Home Hong Kong Travel Information Octopus Card for Tourist: Where to buy, Top-up & How to add Octopus Card to iPhone Apple Pay

Octopus Card for Tourist: Where to buy, Top-up & How to add Octopus Card to iPhone Apple Pay

by Ryu_C@Central Lion Rock

What’s so special about the Hong Kong Octopus card?

As long as you are planning to go to Hong Kong, there is one thing you must buy before departure, and that is the Hong Kong Octopus card.

Because someone once said that you can travel in Hong Kong without cash, but you must not be without an Octopus card. Especially when you take different modes of transportation or shop in supermarkets, Octopus cards are the most convenient payment method. Moreover, in recent years, Octopus cards have launched different types of e-Payments, such as Apple Pay that can be loaded into iPhone, allowing you to use Octopus cards more conveniently.

It is said that every person in Hong Kong has more than 2 Octopus cards on average. I wonder how many Octopus cards you have in your hand now?

For those of you who are planning to travel to Hong Kong, you may be wondering why you should buy a Hong Kong transportation card for a trip of just a few days. Can't you just pay with cash? However, the Octopus card is really an indispensable thing when traveling in Hong Kong, and as long as you use the Octopus card, you can enjoy many different additional benefits. Therefore, today’s article will introduce you to the features, purchase methods, value-added add-ons, latest offers, and methods of using the Octopus card on iPhone Apple Pay.

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Why do you need an Octopus card?

Why do you need an Octopus card when traveling in Hong Kong? Because in addition to paying for Hong Kong MTR fares, the Octopus card can also be used when taking other modes of transportation. In addition, most retail stores and restaurants in Hong Kong are equipped with Octopus card payment devices. Basically, you don’t need to spend time identifying Hong Kong banknotes and coins. You only need to tap your Octopus card to pay.

Moreover, you can also enjoy a variety of discounts by using the Octopus card, including taking the Hong Kong MTR to get an additional ticket discount of at least 5%, or adding the Octopus card to iPhone Apple Pay to receive a welcome discount cash coupon. If you don’t have a Hong Kong Octopus card yet, you must prepare one as soon as possible!

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Scope of application of Octopus card

As long as you have a Hong Kong Octopus card in your hand, you can use it in most shops and transportation in Hong Kong. It includes many places that are frequently visited in Hong Kong travel itineraries:

Transportation

Hong Kong MTR, Hong Kong Airport Express, Hong Kong Airport Bus, Hong Kong Tram, Victoria Peak Tram, ferry, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, minibuses. When you take the above means of transportation and pay with an Octopus card, in addition to saving time in queuing to buy tickets, you can also enjoy exclusive fare discounts with Octopus cards.

Octopus Card - Bus Payment
The Octopus card is one of the items you should bring when traveling to Hong Kong. (Click on the image to learn more)

Shop shopping, restaurant payments

In Hong Kong, most chain convenience stores, chain supermarkets, chain restaurants, and chain fast food restaurants are equipped with Octopus payment devices, such as ParknShop supermarket, Wellcome supermarket, 7-11 convenience store, Circle-K convenience store, McDonald's, and everyone's Fast food, Starbucks, etc. Moreover, the Octopus card can be recharged up to HKD $3,000. Even if you want to buy a lot of things, as long as you recharge enough balance in advance, it will be enough for you to use at will during the entire journey.

vending machine

Currently, most vending machines in Hong Kong accept Octopus cards for payment. For example, when you want to buy a can of Coke but don't have enough coins, you can buy it immediately by tapping your Octopus card.

Vending machine-Octopus card
A vending machine equipped with an Octopus card payment device. (Click on image to enlarge)

What types of Octopus cards are there?

There are two types of Hong Kong Octopus cards: regular Octopus cards and special edition Octopus cards for tourists.

The biggest difference between the two Octopus cards is that the regular Octopus card requires a deposit, and there is also a children's version for sale, which allows you to get a half-price discount when taking designated transportation. The special edition Octopus card for tourists does not require a deposit, and only the adult version is sold. However, the special edition Octopus card for travelers has a different card surface design, so you can take it home as a souvenir after your journey.

If this is your first time traveling to Hong Kong, you may also consider purchasing a special edition Octopus card for tourists. This way you don't have to buy a new Octopus card again when you travel to Hong Kong next time.

Where can I buy an Octopus card?

If you also plan to buy an Octopus card, you can go to the customer service center of any subway station in Hong Kong or the automatic ticket vending machine at the Hong Kong Airport. In addition, you can buy an Octopus card at designated convenience stores and designated tourist information centers of the Tourism Development Bureau.

Ordinary Octopus card

Just go to the customer service center of any MTR station in Hong Kong and you can buy an Octopus card. The adult version is priced at HK$$200, which includes a deposit of HK$$50 and a stored value of HK$$150. The price of the kid's version is HK$$100, which includes a deposit of HK$$50 and a stored value of HK$$50.

If you decide that you will no longer use your Octopus card in the short term, and you want to return the regular Octopus card and get back the deposit and Octopus card balance, you can go through the procedures at the Customer Service Center of any MTR station before leaving Hong Kong. However, one thing to note is that if the regular Octopus card is returned within a short period of time, additional handling fees may be charged.

Octopus Card - Ordinary Rental Version
The regular Octopus card can be purchased at any subway station. (Click on image to enlarge)

Special edition Octopus card for travelers

The biggest difference between the special edition Octopus card for tourists and the ordinary Octopus card is the price and design of the special edition Octopus card for tourists.

The special edition Octopus card for tourists is priced at HK$$39, which only includes the cost of the Octopus card and does not include any stored value. In addition, special edition Octopus cards for tourists containing a stored value of HKD $50 are also sold in some designated stores, priced at HKD$89.

This special edition Octopus card for tourists can be booked at any 7-11 convenience store, Circle-K convenience store, Hong Kong Airport Express Airport Station, or on Klook in Hong Kong. No matter where you buy the special edition Octopus card for tourists, their selling price and stored value are the same.

However, you can also consider booking a special edition Octopus card for passengers on Klook before departure, so that you can pick it up at the counter at the Hong Kong Airport and start using it before taking the bus to the city of Hong Kong. And you don’t have to worry about running out of stock, and you need to spend extra time going to a few convenience stores to buy it. In addition, Klook also offers a combination package of Octopus card x Hong Kong Airport Express, which offers a little extra discount than purchasing separately.

Book an Octopus card: Special edition Octopus card for Hong Kong tourists (pick up at Hong Kong Airport)

Hong Kong Octopus Card-Purchase Method-ApplePay
The special edition Octopus card for travelers has a unique card surface, which is perfect for keeping as a souvenir. (Click on the image to learn more)

How to add value to Octopus card?

If the original stored value in the Octopus card is used up, which places should I go to to add value to the Octopus card?

It is very simple to add value to your Octopus card. You only need to go to the customer service center of any subway station, a self-service ticket vending machine, or you can use cash to add value to your Octopus card at any convenience store in Hong Kong. The minimum value-added amount is HKD $50, and the maximum value-added amount is HKD$3,000. You can decide how much value you need to add based on your daily consumption budget.

More Hong Kong Travel information: Hong Kong tourist attractions / Hong Kong Travel Preparation Checklist

Octopus card-value-added method-convenience store-automatic ticket vending machine
You can add value to your Octopus card at any convenience store or subway station customer service center. (Click on image to enlarge)

How to check the Octopus card balance?

Just like transportation cards used in other cities, you can check the latest balance every time you use your Octopus card to make a payment. In addition, you can also use the balance check kiosks located at subway stations, or use the official Octopus mobile APP to check how much money is left on the Octopus card anytime and anywhere.

Octopus card balance check machine
Octopus card balance check kiosks located at subway stations. (Click on image to enlarge)
Hong Kong Travel APP Recommended" suitable for free travel commonly used map traffic weather forecast mobile phone APP
You can check the latest balance using Octopus or the official mobile APP. (Click on image to enlarge)

How to return an Octopus card?

Should you return your Octopus card before leaving Hong Kong? If you have no plans to travel to Hong Kong again, you can go to any subway station to return the regular Octopus card and get back all the balance and deposit.

However, you should pay attention to the following points before returning your Octopus card:

Since the special edition Octopus card for tourists does not charge any deposit, even if the Octopus card is returned to the subway station, there is no deposit to get back. In addition, additional handling fees may be charged for regular Octopus cards within a short period of time. If you will use your Octopus card again within 3 years, or add value to your Octopus card, you can extend the validity of your Octopus card for another 3 years so that you can use it when you come to Hong Kong again.

How to add Octopus card to Apple Pay?

In addition to purchasing a physical Octopus card, you can also use the Octopus mobile APP to purchase a brand new Octopus card on your iPhone. The advantage is that you can check the latest balance of your Octopus card at any time, and you can use your credit card to add value to your Octopus card at any time. Even if your Octopus card does not have enough balance while taking a bus or tram, you can immediately add value to your Octopus card and continue to the next attraction.

Use the Octopus Mobile APP to add a new Octopus card

As long as you open the Octopus Card mobile APP and click Add Octopus Card, you can use Apple Pay to pay and purchase a new Octopus card. You can choose to pay with a credit card, and the entire process can be completed before departing for Hong Kong!

Use your iPhone to buy a new Octopus card.

How to add value to Octopus card on Apple Pay?

If you find that your Octopus card does not have enough balance during your trip, in addition to rushing to the convenience store immediately to add value to the Octopus card, you can also use the credit card in iPhone Apple Pay to add value to the Octopus card, which is very convenient.

When using a mobile phone to add value to an Octopus card, the minimum recharge amount is HKD $100, which is basically enough for you to take any transportation and buy a lunch at most fast food restaurants.

Of course, you can also choose to add value to the Octopus card on your iPhone at convenience stores or subway station customer service centers. However, since it takes time to queue up, I usually use the credit card in Apple Pay to add value to the Octopus card, which is more convenient.

Add value to your Octopus card with iPhone Apple Pay.

What are the benefits of adding Octopus card to Apple Pay?

Since the physical Octopus card has the same functions as the iPhone Octopus card, why should the Octopus card be added to Apple Pay?

The reason is very simple. With your Octopus card on your iPhone, you can check the latest balance, past transaction records, and add value to your Octopus card anytime and anywhere. In addition to these advantages, you can also set a special card face for the iPhone version of the Octopus card and receive the latest Octopus card offers.

For example, take the welcome offer of the Octopus card as an example. As long as you purchase a new Octopus card in the iPhone Octopus APP and reach the specified consumption amount, you can get additional cash rewards. For those of you who use an iPhone and have never purchased an Octopus card, you must take some time to pay attention to the Octopus card website and check out the latest Octopus card offers.

Octopus Card-Apple Pay
Using the iPhone version of the Octopus card is much more convenient than the physical Octopus card. (Click on image to enlarge)
Octopus Card-Apple Pay Offers
The Octopus Company often launches different types of welcome offers. (Click on image to enlarge)

Summarize

If you are preparing to travel to Hong Kong but have not yet purchased an Octopus card, whether it is a physical Octopus card or an iPhone Octopus card, we strongly recommend that you purchase one in advance. Because based on our daily life experience in Hong Kong, we can tell you with certainty: You can not use cash in Hong Kong, but it is absolutely impossible not to use an Octopus card. This card can definitely make your entire trip and even your daily life more convenient. If you don’t want to spend time queuing or carrying a large amount of banknotes and coins, an Octopus card is a must-have for you before traveling.

In addition, we have also prepared more practical articles related to Hong Kong travel for you, including attractions in different regions, itinerary recommendations, ticket discounts, and hotel discounts. as long as you openHong Kong Travel Information ClassificationYou can find more!

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