Hong Kong to Macau: ferry or bridge bus?
Updated
Updated 19 Oct 2026. Ferry sailings and fares are from TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet. Bus fares are from the HZMB shuttle operator. Times to the terminals are from our planner (weekday 10am, adult Octopus).
Quick answer: If you're on Hong Kong Island or in Kowloon, the ferry from Sheung Wan is usually quicker door to door, about 1.5–2 hours for HK$192–242. The bridge bus is cheaper (HK$65–70) and runs 24 hours, but the port is out by the airport. It's the obvious choice from the airport, Tung Chung or the New Territories West, late at night, or when ferries are sold out.
| Ferry (Sheung Wan) | HZMB bridge bus | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves from | Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Shun Tak Centre, above Sheung Wan MTR | HZMB Hong Kong Port, next to the airport |
| Getting there | From Tsim Sha Tsui 17 min (HK$10.6); from Causeway Bay 15 min (HK$5.9) | From Tsim Sha Tsui about 50 min (~HK$161.9 with Airport Express) or 80 min (HK$30.8 by MTR + bus A30); from the airport 15 min (HK$9.8, bus B4) |
| Journey | About 60 min at sea | Bridge crossing, plus immigration on both sides |
| Fare (adult, one way) | TurboJET Economy HK$194 weekday / HK$212 weekend / HK$242 night; Cotai Class HK$192 / HK$209 / HK$242 | HK$65 (HK$70 midnight–6am) |
| Hours (to Macau) | TurboJET 07:30–22:30; Cotai Water Jet 07:30–22:30 | 24 hours, every 5–30 min |
| Arrives at | TurboJET: Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal (Macau Peninsula) or Taipa. Cotai Water Jet: Taipa Ferry Terminal (near the airport and Cotai) | HZMB Macao Port, on the bridge's artificial island. Continue by local bus or taxi |
| Best for | Hong Kong Island and central Kowloon, daytime trips, going to the Macau Peninsula | From the airport or Lantau, budget trips, after 22:30 |
The ferry
Both ferry companies sail from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal on Level 3 of Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, directly above Sheung Wan MTR station. Buy at the ticket office or kiosks, check in, clear Hong Kong departure immigration and board. TurboJET asks you to be there at least 30 minutes before departure.
- TurboJET goes to the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal on the Macau Peninsula, near the old town and the Peninsula casinos. Sailings run from 07:30 to 18:00 every 30–60 minutes, then at 19:30, 20:30, 21:30 and 22:30. A few TurboJET sailings go to Taipa.
- Cotai Water Jet goes to the Taipa Ferry Terminal, closer to the Cotai Strip resorts and Macau Airport. It sails from 07:30 to 22:30, roughly every 30–60 minutes.
- Night fares. TurboJET charges the night fare from 18:30. Cotai Water Jet's night fare starts at 17:10 from October to January. Seniors and children under 12 get a small discount (HK$18 on TurboJET, HK$20 on Cotai Water Jet).
- Luggage: hand luggage is free. Cotai Water Jet charges for checked bags from HK$25 a piece and needs a booking by 16:00 the day before.
- Kowloon: the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui currently has TurboJET sailings to Zhuhai only, not Macau. For Macau, go to Sheung Wan.
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Plan your trip to the Macau Ferry Terminal (Sheung Wan) · From Tsim Sha Tsui
The bridge bus
Get to the HZMB Hong Kong Port first. From the airport, take bus B4. From the city, take the Airport Express or MTR plus a bus (A-routes). Clear Hong Kong departure at the port, then board the gold shuttle bus. It runs all day and night, every 5 minutes at busy times and every 15–30 minutes overnight. The fare is HK$65, or HK$70 from midnight to 6am, half price for children under 12, seniors 65+ and people with disabilities. You can pay by Octopus, WeChat Pay, Alipay or cash. You arrive at the Macao Port on the bridge's artificial island, clear Macau immigration and continue by local bus or taxi. Many hotels run shuttles, so check with yours.
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Plan your trip to the HZMB Hong Kong Port · From Tsim Sha Tsui · Queue at the bridge now
Which should I choose?
- Staying in Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay or Tsim Sha Tsui: ferry. You'll be in Macau in about 1.5–2 hours.
- Coming from the airport, Tung Chung, Tuen Mun or Tsuen Wan: bridge bus. It's cheaper and you avoid crossing town.
- After 22:30 or before 07:30: bridge bus, the only option running.
- Going to Cotai or Taipa resorts: Cotai Water Jet to Taipa, or the bridge bus plus a hotel shuttle.
- Weekends and holidays: ferry fares go up and both options get busy. Buy ferry tickets ahead, and check the live bridge queue.
- Mainland visitors: on an Exit-Entry Permit (往来港澳通行证) you need a valid Macau endorsement to enter Macau from Hong Kong.
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Also see: Airport straight to Macau or Shenzhen · Shenzhen border crossings compared
FAQ
Is the ferry or the bus faster from Hong Kong to Macau?
From Hong Kong Island and central Kowloon, the ferry is usually faster: about 60 minutes at sea from Sheung Wan, which is 15–20 minutes by MTR from most hotels. The bridge bus is quicker only if you start near the airport.
How much is the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau?
TurboJET Economy is HK$194 on weekday daytimes, HK$212 at weekends and on holidays, and HK$242 at night (from 18:30). Cotai Water Jet's Cotai Class is HK$192, HK$209 or HK$242. October 2026 fares, including departure tax.
How much is the HZMB bus to Macau?
HK$65 one way, or HK$70 from midnight to 6am. It runs 24 hours.
Where does the Macau ferry leave from in Hong Kong?
From the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Shun Tak Centre, above Sheung Wan MTR station. There are currently no scheduled Macau sailings from the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.
What time is the last ferry to Macau?
22:30 from Sheung Wan, on both TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet. After that, take the bridge bus, which runs all night.
Which Macau terminal should I choose?
Outer Harbour (TurboJET) for the Macau Peninsula and the old town. Taipa (Cotai Water Jet) for Cotai resorts and Macau Airport.
How this guide is made
Fares and the night-bus examples are worked out today from the Transport Department's and MTR's open data on DATA.GOV.HK, as in our planner; Octopus product details follow Octopus Cards Limited's tourist pages, which are the final word. The advice is ours.