Landed late at HKG? Night bus, taxi or wait for the train
Updated
The Airport Express doesn't run all night. Once the last train and the last daytime Cityflyer buses (A21, A11…) have gone, the N and NA night buses from the Ground Transportation Centre are the cheap way into Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. This page helps you decide; the door-to-door steps are on each destination's guide.
The short answer
| Going to | After midnight | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan Road, TST, Mong Kok | Night buses into Kowloon (such as the NA21 or N23): check tonight's plan | Airport → Tsim Sha Tsui · Airport → Mong Kok |
| Central, Admiralty | The Island's night buses (such as the N11) | Airport → Central |
| Causeway Bay, Wan Chai | An Island night bus, sometimes with a change: run the planner | Airport → Causeway Bay · Airport → Wan Chai |
| Heavy luggage, or three or four of you | A taxi can beat a long night-bus ride | Compare the fare in the planner first |
Rule of thumb: if immigration and bags put you past the last Airport Express, don't wait for the morning train: open your destination's guide (its "After midnight" part) or set the planner to 1:00 am.
What runs at 1 am on a weekday
Planned from the official timetables for the coming weekday, as on our route guides:
- NA21 → N241 · 52 min · 1 change · adult Octopus HK$49.7
- N23 · 87 min · no changes · adult Octopus HK$23.8
- NA21 · 40 min · no changes · adult Octopus HK$39.3
- NA21 → N368 · 72 min · 1 change · adult Octopus HK$57.4
- N11 · 104 min · no changes · adult Octopus HK$32.1
Your landing night can differ: check the guide or the planner for your time.
Night bus, Airport Express or taxi?
- Before the last Airport Express? The train is faster and more predictable: see Airport Express vs A21 / A22.
- The A21 or A11 still running? A daytime Cityflyer can still beat a night bus to Nathan Road or Island hotels: the same guides show it.
- After the last train and the last A-bus? Take the night bus for your part of town, or a taxi if time or luggage matters more.
- Pay with Octopus (or the app): finding exact change at 2 am is no fun. Which Octopus to get.
Where to catch them
The same place as the daytime Cityflyer buses: the Ground Transportation Centre, outside arrivals (follow the bus signs). Check the board for N and NA route numbers, and read the destination on the front before you board.
Good to know
- Night buses come less often than the daytime A-routes: miss one and you wait.
- The numbers look alike (N21, NA21, N23): match the number on the board to the one the planner gives you.
- Franchised buses, night routes included, are low-floor with a ramp; if you need step-free, turn on step-free routes in the planner's Settings.
Is there a bus from Hong Kong Airport after midnight?
Yes. N and NA night buses leave the Ground Transportation Centre after the last Airport Express. Pick by where you're going on the airport route guides.
N21 or NA21?
They're different routes with similar numbers. Take the exact number the planner gives for your time.
How much is the night bus to Tsim Sha Tsui?
At 1 am on a weekday, from about HK$23.8 to about HK$49.7 adult Octopus, depending on the bus. Today's figures: Airport → Tsim Sha Tsui.
Should I just take a taxi?
For three or four people with big luggage, often yes. For one traveller to Nathan Road, the night bus usually wins on price: compare in the planner.
How this guide is made
Fares and the night-bus examples are worked out today from the Transport Department's and MTR's open data on DATA.GOV.HK, as in our planner; Octopus product details follow Octopus Cards Limited's tourist pages, which are the final word. The advice is ours.