Hong Kong's MTR is the envy of the world. Frequent, fast and inexpensive, the underground is the best way to get around town or across the harbour. Avoiding the crowds can be difficult, especially in inclement weather, but it's rarely more than two minutes between stations - so just breathe deeply.

Aside from the main locations on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, you can also link-up with the East and West Rail networks which operate in the New Territories. The MTR network then connects with the mainland China system and enables a smooth trip across the border.

Get travel route estimates and maps on the MTR website.

DID YOU KNOW?

The invaluable Octopus card enables passengers to "doot" (i.e. beep) their way around town. The stored-value pass is the easiest and most widely used way of navigating the city's transport network without carrying small change or buying individual tickets. This smart-card has a built-in microchip which can be topped up using cash or linking it to your credit card so you never run out of funds. It can be purchased at ticket counters and vending machines in MTR stations or at convenience stores.

You simply swipe it over the reader at entry and exit points in stations, ferry piers, and on buses. Even outside the transport network, Octopus cards can be used instead of cash or credit cards in many shops and restaurants, vending machines and for entry to public facilities. Do not leave home without one.

If in doubt, jump in a cab. Relatively inexpensive, taxis whiz around town and are seemingly everywhere.

It's best to have your destination written down in Chinese if possible, or to have someone teach you in Cantonese, just in case the driver's English is not great. Drivers are generally honest, safe and dedicated to getting you there by the shortest route.

DID YOU KNOW?

You'll find red taxis in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Green taxis operate in the New Territories beyond Kowloon, and blue taxis only on Lantau Island. They can be hailed on the street, except where double lines indicate a no stopping zone. All taxis can go to and from the airport as well as Disneyland.

Passengers are required by law to wear a seat belt when available, whether sitting in the front or rear. Drivers must display their Taxi Driver Identity Card on the dashboard, and this can be used to register any complaint (via the hotline 2889 9999) or seek lost property (via a 24-hour enquiry service on 1872 920).

Book rides and travel routes easily by downloading the widely use HKTaxi App on your iPhone or Android phone.

Above ground and at a slower pace, buses give visitors the chance to get to know this fascinating city better. As you settle into a regular routine, you will come to rely on the frequent and extensive routes serving the entire territory. If you cross the harbour, look out for buses with three digit route numbers: those in the 100s indicate they use the Central Harbour Tunnel, the 600s indicate the Eastern Harbour Tunnel and the 900s show they use the Western Harbour Tunnel.

Learn more on the Citybus website.

Get travel routes on the go easily by downloading the Citybus App on your iPhone or Android phone.

Public light buses, usually called minibuses, run all around Hong Kong to fill-in the service gaps which the franchised buses don't cover These small buses carry a maximum of 16 passengers, with no standing passengers allowed.

Green minibuses have route numbers, stop at designated bus stops (though many routes have "hail and ride" sections where passengers can board and exit anywhere), and their fares, service and frequency are regulated by the Hong Kong Transport Department.

Red minibuses are not so closely regulated, but are popular because their drivers earnings depend on the volume of passengers and they are thus more ready to pick-up and drop-off customers wherever they appear (and drive closer to the speed limit).

DID YOU KNOW?

The Cantonese for "I want to get off!" is "Yau lok!" and by shouting it at the minibus driver, it will save you a long walk home. Nowadays, newer minibuses have stop buttons, saving you from shouting. Press it in advance, and the driver will drop you off on the next closest viable stop.

Ding-ding! They may not be the fastest but for just small change you can't beat the experience. Trams operate from the west of Hong Kong Island right to the east. Sitting on the top deck, travelling from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, is one of the best ways of seeing the city.

Since 1904, the world's largest fleet of double-decker electric trams have provided a slow but convenient way of getting between some of the most popular spots in Hong Kong-with enthralling views of the street life along the way: shopfronts, markets, laundries, cafés and workshops.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 118 stops are never more than 250 meters away along the route. Get on at the rear, don't bump your head on the ceiling, and pay at the front exit by the driver. If it's crowded, edge your way slowly to the front when you think you're getting close - there's not much breathing room, but your fellow passengers will know the drill.

Learn more on the Hong Kong Tramways website.

Opened in the 1880s, this tram takes an impossibly steep route from Central to The Peak Tower above. The views are breathtaking and the journey surprisingly quick, as long as the queue to board is not too long.

Replacing the sedan chairs carried by puffing coolies, this venerable cable funicular tramway opened to serve the mansions of the well-to-do in the cool heights. It runs up a steeply inclined track of 1,350 metres, stopping at five stations on request.

Learn more about The Peak Tram experience.

Overall, Hong Kong has only half the level of car ownership as comparable societies like Singapore and Taiwan. And there is a reason for this, beyond the excellent public transport.

Although second-hand cars are relatively cheap in Hong Kong, fuel is expensive and parking spaces at a premium. That doesn't stop the wealthy from buying some of the world's most expensive automobiles. You'll see Roll Royces and Bentleys and Italian sports cars, often in the most improbable colours, but the average professional family can get along fine without a car, especially if home is on Hong Kong Island. Cars are more popular in the New Territories, where public transport is sparser, roads less congested and parking easier.

The authorities don't make it too easy. The heavy first time registration tax for new cars is based on the size and value of the car, and there is an annual vehicle licence fee. But if you insist, buying a car is easy enough and there are even large incentives for purchasing electric vehicles.

You must be over 18, and remember, all cars are right-hand drive. Vehicles with left-hand drive can't be registered, although some mainland vehicles are allowed dual registration for cross-border use and vice versa.

The Hong Kong Automobile Association will carry out a check on a second-hand car (2739 5273). The Licensing Office will also give a Certificate of Clearance for free, to tell you if the vehicle is clear of outstanding penalties or fees.

Buyer and seller will have to sign a Notice of Transfer of Ownership of a Vehicle document, which includes the price. It must be taken by the buyer to a Licensing Office in person, within 72 hours of the transaction, along with an identity document and insurance note. The form can be downloaded from the Hong Kong Transport Department website.

At the minimum, third-party insurance cover is required by law. Licensing offices are located on Hong Kong Island at Queensway, in Kowloon, and in Sha Tin.

On the ever-reliable Airport Express the journey from Central takes just over 20 minutes, and from Kowloon and Tsing Yi (the only other stops), it's even quicker. You can also check in your luggage at the train station so you don't have to lug it with you. Look out for discounts on group tickets.

Learn more on the Hong Kong Airport website.

The Star Ferry is a must-try. Although it's a legitimate transport option, it's used mostly as a tourist attraction. It's probably one of the most famous ferries in the world and has been crossing Victoria Harbour between Central or Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui since 1888.

The trip is short, but full of fine views from the moment the local deckhands, in their sailor blouses, haul up the gangways and cast-off the moorings: the island's spectacular business centre with The Peak behind, the glimpses of rugged mountains beyond Kowloon and towards the outlying islands, the busy traffic of barges, cargo vessels and occasional warships in the harbour.

A ferry system also operates between Central and many Outlying Islands such as Cheung Chau, Lamma and Lantau. Park Island and Discovery Bay also have shuttle routes from Central. About 41,000 island residents depend on these ferry services as well as tourists.

Sheung Wan's Shun Tak Centre and Kowloon's China Ferry Terminal operate frequent ferries to Macau and several destinations over the border in Guangdong.

Hong Kong is a popular stop-off for many of the world's cruise ship operators, such as Star Cruises. It's not unusual to see ships docking in the harbour on the way from Europe or the US to other Chinese cities or Southeast Asian destinations like Singapore or Vietnam. A massive new terminal opened a few year on the site of the old airport at Kai Tak - so expect some much larger ships to pull into port.

The rules of walking in urban Hong Kong are to try and avoid walking on the street and that a straight line may not be the quickest route. Many buildings and shopping centres are connected by first-floor walkways, allowing you to walk around in air-conditioning and avoid pedestrian traffic.

Another walking tip: try out the Mid Levels escalator, the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. It runs 800 metres from Des Voeux Road in Central through SoHo and up to Conduit Road in Mid-Levels, sparing you a vertical climb of 135 metres.

It runs downhill from 6:00 am to 10:00 am (for commuters to Central) and uphill from 10:30 am to midnight. Since it opened, the escalator has attracted many small restaurants, bars, unusual shops and fascinating wet markets along its route. If you're not sure where to eat or spend an evening, you can take a ride and jump off when you spot something that catches your eye.

Drivers are not known for their ability to check blind-spots and cycling is not encouraged in the congested urban areas of Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. Bicycles are widely used on Lantau and in the New Territories such as Sha Tin, Tai Po and Sheung Shui - anywhere the traffic is less threatening and the roads are flatter. On islands such as Chung Chau and Lamma, residents also use bikes to get to and from the ferry piers.

Explore cycling routes for leisure on the Hong Kong Tourism Board.