Getting to Macau

By Air

1) Macau International Airport

Tourists can use the Macau International Airport for travelling to several destinations in the region on direct flights or catch connecting flights to different ports of Asia, Europe or America. The airport is located on Taipa Island and is 15 minutes away from the Macau Ferry Terminal, 20 minutes from the Barrier Gate and only 10 minutes away from the COTAI Frontier Post. It operates 24 hours a day. For detailed information on flight schedules, please dial (853)28861111 or visit http://www.macau-airport.com.

To read about the Regulation on Liquids Carried on Passenger Hand Baggage, please visit http://www.aacm.gov.mo.

Transportation Service at the Macau International Airport
All major hotels provide pick-up service which can be booked in advance or arranged on arrival.
Taxis are air-conditioned and inexpensive, they are freely available at the taxi station outside the Airport. There will be a surcharge of five patacas and each piece of luggage carried in the trunk will cost three patacas.

2) Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong International Airport ←→ Macau

If you are arriving via Hong Kong International Airport, the airport ferry service is available. Passengers can transit into or out of Macau via Hong Kong International Airport without the need to go through HK Customs and Immigration formalities and also without the hassle of carrying their luggage to the ferry terminal. The trip to Macau Route is approximately 45 minutes.

TurboJET
For enquiries please call Hong Kong (852)28593333, Macau (853)87907039. E-mail: reservation@turbojet.com.hk. Website: http://www.turbojet.com.hk.

The Cotai Strip CotaiJet
Enquiries for schedule and booking please call Hong Kong (852)23599990, Macau (853)28850595, or visit the website: http://www.cotaijet.com.mo.

Hong Kong International Airport ←→ Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal (Shun Tak Centre) ←→ Macau

The following public transportation from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport to Macau-Hong Kong Ferry Terminal is available:

Alternative a) - Airport Express
First, take the Airport Express to the Hong Kong Station in Central.
- Fare: HK$100 (Single Trip).
- Frequency: Every 12 minutes.
- Journey Time: 24 minutes.
- Operating Hours: 5:54AM - 00:48AM.

Then, take a taxi to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal (Shun Tak Centre) at Sheung Wan.
- Fare: HK$15-20.
- Journey Time: 10-15 minutes.

Alternative b) - Public Bus No. A11 (air-conditioned)
Passenger should get off at the "Macau Ferry, Connaught Road, Central" bus stop.
- Fare: HK$40.
- Operating Hours: 06:10AM - 00:30AM.
- Frequency: Every 20-25 minutes.
- Journey Time: 30-40 minutes.

Alternative c) - Taxi
Taxi service from HKIA to Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal.
- Fare: HK$350-400.
- Journey Time: 30 minutes.

Ticket fares are for reference only.

By Sea

To and From Hong Kong

Hong Kong has two major terminals for Macau-bound travelers: Shun Tak Centre located at Hong Kong Island and China Ferry Terminal located on the Tsimshatsui, Kowloon. Tourists can find quite a number of jetfoils, Catamarans and ferries available, run by TurboJET, the Cotai Strip CotaiJet and First Ferry.

a) To and from Hong Kong Island

The main sea terminal and heliport are located in Shun Tak Centre, on the waterfront West of Central District on Hong Kong Island. It is above Sheung Wan MTR station (Mass Transit Railway) and next to a terminus for buses and minibuses from many parts of Hong Kong, including the A11 Airbus from the airport. The terminal has passenger wharves and helipad, booking offices for current and advance sailings and flights, reservation offices of Macau hotels and travel agents, a branch of China Travel Service, and a Macau Government Tourist Office Information Counter.

TurboJET
Journeys will take one hour from Hong Kong to Macau and vice versa operating almost 24 hours. Drinks and snacks are available on board. Trips are made between the Hong Kong - Macau Ferry Terminal (located in the Shun Tak Centre at Sheung Wan) and the Macau Ferry Terminal (located in the Outer Harbour). For inquiries call Macau (853)87907039 or Hong Kong (852)28593333. For telephone bookings, call Hong Kong (852)29216688. You can also visit the website: http://www.turbojet.com.hk.

The Cotai Strip CotaiJet
The company runs ferry service between Hong Kong (Hong Kong - Macau Ferry Terminal) and Macau (Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal). Travel time is approximately 1 hour. Enquiries for schedule and booking please call HK (852)23599990, Macau (853)28850595, or visit the website: http://www.cotaijet.com.mo.

b) To and from Kowloon

The China Ferry Terminal is located on the Tsimshatsui waterfront alongside Harbour City, on the Kowloon side of the harbour. It is used for Catamaran sailings to and from Macau, and is convenient for visitors staying in Tsimshatsui hotels. There are booking offices for current and advance sailings.

First Ferry
Catamarans from the First Ferry offer roundtrip sailings to and from Macau and Kowloon, arriving at the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. The journey takes about 60-75 minutes. For details, please call Hong Kong (852)21318181 or Macau (853)28727676. You can also visit the website: http://www.nwff.com.hk.

The Cotai Strip CotaiJet
The company runs ferry service between the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon and Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal in Macau. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. Enquiries for schedule and booking please call HK (852)23599990, Macau (853)28850595, or visit the website: http://www.cotaijet.com.mo.

Notes for travelers:
‧Passengers are advised to be at the terminal at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time, in order to complete immigration formalities.
‧Standby - In the Shun Tak Centre and Macau Ferry Terminal, there are special lines for standby passengers who want to leave earlier than their ticketed sailings. Except for holidays and weekends, there is a good chance of getting a seat.
‧Seat allocation - In Hong Kong and Macau, seats are allocated after check-in and immigration.

Passports and Visas

All visitors must hold a passport or a valid travel document.

Visas are required by all visitors except:

(1) Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United Kingdom (6 months) for a stay up to 90 days;

(2) Nationals of Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days;

(3) Holders of "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong SAR Re-entry Permit"; Valid "Hong Kong Identity Card" holders are required to bring their valid passport or travel documents when they enter Macau.

(4) Nationals of China with valid Macau entry / depart documents;

(5) Holders of Consulate / Diplomatic documents issued by the Macau SAR or Hong Kong SAR;

(6) Holders of Diplomatic Passport;

(7) Holders of "Laissez Passer" issued by the United Nations; in the course of duty;

(8) Holders of travel document issued by the Portuguese authorities for the foreign citizens.

Visas can be obtained from the Immigration Services through Embassies/Consulates of the PRC and should be used within the validity. The visa is expired after the valid date.

Visas may be applied for upon arrival at the Immigration counter, however some countries are required to apply for an entry visa before embarking to Macau (Pre-arrival Visa Initiative for Nationals of Six Countries).

There are three types:
Individual - MOP$100, children under 12 years of age pay MOP$50.
Family Passport - MOP$200.
Group - MOP$50 per person for bonafide groups of 10 or more and children aged 12 or under.

The above information is for reference only. For further information on entry formalities, please call the Macau Immigration Services of Public Security Police Force: (Macau area code) 853-28725488 or visit the website: http://www.fsm.gov.mo, email: psp-info@fsm.gov.mo.

Currency

The Pataca (MOP$) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macau's official currency. There are banknotes and coins in the following denominations:
Coins: 10, 20 and 50 avos; 1, 2 and 5 Patacas.
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas.

By the decision of the Government the Pataca is linked to the Hong Kong dollar (HK$). The exchange rate is MOP$103.20 = HK$100.00. There is an acceptable variation up to 10%. Roughly 10 Patacas is equivalent to 1 EURO and 8 Patacas is equivalent to 1 US Dollar.

Foreign currency or travellers' cheques can be changed in hotels, banks and authorised exchange dealers located all around the city. If the visitor needs to change money outside the usual banking hours, there are 24 hours exchange counters operating in the Macau International Airport (Taipa Island) and in the Lisboa Hotel (Macau). Banks open normally from 9a.m. to 5p.m. Most credit cards are accepted in many hotels, shops and restaurants.

There are no restrictions on the amount of currency, which can be brought in or taken out of the territory.

Climate and Clothing

The climate is fairly warm tropical climates. Annual average temperature is about 20°C (68°F) and ranges from 16°C (50°F) to 25°C (77°F). Humidity levels are high and average values vary between 73% and 90%. Annual rainfall is 1.778mm, mostly during Summer months.

Autumn (October - December) is the most pleasant season. Days are sunny and warm and humidity levels are low. Winter (January - March) is cold but sunny. In April humidity increases and from May to September the climate becomes hot, humid and rainy with occasional tropical storms (typhoons).

Warning signals for the typhoons which depend upon the proximity of a tropical storm. If a signal 8 is hoisted, the bridges between Macau and Taipa and the isthmus between Taipa and Coloane are closed. As a preventive measure sea and air connections between Macau and Hong Kong as well as most flights are cancelled.

In the Summer visitors are advised to wear light cotton clothes. In winter some woolen clothes are recommended as well as a thicker jacket or even an overcoat. From March to May as well as from September to November nights are cooler and therefore a cardigan or sweater will be useful.

Source: Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau