All buses and taxis take cash, but if you are going 'taxi free' then getting an Octopus Card is the way forward. It can be used on buses, minibuses and the MTR (as well as 7-Eleven Stores and Circle K to where they can also be charged).
Taxis
The ones you will most likely come across are the red ones: they operate in the most central areas (both Kowloon and Island) although sometimes you will find the odd one that only wants to go back across the harbour. The are cheap (flag fall currently starts at 22HKD) and will get you to most out of the way places. Most drivers have at least some English and understand the non Cantonese road names.
Uber also has a presence in Hong Kong and some taxis are on the service but most choose to use the Alibaba version which currently requires good Chinese. For now, Uber is about the UberBlack option.
Buses
The bus network is very comprehensive, fast, comfortable and frequent across Hong Kong. They go to most places. All take Octopus cards or small change (although you may have to pay a rounded up fare) and have announcements and signs in the bus that tell you the next stop. In the newer ones that extends to a linear route map to make life even easier. All stops can be requested, make sure to hit the button in advance.
City Bus has a website into which you can put route numbers etc and see the route maps and fares. They also have apps that can be downloaded to your phone.
Mini Buses
MTR
Ferries
It is hard not to notice the boats and ferries bobbing about in Victoria Harbour and further afield. All the islands are well connected by fast and efficient ferries and often, with each other or between places on the larger islands (Lamma).
Timetables can change, prices are marginally higher at the weekends and frequencies can change. Holidays can bring busy ferries.
A number of companies operate services:
- Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Holdings (Lamma, Peng Chau, Hai Ling Chau)
- New World First Ferry (Cheng Chau, Mui Wo, Inter Islands, Cross Harbour)
- The Star Ferry (Central and Wan Chai to Kowloon)