Your First 24 Hours in Hong Kong as a New Expat

You have landed. The plane doors open and the jet bridge funnels you into one of the busiest airports in Asia. Everything you need to do in the next 24 hours will set the tone for your entire move. This is not a sightseeing itinerary. It is a practical, hour-by-hour checklist for getting yourself connected, mobile, fed, and ready to function in a city that moves fast and does not wait for newcomers to figure things out. For a detailed comparison of the two sides, see our Hong Kong Island vs Kowloon guide.

Hour Zero: Touching Down at HKIA

Hong Kong International Airport processes arrivals around the clock, and immigration is faster than most new arrivals expect. As of late 2024, Hong Kong permanently eliminated all arrival and departure card requirements. You no longer need to fill out any paper forms on the plane or at the immigration counter.

If you hold a biometric passport (the kind with the small chip symbol on the cover), you can use the e-Channel automated gates. The minimum age is seven, and the system reads your passport chip and photograph in seconds. First-time users may need to register at a side counter before their initial scan, but subsequent visits are tap-and-go.

For everyone else, the staffed immigration counters are the route. Processing typically takes 45 to 60 minutes from the moment you leave the aircraft, though peak evening hours and public holidays can stretch that. Have your passport and visa label ready.

Once through immigration and baggage claim, skip the currency exchange booths in the arrivals hall. The rates are consistently poor. Any HSBC, Hang Seng, or Standard Chartered ATM in the terminal will give you a better rate, and you will find several between the exits and the Airport Express station.

Get Connected: Buying a Local SIM Card

Your overseas data roaming will work in a pinch, but it will cost you. The first task after clearing customs is getting a local SIM card or eSIM activated.

The most popular option for new arrivals is the CSL Discover Hong Kong Tourist SIM, available at the 1010 shop in the arrivals hall (Level 5) and at any 7-Eleven or Circle K in the terminal. The 12 GB plan covers 10 days for HK$88 (roughly US$11), while the 30-day plan offers 32 GB for HK$118 (roughly US$15). Both include unlimited local calls and data coverage in Macau.

Budget-conscious arrivals can also find prepaid data SIMs for as little as HK$30 for 50 GB at convenience stores, a deal that gets shared constantly on Chinese social media. If your phone supports eSIM, you can skip the physical card entirely and activate a digital plan before you even board your flight using providers like Holafly or Airalo.

One practical tip: get a plan that includes a local phone number, not just data. You will need a Hong Kong mobile number for app registrations (WhatsApp, AlipayHK, PayMe) and for booking your HKID appointment later. If this is your first trip across the border, check our complete first-time China preparation guide for visa, payment, and app setup details.

Your First Octopus Card

The Octopus card is not optional. It is the single most important piece of plastic you will carry in Hong Kong. This contactless stored-value card works on every MTR train, every bus, every ferry, every tram, and at thousands of retail outlets including 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wellcome, ParknShop, McDonald’s, and Starbucks.

You can pick one up at the MTR Customer Service Centre inside the Airport Express station or at any 7-Eleven in the terminal. The standard Adult Octopus costs HK$50 as a refundable deposit plus whatever stored value you load on top. We recommend starting with HK$150 to cover your first few days of transport and small purchases.

If you prefer going fully digital, download the Octopus App from the App Store or Google Play and set up a mobile Octopus on your phone. iPhone users with Apple Pay and Android users with NFC-enabled devices can tap their phone at readers instead of carrying the physical card.

For those who plan to cross into Shenzhen or Macau regularly, consider the Tourist Octopus China T-Union card, which is accepted on public transport in Macau and across 336 cities in mainland China. The card also works at vending machines, parking meters, and even some wet markets. Think of it less as a transport card and more as a second wallet that happens to get you on the train.

Getting into the City: Transport from the Airport

You have four main options for getting from HKIA to wherever you are sleeping tonight. Each has trade-offs.

The Airport Express is the fastest. The train takes 24 minutes to reach Hong Kong Station in Central, with stops at Tsing Yi (HK$80) and Kowloon (HK$115). A single ticket to Hong Kong Station costs HK$130. You can check the latest Airport Express fares on the MTR website. If you are travelling with a partner or family, the group ticket brings the per-person cost down to as little as HK$42.50. Trains run from 5:50 a.m. to 12:48 a.m., roughly every 10 minutes. From Hong Kong Station or Kowloon Station, free shuttle buses fan out to major hotels and residential areas. You can pay with your new Octopus card. For a full breakdown of the MTR network, our complete MTR guide covers every line, fare trick, and peak-hour tip.

Airport buses (routes prefixed with “A” or “E”) are the cheapest way into town. The A11 to Central costs around HK$40 and runs 24 hours. The trade-off is time: expect 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic and your stop.

Taxis are available 24/7 outside the arrivals hall. A red urban taxi and ride-hailing options to Hong Kong Island runs approximately HK$300 to HK$400 including tolls and luggage surcharges. For Kowloon destinations, expect HK$250 to HK$350. Taxis accept cash and Octopus. For a deeper look at fares and apps, see our taxi guide.

Private car services booked through Klook or KKday can be pre-arranged and typically cost HK$300 to HK$500 for a sedan, which makes sense for groups of three or more splitting the fare.

Checking into Your First Night

Unless you have already signed a lease (unlikely before landing), you will need temporary accommodation for at least your first few weeks. Serviced apartments are the most popular choice among new expats because they offer flexible leases starting at one month, include furnishings, and handle utilities and Wi-Fi.

Hotels work for the first few nights while you decompress, but they burn through your relocation budget quickly. A mid-range hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui or Wan Chai runs HK$800 to HK$1,500 per night. Serviced apartments in the same areas cost HK$15,000 to HK$25,000 per month, which works out to roughly HK$500 to HK$830 per night with far more space.

Wondering how Hong Kong stacks up against Singapore for your posting? Our Hong Kong vs Singapore cost of living comparison covers rent, tax, and everyday expenses to help you plan your budget.

We strongly recommend not committing to a long-term lease in your first week. Spend your initial two to four weeks in a co-living space or serviced apartment while you explore different neighbourhoods. The district that looks perfect on Google Maps may feel completely different at street level during rush hour.

Your First Meal and Grocery Run

It is probably evening by now, and you are hungry. Welcome to one of the great eating cities on earth.

If you want the most authentically Hong Kong experience on your first night, walk into any cha chaan teng (tea restaurant) you see. These no-frills diners are everywhere, open late, and serve a bewildering mix of Cantonese and Western-influenced comfort food. Expect to pay HK$50 to HK$80 for a set meal that includes a main dish, a drink, and sometimes soup. Point at the picture menu if the Chinese characters defeat you. Nobody will judge you.

For a quicker option, 7-Eleven and Circle K convenience stores stock surprisingly decent ready meals, onigiri, sandwiches, and hot snacks at the counter. You can pay with your Octopus card.

If you need to stock your temporary kitchen, the two main supermarket chains are Wellcome and ParknShop, both open until 10 p.m. or later in most locations. Don Don Donki (the Japanese discount store) stays open until midnight or later and carries everything from fresh sashimi to household essentials. Your Octopus card works at all of them.

Apps to Download Before You Sleep

Before jet lag pulls you under, spend 30 minutes setting up these apps. They will make tomorrow dramatically easier.

For transport, MTR Mobile gives you route planning, real-time service updates, and fare calculations. Google Maps handles walking directions and bus connections. Citymapper is a strong alternative that combines multiple transit modes into one view.

For payments, the Octopus App lets you check your card balance and top up digitally. AlipayHK is the dominant e-wallet in Hong Kong with a 42 percent market share, accepted at over 100,000 merchants. PayMe by HSBC is the go-to app for peer-to-peer transfers and splitting bills with new colleagues and neighbours.

For communication, WhatsApp is the default messaging app in Hong Kong, used by everyone from your landlord to your gym. Download Google Translate for the camera translation feature, which lets you point your phone at Chinese menus and street signs for instant English. If you are coming from mainland China or plan to cross the border into Shenzhen regularly, keep WeChat installed and set up WeChat Pay, which is accepted at most shops across the border.

For food and dining, OpenRice is Hong Kong’s dominant restaurant discovery and booking platform, essentially the local Yelp with far better coverage.

Surviving Jet Lag: Your First Night

If you have flown from Europe or North America, your body clock is telling you it is the middle of the day. Resist the urge to power through.

Set your phone to Hong Kong time (GMT+8) immediately after landing if it has not updated automatically. Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m. Hong Kong time, even if you arrived in the morning and feel fine. The crash will hit at the wrong moment. If you use melatonin, take a low dose (0.5 to 1 mg) about 30 minutes before your target Hong Kong bedtime. Keep the room as dark as possible, since Hong Kong’s neon signage can flood through thin hotel curtains. A sleep mask is worth packing.

Most new arrivals find it takes three to five days to fully adjust. Do not schedule anything critical for your first morning. If you wake up at 4 a.m. unable to sleep, use the time to explore your neighbourhood on foot. Early morning Hong Kong is surprisingly peaceful, and the dai pai dong stalls and market vendors setting up for the day will give you a side of the city most tourists never see.

Day 2 and Beyond: What to Tackle Next

You survived your first 24 hours. The hard logistics come next, but none of them are urgent enough to ruin your first night.

Your top priority on Day 2 is booking your HKID appointment. Hong Kong law requires anyone staying longer than 180 days to register for an identity card within 30 days of arrival. Registration is free, and you can book an appointment online up to 96 working days in advance. Processing takes about five working days.

Opening a bank account comes next. HSBC and Standard Chartered are the most expat-friendly options, with English-language service and branches across the city. Bring your passport, visa, proof of address (your serviced apartment agreement works), and an employment contract if you have one.

After that, the search for a permanent flat begins. Our guides to finding a rental, rental apps and websites, and setting up utilities cover every step from browsing listings to signing the provisional agreement.

First 24 Hours Checklist