The Best Victoria Harbour Cruises in Hong Kong to Suit Every Budget
Going on a Hong Kong harbour cruise is one of the best things to add to your itinerary, whether its your first time to Hong Kong or your 10th!
Victoria Harbour has a rich history and played a major role in turning Hong Kong into the city it is today. The harbour’s strategic location on the Far East trade routes and Asia-Pacific basin was instrumental in Hong Kong’s development into a major trading hub, and to this day it is still one of the busiest ports in the world.
After dark, the harbour really comes to life and I can honestly say that it is one of the most stunning skylines in the world. The harbour sits between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with boats dashing from side-to-side all through the day and night, and is one of the most iconic sights in Hong Kong.
Whether it is your first time in Hong Kong or your 10th, going on a Victoria Harbour cruise is one of the best things to do in Hong Kong. There are a handful of different Hong Kong harbour cruise options – here is everything you need to know about the various packages and cruise prices!
Quick tips for your first trip to Hong Kong
Visiting Hong Kong for the first time? Here are some quick tips for your trip – for a full list of things you ought to know before your trip, head on over here to read important things you should know before visiting Hong Kong and some common Hong Kong travel mistakes to avoid making.
✈️ To get into Hong Kong you’ll need to fly into Hong Kong International Airport. A cab from the airport to the city costs approximately HK$350-450 and typically takes less than 45 minutes/1 hour from door-to-door, or you can pre-book your private airport pick up or drop off here.
However, the best way to get to and from the airport is via the Airport Express train. Tickets can be purchased at the station and the train stops in Tsing Yi, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island – it takes just 24 minutes from end to end! Want 20% off your Airport Express ticket? Buy your ticket ahead of time online here! Once you’ve purchased your ticket online, you can use the QR code that they send you to swipe through the special gates equipped with the QR reader.
🛂 Most visitors to Hong Kong do not require a visa for entry. See here for more details.
💱 The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar. The exchange rate is approximately 7.6 HKD to 1 USD/1 Euro. Most places accept Visa or Mastercard, and I’d say 40-50% of places will also accept American Express. There are tons of ATM machines around Hong Kong, just make sure you’ve enabled international withdrawal or your card has the “Plus” or “Cirrus” logo on the back.
🎟️ You pretty much never have to pay full price for admissions tickets in Hong Kong as most tour operators (including Victoria Harbour cruises), car charters, spas and major attractions are listed on Klook. Just click here and search for places you want to go, and book online for discounted entry or head on over here to read more about how to use Klook to book travel experiences.
📱 Buy a local SIM card. The easiest way to do that is via Klook – you can get a 7 day Hong Kong tourist SIM card and pick it up from the airport on arrival.
🚗 Getting around Hong Kong is easy. Public transportation is efficient, cheap and clean, and the network is very extensive. Taxis are cheap as well if you are in a hurry.
One of the first things you have to do when you arrive in Hong Kong is get an Octopus card. It is a stored value card that works on all public transportation (but not in taxis). You can purchase your tourist Octopus card in advance here – pick it up from the airport when you arrive, and it comes with HK$50 already pre-loaded.
👚 What to wear in Hong Kong: In general, there are no strict dress codes in Hong Kong; however, Hong Kong can still be considered relatively conservative compared to some major Western cities. You should be prepared for stares (from both men and women) if you wear revealing clothing.
During the summer, it can be hot and humid so bring loose fitting, breathable clothing. However, most indoor places blast the air conditioning so it can be freezing cold – you’ll want to have a thin cardigan, sweater or scarf on hand.
During the winter months, it rarely falls below 8-10 degrees Celsius (46-50 Fahrenheit) but because of the humidity it can feel much chillier. If you are visiting from mid-December to mid-March it would be prudent to bring a warm scarf and a thick coat or down jacket.
🌐 Language in Hong Kong: The main language spoken in Hong Kong is Cantonese, a local dialect. Many people speak English (or at least basic English), and almost all signs are bilingual.
🗓️ Wondering how many days to spend in Hong Kong? For a first time visitor looking to visit the top attractions in Hong Kong I would recommend spending no fewer than 3-4 days in the city. If you plan on embarking on any Hong Kong day trips or exploring the city off the beaten track, plan to set aside anywhere from 5-10 days for your Hong Kong itinerary.
🛏️ Booking hotels in Hong Kong: Most visitors opt to book hotels on Hong Kong Island or on Kowloon side. Look into hotels in Wan Chai, Central, Soho, Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay for maximum convenience!
There are some fantastic boutique hotels in Hong Kong: I’m a fan of The Fleming and The Hari which are both excellent boutique hotels in Wan Chai; Little Tai Hang and Tuve which are both located on the edge of Causeway Bay; as well as Ovolo Central and The Murray which are in the Central and Admiralty areas. All of these Hong Kong boutique hotels are within walking distance from a nearby MTR station, and are located on the blue Island line that runs from end-to-end of Hong Kong island. You can also click here for more accommodation options.
Click here for all of my Hong Kong insider travel tips and guides!
The best time to go on a harbour cruise in Hong Kong
Hong Kong gets 4 seasons! It is not a year-round tropical country as many people seem to believe. Summers are HOT and it gets fairly cold during the winter months (December to February). The best time to visit Hong Kong for milder weather is from March to early June, and September to November (but avoid the 1st week of May and 1st week of October as the city can get busy during China’s “Golden Week” holidays).
However, Victoria Harbour tours in Hong Kong run throughout the year so you will always be able to get a spot on one of the cruises, though you’ll want to wear layers during the winter months. The tours may be cancelled in the event of a typhoon, so check online or give the company a call if you’re unsure.
In my opinion, the best time of day for a Victoria Harbour cruise is at sunset. The sunset time in Hong Kong varies between about 5:45 PM during the winter months to 7:15 PM or so during the summer months. If you go on a sunset cruise in Hong Kong, try to time it so that you hop on the boat right before the sun sets so that you can enjoy the colours changing while you’re still on the water.
The evening sailings during the “Symphony of Lights” light show at 8 PM every evening tend to be more expensive, and you’re probably better off checking out the light show from the Tsim Sha Tsui pier area.
Planning your Hong Kong trip and not sure where to stay? Look into hotels in Wan Chai, Central, Soho, Sheung Wan and Causeway Bay – click here to book accommodation in Hong Kong!
You may want to check out Ovolo Central (a boutique hotel right above Lan Kwai Fong in Central), The Hari (a sophisticated luxury hotel steps away from Wan Chai MTR station) or The Figo (a budget-friendly city hotel located between Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan).
The best harbour cruises in Hong Kong
To experience the city from the water head on one of these Hong Kong Harbour tours – here is a breakdown of all the cruise options, approximate prices and what to expect.
1. The Aqua Luna
I pretty much tell everyone to go on a harbour cruise on the Aqua Luna, and have personally been on their famous sunset cruise in Hong Kong a bunch of times – it never gets old! The Aqua Luna in Hong Kong is a restored old Chinese junk boat with bright red sails that hosts cruises, dim sum lunches and dinners along Victoria Harbour.
Aqua Luna recently added a new boat to its fleet with blue sails, and they both set sail between Central Pier 9 and Tsim Sha Tsui. If you are dead set on going on the boat with the red sails just wait a few minutes and it should dock soon after the junk with the blue & white sails, but occasionally 1 of the boats will be booked for private functions. If you’re not 100% sure, it’s best to call ahead to make sure the boat you want to go on is hosting cruises that day.
Both Aqua Luna boats depart from Pier 9 in Central – your ticket includes 1 alcoholic beverage and the cruise will last approximately 45 minutes or so. The ticket price varies between HK$195 to 295 depending on what time you set sail with them. Click here for the sailing schedule – get 10-15% off an evening cruise if you book here!
How to get there: Pier 9 is located on the waterfront in Central. Catch any bus that heads to Exchange Square/IFC or hop in a cab – tell the driver that you want to go to “Gau Ho Ma Tau”. If you are boarding from Tsim Sha Tsui side, head to Pier 2 instead.
2. The DukLing
Looking for more Hong Kong sunset cruise options? The Dukling is one of the oldest Chinese junk boats still in operation, and like the Aqua Luna, also has beautiful bold red sails. It was built in Macau 50 years ago and offers an authentic cruise experience on a refurbished fishing vessel.
Your ticket includes 1 drink and the cruise operator also hops on the microphone to give you some background information on the history of the junk and various landmarks along the skyline. Click here to see the Dukling sailing schedule and to book your tickets.
How to get there: Pier 9 is located on the waterfront in Central. Catch any bus that heads to Exchange Square/IFC or hop in a cab – tell the driver that you want to go to “Gau Ho Ma Tau”. If you are boarding from Tsim Sha Tsui side, head to Pier 3 instead.
Wondering where to stay in Hong Kong? You may want to check out TUVE (a small industrial-chic boutique hotel just next to Causeway Bay), Little Tai Hang (a boutique hotel and serviced apartment complex tucked away from the hustle and bustle) or The Fleming (featuring Hong Kong-inspired décor and design in Wan Chai). For even more options click here to book accommodation in Hong Kong.
3. The Star Ferry
The Star Ferry is an institution in Hong Kong and is one of the best ways to travel between Kowloon and Hong Kong. The Star Ferry boats have been in operation since 1888 and now also offers hour-long harbour tours on the classic ferry. The pricing of the Star Ferry harbour tour is less than the Dukling and Aqua Luna cruises, so is a good option if you’re on a slightly tighter budget.
You can check out the sailing schedule here and book online to save 10-15% off your tour here!
If you don’t want to go on a specific Hong Kong harbour tour, you can also catch the Star Ferry for a short ride across the harbour for under 50 cents, but the ride will only last a few minutes and literally takes you from one side to the next – no frills.
How to get there: For the harbour tour you will need to head to the Tsim Sha Tsui pier – take exit L6 at the MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station or tell the driver you want to go to “Zeem Sa Zui Teen Sing Ma Tau”.
To hop on the Star Ferry in Central, head to pier 7 on the waterfront. Catch any bus that heads to Exchange Square/IFC and then cross the foot bridge to the piers, or hop in a cab – tell the driver that you want to go to “Tsut Ho Ma Tau”.
4. Wing On Water Tours
If you’re looking for something a little different, Wing On Water Tours also operates harbour tours on Victoria Harbour throughout the day. The pricing is on par with Aqua Luna and Dukling, and even though the boat isn’t exactly the prettiest thing to look at your ticket includes unlimited drinks on board – spirits, cocktails, wine, beer, soft drinks, tea & coffee! Check out the different cruise options and get 15-25% off your ticket if you book here!
How to get there: Pier 9 is located on the waterfront in Central. Catch any bus that heads to Exchange Square/IFC or hop in a cab – tell the driver that you want to go to “Gau Ho Ma Tau”. If you are boarding from Tsim Sha Tsui side, head to Pier 3 instead.
5. Bauhinia
If dinner and a show is what you’re after, look into the Bauhinia Victoria Harbour cruise. Named after Hong Kong’s emblem, the Bauhinia operates a 2-hour long Hong Kong dinner cruise with a live band. Unfortunately, the ship itself isn’t the most attractive, but is an option if you’re looking to spend a few hours on the water.
Ticket prices range from HK$380 to $510 and is on the higher end of the spectrum as it includes dinner. Check out the sailing schedules and get 20-30% off the ticket price if you book here!
How to get there: Bauhinia starts its Victoria Harbour tour at the North Point pier. Tell the taxi driver you want to head to “But Kok Ma Tau”.
Going on a Victoria Harbour cruise is one of the best things to add to your Hong Kong itinerary. Have you checked out any of these Hong Kong harbour tours yet?
Ready to book your Hong Kong trip? Click here for more accommodation options.
Here are some personal tried-and-tested recommendations: I’m a fan of The Fleming (a Hong Kong-inspired boutique hotel in Wan Chai), Little Tai Hang (a modern boutique hotel-slash-aparthotel on the fringe of Causeway Bay) and The Hari (a classy Wan Chai boutique hotel with a fantastic Italian and Japanese restaurant).
Visiting Hong Kong? You may also enjoy these guides:
- Looking for even more ideas for off-the-beaten-path things to do in Hong Kong? Read my guide to Hong Kong off the beaten track here
- Victoria Harbour is one of the most colourful spots in Hong Kong and truly comes alive at night. Click here for a local’s guide to the most colourful places to visit in Hong Kong
- Are you after even more places for amazing views of Hong Kong? Click here to see some of the best rooftop bars in Hong Kong
- Want to get some grub after your Victoria Harbour tour? I’ve got tons of Hong Kong restaurant recommendations up my sleeve. Click here to see some of my favorite restaurants in Hong Kong!
- Ready to book your trip to Hong Kong? Here are some of the top boutique hotels in Hong Kong, or you can also click here to see current accommodation rates and options in Hong Kong
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