How to Get to Macau from Hong Kong in 2026

Travelling from Hong Kong to Macau is now very easy! Macau, the former Portuguese colony nicknamed the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’, is just 37 miles (60 km) from Hong Kong. Whether you want to try your luck in its large casinos, explore the Ruins of St. Paul’s, or enjoy authentic pastéis de nata, getting to Macau from Hong Kong is simple and straightforward.

🔥 How to Travel from Hong Kong to Macau: 5 Best Transport Options

There are five main ways to get to Macau from Hong Kong with ease. Here’s a quick overview before we dive into each one in more detail.

🚢 Hong Kong → Macau by ferry (the most convenient)

The ferry is truly the simplest and most popular way to travel for both tourists and locals alike! You'll find two main companies sharing the market: TurboJet (the most well-known, naturally!) and Cotai Water Jet.

The boats are modern and air-conditioned, with comfortable reclining seats. Best of all, departures are fairly frequent—every 15–30 minutes during the day!

Where does it depart from and where does it arrive?

From Hong Kong, you have 3 main options:

• Sheung Wan (Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal) - It's the city's main terminal!
• • Just above Sheung Wan MTR Station (Exit D);
  • The most convenient if you're on Hong Kong Island;
  • Restaurants and boutiques inside to pass the time while you wait.

• Tsim Sha Tsui (China Ferry Terminal, Kowloon)
• • Handy if you're staying on the Kowloon side;
  • A 10-minute walk from Tsim Sha Tsui MTR;
  • Often less crowded than Sheung Wan.

• Hong Kong Airport (SkyPier)
• • Perfect if you're in transit without going through HK immigration!
  • You head straight from your flight to the ferry to Macau;
  • Huge time-saver.

In Macau, two terminals are available:

• Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal: in the historic centre, near the Ruins of St. Paul’s
• Taipa Ferry Terminal: closer to Cotai and the mega-casinos (Venetian, Galaxy...)

How much does it cost?

Prices vary depending on the class, departure time, and selected day:

However, realistically, Economy Class is more than enough for a one-hour journey! Super Class offers wider seats and a VIP lounge at boarding, but for just 55 minutes, it can quickly get expensive!

Opening times

When it comes to schedules, it’s super handy: ferries run almost 24/7!

• Daytime (07:00–23:00): departures every 15–30 minutes, depending on demand
• At night (23:00-07:00): about every hour

Heads up for weekends: ferries are often fully booked, especially for Macau → HK returns on Sunday evenings!

📌 Trip.com tip: Book your tickets online in advance on Trip.com, especially for weekends and Chinese public holidays (Golden Week, Chinese New Year…).

How does boarding work?

Where to buy tickets:

• Online (recommended!): on the company's official websites or on Trip.com;
• Vending machines at the terminals;
• Ticket counters (but the queue can be long).

The procedure:

• Arrive 30-45 minutes early (immigration + security checks);
• Hong Kong Exit Immigration (just have your passport and ticket ready to show);
• Airport-style security screening (no liquids >100ml);
• Boarding with an assigned seat number;
• Smooth crossing (55 mins, free Wi‑Fi on some ferries);
• Arriving in Macau: immigration on arrival (fill in the card in advance!)

📌Required documents: a passport is a must! Good news: most nationalities (French, Belgian, Swiss, Canadian...) do NOT need a visa for Macau for 30-90 days, depending on your passport. Be sure to check before you travel!

🚌 Hong Kong → Macau by bus via the bridge (the cheapest)

The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, opened in 2018, is a real engineering achievement. At 34 miles (55 km) long, including a 4-mile (6.7 km) underwater tunnel, it is the longest sea bridge in the world. Crossing the bridge is an experience in itself, and it is also by far the cheapest way to travel between Hong Kong and Macau.

How does it work in practice?

The bus journey is done in several steps:

1. Travel to the Hong Kong Port (HKBCF) near the airport
2. Go through Hong Kong exit immigration (around 15–30 minutes)
3. Buy a Golden Bus ticket (£7 / 65 HKD)
4. Cross the bridge in 40–45 minutes
5. Arrive at the Macau Port and pass entry immigration (15–30 minutes)
6. Take a free casino shuttle bus to reach your final destination

The total transport duration

⚠️ You’ll often hear "40 minutes" for the journey, but the reality is quite different. Yep, that’s only the time on the bridge! Expect more like:

• Transport to Hong Kong Port: 30-60 min
• HK exit immigration: 15–30 minutes
• HZMB Bridge: 40-45 min
• Immigration on arrival in Macau: 15–30 min
• Transport from Macau Port to destination: 15-30 min

How long should you allow? Around 2 hours 30 to 3 hours 30, compared to 1 hour 15 by ferry. It’s longer, but you’ll save 60%!

How to book your bus ticket to Macau

• The budget option: Take a bus or taxi to Hong Kong Port (around 100–150 HKD), then buy a Golden Bus ticket on the spot for 65 HKD. The total cost is about 150 HKD, which is roughly £16.
• The comfort option: Book a package with hotel pick-up. Prices usually range from 120 to 160 HKD, around £13–£17.

Golden Bus services run 24 hours a day, with departures every 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the time. You can pay with HKD cash, an Octopus card, or a bank card.

📌 Our tip: If you are short on time, taking the ferry may be faster. If you want to save money and enjoy the bridge experience, the bus is a great choice, especially if you are travelling light.

🚕 Hong Kong → Macau by cross-border taxi

A cross-border taxi is a flexible and convenient choice, especially if you’re travelling with others or carrying luggage. Just note that not all Hong Kong taxis can go to Macau. Only taxis with a special cross-border permit are allowed to cross the HZMB Bridge.

How to get a cross-border taxi

You have two main options:

From Hong Kong Port (HKBCF)

• Use the dedicated cross-border taxi rank outside the terminal
• This is the easiest and safest option
• Fixed price on display: around HKD 250–350 (£26–£39) to Macau

Book via hotel or app

• Ask your hotel to arrange a cross-border taxi
• Apps like HKTaxi may work, but not all drivers accept cross-border trips
• Price: around HKD 300–400 (£33–£43), depending on where you start

Journey time & cost

Key things to know

• You must get out of the taxi at both immigration checkpoints with your passport
• The driver waits for you on the other side (included in the fare)
• Payment is usually HKD cash or card, depending on the driver
• Look for a special permit sticker on the windscreen (red or green taxis)

📌 Trip.com tip: Taxis work well for groups of 3–4 as you can split the cost. If you’re travelling alone, the ferry is usually cheaper.

🚗 Hong Kong → Macau by private car (the most comfortable)

If you’re travelling with family, with elderly people, children or loads of luggage, a private car is the height of comfort! Door-to-door service, no need to lug your suitcases — hop in at your hotel and step out at your hotel in Macau. Simple!

Available services

Private transfers generally include:

• Pick-up from your hotel/airport in Hong Kong;
• Comfortable vehicle (4-seater saloon or 7-seater van);
• Professional chauffeur with a cross-border licence;
• Immigration assistance;
• Drop-off at your hotel in Macau.

Price and duration

Your driver will whisk you across the incredible HZMB bridge, taking care of all the transport details! All you need to do is hop off with your passport at the two immigration checkpoints (for Hong Kong and Macau), and your friendly driver will be waiting for you on the other side.

📌 Who is it for? Families with children, groups of friends who want comfort, travellers with lots of luggage, older travellers, or if you simply want to avoid the stress of public transport.

🚙 Hong Kong → Macau by hire car

Renting a car to get from Hong Kong to Macau is possible, but it’s almost certainly the most complicated option! You’ll need a special licence, specific documents, and the rules are quite strict. Still, if you really want to drive yourself, here’s how:

Requirements

To drive a rental car from Hong Kong to Macau, you'll need:

• A Chinese driving licence or a temporary Chinese driving licence
• • Your international permit is NOT enough;
  • You'll need to apply for a temporary permit (valid for 3 months to 1 year);
  • Required documents: passport, foreign driving licence, certified translation, ID photo.

• A car with an HK-Macau cross-border permit
• • Not all hire cars are allowed to cross the border;
  • You must specifically rent a vehicle authorised for cross-border travel;
  • The car must have dual number plates (HK + Mainland).

• Cross-border insurance
• • Special insurance covering Hong Kong and Macau;
  • Generally an extra HKD 200-300 per day.

The rental price

How to get the temporary permit

You can submit your application to the local Chinese authorities with:

• Valid passport;
• Original foreign driving licence;
• Certified Chinese translation of your licence;
• Recent passport photo;

Notice period: at least 1 working day in advance.

Tips: China has mutual driving licence recognition agreements with France, Belgium, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates. If you hold a licence from one of these countries, the process is simpler.

The Trip.com Recommendation

Hiring a car just to go to Macau basically makes things more complicated… for not much gain. The formalities are cumbersome, it’s relatively pricey, and once you’re in Macau you won’t really need one (the island is small and the casino shuttles are free).

This could be interesting if:

• You're heading out on a road trip HK → Macau → Zhuhai → other cities in Guangdong;
• You're staying for several days and want to explore the area;
• There are several of you to split the costs.

Trip.com is currently offering 8% off car hire.

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Copy the promo code below and enter it on the payment page to take advantage of the offer. 👉 Promo code: TRIPCAR8

🤔 So, which option is right for you?

📋 Practical information you absolutely must know

Immigration and documents

• Passport required (identity card not accepted);
• Visa: Most Western nationalities do NOT need one for a tourist stay in Macau (30–90 days depending on the country);
• You'll go through immigration twice: exit HK + entry Macau;
• Make sure you fill in the arrival/departure card properly before joining the queue (it’s quicker).

The local currency

Macau has its own currency: the Pataca (MOP). Even so, Hong Kong dollars (HKD) are accepted EVERYWHERE in Macau at a 1:1 rate!

💰 Trip.com tip: keep hold of your HKD — no need to exchange! You can pay for everything in Macau with them, no worries. However, if you’re given change in patacas, you won’t be able to use them in Hong Kong (exchange them before you head back).

Phone and Wi‑Fi

Your Hong Kong package won't work in Macau (it's an international border, so do bear that in mind!). Here are your options:

• Local SIM card in Macau (airport or 7-Eleven, ~50 MOP)
• eSIM (super handy, buy in advance via Airalo)
• International roaming (expensive)
• Free Wi-Fi in casinos/hotels (more than enough)

Trip.com tip: free casino shuttle buses

All the major casinos run free shuttle buses from the ferry terminals and Macau Port. As you come out of immigration, you’ll see plenty of signs with the logos:

• Venetian Macau
• Galaxy Macau
• City of Dreams
• Wynn Palace
• MGM Cotai
• Studio City
• Etc.

You don't even need to stay at these hotels or gamble in the casino! Hop on the local shuttle to wherever you want to go — it's completely free. It's your free metro in Macau!

Macau awaits with its giant casinos, magnificent Portuguese heritage, pastéis de nata to die for, and a unique atmosphere! Whether you’re setting off to try your luck at the roulette table, visiting the Ruins of St. Paul’s or simply savouring incredible Sino-Portuguese fusion dishes, the journey from Hong Kong is really straightforward.

Book your ferries and hotels now on Trip.com for the best deals!

Have a great trip to Macau! ✨

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