12 (HKD 102.5) – €0.16 (HKD 1.4)
New Territories taxi (Green)
First 2 km – €3 (HKD 25.5)
Rate per 200 m after 2 km – €0.22 (HKD 1.9)
Rate per 200 m after €10 (HKD 82.5) – €0.16 (HKD 1.4)
Lantau taxi (Blue)
First 2 km – €2.82 (HKD 24)
Rate per 200 m after 2 km – €0.22 (HKD 1.9)
Rate per 200 m after €22.90 (HKD 195) – €0.19 (HKD 1.6)
These rates are the same throughout the day but you should keep in mind that several additional charges apply to all three taxi types. A €0.59 (HKD 5) fee applies for hiring a taxi over the phone or for carrying a pet, a €0.70 (HKD 6) fee applies to every piece of luggage or a baby pram, and all tolls are to be paid by the passenger, except when crossing Tai Lam Tunnel.
A ride from the airport to Hong Kong Island with an Urban taxi costs an average of €44.60 (HKD 380), while a ride to the city center of Hong Kong should cost around €32.90 (HKD 280). For short rides around the city center, the average Hong Kong taxi price is around €15 (HKD 127.80).
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How to get a taxi in Hong Kong
Hailing a taxi from the street is the easiest way to get a taxi in Hong Kong. If the ‘TAXI’ sign on the roof or the ‘For Hire’ sign on the dashboard is lit, it means the taxi is available for hire. Simply wave over to the driver and they’ll pull over to pick you up.
Alternatively, you can grab a taxi from an official taxi rank in Hong Kong. You will find many taxi ranks all over the city, especially near popular tourist attractions, in front of major hotels, next to main squares, and near major transportation hubs, like bus stations.
How to get a taxi from Hong Kong Airport
Signs inside the Arrivals Hall will lead you to the official airport taxi station, located near the left-hand ramp in front of the terminal. There are different queues for each type of taxi so make sure to stand in the right one depending on your destination.
From there you can take a taxi to the popular Tsim Sha Tsui District for around €35 (HKD 298) or Hong Kong Disneyland for around €20 (HKD 170).
How to get a taxi in the Kowloon District
You can easily find a taxi all around the Kowloon District. If you’re in the northern part of the district, you can head to the main entrance of Lai Chi Kok Park, in front of the Pak Tin Commercial Centre on Pak Wan Street, in front of Lok Fu Market, and on the western end of the Plaza Hollywood Mall.
If you’re in the heart of Kowloon District, you can head opposite the Ivy Street Rest Garden or opposite the Argyle Centre Shopping Mall.
You will find even more taxi ranks as you move towards the northern part of the Kowloon District, including the China Ferry Terminal, opposite the Church Assembly Hall on Observatory Road, and at Science Museum Square.
How to get a taxi from Tsim Sha Tsui East
The nearest taxi stand at Tsim Sha Tsui East bus station is next to the Science Museum Square. Get out of the bus station on Science Museum Road and head south across the Chinachem Golden Plaza; you will see taxis lined up there.
How to get a taxi from China Ferry Terminal
If you’re arriving by ferry at the China Ferry Terminal, you can grab a taxi from the taxi rank located nearby. Exit the Ferry Terminal and head northwest on Canton Road; the taxi stand is on the south side of the China Hong Kong City Mall.
How to get a taxi on Hong Kong Island
Urban taxis also operate on Hong Kong Island. Most taxi ranks are on the northern part of the island, including the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Pier, Harbour Road Garden toward the east, and Catchick Street Garden towards the west.
How to get a taxi on Lantau Island
If you’re on Lantau Island, you can grab a blue taxi for rides around the island. There are three taxi ranks; outside Disneyland, at Tung Chung Station, and on Tai O Road next to the bus station.
Most popular Hong Kong taxi apps
If you don’t see any taxis around and you’re far from the nearest taxi rank, all you need to do is download a Hong Kong taxi app on your mobile and order a taxi online. The most popular apps in Hong Kong are Uber, HKTaxi, and FlyTaxi. Keep in mind that the fare when booking a taxi through an app can be higher than that of a regular taxi you can find on the street.
If you want to enjoy the benefits of online booking, like card payment, but also secure a fixed, competitive fare, you can pre-book your rides in Hong Kong with a top-rated provider like Welcome Pickups. You will enjoy reliable service and have everything arranged in advance.
Useful Hong Kong taxi numbers
If you don’t have internet access or simply don’t wish to order a taxi online, you can order one over the phone instead. You can also ask the hotel concierge to call a taxi for you, which is convenient in case the taxi operator doesn’t speak English.
If you decide to call a Hong Kong taxi number yourself, you can try the 24-hour taxi hotline at +852 (8109) 2222 and request pickup wherever you are. Keep in mind that ordering a taxi over the phone incurs a €0.59 (HKD 5) fee.
You can also call individual operators depending on the type of taxi you require. You will need to call a red taxi Hong Kong phone number for rides in the city centre or Hong Kong Island, a green taxi for the New Territories, and a blue taxi for Lantau Island.
Some useful Hong Kong taxi numbers are:
Urban taxis:
ABA Taxi Radio – 2729 6600
Chuen Lee Radio Taxis – 2390 0331
New Territories taxis:
Sun Hing Taxi Radio – 2450 2288
H.K. Tele-call Taxi – 2669 1088
Lantau taxis:
Lantau Blue Taxi – 2776 7885
Benefits of pre-booking your taxi in Hong Kong
Although Hong Kong taxis offer 24/7 service, finding a taxi in a remote area or late at night can be difficult. Also, during peak hours, availability can be limited, resulting in long waiting times at the ranks or even after calling a taxi over the phone. The best way to avoid the hassle is to pre-book your taxi in Hong Kong and enjoy peace of mind knowing you can stay put and have a driver pick you up.
With Welcome Pickups, you get reliable, top-rated door-to-door service from the airport or anywhere else around Hong Kong. Instead of worrying about which type of taxi you should use to reach your destination, an English-speaking driver will take you to your next point of interest, wherever that may be. On top of that, you will secure a fixed fare that you will pay in advance, saving you the trouble of carrying cash.
Hong Kong tips
- Once you get in the taxi, check that the taximeter is set to the base fare.
- Make sure to carry cash in small notes as paying for your Hong Kong taxi by credit card is usually not an option.
- Passengers in a Hong Kong taxi are required by law to wear a seat belt when one is available.
- Always ask for a receipt at the end of the ride. If the printing machine is not working, the taxi driver needs to provide a handwritten receipt.
- Tipping your taxi driver isn’t expected but it’s common practice to round up to the nearest Hong Kong dollar.
- Wheelchairs and crutches can be transported free of charge in a Hong Kong taxi.
- If the taxi has an 'Out of Service' sign on the dashboard, it means it’s not available for hire.
Wheelchair-accessible taxi in Hong Kong
Standard taxis found on the street or at taxi ranks around Hong Kong usually have space for a foldable wheelchair in the trunk but they’re not equipped with ramps.
If you require a fully accessible Hong Kong taxi during your trip, you can book your rides with a specialized operator to secure comfortable and safe service. SynCab (+852 3700 6500) and Diamond Cab (+852 2760 8771, [email protected]) are two reliable operators providing point-to-point transportation services in fully accessible vehicles.
Hong Kong taxi safety and complaints
Hong Kong taxi service is generally very safe and scams or unprofessional conduct on the driver’s part are extremely rare. Also, all taxis are regulated and taxi drivers are required by law to display their identity card and registration on their dashboards.
However, if you encounter any issues while using a Hong Kong taxi, take down the driver’s name and license plate number and ask for a receipt. You can then contact the Transport Complaints Unit Hotline at +852 (288) 99 999 to file your complaint.