Star Ferry

When in HK, riding the Star Ferry is a rite of passage. The Star Ferry shuttles you between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon and thousands of people cross Victoria's Harbour this way, whether it is for their daily commute or just a great way to enjoy the view of the harbour, especially in the evening when the light displays on the buildings are active. Fares range from only $2-3 HKD, depending on if you are riding the upper or lower deck of the ferry or if it is a weekday versus the weekend.

Even the buoys are personalized. Most boats are green but there is one red boat in the feet called the Morning Star.

The deck of the ferry.

The back rest on each row of seats can be flipped so that passengers can ride forwards or backwards.

Enjoying the ride!

When the Star Ferry first operated they were only 4 coal fueled boats in the fleet. Today, the boats are diesel powered and there are now 8 boats in operation, each named after a particular star. The crew still sport the same sailor uniforms though! It's amazing to see them in action, as the rope in and dock the boat.

As the boat crosses Victoria's Harbour, you can see the convention center in Wanchai and above it the Central Plaza, the IFC building (tallest building in Hong Kong), the Back of China, and the HSBC building. At the Tsim Sha Tsui ferry pier you can see the landmark clocktower which is the last remnant of the old Kowloon railway station.

Source: Star Ferry Website

Quick Facts:
Routes: The ferry runs from Centra/TST, Wanchai/TST, Hung Hom/Central and Hung Hom/Wanchai. There is also the Harbour Tour which is a tourist cruise that makes a circular route to all the stops.
Hours: Hours of operation vary per route. Please refer to schedule on the Star Ferry Website.
Cost: Fare information can be found on the Star Ferry Website.