Places to exchange currency in Hong Kong

I took out 500 HKD from a Standard Chartered ATM at the airport and it was fine for initial expenses like SIM card and food. The ATM was located near the MTR Airport Express entrance. My Capital One card was accepted and the rate was okay but not ideal. I later withdrew more cash from a Bank of China branch ATM in Sheung Wan and got a noticeably better deal. I’d say airport ATMs are safe for small amounts but don’t do big withdrawals there unless you have to.

Just flew into Hong Kong last week and needed cash for a taxi. I avoided the Travelex counter after checking the rate and instead used a Bank of China ATM near the baggage claim. My N26 card worked but there was a small fee and the rate wasn’t great. Once I got to Mong Kok, I tried a Hang Seng ATM and got a better exchange rate with the same card. If you can wait until you reach the city, it’s definitely better value. But for convenience, the airport works in a pinch.

I arrived at night and the currency exchange counter was still open but the rates were terrible. I used a Jetco ATM near the counter and got a much better deal using my Sparkasse Mastercard. No problems at all. Later I found that machines in the city like those from Standard Chartered and Citibank gave me even better rates with lower fees. If you’re not in a rush, it’s smarter to withdraw a small amount at the airport and do larger withdrawals in town.

I landed at HKIA last month and needed cash right away for the Airport Express and Octopus card. Used an HSBC ATM inside Terminal 1 arrivals and it worked fine with my Santandar Visa card. The rate wasn’t amazing but it was close enough to mid market and there was no drama. That said, the withdrawal fee was higher than what I paid later at an HSBC ATM in Central. If you’re using a card that refunds fees, it’s okay to withdraw a small amount at the airport and get the rest in the city.