Arrive
Octopus: which card tourists should buy
Tourist Octopus HK$39, airport T-Union pack HK$170, on-loan adult card, iPhone Tourist Octopus, and why interchange discounts usually need Octopus—not a random bank card.
Notes dated 2026-09
Octopus is almost a second cash: MTR, buses, minibuses, convenience stores, many cafes. The classic mistake is buying a loaded T-Union pack and then another empty tourist card.
How to choose
| Type | You pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sold Tourist Octopus | HK$39, empty, no deposit | Keep as a souvenir, then top up. |
| Tourist T-Union (airport pack) | Adult about HK$170: HK$42 fee + HK$128 value | Just landed and want value now. Also works on transit in 336 Mainland cities and Macau, per official rules. |
| On-loan adult card | Often about HK$150 (HK$50 deposit + value) | Longer stay or coming back. Deposit refundable. Small negative balance allowed, so you are less likely to bounce at a gate. |
| iPhone / Apple Watch Tourist Octopus | Official Tourist Octopus app | Can set up before you fly. Refund value and deposit in the app when you leave. |
Where to buy
- Airport station customer centre and Octopus machines.
- West Kowloon station machines.
- MTR customer centres in town. Airport station does not sell every local product.
- 7-Eleven and Circle K top up; some sell cards.
Top up
Top up at convenience stores, MTR counters, or station machines. App cards can load from cards or Mainland wallets. Empty physical cards bounce at bus readers and MTR gates.
Fares change. Recheck App 1933, Citybus, or MTR Mobile before you go.
Questions
Can I just tap a credit card?
MTR and some buses take contactless bank cards at adult Octopus fares. Bus-bus discounts often need the same Octopus. For hopping around, Octopus is still simpler.
How do I refund?
On-loan cards: refund deposit and value at an MTR customer centre; a handling fee often applies within 90 days. Sold tourist cards: card fee is kept, leftover value can be refunded, then the card dies.