Star Ferry, Hong Kong

The iconic green and white Star Ferry has been in service for many decades. This was initially the quickest way to get from one island to other but has since been overtaken by the MTR and taxis. It is nonetheless still something people must do while in Hong Kong. The views you get while on the boat are just amazing. Be sure to also try riding on the ferry during the evening as you can see the lights on the skyline.

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One of the most famous boat trips in the world only takes a few minutes. The Hong Kong Star Ferry is just one ride you have to take. The service is frequent and regular and is a great way to see the Hong Kong Island skyline as well as the junks and other ships that use the small stretch of water between the island and the main land.

Take at least one, inexpensive travel between Kowloon to Hong Kong island or vice versa by old fashioned 'Star Ferry' - for this ride you'll see how it used to be in past to travel over Victoria Harbour and how it remains untill nowsadays for many local and tourists. It is one of the icons of Hong Kong and has been in service for more than a hundred years.
Those modern ships and ferries cannot beat its charm and it is indeed one of the pleasant ways to ride though we won't make large distances here. And yes, you're grateful they keep them plying, they should not land in museum anytime soon.
Enjoy the views - especially in the night time.

For schedules and fares see this web site:
http://www.starferry.com.hk/services.html

The ferries started in 1880 with a service across Victoria Harbour. In 1898 businessman Sir Catchick Paul Chater bought all the boats and in May 1898 the Star Ferry Company, as it is known today, became a public company. Its name derives from the ferries, which all bore the name “Star”.

The Company celebrated its centenary in 1998. Its fleet of 12 ferries is now serving two franchised ferry routes between Tsimshatsui and Central, and Tsimshatsui and Wanchai, and two licensed ferry routes, between Hunghom and Central and Hunghom and Wanchai. In addition to ferry services, Star Ferry launched the only licensed harbour tour (Star Ferry's Harbour Tour) in Hong Kong in July 2003. The one-hour journey starts in Tsimshatsui and goes on to Central, Wanchai and Hunghom before returning to Tsimshatsui, allowing visitors to take in a variety of harbour views at leisure.

To take the Star Ferry over to Hongkong Island and back is a very nice and cheap trip with a spectacular view on th sky lines of Hongkong and Kowloon. Make sure you get a first class ticket, so that you can enter the top floor and have the best view.

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Star Ferry carries passengers across the Victoria Harbour between Hong Kong Island and Tsimshatsui in Kowloon. It is operated by the Star Ferry Co. Ltd of Hong Kong. Star Ferry was founded by Dorabjee Mithaiwala in 1888.

The fleet today consists of twelve ferries plying four different routes. The main and most popular route is between Central in Hong Kong Island and Tsimshatsui in Kowloon where many foreign tourists board the ferry for sight-seeing purposes.

Star Ferry has a distinction of carrying almost 30 million passengers per year even though there are other means of transportation available between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon! Please flip through our photos on top to view scenery photos of Victoria Harbour taken from a Star Ferry.

Like the double-decker trams, the Star Ferry is another of Hong Kong's recognisable trademarks. First operated in 1888, today there is a fleet of twelve ferries that operate four routes across Hong Kong harbour, carrying around 70,000 passengers a day, or some 26 million a year. The Star Ferry operates the following cross-harbour routes:

Central to Tsim Sha Tsui, costing HK$1.7 for the lower deck, HK$2.2 for the upper deck
Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui for HK$2.2
Central to Hung Hom for HK$6.0
Wan Chai to Hung Hom for HK$6.0

Passengers may use Octopus cards, or tokens to pay for the ride which are available in the vending machines at the piers. Coins are also accepted but no change will be provided.

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This is cheapest way to enjoy the great views of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon skylines. I would suggest all visitors to use the upper deck where there are much less people and you can move from the left to the right/vice versa to take pictures of both the skylines.

Take note though that the boarding point for the upper deck is different from that of the lower deck in TST. Check the signboards to get there.

For the Central Pier, it is easy to get there form the Central MTR as there is a long covered overhead walkway which lead to the piers.

Consider taking the ferry twice too, one in the day, another in the evening to check out the change in the skyline.

An absolute must in HK is to take the Star Ferry across the harbour, a five minute ride from Tsim Sha Tsui on Kowloon to the island provides some nice views and a chance to unwind. The price is only 2HKD (about 30 US cents).