Hong Kong

Few cities make arrival this painless. The Airport Express runs from the terminal to Hong Kong Station in Central in about 24 minutes, and an Octopus card then pays for the MTR, trams, buses and the Star Ferry alike. What lifts Hong Kong onto this list is how much green and blue sits within a fare's reach. Outlying-island ferries leave Central for Lamma and Cheung Chau, the MTR runs to the cable car up to the Big Buddha on Lantau, and ordinary buses climb to trailheads with harbor views. Even Macau is a ferry ride away, with no rental counter anywhere in the plan.