Tips

Transit Cards and Tap-to-Pay by City: Paying Fares

A row of automatic ticket gates at a train station in Japan. — Automatic ticket gates at a Japanese station · Photo: DAJF / CC BY-SA 3.0

Paying for public transport in Seoul, Hong Kong, London, New York, Sydney and more: transit cards, contactless cards, passes and fare caps from the city guides.

Published Oct 12, 2026

Transit card, tap-to-pay or cash: every city is different

There are three main ways to pay for public transport abroad: buy and top up the city's own transit card, tap a contactless bank card or phone straight on the gate, or pay cash for a single ticket. Which of these work, and whether there are daily fare caps or passes, varies from city to city.

What follows are examples gathered by region from this app's city guides, not a complete list. Fares and systems can change, so check official information before you go.

Japan's IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) have their own article, so Japan gets only a short mention here. For paying abroad in general, see the cash-versus-card comparison below.

East Asia: rechargeable transit cards are the norm

In East Asia's big cities, a rechargeable transit card bought at a convenience store or station is the standard way to ride. Many of these cards also pay at convenience stores, not just on subways and buses.

Japan's nationwide IC cards such as Suica are widely used, but the guides show exceptions on some local buses. Kumamoto and Ishigaki below are examples.

A Star Ferry crossing Victoria Harbour at night. — Star Ferry · Photo: SCP-2000 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Seoul: Buy and top up a T-money card at convenience stores; it works on the subway, buses and many taxis. On buses, tap when boarding and exiting to get transfer discounts. Climate Card short-term passes (1/2/3/5/7-day) give unlimited subway and bus rides (check Seoul's official site for prices and coverage).
Taipei: Buy an EasyCard at convenience stores or MRT stations and use it on the MRT, buses, public bikes and in shops. You can pick one up at the airport.
Hong Kong: The Octopus card works on the MTR, buses, trams and ferries, plus convenience stores and fast food chains. Buy and top up at the airport or MTR stations.
Macao: City buses cost MOP6 per ride with no change given, so bring coins or use the Macau Pass card.
Kumamoto: The streetcar accepts national IC cards such as Suica as well as contactless credit cards. Since November 2024, city buses no longer accept national IC cards, so use a contactless credit card or cash.
Ishigaki: Route buses take cash or contactless credit cards only; transport IC cards are not accepted. A 24-hour pass costs JPY 1,000 and a 3-day pass JPY 2,000.

Southeast and Central Asia: transit cards and bank cards side by side

According to the guides, these cities accept contactless bank cards alongside their own transit cards. What works can differ by line, so check the signs at the station or stop.

In some places, such as Tashkent, a single ticket bought with cash costs more than the card fare. For a stay of several days, a transit card or tap-to-pay is usually easier.

Singapore: Tap a contactless bank card or phone wallet at the MRT gates. Buses take the same card, and you tap on and off.
Bangkok: On the BTS Skytrain, buy single tickets at machines or top up a Rabbit card if you ride often. On the MRT subway you can tap in with a contactless credit card.
Kuala Lumpur: Tap in on the LRT, MRT and Monorail with a transit card or bank card. On the GOKL city buses, foreign visitors pay about 1 MYR per ride by card.
Tashkent: The metro and buses cost UZS 1,700 per ride with an ATTO transport card or a contactless bank card. With cash, buy a one-ride QR ticket (UZS 3,000) at a station ticket office. ATTO cards are sold at metro ticket offices, city bus company offices and post offices.
Almaty: A metro ride costs about KZT 120, paid with a smart token, an Onay transport card, or a bank card at station terminals. City buses use the Onay transport card system.

Europe: many cities let you just tap and ride

In several of the European cities in the guides, you can simply tap a contactless bank card or phone on the gate or validator. Others still need credit loaded onto the city's own card, and paper tickets sometimes have to be validated.

Some cities, such as London and Amsterdam, do not take cash on public transport, so it helps to carry a card that supports contactless payment.

The Rua Augusta Arch on Praça do Comércio with a yellow tram passing in front — Praça do Comércio and Baixa · Photo: Diego Delso, delso.photo / CC BY-SA 3.0

London: Tap a contactless card or phone at the gates; daily and weekly fare caps apply automatically. Tap in and out with the same card. Without contactless, buy and top up an Oyster card at stations; the same fare caps apply. Public transport does not accept cash.
Amsterdam: On trams, buses, metro and trains, tap a contactless debit or credit card or phone wallet when you board and tap the same card again when you get off. According to the tourist board (updated June 2026), using only GVB this way you pay at most EUR 10.50 a day. Public transport does not take cash.
Paris: Load tickets onto a Navigo Easy card or buy them on your phone via the official transit app; paper (magnetic) tickets are no longer sold. A single metro ticket is about €2.50.
Rome: Tap a contactless card or phone at metro gates and bus validators to ride. A single metro ticket is about €1.50, valid 100 minutes.
Lisbon: Load credit onto a Navegante card (zapping) to ride the metro, Carris buses and trams, suburban trains and ferries with one card. A 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket costs about EUR 7.25, and the metro also accepts contactless bank cards (check official).
Budapest: Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the validator to buy and validate a single ticket in one step. As of 2026 this works on all metro lines and the 100E airport bus. Paper tickets must be validated, and 24-hour and 72-hour travelcards are available (check official prices).
Istanbul: The Istanbulkart is the city's official card for metro, tram, bus and ferry. Buy it and load lira at Biletmatik machines near stations.

North America and Oceania: watch the fare caps and transfer windows

Cities here usually accept both transit cards and contactless cards, and many have daily or weekly fare caps or free transfers within a set time. The benefits only add up if you keep tapping the same card.

Skyline train on the elevated guideway over Keʻehi Lagoon Beach Park — Skyline rail, Honolulu · Photo: Musashi1600 / CC BY 4.0

New York City: Tap a contactless card or phone at the subway turnstile. After 12 paid rides within 7 days on the same card, the rest of that week is free.
Toronto: Tap a PRESTO card, credit or debit card or mobile wallet: a ride is about CAD 3.30 and transfers within two hours are free. Cash is about CAD 3.35 with no transfer.
Vancouver: Tap a Compass Card, contactless credit card or mobile wallet at the gates. Using the same card, you can transfer between bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus on one fare for up to 90 minutes.
Sydney: Tap an Opal card, contactless bank card or phone on trains, buses, ferries, light rail and metro. Daily and weekly fare caps apply, with a lower daily cap from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
Auckland: Tap a contactless debit or credit card or phone on buses, trains and most ferries, using the same card to tag on and off; each traveller needs their own card. Contactless gets a daily fare cap (about NZD 20) automatically, and an AT HOP card adds a 7-day cap. Waiheke ferries and tourist services do not take contactless.
Perth: Transperth is cheaper with SmartRider or a contactless card than cash, and free every Sunday with either (cash tickets are not included). Always tag on and off.
Honolulu (Hawaii): With a HOLO card, a daily fare cap keeps bus costs down. The same card works on Skyline rail, and a HOLO card is required for Skyline.

Before your first ride

Systems differ, but the same cautions keep coming up in the guides. A quick check before your first ride saves confusion at the gate.

Tap on and off with the same card: in many cities, fare caps and transfer discounts are counted per card.
One card per person: some places, such as Auckland, need a separate card for each traveller.
Check whether cash works: London and Amsterdam public transport do not take cash, and Macao buses give no change.
Compare cash fares: in places such as Toronto, Tashkent and Perth, cash costs more or comes without transfers.
Check your card's terms: the London guide suggests a card with low foreign transaction fees, so check your own card's fees for paying abroad.
Confirm pass prices officially: prices change, and many guides list them only as "check official information".

FAQ

Can I get around with just a contactless credit card?

In cities such as London, Rome, New York City and Singapore, you can tap one straight at the gate. Some services, such as Auckland's Waiheke ferries, do not take contactless, so check official information.

What is a fare cap?

Once the fares you pay on the same card in a day or week reach a set amount, nothing more is charged. The guides mention caps in London, Sydney, Auckland (about NZD 20 a day) and on Amsterdam's GVB (at most EUR 10.50 a day).

Is one IC card enough in Japan?

National IC cards such as Suica are widely used, but there are exceptions, such as Kumamoto city buses (since November 2024) and Ishigaki route buses. See the Japan IC card article for details.

Can I pay cash?

It depends on the city. London and Amsterdam public transport do not take cash, and Macao buses charge MOP6 with no change given. In places like Tashkent, a cash single ticket costs more than the card fare.