20 Essential Apps for your Hong Kong Trip
Get the best out of your time in Hong Kong with our latest 2020 list for free apps covering maps & transport, dining, attractions, weather, and more.
Transport & Maps
App covers all transport services including MTR, bus, ferry, tram, LRT, and even walking routes. It also features journey times and fares. A vital feature is real-time traffic news with classification by incident nature, such as road incidents, heavy traffic, rail incidents, etc. and alerts on special traffic arrangements and major road works are sent to users prior to the implementation dates.
It’s a free app that uses Google Maps and Apple Maps and for Hong Kong, it provides route planning for all services including journey times and fares.
“MyMapHK” is an “All-in-One” mobile map app, with journey planning, maps of old Hong Kong, hiking trail selector, latest info on traffic and more. It uses the official maps published by the Lands Department. I had trouble with app crashing continually, perhaps just my phone, maybe you’ll have more luck as it seems to be a worthwhile app.
Hong Kong MTR has its own app which is quite good. Offering journey planning by simply clicking the attraction. It has station info, facilities, and station maps which others don’t. It also offers info on attractions. A key feature is news on train delays and station closures.
PokeGuide takes using the MTR to a new level offering augmented reality to guide you to the perfect station exit for your destination along with train services. This may not sound like a big deal but in Hong Kong taking the wrong exit can be a really painful and tiring experience.
The app from Hong Kong Airport Authority some of its features include flight times, gate status, boarding time etc, plus airport floor plan with wayfinding, and info on transport to and from the airport.
Uber operates in Hong Kong.
Local taxi hailing app.
Traffic info
Provides the latest traffic information of Hong Kong. Including a forum for users to exchange first-hand traffic news and real-time traffic snapshots, special traffic news, speed map panels, journey time indicator, etc from the Hong Kong Transport Department.
Hiking and Walking route apps
The app showcases various hiking trails in Hong Kong. You can select a suitable route with reference to your interest, physical fitness, and experience to enjoy hiking in the countryside of Hong Kong.
Trailwatch is a local hiking app where users can share trails and help by reporting any trail/environment damage.
App and website provide detailed guides to hiking routes around Hong Kong and the app also works offline for hikes that you tag.
Restaurants and Cafes
Open Rice is the must-have app for following locals and their rankings of the top places to eat in Hong Kong. It can be used on the desktop, browser and by app.
The app gives you the locations and opening times of Hong Kong’s new food trucks which generally locate around major attraction areas offering local and international snacks.
Restaurant booking app offering discounts of 10-50%.
Attractions
If you are going there then its a must. Featuring map, notifications on showtimes, character appearances, ride wait times, location and restaurant info/booking and more.
The ‘A Symphony of Lights’ app adds audio effects to the show and info about the iconic buildings participating in the show.
WiFi Location
Wi-Fi.HK
Easily locate all the free Wi-Fi hotspots across HK.
Activities, Shopping & Entertainment
Klook is not HK based but does offer a large range of attractions and discounts in HK including Disneyland, Sky100, Ocean Park, the Peak Tram, and Airport Express.
QPoint
QPoint app comes from Quality Tourism Services Association (QTSA) of the HK Gov and provides city-wide shopping and dining deals from accredited stores/restaurants.
A local Hong Kong app enabling you to browse and book 20,000 beauty treatments at over 1300+ of Hong Kong’s spas & salons.
Other
The Water for Free app and website shows the locations of public water fountains and dispensers throughout Hong Kong. It is an effort to reduce the vast amounts of single-use beverage containers entering landfills and oceans every day.
Weather info from the Hong Kong Observatory.
Air quality and pollution reports from the Environmental Protection Department.
Toilet Rush is the ultimate toilet guide for Hong Kong that can always let you know toilets nearby, with facilities and comments!
