For anyone planning to visit Macau from Hong Kong, let’s aid your travel itinerary by listing down the best, cheapest, and fastest ways to commute via bus, ferry, private car, or airways.
Ask Hongkongers what their favourite destination is for a quick getaway and hearty respite, and the unanimous response would be Macau. Famously called ‘The Vegas of the East’, Macau is known for its legendary casinos, gambling legacy, jazzy bars, the rich amalgamation of Portuguese and Chinese cultures and tranquil temples. Geographically just an hour away from Hong Kong, Macau is culturally and historically quite distinct. If you’re looking for a quick escape from the towering skylines and fast-paced Hong Kong life, Macau is the place to be for all the action.
Hong Kong to Macau travel: Important things to keep in mind
- Passport requirement: Remember to bring your passport on your trip to Macau as you’ll go through immigration just like while travelling to any other country. Permanent residents of Hong Kong who have valid ID cards or Hong Kong re-entry permits are granted a stay of up to 1 year upon entry. Moreover, non-permanent residents of Macau can stay for up to 30 days provided they have a Hong Kong document of identity or visa purpose to Macau. Lastly, those holding HKSAR passports can stay for up to seven days if they’re transiting to a third country.
- Currency: Despite Macau’s official currency being the Macanese pataca (MOP), HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) is widely accepted across the city. However, when you buy something in Macau, you’ll get the change in Pataca, not HKD. Make sure to spend all your Patacas there as once you leave Macau, it won’t be possible to exchange your money anymore.
- Best time to stay: The best time to visit Macau is from October to December as the weather is pleasantly cool. Springtime (March to April) is also considered ideal to travel here for a comfortable and tourist-friendly stay.
How to travel from Hong Kong to Macau by ferry?
Ferries are the safest and most convenient transport channel most locals choose for travelling to Macau. There are three major terminals in Hong Kong to catch a ferry bound for Macau. The first one is in Hong Kong Island, the second is in Kowloon and the third is just beside the Hong Kong International Airport. The process is also quite simple. Choose the route and operator (TurboJET or Cotai Water Jet), get the ticket, go to the ferry terminal, clear immigration and get onboard.
Take a look at all the three major ferry terminals in Hong Kong:
- Hong Kong MACAU Ferry Terminal: It is located at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan. The biggest and major ferry terminal to and from Macau, this one is the most preferred choice for tourists and first-time visitors. Both TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet operate ferries every 30 to 60 minutes till midnight.
How to reach: It is located right next to Exit D of MTR Sheung Wan Station.
- Hong Kong CHINA Ferry Terminal: It is located at Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. If you’re coming from Tsim Sha Tsui, this terminal is just around the corner. Only Cotai Water Jet operates ferries from Hong Kong to Macau. However, it offers fewer trips than the other two terminals.
How to reach: Get off at Tsim Sha Tsui station and walk a few minutes to the terminal.
- Sky Pier at Hong Kong International Airport: It is located at Hong Kong International Airport. This terminal only provides services to transit passengers. If you have a roundtrip Hong Kong ticket and wish to visit Macau straightaway, Sky Pier terminal is the best choice. Remember that you can’t use the ferry from Macau to Sky Pier if you don’t have a valid flight ticket or passport. Lastly, both TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet offer routes to Macau.
How to reach: It is located inside the Hong Kong International Airport restricted area.
Where will these ferries take you?
These ferries will drop you to either of the two terminals in Macau. Since both the terminals are quite far from each other, make sure to book the correct one. Take a look:
- Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal: This one is closer to the city centre.
- Taipa Terminal: This is right next to Macau International Airport.
Ticket details and prices
Travellers can buy the tickets at the terminal itself, for any operator or boat. The general ticket price is all follows:
- From Hong Kong/ Kowloon to Macau (one way): HKD 160 to 175 (daytime) and around HKD 220 (night)
- From Hong Kong Airport to Macau (one way): Around HKD 270 (daytime) and around HKD 300 (night).
You can also book your tickets online from trusted platforms like Klook. The ticketing platform is always buzzing with travel offers and discounts, which means you can snag your tickets for cheaper.
How to travel from Hong Kong to Macau by Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (bus and car)?
For those unversed, the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge is the longest sea crossing in the world, connecting the cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau. The 55km long stretch comprises almost 23 km of bridge section, 6.7 km of undersea tunnel as well as two artificial islands. You can either hop on a shuttle bus/ coach or drive down in a private car to Macau via the HZMB.
Cross-border buses from Hong Kong to Macau
Duration: 110 minutes
Price: HKD 160 to 180
The cross-border buses take passengers directly from downtown to Macau. There are multiple route options with different start locations. All you have to do is choose a bus operator (HK-Mo Express, Wternal East Express and ONE Bus) that can pick you up from your preferred location. Then, purchase the bus ticket, get onto the bus, pass the Hong Kong immigration at the port and enjoy the ride through HZMB. Finally, clear the Macau immigration and then get back on the bus to different destinations in Macau.
HZMB shuttle bus from Hong Kong to Macau
Duration: 35 minutes
Price: HKD 65
There are shuttle buses going from Hong Kong to Macau at all hours, linking the customs on each end of the bridge. Travelling via shuttle bus is one of the cheapest ways to reach Macau from Hong Kong. All you’ve to do is reach the Hong Kong port and pass the customs.
Private car from Hong Kong to Macau
Duration: Can vary largely depending on the passengers
Price: HKD 3200+
If you don’t mind splurging a (lot) extra, there’s also a cross-border Limousine service at your disposal 24×7. Please note that there’s a special license required for using HZMB.
Note: People crossing borders via the HZMB need to get off the bus on both ends of the bridge to clear the immigration and customs checkpoints for each city.
How to travel from Hong Kong to Macau by helicopter?
Make uber-cool landings in Macau via a 15-minute helicopter ride. If you’re short on time and don’t mind paying the price, you can board the choppers by Sky Shuttle that operate every few hours from Thursday to Monday. Be ready to pay around HKD 4,300 one way per person. To check the timetable and fares, visit the Sky Shuttle Hong Kong website.
Hope this guide sorts all your Hong Kong to Macau travel queries.
(Hero image credit: Jatinder Singh Kang/ Pexels)
(Feature image credit: Juan C. Palacios/ Pexels)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet are the two major ferry operators from Hong Kong to Macau. The ferries run every 15 minutes, from 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 7:00 AM.
There are three major terminals in Hong Kong to catch a ferry bound for Macau. The first one is in Hong Kong Island, the second is in Kowloon and the third is just beside the Hong Kong International Airport.
Hong Kong residents can visit Macau for shorter periods without having a visa. However, they must carry a valid Hong Kong identity card or a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit.
The Cross-border buses across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge can cost HKD 160 to 180 while the shuttle buses can cost HKD 65.
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Kriti Nayyar
Senior Digital Writer, Wellness, Culture, Astrology, Tech
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama, whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature & journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
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