The bright lights of Macau are just 60 kms from Hong Kong, but in between lie the waters of the Pearl River Estuary. Here's how to travel to Macau from Hong Kong
There are plenty of options to reach Hong Kong's glitzy neighbour (image courtesy Unsplash)
While steam ferries once romantically plyed the waters, replete with dining rooms and bars to while away the three-hour trip, times and travel times have moved on and these days the journey from Hong Kong to Macau can be taken in under an hour.
There are several ways of reaching Macau from Hong Kong, with options including the fast ferry, cross-border bus, shuttle bus and helicopter.
Fast ferries are operated by TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet and for decades this has been the traditional route of travelling between Hong Kong and Macau. There are three major terminals in Hong Kong, one on Hong Kong Island, a Kowloon ferry terminal and a third beside Hong Kong International Airport.
However, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge launched in 2018, opening up more options, including a cross-border bus and shuttle bus.
But if you fancy a more memorable trip, catching the Macau helicopter is no doubt the quickest, and fanciest, way to reach Macau.
Fast ferry
There are two fast ferry services to Macau, TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet.
Fast ferries sail from Hong Kong MACAU Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong CHINA Ferry Terminal on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and Sky Pier at Hong Kong International Airport.
Hong Kong MACAU Ferry Terminal is the biggest ferry terminal serving Macau from Hong Kong, with TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet ferries departing every half-hour.
Hong Kong CHINA Ferry Terminal has fewer sailings with only Cotai Water Jet operating from this location. But if you live or are staying in Kowloon it’s a handy option.
Sky Pier is located airside inside Hong Kong International Airport and is for transiting air passengers only.
Ferries sail to Macau Peninsula and Taipa Island, with a sailing time of around one hour. There are numerous sailings per day and booking is not always necessary outside of peak times, especially if you’re using the ferry terminal at Shun Tak Centre. Staff will do their best to find space for you on the next available sailing. All passengers are allocated a specific seat and there are larger, first class seats available with complimentary water and snacks if you want to pay a little extra (in our view the upgrade is not really worth it given you are allocated a reasonably roomy seat in economy class for the short crossing).
Which Macau ferry terminal to opt for
There are two options, Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal or Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal.
Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal is useful for city centre Macau and sightseeing areas such as Macau Tower, Senado Square or the ruins of St Paul’s.
For the latest hotels and casinos, including those on the Cotai Strip and City of Dreams, opt for Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal.
Cotai Water Jet and Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal serve Macau, with TurboJet ferries leaving every 15 minutes and Cotai Water Jet every half hour.
Using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB)
The HZMB opened in 2018 and is the longest sea crossing in the world. It runs from Lantau Island in Hong Kong and links with both Zhuhai and Macau in the Greater Bay Area. The 55 km bridge consists of 23 km of bridge and 6.7 km of undersea tunnel. Two artificial islands were also created in the building of the bridge.
Cross-border bus
There are multiple cross-border bus operators and all offer various route options. Pick your start location, buy a ticket and catch the bus. The buses pass through Hong Kong immigration at the port and then travel through the HZMB. You will need to disembark the bus again to clear Macau immigration before it travels on to its final destination. Cross-border buses take around an hour and a half to two hours. Operators include HK-Mo Express and ONE Bus.
HZMB shuttle bus
The HZMB Shuttle Bus links Hong Kong and Macau customs at each end of the HZMB. The journey takes around half an hour and is the cheapest way to travel to Macau. If you’re living or staying close to Hong Kong Airport on Lantau, or visiting Hong Kong Disneyland or the Big Buddha, the shuttle bus is a convenient option.
Helicopter
Whittle your travel time down to just 15 minutes with the very cool Macau helicopter. Swoop over Hong Kong Island and the Pearl Estuary from the Sky Shuttle heliport on the roof of Shun Tak Centre. The Macau Sky Shuttle lounge is located in the Macau Maritime Terminal. This is certainly not the cheapest option to reach Macau, but it’s definitely the glitziest and will remain long in the memory.
How to get around in Macau
Taxi travel in Macau can be frustrating with long waits for taxi cabs. This is compounded by ride sharing apps, such as Uber, being banned in Macau.
Most hotels will offer a complimentary shuttle pick-up service from the ferry terminals, check the details before you travel.
A useful option is the Macau Light Rapid Transit system, which opened in 2019 and was extended in 2023. This monorail style service runs from Taipa Ferry Terminal to the tourist area of Barra on Macau Peninsula. Stops on the way include Macau Airport, Cotai East (City of Dreams) and Cotai West (Galaxy Macau and Parisian, Londoner and Venetian hotels), Pai Kok (old Taipa) and finally Barra (for the ruins of St Paul’s and other landmarks). The Macau Light Rapid Transit system is cheap, easy, regular and part-managed by Hong Kong’s MTR Corp.
Immigration requirements
Don't forget your passport or your Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card. Permanent residents of Hong Kong with a valid ID card can stay for up to one year on entry into Macau. Non-permanent residents of Hong Kong with a valid Hong Kong ID card or visa can stay for up to 30 days.
Currency
Macau's official currency is the Macanese pataca (MOP) although Hong Kong Dollars are widely accepted.
When to travel
As for Hong Kong, the coolest time of year is from October through to early spring. Chinese school and public holidays, particularly at Chinese New Year and over the summer months, can be extremely busy.
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