SIGHTSEEING BUS TOURS
Until late 2008 the only way to see Hong Kong from an open-top bus was either to take the Citybus service 15C bus operating on the short journey from Central to the Lower Peak Tram Terminus to connect with the Peak Tram or join a group tour on a specially hired bus. However there are now three companies operating “turn up and go” open-top sightseeing tours. UK-based THE BIG BUS COMPANY introduced a “hop-on, hop-off” service on two routes serving Hong Kong Island and Kowloon in December 2008. A third route was added from April 2010. In May 2009, local operator CITYBUS commenced its CITYTOURS non-stop sightseeing tour of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay districts of Hong Kong Island (since ceased operation in 2023) and in October 2009 its sister company NWFB (New World First Bus) RICKSHAW SIGHTSEEING BUS introduced its “hop-on, hop-off” service along two routes on Hong Kong Island. In December 2014 the two routes were consolidated into a single route H1 "Heritage Tour" which revised the tour to a circular route including some districts of Kowloon and in June 2016 the route was adjusted from a circular basis to two-way route. The service was re-branded "Citybus Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus" on 1st July 2023 following the Citybus takeover of NWFB and amalgamation of routes and again later rebranded "HK CITY SIGHTSEEING" with yellow Citybus livery. In September 2024 franchised bus operator Kowloon Motor Bus introduced a "hop-on, hop-off" bus tour of Kowloon route HK1 "Tour@ Kowloon" with unlimited rides for 24 hours.
KMB TOUR @ KOWLOON RECREATION ROUTE HK1 (not open-top)
Introduced from 21st September 2024 “KMB TOUR @ KOWLOON”
route HK1 is a “hop-on, hop-off” tourist sightseeing route highlighting
landmarks and attractions in Kowloon, including West Kowloon Cultural District,
Temple Street, the Former Yau Ma Tei Police Station, Flower Market, Mei Ho
House, Wong Tai Sin Temple and Kowloon City. The route circulates around Kowloon,
departing from Star Ferry Pier Bus Terminus, Tsim Sha Tsui, via West
Kowloon Cultural District, Jordan,
Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Prince Edward, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin and Kowloon
before returning to Star Ferry. The route has a total of 17 stops with an
on-board broadcast introducing attractions near each stop. For further details
see;The seats on board have extra legroom, free Wi-Fi service,
USB charging ports and curtains, with no standing allowed.
The tour bus departs from Star Ferry at 30 minute intervals from 10-00 to 18-00 on Mondays to Fridays and 10-00 to 20-00 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Fare is HK$19 for the full route.
KMB has produced a 24-page attractions guide to accompany the tour;
For further details see;
https://www.kmb.hk/news_detail.html?id=996&year=2024
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CITYBUS HK CITY SIGHTSEEING (FORMERLY "CITYBUS RICKSHAW SIGHTSEEING BUS") OPEN TOP "HOP-ON, HOP-OFF" TOUR;
Citybus Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus at its starting point outside Central Pier 6 (next to Star Ferry Pier - Central Pier 7) before its rebranding as "HK City Sightseeing".
During October 2009 New World First Bus introduced its "NWFB Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus". The "hop-on, hop-off" service utilises open-top double-deck buses decorated in a rickshaw-themed livery and mock rickshaw style canopy at the rear of the top deck. The rickshaw branding is intended as a reminder of the early 20th century when the Chinese rickshaw was an important form of public transportation around Hong Kong and gradually replaced by buses as the most popular public transport.
Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus H1 at Connaught Road Central
From 13th December 2014 a revised H1 "Heritage Tour" was introduced travelling a circular route from Central Star Ferry Pier at 30 minute intervals and takes about 105 minutes from start to finish under normal traffic conditions. The route served 28 stops and included numerous scenic locations including 20 declared monuments, 29 grade-one historic buildings and other landmarks including some major shopping malls and markets.
From 18th June 2016 the service was revised from a circular route to two-way operation with a journey time of about 68 minutes each way.
From 21st October 2017 NWFB rationalised its Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus operation introducing a new "Market Route H1A" with a single daily departure and renumbering its previous "Night Scene Route H1 as "Night Scene Route H2". The daytime "Heritage Route H1" continues to operate at 30 minute intervals except that the 10-30 departure from Central Piers is replaced by "Market Route H1A"
From 23rd July 2019 the routes were adjusted with some additional stops including Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui on route H1 and some previous stops were omitted.
ROUTE DIVERSION TO SERVE WEST KOWLOON CULTURAL DISTRICT AND OPERATING HOURS ADJUSTMENTS FROM 13th JANUARY 2023;
DAY HERITAGE ROUTE H1
Operates from Star Ferry, Central (Man Kwong Street, outside Central Pier 6), Hong Kong Island on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays hourly from 11am to 7pm.
Operates from Kowloon, outside The Peninsula, Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, hourly from 12-30pm until 5-30pm.
BUS STOPS - FROM HONG KONG ISLAND (STAR FERRY PIER, CENTRAL PIER 6) TO KOWLOON (TSIM SHA TSUI - THE PENINSULA, HANKOW ROAD);
Star Ferry Pier Central Ferry Piers, Man Kwong Street (Outside Pier 6)
Exchange Square Bus Terminus
Western Market
Man Mo Temple (for Man Mo Temple and Lascar Row)
Peel Street / PMQ
Tai Kwun
Statue Square
Admiralty (Wesr) Bus Terminus, Admiralty Station
Golden Bauhinia Square / Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre)
CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL
Avenue of Stars / Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
Victoria Dockside / East Tsim Sha Tsui Station
Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui
The Peninsula (Terminus)
Journey Time about 70 minutes
NIGHT SCENE ROUTE H2
Operates from Kowloon, outside The Peninsula, Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 18-30, 19-30 and 20-30.
BUS STOPS - FROM KOWLOON (HANKOW ROAD, THE PENINSULA) TO HONG KONG ISLAND CENTRAL FERRY PIERS);
1881 Heritage / Peking Road / Canton Road
Grand Plaza, Mongkok / Ladies Market
Saigon Street, Jordan (for Temple Street Night Market)
Austin Road West / West Kowloon Cultural District (M+ Museum, Hong Kong Palace Museum)
CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL
Lee Theatre Plaza / Times Square / Causeway Bay Shopping Area
Southorn Playground / Wan Chai Bar Area
St John's Cathedral / Peak Tram Lower Terminus
Statue Square
Central Star Ferry Pier, Man Kwong Street (Outside Pier 6)
Stops 5-12 Journey Time about 60 minutes
FARE - Single Journey HK$41.8 per trip. One-day Pass (unlimited journeys within one operating day) HK$200. Half-fare concession for seniors age 65 and over and children age 3-11.
Octopus Card or exact cash can be used to purchase passes or single journey tickets.
MARKET ROUTE H1A (Not currently operating)
Operates from outside Man Kwong Street, outside Star Ferry, Central Pier 6, Hong Kong Island daily at 10-30 (one departure only)
BUS STOPS
1. Central Star Ferry Pier, Man Kwong Street (Outside Pier 6)
2. Exchange Square Bus Terminus
3. Admiralty Station / Admiralty (West Bus Terminus), Queensway
4. Southorn Playground, Wanchai (for Tai Yen Street Market)
5. South Pacific Hotel, Morrison Hill Road, Wanchai (for Bowrington Street Market)
CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL
6. Queen Elizabeth School, Sai Yee Street, Mongkok (for Flower Market and Goldfish Market)
7. Saigon Street / Shanghai Street, Mongkok (for Langham Place / Nelson Street Market)
8. Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, The Peninsula (Terminus)
Journey Time - about 80 minutes
Rickshaw Sightseeing Bus on Des Voeux Road West, known as "Dried Seafood Street"
Buses are equipped with a bus stop name announcement system and a video system with bilingual journey commentary in Mandarin and English.
Further information can be obtained here;
https://www.rickshawbus.com/en/about/index.html
BIG BUS TOURS OPEN-TOP "HOP-ON, HOP-OFF" SIGHTSEEING TOUR;
Big Bus Tours open-top bus at Central Piers, the starting point for its Red and Green (Hong Kong Island) routes
Big Bus Tours start point for the Blue (Kowloon) route at Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade coach bays on Salisbury Road Note - BLUE ROUTE NOT CURRENTLY OPERATING SEPT 2023
The Big Bus Company started operating "hop-on, hop-off" sightseeing open-top bus tours of Hong Kong in December 2008. Big Bus Company was established in 1991 and at the time it launched in Hong Kong it also operated open-top bus tours in London, Dubai and Philadelphia. It merged with Paris-based sightseeing tour operator Les Cars Rouges in May 2011 to form Big Bus Tours and is now the world's largest operator of open top sightseeing tours, operating in 16 cities on three continents.
The Hong Kong tour was initially limited to a single route around Kowloon but was soon extended to include a route on Hong Kong Island providing passengers with a unique way of visiting many of Hong Kong's most popular attractions. In April 2010 a third route was introduced taking in Stanley, Repulse Bay and Ocean Park on the south side of Hong Kong Island. The company has a fleet of about 25 buses in Hong Kong.
Big Bus Tour's Green Route travels along the scenic south coast of Hong Kong Island on its journey to Stanley
The BIG BUS TOUR covers three routes;
The RED ROUTE on Hong Kong Island starts at Central Pier 7 (Star Ferry Pier) in Central and takes in Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay with stops at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Causeway Bay SOGO, Park Lane Hotel, Wan Chai Computer City, Lower Peak Tram Terminus, Mid-Levels Escalator, Man Mo Temple and Hotel LKF at Lan Kwai Fong. Service operates from 9-30am to 6pm daily every 30 minutes. Tour duration, about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
The GREEN ROUTE on Hong Kong Island starts at Central Pier 7 (Star Ferry Pier) and includes Ocean Park, Repulse Bay, Stanley Market and Aberdeen with stops at Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Repulse Bay, Stanley Beach Road and St John's Cathedral (for Hong Kong Park). Service operates from 9-45am to 4-45pm daily, every 30 minutes. Tour duration about 2 hours.
The BLUE ROUTE around Kowloon starts at Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade coach bays on Salisbury Road and takes in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East, West Kowloon (Elements Mall, Kowloon Station and Sky100), Nathan Road and Mong Kok with stops at Langham Place, Temple Street, Peking Road and Mody Road. Service operates from 10am to 6-15pm daily, every 45 minutes. Tour duration, about 1 hour, 15 minutes. BLUE ROUTE NOT CURRENTLY OPERATING SEPTEMBER 2023
Deluxe*, Premium and Classic tickets include tickets for the Peak Tram and Sky Terrace or Sky100, *Star Ferry (Central-Tsim Sha Tsui return tickets) and also include a sampan ride in Aberdeen Harbour. Peak Tram tickets do not need to be used on the day of the tour and are valid for one month.
*Deluxe tickets also include a free one-hour Star Ferry Harbour Tour and Night Tour (see below)
Deluxe, Premium* and Classic Tour tickets include unlimited access to all routes for the duration of ticket validity.
There is also a NIGHT TOUR departing K-11 MUSEA Donut Playhouse entrance, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui at 7pm every night. The tour of Kowloon includes Nathan Road, Ladies Market and Temple Street Night Market.
All tickets include a complimentary Rewards Booklet with discount vouchers for restaurants and retail outlets.
Recorded commentary is available in ten languages including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian.
Big Bus Tour Green Route at Deep Water Bay
TICKET PRICES (at September 2023);
DELUXE TICKET (INCLUDES HONG KONG ISLAND TOUR, STANLEY TOUR, STAR FERRY RETURN TRIP AND PEAK TRAM) – TICKET VALID 48 HOURS – Adult HK$690, Child (5-15) HK$640
ESSENTIAL TICKET (INCLUDES, HONG KONG ISLAND TOUR, STANLEY TOUR, STAR FERRY RETURN TRIP) TICKET VALID 24 HOURS – Adult HK$560, Child (5-15) HK$510
DISCOVER TICKET (INCLUDES HONG KONG ISLAND TOUR OR STANLEY TOUR, STAR FERRY RETURN TRIP)TICKET VALID 24 HOURS – Adult HK 480, Child (5-15) HK$430
NIGHT TOUR - HK$320
Tickets can be purchased from;
Big Bus website (see below). Online discount is available for fixed-date tickets
Big Bus Tours Information Centre (Central), Shop I2, 1st Floor, Central Star Ferry Pier 7 (09-15-18-00)
Big Bus Tours Information Centre (TST), Unit KP-38 1/F, Kowloon Star Ferry Pier, Tsim Sha Tsui (09-00-18-45) The Peninsula, The
For more information see the Big Bus website
https://www.bigbustours.com/en/hong-kong/hong-kong-bus-tours
Big Bus Company's open-top bus tour Premium and Deluxe tickets include a sampan tour of Aberdeen Harbour and free one-hour Star Ferry Harbour Tour of Victoria Harbour
CITYBUS "CITYTOURS" SIGHTSEEING OPEN-TOP BUS TOUR (PERMANENTLY CEASED OPERATION)
In May 2009 Citybus launched a new open-top "Citytours" bus tour on Hong Kong Island. The tour which covers Wan Chai and Causeway Bay operates from 10-30am to 6-30pm daily from Golden Bauhinia Square next to Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The route takes in Golden Bauhinia Square/Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai Police Station, The Pawn, Lung Moon Restaurant, Emperor Group Centre, Sogo Department Store, St Paul's Hospital, St Mary's Church, Hong Kong Central Library, Victoria Park, Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter and People's Liberation Army Building. The tour lasts about 45 minutes but is not a "hop-on, hop-off" service and there are no stops en route.
The fare is HK$88 with a free child (under 1.4M height) ticket for each pair of adult tickets. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or from the Dragon Pearl Cruise ticket office at the night cruise pier at Golden Bauhinia Square or Citybus Customer Service Centres at the Airport Ground Transportation Centre or Admiralty Bus Station.
Citybus Citytours open-top sightseeing bus (now permanently ceased operation)