Vibrant, dynamic and cosmopolitan, Hong Kong is one of the top tourism destinations. From food, shopping to culture and sight-seeing, the city has plenty to offer. In 2017, a total of 25.7 million people visited Hong Kong, making it the most visited city in the world.

Whether you are going to Hong Kong for the first time, or just fell in love with this city, here are some tips to help you plan a pleasant trip.

1. Book your train to the city in advance

Airport Express Train is the best way to get into the city after you land at Hong Kong International Airport. It makes few stops along the way and takes only 24 minutes to reach the central area. You can use the standard Octopus travel card or buy a Smart Ticket from the counter at the airport.

	Smart Ticket (HK Dollar)		Octopus (HK Dollar)
From Airport to	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
Hong Kong Station (Central)	$ 115	$ 57.5	$ 110	$ 55
Kowloon Station	$ 105	$ 52.5	$ 100	$ 50
Tsing Yi Station	$ 70	$ 35	$ 65	$ 32.5
AsiaWorld-Expo Station	$ 6	$ 3	$ 5.5	$ 2.7

Source: Hong Kong International Airport

For more convenience, you can book the ticket online before your arrival. The travel website Klook offers attractive prices:

Tickets you buy from this website are valid for 90 days, and there’s no need to redeem the physical tickets from the counter. You can use the QR code that you receive in your email or on the mobile phone app directly to board the train.

2. Grab discounts on tickets from Klook

Klook is a very popular travel website based in Hong Kong. They also have mobile apps for iPhone and Android phones, which can direct you to nearby attractions.

Klook has partnered with all the major attractions in Hong Kong. You can get discounted tickets to almost every tourism hot spot through the website. In some places, you will also get priority in line. For example, you will get to join the ‘special line’ with fewer crowds if you buy the Peak Tram Fast-Track Combo from the website. (It really makes a difference in terms of waiting time.)

3. Use MTR to travel around

Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) is highly efficient. With 150 stations, the network spreads across the city. Hong Kong’s roads are quite congested because of the dense population and the huge number of vehicles. That makes MTR the best way of getting around.

Get an Octopus Card for your travels within the city, especially if you are staying for a few days. It will help you save both time and money.

You can buy one from the Hong Kong airport arrival area, or any of the MTR stations in the city.

4. Use local SIM to stay connected

Hong Kong is one of the most wired cities, but that doesn’t mean you can count on public Wi-Fi everywhere. If you want to stay connected at all times during your stay, a local prepaid SIM card is your best choice.

China Mobile and Hong Kong’s local operator CSL offer great packages for tourists. For example, for HK$88, you can buy a CSL prepaid card with 1.5G data (4G connection) and unlimited local voice calls. The card is valid for 5 days, perfect for people who plan a short stay in the city. CSL also has a prepaid card with 5G data (4G connection). It costs only HK$118 and is valid for 8 days.

5. Enjoy the benefit of in-town check-in service

Hong Kong has a unique and very friendly service called “in-town check-in”, which lets you check in early to your return flight without going to the airport. It gives tourists great freedom to explore the city on their last day of stay.

At Hong Kong Station, which is in the central area, you can check in your luggage and get your boarding pass to the same-day flight anytime. The service is all free.

Imagine that your flight is late night. You can check in in the morning, and still get more than half a day to explore the city without the burden of dragging your luggage.