Getting There

By Boat -- Located only 64km (40 miles) from Hong Kong across the mouth of the Pearl River, Macau is most easily accessible from Hong Kong by high-speed jetfoil, with most departures from the Macau Ferry Terminal, located just west of the Central District in the Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Rd., on Hong Kong Island. Situated above the Sheung Wan MTR station, the Shun Tak Centre houses booking offices for all forms of transportation to Macau, as well as the Macau Government Tourist Office (Room 336, on the same floor as boats departing for Macau). On the Kowloon side, limited service is available also from the China Ferry Terminal on Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, where boats also depart for China. The nearest MTR station for this terminal is Tsim Sha Tsui.

The fastest, most convenient way to travel to Macau is via sleek jetfoils and catamarans, operated by TurboJET (tel. 852/2859 3333 in Hong Kong, 853/287907039 in Macau; www.turbojet.com.hk). The trip to Macau takes approximately 1 hour. Jetfoils depart from the Macau Ferry Terminal west of Central about every 15 to 30 minutes, 24 hours a day. One-way fares Monday through Friday are HK$243 (US$32/£17) for super class and HK$141 (US$18/£10) for economy class; fares on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays are HK$259 (US$34/£10) in super class and HK$153 (US$20/£11) in economy. Fares for night service (6:15pm-6am) are HK$274 (US$36/£20) and HK$175 (US$23/£13) respectively. Fares from Macau to Hong Kong are an additional HK$1 (13¢/7p), a reflection a higher departure tax, included in the price of the ticket. Seniors older than 60 and children younger than 12 receive a HK$15 (US$1.95/£1.05) discount. Fares from the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui are slightly cheaper but departures are less frequent.

If you plan to travel on a weekend or holiday, it's wise to buy round-trip tickets well in advance. Tickets can be purchased at either the Macau Ferry Terminal on Hong Kong Island or the China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon, as well as at all China Travel Service branches in Hong Kong and at the TurboJET Service Counter at Sheung Wan MTR Station, Exit D. You can also book by credit card by calling tel. 852/2921 6688 in Hong Kong. All tickets are for a specific time and cannot be changed. If, however, you've purchased your ticket in advance and then decide you'd like to leave at an earlier time, head for the special queue for standby passengers available at both Shun Tak Centre and in Macau. There is often a good chance that you can get a seat, except during peak periods.

If you plan to spend only 1 or 2 nights in Macau, consider leaving most of your luggage at your Hong Kong hotel, at the Luggage Services Centre on the ground floor of Shun Tak Centre (Shop G02, near the taxi stand), or in computer-monitored lockers located at both the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Macau ferry terminals. Then travel to Macau with only a small, hand-carried bag. Otherwise, you could end up paying an extra charge. Passengers traveling on a TurboJET are allowed one piece of luggage, not to exceed 20 kilograms (44 lb.). Additional baggage must be checked, with charges ranging from HK$20 to HK$40 (US$2.60-US$5.20/£1.40-£2.85) depending upon its weight. Baggage must be at the check-in counter, located just before Customs, 20 minutes before the jetfoil's departure. Obviously, your life will be easier if you leave heavy luggage in Hong Kong.

If you're arriving at Hong Kong International Airport and wish to travel directly to Macau, you can do so via TurboJET's Sea Express service (www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk) without passing through Hong Kong Customs and immigration formalities (if you do pass through Customs, you will not be allowed to take the Sea Express). Upon exiting your arrival gate, look for the FERRY TRANSFER DESK signs, where you can purchase your Sea Express ticket and produce your baggage identification tag for baggage reclaim (your luggage will be retrieved from baggage claim by a TurboJET employee). You will then board a bus for a 7-minute shuttle to the SkyPier, take the TurboJET directly to Macau, and go through Customs there. Baggage is limited to 20 kilograms (44 lb.) in economy class and 30 kilograms (66 lb.) in super class, except for passengers from North America, who are allowed two pieces of baggage, with each piece not to exceed 32 kilograms (71 lb.). There are four sailings daily (at 11:50am and 3:30, 6:15, and 9:15pm; check-in is 1 hr. before sailings), with fares costing HK$180 (US$25/£13) for economy class and HK$280 (US$36/£20) for super class.

By Plane -- Macau's International Airport (tel. 853/28861111; www.macau-airport.gov.mo) opened in November 1995, heralding the birth of Air Macau, the territory's fledgling carrier, followed in 2006 by two low-cost airlines, Viva Macau and Macau Asia Express. The airport is located on reclaimed land on Taipa Island and is conveniently connected to the peninsula by a bridge and bus service. The airport serves flights mainly from China, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as from several other Asian cities, including Taipei, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and Bangkok. Departure tax from Macau International Airport ($110 ptcs/US$14/£7.30) is included in ticket prices. Contact your travel agent or the Macau Government Tourist Office for more information.

Arriving in Macau

Passengers traveling by boat arrive at the Macau Ferry Terminal, located on the main peninsula. After going through Customs, stop by the Macau Government Tourist Office for a map and brochures, including the useful Macau Guide Book. In the arrivals hall there's also a counter for hotels operating shuttle buses. Most expensive and moderately priced hotels operate free shuttle services from the terminal, including Holiday Inn, Mandarin Oriental, Lisboa, Pousada de São Tiago, Westin Resort Macau, and Sintra. Otherwise, city bus nos. 3, 3A, and 10 travel from the terminal to Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, the main downtown street. The fare is $2.50 ptcs (US30¢/15p).

From the airport, there's an airport bus, AP1, which travels from the airport to the ferry terminal, Holiday Inn, Lisboa Hotel, and the Border Gate. The fare for this is $3.30 ptcs (US45¢/20p). A taxi from the airport to the Lisboa costs approximately $40 ptcs (US$5.20/£2.80).