Useful Information

Macao International Airport

Tourists can use the Macao 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 Macao Ferry Terminal, 20 minutes from the Barrier Gate and only 10 minutes away from the COTAI Frontier Post. It operates 24 hours a day.

Helicopter Service

When you are arriving Macao from Hong Kong or Shenzhen, helicopter will provide a speedy option.

Macao - Hong Kong

Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited (Sky Shuttle) operates aircraft between the helipads on the Macao and Hong Kong Ferry terminals. Each flight takes only approximately 16 minutes. Macao to Hong Kong service operates from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the Hong Kong to Macao service operates from 9:30 a.m. to 10:59 p.m.

Macao - ShenZhen

The helicopter service between Macao Ferry Terminal and Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, PRC is also provided. The journey takes about 15 minutes at day and approximately 25 minutes at night. Macao to Shenzhen service operates at 9:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. and the Shenzhen to Macao service operates at 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.

Hong Kong International Airport

If you are arriving via Hong Kong International Airport, the airport ferry service is available. Passengers can transit into or out of Macao 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 Macao Route is approximately 45 minutes.

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.

The Pataca (MOP$) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macao'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 8 Patacas is equivalent to 1 US Dollar.

Foreign currency or travellers' cheques can be changed in hotels, banks and authorized 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 Macao International Airport (Taipa Island) and in the Lisboa Hotel (Macao). Banks open normally from 9 a.m. to 5 p.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.

Chinese and Portuguese are the official languages, Cantonese being most widely spoken. The official languages are used in government departments in all official documents and communications. English is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce.

Vaccination certificates are required only in exceptional circumstances, either in Macao or through the region, where vaccinations are needed. Visitors are not advised to have any particular vaccinations.

Tap water is regularly checked and guaranteed by the Health Department according to international standards.

In a medical emergency, contact the S. Januário Hospital (Government) located in Estrada do Visconde de S. Januário, Macao (tel. 28313731) or the Kiang Wu Hospital (Private) located in Estrada Coelho do Amaral, Macao (tel. 28371333). Emergency services in these hospitals are open 24 hours. In less urgent cases visitors can go to any Health Centre in Macao or in the islands. The most central one is the Tap Seac Health Centre located between Rua do Campo and Av. Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida. Tel: (853) 2852 2232.

Besides western medicine, visitors can find several traditional Chinese medicine doctors. Detailed information regarding Chinese Medicine can be obtained from the Macao Health Department (tel.28562404) or Kiang Wu Hospital (tel. 28371333).

Restaurants often add a ten percent service charge to the bill, but most people add a small amount in addition to that. Rounding up to the next bill size is common. Employees in other industries, such as taxi drivers and luggage handlers, will expect some extra change.

Hong Kong International Airport - Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal (Shun Tak Centre) - Macao

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

Airport Express

First, take the Airport Express to the Hong Kong Station in Central.
Frequency: Every 12 minutes
Journey Time: 24 minutes
Operating Hours: 5:54 AM - 00:48 AM

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

Public Bus No. A11 (air-conditioned)

Passenger should get off at the "Macao Ferry, Connaught Road, Central" bus stop.
Operating Hours: 06:10 AM - 00:30 AM
Frequency: Every 20-25 minutes
Journey Time: 30-40 minutes

Taxi

Taxi service from HKIA to Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal
Journey Time: 30 minutes

By Sea

To and From Hong Kong Hong Kong has three major terminals for Macao-bound travelers: Shun Tak Centre located at Hong Kong Island, China Ferry Terminal located on the Tsimshatsui, Kowloon and the Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal located in Tuen Mun, New Territories. Tourists can find quite a number of jetfoils, Catamarans and ferries available, run by TurboJET, the Cotai Strip CotaiJet™, First Ferry and Hong Kong North West Express Limited.

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 Macao hotels and travel agents, a branch of China Travel Service, and a Macao Government Tourist Office Information Counter.

TurboJET

Journeys will take one hour from Hong Kong to Macao and vice versa operating almost 24 hours. Drinks and snacks are available on board. Trips are made between the Hong Kong - Macao Ferry Terminal (located in the Shun Tak Centre at Sheung Wan) and the Macao Ferry Terminal (located in the Outer Harbour).

The Cotai Strip CotaiJet™

The company runs ferry service between Hong Kong (Hong Kong - Macao Ferry Terminal) and Macao (Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal). Travel time is approximately 1 hour.

To and from Kowloon

The China Ferry Terminal is located on the Tsimshatsui waterfront alongside Harbour City, on the Kowloon side of the harbor. It is used for Catamaran sailings to and from Macao, 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 round-trip sailings to and from Macao and Kowloon, arriving at the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui. The journey takes about 60-75 minutes.

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 Macao. Travel time is approximately 1 hour.

To and from New Territories

The Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal located on the Wu Chui Road, Butterfly Bay, Tuen Mun, New Territories.

Hong Kong North West Express Limited
The company runs ferry service between Tuen Mun of New Territories (Tuen Mun Ferry Terminal) and Macao (Macao Ferry Terminal). Travel time is approximately 1 hour.

To and From Shenzhen

The Yuet Tung Shipping Co. offers a ferry service between Macao (Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal) and She Kou (Shenzhen). The trip takes about one hour and twenty minutes.

TurboJET's service also extends to carrying passengers to and from Shenzhen. The company offers trips between Macao, Shenzhen Airport Fu Yong Ferry Terminal and She Kou.

To and From Wanchai / JiangMen

The Yuet Tung Shipping Co. also provides ferry transportation routes from Macao to Wanchai - Zhuhai and JiangMen.

To and From Guangzhou (Nansha)

TurboJET runs ferry service between Macao and Nansha of Guangzhou at weekends.

By Land

There are two gateways available, the Barrier Gate and the COTAI Frontier Post. The Barrier Gate operates from 7:00 AM to midnight. The COTAI Frontier Post at the Taipa-Coloane Reclaimed Area operates from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

To and from major cities in Guangdong Province, mainland China
The Kee Kwan Motor Road Co. offers an air-conditioned bus service between Macao and major cities in Guangdong Province during 7:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Buses depart from the bus stop near the Master Hotel (at the end of Av. Almeida Ribeiro and Rua das Lorchas).

All visitors must hold a passport or a valid travel document. 
There is no visa required for all US and Canadian citizens for up to 30 days.

Visas are required by all visitors except:

a) 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;

b) 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;

c) 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 Macao.

d) Nationals of China with valid Macao entry / depart documents;

e) Holders of Consulate / Diplomatic documents issued by the Macao SAR or Hong Kong SAR;

f) Holders of Diplomatic Passport;

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

h) 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 Macao.

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.

For those who want to travel to mainland China, visas may be obtained at any of the China Travel Service (CTS) offices counters in Macao (the main branch is located at Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues, nºs 223-225, Edifício Nam Kuong, tel.853-2870 0888) or at the Gongbei Immigration and Customs (after the Border Gate) .

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

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 typhoons depend on the proximity of a tropical storm. If the signal 8 is hoisted, the bridges between Macao and Taipa will be closed while the lower level of the Sai Van Bridge remains open, and as a preventive measure, sea and air connections between Macao and Hong Kong as well as most flights will also be cancelled.