Hong Kong is one of the most connected cities on earth. Signal reaches the busiest streets, the harbour ferries and the MTR, and the city runs on apps: for maps, for messaging, for paying and for checking the weather. It is also a place where the rules change a few kilometres away. Hong Kong is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and it is separate from mainland China, so the restrictions travellers meet in Beijing or Shanghai do not apply here.
This guide covers what works in the city, what changes when you cross to Macau or Shenzhen, and what to do when a typhoon arrives.
Key facts for Hong Kong
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: csl, SmarTone, 3 Hong Kong, China Mobile Hong Kong (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 999 for police, fire and ambulance; 112 from a mobile phone also connects to it
- Embassies: none in Hong Kong itself; many countries have a consulate-general in the city
Apps that work as at home
Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram and the other international apps work normally in Hong Kong. That is the main difference from the mainland, and the reason many travellers arrive here first. Data matters from the moment you land: the Airport Express timetable, the route to your hotel and the MTR map are all on your phone.
Getting around: MTR, Octopus and ferries
Coverage on the MTR reaches the stations and most of the network, so you can keep messaging on the move. The Octopus card pays for the MTR, buses, trams and the Star Ferry, and visitors can also use it on an iPhone or an Android phone through the Octopus app. Topping it up in the app needs a working connection, which is one more reason to have data from day one.
Typhoons, rainstorms and the trails
From May to October, Hong Kong issues typhoon signals and rainstorm warnings that can close offices, schools and some transport. The Hong Kong Observatory's MyObservatory app shows the current signal and forecast in English. When a high signal is raised, stay indoors and follow official instructions.
The hiking trails, such as the Dragon's Back or the paths on Lantau Island, are popular and close to the city. Signal is usually good on ridges and weaker in valleys. Carry water, start early in the hot months, and tell someone your route.
Macau, Shenzhen and the mainland
Day trips to Macau by ferry or across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge are easy, and so are trips to Shenzhen. Each is a different destination for your phone. Macau has its own networks, and on mainland Chinese networks many international apps are blocked. A plan for Hong Kong works only in Hong Kong, so check the countries covered on the plan page before you cross.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installs at home with a QR code and its validity starts with the first connection in Hong Kong. It is a data line: your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes, and messaging and navigation run on the eSIM.
A local prepaid SIM is sold at the airport and in convenience stores. It must be registered with an identity document; visitors use their passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Hong Kong
- 999 reaches police, fire and ambulance; from a mobile phone, 112 also connects to it.
- Countries are represented in Hong Kong by consulates-general rather than embassies. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no consular representation able to help you in Hong Kong, the consulate of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Emergency phrases in Chinese are ready to show on screen in the app.
Hong Kong travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Hong Kong
Do WhatsApp and Google work in Hong Kong?
Yes. The restrictions of mainland China do not apply in Hong Kong.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Hong Kong?
csl, SmarTone, 3 Hong Kong or China Mobile Hong Kong, depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.
Does a Hong Kong plan work in Macau or Shenzhen?
No. Macau and mainland China are separate destinations for your phone.
Where can I check typhoon warnings?
In the MyObservatory app of the Hong Kong Observatory, which shows the current signal in English.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, switch it on when you land, add Octopus to your phone, keep MyObservatory handy in typhoon season, and plan your data separately for Macau or the mainland.
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