Hong Kong International Airport Insider Guide

Destination airport

Don't rush out. HKG is worth staying inside for.

Some of the best is airside, and much of it is free. No visa needed.

UA IMAX Theatre Paid

Watch a film on one of the region's largest screens, stretching roughly 64 feet wide near Terminal 2.

Aviation Discovery Centre & SkyDeck Paid

Explore aviation exhibits, a cockpit simulator and the open-air SkyDeck with sweeping views over the runways.

SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course Paid

Play a scenic nine-hole course beside the airport with views across the water to Lantau Island.

Green LiveAir Golf Simulator Paid

Try virtual 9 and 18-hole rounds on a multimedia golf simulator, an easy indoor way to pass time.

Traveler tips

Been through HKG? Be the first to drop a tip.

One line that would've helped you - no signup needed.

At the airport

Tap any tile for what travelers know.

MyLayover editors

What we'd tell a friend

Hong Kong International Airport occupies the reclaimed island of Chek Lap Kok off Lantau, west of the city. One of Asia’s busiest passenger and cargo hubs and home base for Cathay Pacific, it is a slick, spacious airport with enough on-site entertainment to fill a genuine layover, from big-screen cinema to golf by the sea.

Getting to the city

The Airport Express is the fastest link, whisking you to Hong Kong Station in the central business district in about 24 minutes, with stops at Tsing Yi and Kowloon along the way. Trains run frequently from early morning to around midnight. Buses and taxis are also available and reach Kowloon and Hong Kong Island in roughly 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.

Inside the terminal

The airport is home to the UA IMAX Theatre, with one of the largest screens in the region. At the Aviation Discovery Centre you can browse aviation exhibits, try a cockpit simulator and step onto the open-air SkyDeck for panoramic runway views. Golfers can play the nine-hole SkyCity Nine Eagles course beside the airport or take a few swings on the Green LiveAir simulator, with plenty of dining and shopping in between.

Layovers and connections

Hong Kong is an efficient transfer airport, but to leave and see the city, allow at least five to six hours once immigration and the Airport Express are accounted for. Many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry, so check your status before planning a trip out. For shorter waits, the in-terminal attractions keep things lively.

Use the tools above to check whether your layover is long enough to leave, and how the transit, immigration, and security timings add up for HKG.