What time does the MTR close in Hong Kong?

What time does the MTR close in Hong Kong? ?

• What time does the metro close in Hong Kong? What about the airport line? My flight will be arrive in HK around 11pm..how late does the airport line run until? And what about the regular MTR? I need to go to Monkok.. will I be able to? What are my other options if not? Thanks

• Answer:

  What a good question! The last airport express runs at 12:45 AM. Even if your plane is on time (it probably will be), you are going to be really pressed for time, considering that you'll need to collect your luggage, get through immigration, withdraw Hong Kong Dollars from an ATM, purchase fare (an Octopus card from customer service or get proper change for single fare) and get to the train before the doors close. Here is the web site for the airport express: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/airport_express/timetable_index.html so that you can double check the times and verify for yourself. The other question, though, is whether airport express is the best way to get to Mong Kok. First of all, it's not cheap. I'm guessing that for 200 HKD (300 max) you could take a cab. Compare this to what you pay for airport express service. The airport express will cost 100 HKD, but it doesn't get you to Mong Kok, so you'll have to pay more to get to your destination. So you're only saving 100 HKD . At today's exchange rate, that's $12.90 U.S. (see universal currency converter, http://www.xe.com/ucc/ ). The money to take a cab could be money well spent, if you are exhausted and jet lagged and don't already know Hong Kong like the back of your hand. When I'm that tired and jet lagged, I need something brainless, so I would opt for either a hotel shuttle or a taxi. I personally think a hotel shuttle would be the best option. They know you're coming, they pick you up, they take you right where you need to go. And they're usually about 100 HKD. You should ask them. Even if your hotel doesn't offer a shuttle, assume they get people to and from the airport all the time, so they will know what transportation options are available. There's probably a bus running to Mong Kok as well, and the hotel will know the connection. (If you opt for a bus, you should get your hotel to fax or email you the information written in Chinese, so that you can show this to people at the airport and ask for directions to your bus stop.) The other issue is that I think the last MTR itself also stops around 1 AM. I don't really want to trust my memory, and I don't see that information on the web site, but if you were to rely on airport express, there's a chance you could get the airport express to point A and still not be able to get to point B where you want to be. I assume but I'm not sure that the airport express stops at some point where you can transfer to another line. If you really want to take the MTR, look at this map: http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/train/system_map_pop_up.html to see if you can sort out the stops. If you do decide on taking the MTR to Mong Kok, I suggest that you call the MTR customer service and ask them to advise you. Suppose you pay a few bucks for the phone call, it might save you a lot of time and headache. From a U.S. phone, you would dial 011-852-2881-8888. This will take you to their customer service hotline. Alternately, why are you staying in Mong Kok? If you were to stay in Central or Causeway Bay, you could just ride the Airport Express all the way down to Central, then take a taxi to your hotel. Worst case scenario, take a bus to Mong Kok or take a cab the whole way. Even if it is 300 HKD, you'll be very tired and a taxi would take you right to the door of your hotel. The tradeoff could be that you take a regular bus back to the airport at the end of your stay (about 30 HKD, when you are fresh and your hotel concierge can help you find the best route) instead of spending the return fare for the airport express (80 - 100 HKD).