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5 Essential Tips for First-Time Travelers to Hong Kong (Based on My Internship Experiences)

By szymon skrzypczyk · Published on August 18, 2025 · 3 min read (573 words)

A bit of backstory

So a couple months ago I found myself in an interesting situation - I got a possibility of going for an internship to Hong Kong owing to a student's organisation that I'm proudly part of - IAESTE. I actually did not expect that to happen - sure I'd applied for it and filled out a couple documents, but forgot about the fact 5 seconds later... until I got a word that I got accepted and had to start planning the trip, which was greatly facilitated thanks to my friends. So here're my 5 tips for you in case you find yourself in such situation :)

Get vaccinated

I’m putting this tip first because I personally believe it’s better to be safe than sorry. For me, getting vaccinated feels like the right choice, though I realize it’s not the same for everyone. In some cases—like if you’re only spending a short time in Hong Kong/region—the cost or practicality of certain vaccinations might not make sense. But in most other situations, I see it as a smart precaution.

Get octopus card as soon as possible

Octopus card is a convenience card that can be used as a payment method in most of Hong Kong, it can be bought in most grocery stores(e.g. 7-ELEVEn or Circle K). It's primary function is to be used for means of transportation - it is the most convenient option, but it's not a must(yet it's worth the investment, as it'll be a cool souvenir). Pro tip - don't use Octopus Tourist app, although it really facilitates the whole process, the provision(at least for euro exchange) is quite high. Speaking of the money...

Bring cash

Cash is the way to go in Hong Kong, at some point you will need to use it, either to buy a souvenir at Temple Street Night Market or to top up your Octopus(it can be done for example in 7-ELEVEn). I learnt that truth the hard way - I didn't take enough and after 2 weeks I had to improvise with my cash sources ;D. Pro tip - bring already exchanged Hong Kong dollars or wait and exchange them once you get to town, it might be more beneficial :).

Bring your credit card

It might be the most obvious one, but since I didn't take mine, I will still include it. You will need it to take out money from ATMs or just generally to pay for the stuff you buy/eat. I was so use to cashless payments that I got my credit card blocked, don't follow my example ;).

Do not waste your time at the airport

This one is purely based on my personal experience, but in my opinion Hong Kong's airport is one of the best organised airport I've seen, if not the best. Getting through safety is quick and painless(apart from obvious conditions) and staff is really helpful, which further helps with getting around the airport. The only thing that can be slightly problematic is going to another terminal - you have to take an internal train, but it also should not take too much of your time, instead enjoy the city more!

Conclusion

I really hope that these 5 tips are helpful for anyone that happens to travel to Hong Kong and feels underwhelmed, also it's been my first ever blog post, so I hope that you enjoyed it too. See ya!