Star Ferry (Central to Tsim Sha Tsui)
Place · Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront
A ten-minute harbour crossing between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui on a green-and-white ferry that has run since 1888: cheap, open-air, best near sunset, and the easiest way to see the skyline from the water.
- Cheap
- Open-air
- Skyline
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Large suitcases on MTR at 07
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Hong Kong ↗Hong Kong has its own immigration control: entry to Hong Kong does not permit entry to mainland China, and the reverse. Check the Immigration Department list for your passport.
- Hong Kong ↗Buy an Octopus card or use a contactless bank card at MTR gates; single-journey tickets cost the same but queue at machines.
- Hong Kong ↗When Typhoon Signal No. 8 or a Black rainstorm warning is issued, most public transport and many businesses stop: stay where you are and re-plan the next day.
- Hong Kong ↗CBD products are a dangerous drug in Hong Kong since February 2023, and bringing e-cigarettes or heated-tobacco devices into the city is banned: leave both at home.
- Hong Kong SAR ↗Outlying-island ferries run on fixed timetables and are cancelled in typhoon signals: check the return sailing before you go.
- Hong Kong Island and Kowloon ↗Large suitcases on MTR at 07:30–09:30 and 17:30–19:30 are a fight for space and stairs: use the Airport Express racks or a taxi with bags.
- Hong Kong Island and Kowloon ↗Urban taxis are red and cover most of the territory; green and blue taxis serve only their own areas and will not take you across.
More
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Quietest Mon–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: about HK$4–7 (≈ under US$1) (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 20–25 min · up to 40 min if you linger
Best time to go
Rush hours (about 07:30–09:30 and 17:30–19:30) are busy with commuters; midday and evening are calmer.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Sun.
Opening hours
- Note
- Frequent crossings through the day and evening; service hours and exact timetable are not printed until verified.
- Hours note
- Daily from morning to about 22:30 (check the current timetable).
Which month is quietest
- Janbusy
- Febbusy
- Marlight
- Aprlight
- Maylight
- Junlight
- Jullight
- Auglight
- Seplight
- Octbusy
- Novbusy
- Decbusy
Quietest Mar–Sep · busiest Oct–Feb.
Estimate: desk reasoning from a typical visitor pattern; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Walk to Central Pier 7 from Central MTR (about 10 minutes), or to Tsim Sha Tsui pier from the promenade
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- Level pier and a gangway
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance · Level pier and a gangway
- Check firstAccessible toilet
- YesWheelchair
- YesStroller
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
Exposure: medium
Bailouts
- rain: Take the MTR across the harbour instead
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Star Ferry pier (WC, seating; field-verify)
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Pay with an Octopus card or a contactless card at the turnstile; a token is also possible.
- The upper deck costs a little more; both decks give a view.
- Service pauses under typhoon signal 8 or higher.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Free days
Free entry days in Hong Kong (pick Hong Kong in the tool; check)
- What's closed
- Typhoon signal 8 or higherService is suspended.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One crossing | about HK$4–7 (≈ under US$1) (2026 estimate) | — |
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
15min
Worthwhile
20min
Typical
25min
p95
40min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (25 min).
With the other 5 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade5 min on foot · 0 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
A wooden-benched ferry with open windows
Harbour views both ways
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlyLevel pier and a gangway
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: yes · yes
- Stroller: yes · yes
A gangway and a step onto the boat; staff assist; check with the operator for wheelchairs.
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Benches | ||
| Toilets at the piers (check) |
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A cheap harbour view | good | — |
| Crossing between the two sides without the MTR | good | — |
Skip it if
- You are in a hurry at rush hour: the MTR is faster
Rules on site
- Rule 1
- No eating or drinking on some decks (check the sign).
With kids
- with kids
- Kids love it; keep them seated during the crossing.
Combine with
Combine with
- 5 minTsim Sha Tsui Promenade
- 10 minCentral Pier
Walk the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
What does it cost?
A few Hong Kong dollars (2026 estimate, check).
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Photos
Photos
Star Ferry Photo: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Star Ferry Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialStar Ferry (official)
- secondaryWikivoyage — Hong Kong
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Taken from the desk crowd estimate by hour. It is not a count of visitors.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.