Fastest ~30-35 min by MTR
| 🚆 Train | ~30-35 min | MTR Tung Chung Line, every few minutes, Octopus card |
| 🚠 Cable car | ~25 min | Ngong Ping 360 from Tung Chung, scenic, weather-dependent |
| 🚌 Bus | ~45 min | Route 23 to Ngong Ping, cheaper backup when cable car closed |
Planning this trip? Currency converter · Jet-lag calculator · Trip budget · Compare routes
Lantau is Hong Kong's largest island, home to the airport, the Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, hiking trails and the stilt-house fishing village of Tai O — and it's an easy half-day or full-day trip from the city centre. The MTR gets you across quickly, and from there a cable car, a bus or a ferry each open up a different part of the island.
MTR to Tung Chung
The Tung Chung Line runs from Hong Kong Island and Kowloon stations out to Tung Chung, Lantau's main town, in around 30–35 minutes, with trains every few minutes throughout the day. This is by far the simplest way onto the island, and an Octopus card covers the fare the same as any other MTR journey — see our Octopus card guide for how to get and top one up if you don't already have one.
The Ngong Ping 360 cable car
From Tung Chung, the Ngong Ping 360 cable car climbs roughly 6 km over hills and water to Ngong Ping village, close to the Big Buddha, taking around 25 minutes and offering sweeping views over the airport, the hills and the South China Sea. It's the most scenic way up and the most popular with visitors, though queues can build quickly on weekends and public holidays, and the cable car occasionally suspends service in high wind or poor weather. A premium glass-bottomed "Crystal Cabin" option is available at a higher price for those who want the view straight down as well as out.
The bus alternative
New Lantao Bus route 23 runs from Tung Chung up to Ngong Ping on a winding mountain road, taking around 45 minutes and costing considerably less than the cable car. It's a sensible choice if the cable car is closed, if you'd rather avoid queues, or simply if the idea of a long cable car ride over a valley doesn't appeal — the road route offers its own views, if less dramatic, as it climbs through Lantau's forested hills.
By ferry to Mui Wo
An alternative route onto the island altogether is the ferry from Central Pier to Mui Wo, on Lantau's east coast, taking around 35–55 minutes depending on whether it's an ordinary or fast ferry. From Mui Wo, buses connect on to Ngong Ping, Tai O and other parts of the island — a slower but more scenic way in for those who enjoy a harbour crossing as part of the journey. See our ferries in Hong Kong guide for how the wider outlying-island network operates, and our guide to the Star Ferry for the classic short harbour crossing if you're combining this trip with time on Hong Kong Island.
The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery
The Tian Tan Buddha, a 34-metre bronze statue seated on a hilltop, is Lantau's best-known landmark, reached by a flight of 268 steps from the village below — worth the climb for the views alone. Beside it, Po Lin Monastery is an active Buddhist monastery with ornate halls and a vegetarian restaurant popular with visitors for lunch. The Wisdom Path, a short walk from the village, is a quieter spot with a series of wooden columns inscribed with Buddhist scripture, arranged in a figure-eight and looking out over the hills — a good stop if the main village feels crowded.
Tai O fishing village
From Ngong Ping, bus route 21 continues on to Tai O, a traditional fishing village built on stilts over tidal creeks on Lantau's west coast, taking around 20 minutes. It's one of the last places in Hong Kong where this kind of stilt-house architecture survives, and short boat trips from the village occasionally spot Chinese white dolphins in the estuary, though sightings are not guaranteed. Combining Ngong Ping and Tai O in one day makes for a satisfying full-day trip, though it does mean an earlier start.
Best time to visit
Ngong Ping and the Big Buddha get busy on weekends and Hong Kong public holidays, when queues for the cable car can stretch well beyond an hour at peak times, so a weekday visit — or an early start on a weekend — makes for a noticeably smoother trip. Hong Kong's humid summer months bring the added complication of typhoons and severe thunderstorms, which can suspend the cable car for safety with little notice; fewer, more comfortable crowds tend to be found in the cooler, drier autumn and winter months, generally the most reliable time of year for the trip.
Practical tips
- Buy Ngong Ping 360 tickets online in advance where possible, since this can reduce time spent queuing at the base station, particularly on weekends.
- Bring water and sun protection for the steps up to the Big Buddha, which have little shade.
- An Octopus card covers the MTR and the bus, but not the cable car, which is ticketed separately.
Which should you choose?
The MTR and cable car combination is the best choice for most visitors, pairing a quick crossing with a genuinely scenic ride up to Ngong Ping — just check conditions first. The bus is the sensible backup when the cable car is closed or queues are long, and costs less besides. The ferry via Mui Wo suits those who want a slower, more scenic approach to the island, or who are combining Lantau with other outlying islands. If you're arriving in Hong Kong for the first time, see our Hong Kong airport to the city guide, since Hong Kong International Airport itself sits on reclaimed land just off Lantau. If you're continuing on afterwards, our Hong Kong to Macau ferries guide covers the onward crossing across the Pearl River Delta.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Hong Kong to Lantau Island?
Take the MTR Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung, about 30–35 minutes, then the Ngong Ping 360 cable car or bus route 23 on to Ngong Ping village and the Big Buddha.
Is the cable car or the bus better to Ngong Ping?
The cable car is more scenic and the more popular choice, but the bus is cheaper, has no weather-related closures, and is the reliable backup when the cable car isn't running.
How long does the Ngong Ping 360 cable car take?
About 25 minutes each way, covering roughly 6 km between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping village with views over the airport, hills and sea.
Can I visit the Big Buddha and Tai O in the same day?
Yes, bus route 21 connects Ngong Ping to Tai O in around 20 minutes, and combining both makes for a full and satisfying day trip from central Hong Kong.
Sources and further reading:
- MTR Corporation — Tung Chung Line timetables and fares.
- Ngong Ping 360 — official cable car information and service status.