Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour in Hongkong
Published on 09/07/2026 at 16:40 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Star Ferry is a passenger ferry service across Victoria Harbour in Hongkong, carrying travellers between Hongkong Island and Kowloon while offering uninterrupted views of the city’s waterfront skylines. The service traces its roots to the late nineteenth century, when Parsee businessman Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala began operating regular steam ferries between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, and it took the name Star Ferry Company in 1898 under Armenian businessman Sir Catchick Paul Chater.
From Kowloon Ferry Company to Star Ferry
The story of Star Ferry begins in 1880, when Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala used a steamboat named Morning Star to carry passengers across Victoria Harbour, creating a scheduled crossing at a time when many people still relied on wooden sampans for the journey.The Star Ferry traces its origins to 1880 In 1888 he formally established the Kowloon Ferry Company, running services between the wharves at Central on Hongkong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon peninsula.
By 1890 the small fleet had grown to several single-deck ferries whose names all followed a “Star” theme, such as Morning Star and Evening Star, a naming tradition that continued as new vessels were added.Naorojee named his first four vessels In May 1898 Catchick Paul Chater acquired the boats and incorporated them as The “Star” Ferry Company Limited, a name inspired by this constellation of ship names and still used by the operator.
Crossing Victoria Harbour between island and peninsula
Star Ferry’s principal role is to link the piers on Hongkong Island and the Kowloon peninsula, forming part of the transport system that crosses Victoria Harbour between Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui.Its principal routes carry passengers across Victoria Harbour Green-and-white ferries shuttle across the water, arriving at purpose-built piers that sit close to the commercial districts on both shores, so the landing stages are within reach of offices, shops and promenades.
On the Kowloon side, the Star Ferry pier stands at Kowloon Point on Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, near the harbourfront promenade and museums, while on Hongkong Island the ferries call at Central Pier No. 7 and at the Wan Chai ferry pier beside the exhibition centre.Central Star Ferry Pier, Central Pier 7 From the decks, passengers can see the skyscrapers of Central and Wan Chai rising behind the shoreline, and across the harbour the hotels and commercial towers that frame Tsim Sha Tsui.
Ferries, decks and harbour tours
The ferries themselves are double-deck vessels with enclosed cabins and outdoor areas, providing sheltered seating as well as places to stand by the railings and look out over the water. Earlier boats in the Star Ferry fleet were single-deck, but a second deck was added as demand increased, and later diesel-electric vessels such as Electric Star joined the fleet, replacing earlier steam-powered craft.A diesel-electric passenger ferry named Electric Star Today the ferries carry commuters and visitors alike, and the appearance of the green hull and white superstructure has become closely associated with crossings of Victoria Harbour.
In addition to its regular routes, Star Ferry operates harbour tour services that follow circular routes around Victoria Harbour, making use of the same ferries to offer sightseeing voyages past landmarks on both shores.Star Ferry launched the only licensed harbour tour These tours run from designated piers and follow set itineraries across the main harbour basin, passing commercial districts, waterfront promenades and piers that frame the inlet between Hongkong Island and Kowloon.
Visiting Star Ferry: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Star Ferry connects the Star Ferry Pier at Kowloon Point in Tsim Sha Tsui with Central Star Ferry Pier and Wan Chai Ferry Pier on Hongkong Island, and the piers are reached on foot from nearby MTR stations.
- Boarding and disembarking involve stairways and gangways within the piers and on the ferries, and passengers move between decks using internal staircases.
- The official language 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
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Frequently asked questions about Star Ferry
Where does Star Ferry operate in Hongkong?
Star Ferry operates across Victoria Harbour between piers in Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side and Central and Wan Chai on Hongkong Island.
What can travellers expect on a Star Ferry crossing?
Travellers board double-deck green-and-white ferries, with enclosed cabins and open areas, and cross Victoria Harbour with views of the city’s waterfront skylines.
What makes Star Ferry distinctive among harbour crossings?
Star Ferry combines over a century of transport history with short crossings between major waterfront districts, and its vessels and piers have become closely associated with Victoria Harbour.
