Octopus (八達通, bāt daaht tūng) launched in 1997 and became the model much of the world copied. You tap it on a reader; the fare comes off the stored balance. No app, no signal, no account.
The two cards, and which one you want#
Tourist Octopus — HK$39, no deposit, no stored value included. You pay HK$39 for the card itself and then add whatever balance you want. When you leave, the remaining balance is refundable and you keep the card as a souvenir — but a refunded card cannot be reactivated.
On-Loan Octopus (the standard card) — HK$50 refundable deposit plus an initial stored value of HK$150 for an adult. This is the card residents use. The deposit comes back when you return the card, and the card allows the balance to go slightly negative so a short fare cannot strand you.
Most short-trip visitors are better off with the HK$39 tourist card: there is no deposit to reclaim at a counter on the way to the airport, and no minimum stored value to load and then try to spend down. The on-loan card is the better choice if you are staying long enough to value the negative-balance allowance.
A widely repeated figure — "about HK$150 including the deposit" — describes an older pricing structure. Check the current figures at the counter rather than budgeting from a guide, this one included.
Where to buy it#
MTR Customer Service Centres sell both, including at Hong Kong International Airport, and so do convenience stores for the tourist version. Availability at specific stations has changed more than once, so if one counter cannot help, the next station can.
You may not need a card at all. Octopus can be added to an iPhone or Apple Watch through the Octopus app, and topped up with a payment card, which removes the counter queue entirely. If your phone supports it, this is the least friction available.
What it pays for#
- Transport: MTR, buses, minibuses, trams, the Star Ferry and other ferries, and the Airport Express
- Shops: convenience stores, supermarkets, fast food, many bakeries and cafés, vending machines
- Elsewhere: car parks, some vending and access systems
Effectively, small everyday spending in Hong Kong runs on it.
What it is not#
It is not a mainland payment method. Octopus works in Hong Kong and, in a limited way, in Macau — it is not Alipay or WeChat Pay, and it will not buy you a metro ticket in Shenzhen or a bowl of noodles in Guangzhou. The mainland runs on QR-code wallets, which are a separate setup job you should do before you fly.
Crossing the border means switching systems entirely. Hong Kong and the mainland differ on payments, on internet access, and on entry rules — Hong Kong is treated separately for visa purposes, and leaving Hong Kong for Shenzhen is an immigration crossing, not a domestic transfer.
Topping up#
Add value at any MTR station machine or customer service counter, at convenience stores, or in the app if you are using a phone Octopus. Cash top-ups are accepted everywhere; card top-ups depend on the point.
For getting around Hong Kong itself, and how the MTR compares with the mainland networks, see the transport guide; for what to do with your days there, the Hong Kong destination guide.