Crossing the border: Tips for first time Hong Kong-Macau travelers

Home to exquisite entertainment and casinos, great pastries, and historical traces of its colonial past -- it's no wonder many are enticed to visit Macau! And the best part is, it's just a ferry ride away from Hong Kong. :)

Whether this is your first Macau trip or you're a certified wanderlust, it's always helpful to have a background of what to do and how to get there - you know, just to be ready! In this article, atmnl prepared a breakdown of things you need to get ready for when crossing the HK/Macau border through ferry travel. So all you need to do is to bookmark this article because we assured you that you will need this as you get closer to your trip!

But before anything else, remember that our starting point is in the ferry terminal in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. And the fastest way to get there is through Hong Kong's MTR!

The Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal is located at Exit D of Sheung Wan MTR Station, in between the Central and Sai Ying Pun MTR Stations.

There are two main Macau ferry operators from Hong Kong - Turbojet and CotaiJet. Choosing between these two depends upon where you're heading to when traveling to Macau. If you're a first-timer and you want to explore some historical landmarks and experience Macau City Center, we recommend you to book at TurboJet.

TurboJet shuttles between Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong and Macau Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal daily. Ferries run every 15 minutes from 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Occasionally, they have late night ferry services in both directions.

It’ll take you approximately 55 minutes to get from Sheung Wan to the Macau Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal located in the heart of Macau city!

Nearby attractions:

1. Macau Tower - One of the world’s tallest towers! It offers exhilarating sky-high adventures like Sky Walk, Sky Jump, Bungey Jump, and Tower Climb to see the most spectacular view in Macau! 

2. Senado Square (Largo do Senado) -   A 3,700-square meter public plaza at the Historic Center of Macau. You can find numerous souvenir shops, general merchandises, and food stalls here.

3. Ruins of St. Paul -  The only remnant of once the biggest Catholic Church in Asia. It stands adjacent to the famous Mount Fortress and Macau Museum.

4. MGM Macau- A shimmering, three-tiered gold exterior and Five-Star luxury hotel and resort located at the heart of Macau.

5. Hotel Lisboa - One of the most famous hotels in Macau. Known for its distinctive architectural design showcasing a lavish blend of Portuguese and Chinese décor with dazzling chandeliers and glittering mosaics.

6. Wynn Casino - A premium luxury hotel and casino that has Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury retail, and Forbes award-winning spas 

TurboJet types of tickets and pricing:

If you’re heading to the latest casinos, major entertainment attractions, and hotels, you should take Cotai Water Jet. 

Board the ferry in Hong Kong Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal and you will arrive in Taipa Ferry Terminal. Travel time is approximately one hour.

Nearby attractions:

1. The Venetian -  One of the most popular resort-hotels in Macau. It has the combination of the classical charm of Venice and the fashionable modern-style interiors of luxury shops and restaurants.

2.City of Dreams - Offers electrifying entertainment, Michelin-starred dining, designer shopping, internationally renowned art exhibits, iconic architecture, and a diverse array of exclusive accommodation.

3. Hard Rock Cafe -  Located at the Level 2, The Shops at The Boulevard, City of Dreams, the cafe is said to be the perfect place for tourists and locals to eat, drink, and unwind in a laid-back, music-infused atmosphere. 

4. Eiffel Tower at the Parisian  Macao -  A replica of Paris' most famous icon. You can get a fantastic view of Macau city. You can also marvel their "Grand Illumination Show" as it comes alive at night. 

5. The House of Dancing Water -  It is often described as a jaw dropping show. It is one of the world's largest pool-based performances, highlighting 17m diving acrobats. 

6. Studio City Macau -  It is said to be the Asia's first leisure resort to integrate television and film production facilities, retail, gaming and hotels. Signature attractions are Golden Reel, Batman: The Dark Knight Flying theater, Pacha Macau and Warner Bros. Fun Zone.

The prices for TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet ferry rides are the same for adults and children. They differ depending on the time of day the ferry is taken, or whether it is a weekday or weekend/public holiday.

Bonus Tip 1: Most major hotels run a FREE shuttle bus services from the ferry terminals in Macau. Review the nearby hotels (via google maps or as mentioned above) or check with your hotels to see whether they run a shuttle bus service, and from which ferry terminals. Simply head over to the Shuttle Bus terminal and look for your bus!

Bonus Tip 2: As soon as you book a trip, it’s a good idea to double-check that your passports and IDs aren’t expired, and bring them with you all the time!

Departure and Arrival cards are available in the immigration area at the Ferry Terminal (upon entrance and exit in Macau). YES, you will need to go through the whole immigration process! Also consider emailing yourself a copy of your passport, ID's and itinerary, so if anything happens to your hard copies you’ll be able to access them online.

atmnl wants you to remember that wherever you are headed, we hope that you’re going to have great time! ;)

If you’d like to read another travel article, click here.