Sightseeing Bus Tours in Hong Kong

Hop On and Hop Off a Bus the Easy Way

Nov 17, 2009 Valery Garrett

Hong Kong was a British colony for over 150 years, so it's an easy city to navigate since all the signs are in English as well as Chinese.

Public transport is frequent and clean, and an inexpensive way to get around, if you know where you want to go. But when time is short, or you want a relaxing way to see the main sights of Hong Kong, there are two new options to try.

Famous for their burgundy and cream double-decker buses in London, The Big Bus Company began operations in Hong Kong in December 2008. Not to be out done, local bus companies, Citybus and New World First Bus, started their Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus in summer 2009.

Sightseeing Bus Tours in Hong Kong, The Big Bus Company

The Big Bus Company is one of the largest hop on and off open-top bus tour operators in the world. In Hong Kong the route covers both the island and Kowloon and includes a ride on Star Ferry and the Peak tram. Operating daily both the Red Tour and the Blue Tour offer eight digitally recorded languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, French, German and Malay

Both tours leave from Star Ferry. The Red Tour runs along the waterfront of Hong Kong island, past Wanchai as far as Causeway Bay. On the way back it stops at the lower Peak Tram terminus for a trip to the Peak Tower, and continues on through Lan Kwai Fong and back to the Star Ferry.

Across on the Ferry the Blue Tour takes in Kowloon, heading up Nathan Road to Temple Street and the Jade market, Ladies Market, the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Science Museum before returning to the Star Ferry. Each tour takes approximately 75 mins and the frequency is every 30 mins.

The Night Tour departs from the Avenue of the Stars on the Kowloon waterfront next to Star Ferry before the Symphony of Lights Show at 19.00 and then directly after the show at 20.30. This follows the same route as the Blue Tour.

Tickets cost HK$320 for the day tours, $200 for the night tour and combo tour is $420 per person. Discounts apply for children and families.

Sightseeing Bus Tours in Hong Kong, Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus

This bus, which is also an opentop double-decker, is painted purple and pink, decorated with picture of a rickshaw. A one day pass costs HK$50 for unlimited rides with discounts for children and seniors. A video is broadcast throughout the trip in English and Mandarin. Buses operate every 15 mins daily.

The Metropolis tour leaves from Star Ferry between 10.15 to 21.45 and travels through Wanchai to the shopping destination of Causeway Bay and Times Square, onto Happy Valley racecourse, and back via St John’s Cathedral and Statue Square in the heart of Central. The trip takes 50 mins.

The Heritage Tour takes the same time but runs between 10.00 and 18.00. Leaving Star Ferry it passes Western Market, then along Hollywood Road, the famous antique shopping street, past Man Mo temple, Dr Sun Yatsen Museum, and Hong Kong University. It travels back through Western district and the dried seafood shops then past the Macau Ferry to the terminus at Star Ferry.

Sightseeing Bus Tours in Hong Kong, An Easy Way to Get Around Hong Kong

Whichever bus and bus company you choose, you can be sure it will take you to the must-see sights of Hong Kong and Kowloon. All in comfort and at a leisurely pace, enjoyed from the top deck of a bus.

The copyright of the article Sightseeing Bus Tours in Hong Kong in S Asia/China Travel is owned by Valery Garrett. Permission to republish Sightseeing Bus Tours in Hong Kong in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.