Victoria Peak from Tsim Sha Tsui

The Tsim Sha Tsui district, usually known as TST, on the southern tip of the Kowloon peninsula is one of the hubs of the city, for locals as much as visitors to Hong Kong. With strong transport links to the rest of Kowloon, and access to the busy waterway of Victoria Harbour it is as much  a place to go through as to visit.

There are no shortage of attractions within TST for the visitor, from the iconic Star Ferry pier, the historic Clock Tower through to the green lung of Kowloon Park. Many visitors to Hong Kong end up staying in TST or Tsim Sha Tsui East, where many local as well as name-brand hotels are located.

With the lure of the shoppers paradise and the "Golden Mile" of Nathan Road still very apparent the area attracts both tourists and those providing facilities for tourists. Mixed together with these are a large sprinkling of the ethnic minorities of Hong Kong, particularly those from the Indian sub-continent, and so TST is the place to go if an authentic curry is more to your liking than Cantonese cuisine.

From the TST promenade along the harbour coast it is possible to see Victoria Peak rising above the city on Hong Kong island. From some angles you can see the Peak Tower, and from most points you can see the summit at Mount Austin itself as it is festooned with radio towers.

So whether  you have been staying in a hotel in TST, or been visting Nathan Road for a Curry, buying outlet clothes in Granville Road, visiting the Hong Kong History Museum or simply wandering around the city streets people watching you may need to get from Tsim Sha Tsui to Victoria Peak

In a city like Hong Kong with an extensive public transport network there are of course several different ways of approaching the trip, and which option you take may depend on your preferences in regards to the time, the budget and the views you would like to have. And if you get seasick very easily then sadly the first option may be ruled out for you.  Also avoid Taxis, as the taxi drivers from Kowloon are reluctant to cross the harbour to Hong Kong island.

Option 1 - Ferry, Bus, Peak Tram

This option might be subtitled the Sightseeing Special, because it packs in some of the most iconic experiences of Hong Kong into one trip, and it is also an efficient and authentically Hong Kong way to get there.

1. Follow signs towards Star Ferry, or simply walk south until you meet the water, then turn right and walk along the seafront until you reach the ferry pier
2. Board a Star Ferry to Central. The price per adult is HK$2.40. Make sure you select a ferry to Central, not Wanchai
3. Take the steps up at the ferry pier to the upper deck for the better view, unless you want the standing-by-the-waves experience of the lower deck, which tends to get noisy due the proximity of the engines.
4. When the ferry arrives at Central Pier 8 leave the pier go directly outside
5. Look for the public bus stop, it is beside the stop of the various tourist hop-on-hop-off busses
6. Wait for bus 15C. Make sure to take the "C" bus which will take you to the Lower Peak Tram terminus, the other "15" routes go directly to the Peak Tower which is not what you want for this option
7. Ride the bus to the end, where it stops at the tram terminus

8. Take the Peak Tram, which is really a funicular and not a tram, all the way to the Peak Tower

This route gives you great views of Victoria Harbour, ticks of the to-do item of a harbour cruise for just $2.40, and lets you ride the iconic Peak Tram.

Down sides though are that the Peak Tram station is busy, with long queues during peak times.  Try arriving early in the day to reduce waiting time, any time before 9am and there will be minimal queus.

Option 2 - MTR and Green minibus

Travel like a local and make use of the excellent underground railway services of the MTR, combined with the fast and efficient 16 seater Green Minibuses. This is a great choice if you want to avoid the ferry.

1. Follow signs to the MTR, it is easy to find the TST MTR station but make sure you distinguish between TST Station and TST East Station.  It is the regular TST station you need.
2. Take the MTR two stops south towards Central and alight at Central
3. Do not exit the station immediately but follow underground signs to Hong Kong Station and exit there via Exit F into IFC Mall
4. Leave the mall via the walkway beside the City'Super supermarket, and immediately turn left and go down the escalator to street level and find the minibus stop under the walkway
5. Catch the #1 GMB, paying exact change or with Octopus