Why go
Central and Wan Chai ferry departures connect a Hong Kong Island outing with Tsim Sha Tsui’s waterfront. Rail serves a wider range of Kowloon destinations, while Airport Express arrives at Kowloon station in the southwest. Those arrival points suit different onward journeys, so locate your destination before choosing the crossing.
The full story
Victoria Harbour creates a real planning choice between a journey across the water and a crossing below it. The Star Ferry from Central or Wan Chai makes the harbour part of the outing, with the two urban shorelines framing the approach to Kowloon. A ferry arrival works particularly well when the next visit is on Tsim Sha Tsui’s waterfront. Rail changes the emphasis from the view to the destination. Kowloon contains several distinct neighbourhoods, and an arrival at one station does not place you equally close to all of them. Airport Express serves Kowloon station in the southwest, so its name should not be mistaken for a stop at every principal visitor area. Road journeys offer another choice. Buses can serve intermediate stops near accommodation, while a cross-harbour taxi journey is affected by road traffic. Compare the complete journey, including the final connection, rather than selecting transport solely by the name Kowloon.
Useful to know
- Use the Star Ferry for a crossing that joins Hong Kong Island with the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront.
- Check the current rail map for the Kowloon neighbourhood you need, especially when arriving at Kowloon station.
- Compare the airport train and bus stops against your accommodation’s location before choosing a transfer.