The Star Ferry: Best $1 You'll Spend in Hong Kong

Some experiences cost hundreds of dollars. This one is less than a dollar and somehow still manages to be one of the most memorable things you'll do in Hong Kong.

The Star Ferry has been crossing Victoria Harbour since 1888 and it remains one of the most scenic and affordable rides in all of Asia (especially at night!). The ferry connects Central on Hong Kong Island to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and the whole crossing takes about eight minutes.

Cost: HK$4 to HK$6 depending on the deck (~A$1). Upper deck is worth the extra few cents every single time.

What makes it special

Victoria Harbour is one of the most dramatic urban waterfronts in the world. From the upper deck of the Star Ferry you get an uninterrupted panoramic view of the Hong Kong Island skyline on one side and the Kowloon peninsula on the other. At night when the city lights up it is genuinely breathtaking.

We crossed the harbour on the Star Ferry multiple times during our 72 hours in Hong Kong and it never got old. We even timed one crossing to coincide with the Symphony of Lights at 8pm and watched the entire light show from the water. That is something we will never forget.

Kristina's tip: Take the ferry after dark at least once. The skyline at night from the water is one of those views that makes you stop mid sentence. Ferries run frequently throughout the day from around 6:30am until 11:30pm.

Do not take a taxi across the harbour when you can do this instead.