Why You Should Always Carry Cash in Hong Kong

Cash is still king in Hong Kong and if you arrive without any you will hit a wall sooner or later. We hit ours at breakfast on day two in Wan Chai with a table full of food and absolutely no HKD in our wallets. Card not accepted. Cash only. Cue a very awkward scramble.

And it starts before you even leave the airport. Taxis from Hong Kong International Airport are cash only. No exceptions. If you've just landed with no HKD on you and you want a taxi, you're stuck. This is exactly why we took Uber instead and honestly it worked out better for us anyway — no cash needed, door to door, and cheaper per person than the train when there are a few of you travelling together.

Here's where else you'll need cash in Hong Kong:

Many local restaurants and cha chaan tengs are cash only. Wet markets and street food stalls are cash only. Some smaller cafés and old school coffee shops are cash only. Temple donations and incense offerings require cash. Some public toilets in older areas require a small coin.

The places that do accept card are generally the bigger restaurants, shopping malls, chain stores and hotel restaurants. But the best food and the most authentic experiences in Hong Kong almost always happen in the places that don't.

How much to carry

We'd suggest keeping HK$200 to HK$300 in small notes on you at all times. That's roughly A$40 to A$60 and it'll cover most situations comfortably. ATMs are everywhere across the city and most accept international cards with minimal fees so topping up is never far away.