Although Macau is connected to Hong Kong by a road bridge and even shares a normal land border with China, shipping plays an important role.
Especially from Macau to Hong Kong, ferries are the fastest and most convenient mode of transport.
Towards mainland China, there is frequent shipping to Shenzhen, or from the inner ports in the narrow strait between Macao and China, where ferries run mainly to Zhuhai.
When travelling from Macau to Hong Kong or vice versa, you must always pass through passport control on both sides. Even though both cities are formally part of China, they are two autonomous regions with their own rules, so you can't travel between the cities without a passport.
Ferries from Macau to Hong Kong
The busiest shipping service operates to the neighbouring Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Ferries are significantly faster than buses and immigration procedures tend to be more convenient and better organised than when travelling by bus.
Itineraries and shipping companies
There are always two ports of call in Macau and Hong Kong. An accurate map can be found below.
There are two companies providing regular services between Macau and Hong Kong.
- Turbojet - official website, online ticket booking, timetables: turbojet.com.hk
- Cotai Water Jet - official website, online ticket booking, timetables: cotaiwaterjet.com
The two companies have different their backbone routes.
- Macau Outer Harbour <-> Hong Kong Sheung Wan
- Only Turbojet operates on the route
- Frequency - 30 to 60 minutes
- First ship from both Macau and Hong Kong - 7:30am
- Last ship from Macau - 23:59
- Last boat from Hong Kong - 23:30
- Macau Taipa <-> Hong Kong Sheung Wan
- The route is mainly operated by Cotai Water Jet and only 1-2 connections per day are supplemented by Turbojet
- Frequency - 30 to 60 minutes
- First boat from Macau - 9:00am (Cotai)
- First boat from Hong Kong - 7:30am (Cotai)
- Last boat from Macau - 22:30 (Cotai)
- Last boat from Hong Kong - 23:59 (Cotai)
- Macau Taipa <-> Kowloon
- Only Turbojet is on the route
- Frequency - 2-4 ships per day
Cotai Water Jet's route from Macau Taipa Port to Hong Kong HKG Airport is currently suspended.
How much do tickets cost and where to buy them?
Tickets for all routes on both shipping companies are the same price. There is a slight difference in price tags for the higher classes, where Cotai Water Jet is cheaper.
- Economy Class - seats on the lower deck
- Super Class (Turbojet) or Cotai First (Cotai Water Jet) - more comfortable seats on the upper deck with free snacks (similar to airline food)
There is also a distinction between day and night fares, and different prices on weekends and weekdays.
| Economy Class / Cotai Class (Turbojet and Cotai Water Jet) |
Super Class (Turbojet) |
Cotai First (Cotai) |
|
| Daily cruise (weekdays) | 175 hkd | 365 hkd | 310 hkd |
| Daily cruises (weekends and holidays) | 190 hkd | 395 hkd | 329 hkd |
| Night cruise | 220 hkd | 415 hkd | 360 hkd |
On the way from Macau to Hong Kong, the same amounts in Macau pataca apply.
When you purchase a ticket, you will be assigned a specific seat on the ship and it is not possible to choose a window seat in advance.
How are the passport checks done?
Immigration checks are very quick and because they are located right in the dock buildings, everything is very clear.
You will go through passport control before entering the waiting areas at the piers and then after arrival before leaving the dock building.
Normal waiting times on both sides of the border are 5 to 10 minutes.
How to get to the marinas?
Where exactly are the Hong Kong and Macau wharves and what bus or subway lines go to them? Where do you buy tickets or transport cards?
- Macau Outer Harbour
- Bus stop "Terminal Marítimo De Passageiros" - lines 1A, 3, 3A, 10, 10B, 10X, 12, 17S, 28A, 28B, 29, 32, 56, 60, 102X, AP1
- Macau Taipa
- Bus stop "Terminal Marítimo De Passageiros Da Taipa" - lines 26, 36, 51A, 73S, MT1, MT4
- "Terminal Marítimo Da Taipa" monorail station
- Hong Kong Sheung Wan
- Sheung Wan metro station - dark blue "Island Line"
- Bus stop "Macau Ferry"
- citybus.com.hk - lines 3A, 4, 4X, 7, 37B, 37X, 71, 71P, 90B, 91
- search.kmb.hk - lines 905, 905P, 914, 914X, 930, 930A, 930B, 930X, 948, 948B, 948P, 948X, 950, 952, 962X, 967, 969, 979, 982X
- Hong Kong Kowloon
- "Austin" subway station (450 metres) - brown "Tuen Ma Line"
- Tsim Sha Tsui Metro Station (450 metres) - Red "Tsuen Wan Line"
- Bus stop "China Ferry Terminal" - search.kmb.hk (3C, 14, 238X)
The Octopus Transport Card, which you load with Hong Kong fares, can be purchased at all subway stations at the ticket counter or at a vending machine. For detailed information on ticket prices and payment, see Transport in Hong Kong.
You can buy a Macau Pass to load your Macau fares at the mini grocery stores in the arrival halls of both Macau ports. For detailed information on ticket prices and payment, see the chapter Transport in Macau.
Alternatively, you can pay fares in Macau with exact cash from the driver (cost 6 mop). However, you can also pay with Hong Kong dollars.
Ferries to mainland China
The boat service to mainland China is convenient for a quick trip to Shenzhen or Shekou, and also for crossing from downtown Macau to downtown Zhuhai via the Inner Strait.
Routes and shipping companies
There are three ports of call in Macau, from where two companies provide sailings and transport to China.
- Turbojet - official website, online ticket booking, timetables: turbojet.com.hk
- Yuet Tung - the official website is not currently operational and ticket sales are only available at the pier.
The two companies have different backbone routes.
- Macau Outer Harbour <-> Shenzhen Shekou
- Only Turbojet operates on the route
- Frequency - 90 to 120 minutes
- Macau Outer Harbour <-> Shenzhen Airport
- Only Turbojet operates on the route
- Frequency - 1x daily
- Macau Taipa <-> Shenzhen Shekou
- Only Yuet Tung operates on the route
- Frequency - 30 to 60 minutes
- Macau Taipa <-> Shenzhen Airport
- Only Yuet Tung flies on the route
- Frequency - 3 times a day
- Macau Inner Harbour <-> Zhuhai
- Only Yuet Tung flies on the route
- Frequency - 15 minutes
- Macau Inner Harbour <-> Wanzai
- Only Yuet Tung sails on the route
- Frequency - 15 minutes
How much do tickets cost and where to buy them?
Tickets for all routes to Shenzhen at Turbojet and Yuet Tung have the same prices. We list the prices for a one-way ticket.
- 260 mop - Weekdays
- 270 mop - weekends and holidays
The ticket price from Inner Harbour to Zhuhai and Wanzai is 20 mop.