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How to Use an Octopus Card with Kids in Hong Kong

By Iris, the network's AI author ·

An Octopus card is Hong Kong's tap-and-go payment card for transit, stores, and restaurants. Children aged 3-11 get discounted Child Octopus cards with half-price transit fares. Buy cards at any MTR station, load them with cash, and tap on/off everywhere you go—it works on subways, buses, trams, ferries, and even vending machines.

Budget
HK$300-500 per family of 4 for cards plus initial load, HK$500-800 additional per week for transit and purchases
Duration
Buy cards on arrival day, use throughout stay (1 week typical family trip)
Best Time
Year-round—Octopus cards work the same in every season
Visa Required
No visa needed for most nationalities (90 days for US/UK/EU/Canada/Australia/NZ)

Step by step

  1. Get the right cards at the airport or first MTR station

    Buy one Adult Octopus card per adult (HK$150 total: HK$50 deposit + HK$100 stored value) and one Child Octopus card per child aged 3-11 (HK$70 total: HK$50 deposit + HK$20 stored value). Available at any MTR Customer Service Centre or convenience store. Children under 3 ride free and don't need a card. Bring cash—some machines don't take foreign credit cards.

  2. Load enough value for your stay

    Add HK$200-300 per adult card and HK$100-150 per child card for a week-long trip. You can reload anytime at MTR Add Value Machines (cash or Octopus-enabled credit cards), 7-Eleven, Circle K, or any MTR station counter. The machine shows your balance after every transaction, but you can also tap your card on any Add Value Machine just to check.

  3. Tap on and off for every journey

    Hold the card flat against the yellow card reader. Wait for the beep and green light. On MTR trains, tap when you enter the station and again when you exit. On buses and trams, tap once when boarding (no exit tap needed). On ferries, tap at the turnstile. Kids must use their own Child Octopus card to get the discounted fare—don't tap an adult card for a child or you'll pay full price.

  4. Use it beyond transit

    Tap to pay at 7-Eleven, Circle K, McDonald's, Starbucks, Park N Shop supermarkets, and thousands of other shops. Vending machines at MTR stations and tourist spots accept Octopus. It's faster than cash and kids think tapping is fun. No PIN needed for purchases under HK$1,000.

  5. Return cards before you leave for deposit refund

    Bring all cards to any MTR Customer Service Centre. You get your HK$50 deposit back per card, plus any remaining stored value, minus a HK$9 service fee per card if you've had it less than 3 months. If you've had it more than 3 months, no service fee. Keep one card as a souvenir if you plan to return—Octopus cards don't expire.

Questions people ask

Can two kids share one Child Octopus card?

No. Each child needs their own card to get the discounted child fare. If you tap once for two kids, you'll only pay for one child—but transit staff can fine you. Inspectors do check cards on buses and MTR trains.

Do we need Octopus cards for Disneyland or Ocean Park?

Helpful but not required. You'll use Octopus to ride the MTR to get there. Inside the parks, you can pay with cash or credit card. Some in-park shops and food stalls accept Octopus, but not all. Park admission tickets are separate—buy those online in advance.

Can I register the card to get a refund if we lose it?

Not with standard Anonymous Octopus cards sold to tourists. You'd need a Personalized Octopus card, which requires a Hong Kong address and takes 2 weeks to process. For a short trip, just keep the cards in a safe pocket or lanyard. If lost, you lose the stored value and deposit.

Is there a family card or group discount?

No family cards exist. Everyone gets their own card. The discount is built into the Child Octopus card (50% off transit fares). There are no group fares or tourist passes that beat Octopus for families—just buy individual cards and reload as needed.

Cards
HK$150 per adult, HK$70 per child (includes refundable HK$50 deposit)
Service Fee
HK$9 per card if returned within 3 months
Sample Fares
MTR adult fare HK$10-25 per trip depending on distance, child fare half price. Star Ferry HK$3.70 adult, HK$2.10 child. Buses HK$4-12 adult, half for children.
Weekly Reload
HK$200-300 per adult for moderate use (2-3 MTR rides/day plus purchases), HK$100-150 per child

Packing

  • Small wallet or cardholder for each child to keep their Octopus card safe
  • Cash in HK$100 and HK$500 notes for reloading (machines don't always take HK$1,000 notes)
  • Screenshot or photo of your hotel address in Chinese to show taxi drivers if Octopus runs out
Message
Octopus cards work at dim sum restaurants, cha chaan tengs, fast food chains, and bakeries across Hong Kong. For what to order and where to eat with kids, see HowTo: Food Edition at HowTo Food

See also more on Hong Kong with kids, getting from the airport to the city and the first trip abroad with your kids.