Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour in Hongkong
Published on 08/14/2026 at 14:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Star Ferry is a cross?harbour ferry service in Hongkong, carrying passengers between Hongkong Island and Kowloon across Victoria Harbour while offering views of one of Asia’s most recognisable skylines. It is operated by The “Star” Ferry Company, which took its present name in 1898 after an earlier phase as the Kowloon Ferry Company, and traces its origins to services established in the 1880s. Victoria Harbour and the cities on its shores give the crossing both its daily transport role and its appeal to visitors.
From Kowloon Ferry to Star Ferry
The roots of Star Ferry lie in the late nineteenth century, when Parsee Zoroastrian businessman Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala began running a regular steam ferry across Victoria Harbour with a vessel named “Morning Star”. He established the Kowloon Ferry Company in 1888 to operate passenger services between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, providing an organised crossing where earlier travellers had relied on individually owned wooden sampans. Over the following decade the company expanded its fleet and added upper decks to its ferries as demand for harbour crossings grew alongside Hongkong’s development.Kowloon Ferry Company in 1888 In May 1898 the ferries were acquired by Armenian businessman Sir Catchick Paul Chater and incorporated as The “Star” Ferry Company Limited, a name inspired by the “star” theme in the fleet and still used for the operator today.incorporated as The “Star” Ferry Company Limited
By the early twentieth century Star Ferry had become part of the everyday transport system, with purpose?built piers on both sides of the harbour and ferries named for celestial bodies such as Morning Star and Twinkling Star. The service was interrupted during the Japanese occupation of Hongkong during the Second World War and resumed after the conflict, continuing to carry passengers as the city expanded along both shorelines of Victoria Harbour. A diesel?electric passenger ferry named Electric Star was introduced in 1933, marking a step in the modernisation of the fleet.Electric Star launched in 1933 Later, dual?level piers built in the 1950s were designed to accommodate heavy usage before cross?harbour road tunnels offered an alternative route.dual?level piers completed in 1957
Routes across Victoria Harbour
Star Ferry operates short crossings on licensed routes between Hongkong Island and Kowloon, forming part of the commuter system and serving visitors who want to experience Victoria Harbour from the water.licensed routes between the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon The classic run links Central Pier on the island side with Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier in Kowloon, while another route connects Wan Chai with Tsim Sha Tsui. These crossings run between pier structures built to receive ferries directly from the harbour, allowing passengers to walk straight from waterfront promenades and nearby streets onto the boats.
On each route the ferries follow a direct line across Victoria Harbour, with the journey offering views of office towers and residential high?rises on both shores as well as working harbour craft. The Central–Tsim Sha Tsui crossing passes close to the International Finance Centre on the island side and the Clock Tower and cultural venues on the Kowloon waterfront, while the Wan Chai route serves the eastern part of the northern shore of Hongkong Island. The service has operated in various forms since the late nineteenth century and remains associated with everyday travel patterns between the two urban areas on either side of the harbour.Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui
Ferries, piers and harbour views
Star Ferry’s vessels are painted in green and white and are built with two passenger decks, reflecting an evolution from the single?deck steam ferries of the 1880s to later configurations. Passengers board through pier openings at lower levels and can choose between enclosed areas and more open sections where the harbour is visible. Seating is arranged in rows with reversible wooden backrests, allowing passengers to face either direction of travel across Victoria Harbour. The ferries carry both residents and visitors, with those on foot using them as part of daily routines and travellers often combining the crossing with a walk along the waterfront.
The piers themselves are part of the experience of travelling on Star Ferry. Central Pier on Hongkong Island is reached from the elevated walkways and streets of the city’s main business district and forms part of a cluster of transport facilities along the shoreline. On the Kowloon side, Tsim Sha Tsui’s pier is close to the waterfront promenade and cultural institutions, with open decks above the berths providing views back across the harbour. The harbour setting means that a short ride on Star Ferry brings changing perspectives on skyscrapers, hills behind the city and the water traffic between them.
Visiting Star Ferry: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Star Ferry operates between piers on Hongkong Island and Kowloon, with main crossings linking Central Pier and Wan Chai on the island side to Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon waterfront.
- Access to the ferries involves walking along piers and using ramps and gangways; within the boats themselves there are stairs between lower and upper passenger decks.
- Victoria Harbour is surrounded by busy streets and promenades, so reaching the piers usually involves moving through urban waterfront areas that combine road traffic, footpaths and elevated walkways.
- The official language of Hongkong is Chinese and the currency is the Hong Kong dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Star Ferry on social platforms
These links open searches for Star Ferry on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Star Ferry
Where does Star Ferry operate in Hongkong?
Star Ferry runs across Victoria Harbour between Hongkong Island and Kowloon, with key crossings linking Central and Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui.
What can travellers expect on a Star Ferry crossing?
Travellers board green and white double?deck ferries, choose between enclosed and more open seating areas, and experience short harbour crossings with city and harbour views.
What makes Star Ferry distinctive among Hongkong’s transport options?
Star Ferry combines a long history dating back to the 1880s with a central role in cross?harbour transport and the opportunity to see Victoria Harbour from the water.
