Canonical: https://awaychapter.com/en/transport/macau/ferry-or-bridge-bus/ Language: en Content-Signal: search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=yes Description: Choose between the Sheung Wan ferry and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge shuttle bus by where you stay in Hong Kong and when you must be back, then decide on a day trip or a night in Macau. Author: Away Chapter Content Team Published: 2026-11-12 Updated: 2026-11-12 # Hong Kong to Macau: ferry or bridge bus, day trip or one night Choose between the Sheung Wan ferry and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge shuttle bus by where you stay in Hong Kong and when you must be back, then decide on a day trip or a night in Macau. This article contains affiliate links. Compiled by Away Chapter Content Team Information checked 2026.11.11 Updated 2026.11.12 ## Staying a night in Macau? Match the base to where you arrive Compare a peninsula base for an evening in the historic centre with a Cotai resort base. ### Macau Peninsula / Inner Harbour ![Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 lit up at night with the Inner Harbour behind]() #### Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 On Rua do Visconde Paço de Arcos by the Inner Harbour. Ponte 16 is a stop on bus 101 in the list published by the bridge shuttle operator, and the hotel is on the peninsula, which suits a night spent walking the historic centre. Cotai shows mean moving between the peninsula and Cotai. [Check rooms and rates]()[Compare in the guide]() ### Cotai ![The Venetian Macao at night with its bell tower and arched bridge]() #### The Venetian Macao A Cotai resort whose official transport page describes free shuttles used from the ferry terminals and the HZMB Macao Port. It suits a night when you arrive by Taipa ferry or bridge bus; the historic centre is a separate trip to the peninsula. [Check rooms and rates]()[Compare in the guide]() Ferry and bridge-bus timetables and hotel shuttle hours can change by date. Check the operator and hotel notices again before you travel. ![Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal with three red high-speed ferries alongside]() Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal with three red high-speed ferries alongside Before choosing between the ferry and the bridge bus to Macau, settle two things: where your Hong Kong hotel is and what time you must be back. If you are staying in the centre of Hong Kong Island, the ferry from Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan is the simplest start. If you are near the airport or in Tung Chung, the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB) sits right next to you and the shuttle bus is the shorter trip. From Kowloon both work, so the deciding factor is where you want to arrive in Macau and whether you will sleep there. The timetables and routes below were checked on the operators’ official pages on 11 November 2026. They change with the season and the weather, so check again on the day you travel. ## Start from where you are staying There are two regular ways to cross. One is the high-speed ferry from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan (3/F Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central). The other is the bridge shuttle bus from the HZMB Hong Kong Port, on an artificial island beside the airport. The two departure points are far apart, so the trip from your hotel to the departure point is a large part of the total journey. | Hong Kong base | Closer departure point | Routes named in official information | | --- | --- | --- | | Hong Kong Island (Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay) | Sheung Wan ferry terminal | Shun Tak Centre for the ferry. For the bridge: Citybus A11 (North Point, Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Central, Sheung Wan, Kowloon Station) | | Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Mong Kok) | Either | Bridge: Citybus A21 (via Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Jordan, Tsim Sha Tsui). Ferry: travel to Sheung Wan | | Airport / Tung Chung | HZMB Hong Kong Port | B4 (airport circular), B6 (Tung Chung town centre and MTR Tung Chung), B5 from Sunny Bay | The bridge shuttle operator’s website lists the airport “A” routes that call at the Hong Kong Port, the B4, B5 and B6 feeders, and the overnight “NA” routes, and says the bus companies’ own notices take precedence for fares, frequency and routing. Treat the routes in the table as a starting point and confirm the day’s service in the bus company’s app or website. The SkyPier ferry between the airport and Macau was listed by TurboJET as charter-only when we checked, so it is not a practical option for most visitors. ![Passengers with luggage queuing at a TurboJET gate in the Sheung Wan ferry terminal]() Passengers with luggage queuing at a TurboJET gate in the Sheung Wan ferry terminal ## Ferries leave from Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan TurboJET’s official page shows a timetable effective from 16 October 2026 with sailings from Sheung Wan to the Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal from 07:30 until 22:30. Sailings back from the Outer Harbour to Sheung Wan start at 07:30, and the evening departures are at 19:00, 21:00, 22:00 and 23:00. The crossing takes about 60 minutes. TurboJET advises boarding at least 30 minutes before departure for document checks, so for the 23:00 sailing you need to be at the Outer Harbour terminal by 22:30. If you are staying in Cotai or heading to its resorts first, the sailing to the Taipa Ferry Terminal fits better. Cotai Water Jet’s timetable lists departures from Sheung Wan to Taipa from 07:30 to 22:30, and from Taipa back to Sheung Wan from 09:00 through to 23:00 and 23:59. Some departures are marked as running on specific dates only, so look at the timetable for your date. TurboJET also runs Sheung Wan–Taipa sailings, but only a few each day at the time of checking. Fares depend on class, day and time. Cotai Water Jet lists its Cotai Class at 192 on weekdays, 209 at weekends and on public holidays, and 242 for night sailings (Hong Kong dollars when bought in Hong Kong, patacas when bought in Macau). The economy fares we saw in TurboJET’s table are similar: HK$194 for weekday day sailings, HK$212 at weekends and on holidays, and HK$242 at night. TurboJET treats departures from 18:30 as night sailings; Cotai Water Jet counts from 17:10 between October and January. We could not find a sailing from the China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon to Macau in TurboJET’s current route information. If you stay in Kowloon and want the ferry, plan to get to Sheung Wan first. ![Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal with three red high-speed ferries alongside]() Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal with three red high-speed ferries alongside ## With the bridge bus, reaching the Hong Kong Port is the real journey The HZMB shuttle bus runs 24 hours a day between the Hong Kong Port and the Macao Port. According to the operator, buses leave every 5 minutes at busy times between 06:00 and 23:59, every 10–15 minutes at other daytime hours, and every 15–30 minutes between 00:00 and 05:59. The fare from Hong Kong to Macau is HK$65 by day and HK$70 at night. Children under 12 or under 1.2 m tall, people aged 65 or over and people with disabilities pay half. At the Hong Kong Port you can pay with Octopus, WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, BOCPay or cash, among other methods. ![Public transport interchange at the HZMB Hong Kong Port under a curved roof]() Public transport interchange at the HZMB Hong Kong Port under a curved roof The buses are frequent, but the Hong Kong Port is next to the airport, so from Hong Kong Island or Kowloon you first need an airport “A” bus to get there. You clear Hong Kong departure control, ride the shuttle and then go through Macau arrival control at the Macao Port. We could not find a crossing time for the bridge itself on the operator’s pages. Allow separately for the ride from your hotel to the port and for immigration and queuing on both sides. If you are staying at the airport or in Tung Chung, that access time is short, which is why the bridge bus works best for you. ![Gold-coloured HZMB shuttle bus parked at the Hong Kong Port]() Gold-coloured HZMB shuttle bus parked at the Hong Kong Port The bridge bus’s main advantage is that you can still come back late. After you arrive at the Hong Kong Port, though, you need a bus to your hotel. The operator points passengers travelling between midnight and early morning to the overnight “NA” airport routes, but each route has its own stops and frequency, so find the one that serves your area before you go. The Venetian Macao’s official transport page also lists a direct coach, One Bus, between Jordan in Kowloon and the Sands resorts, with 10 round trips a day. It is a separate service with its own timetable and tickets. ![The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge seen across the sea from Tai O]() The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge seen across the sea from Tai O ## Each Macau arrival point leads differently to the historic centre The Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal is on the Macau peninsula. TurboJET notes that plenty of taxis and buses run from there to the city centre and that most hotels run free shuttles to and from the terminal. If the historic centre, with Senado Square and the Ruins of St. Paul’s, is your goal, arriving at the Outer Harbour is the most direct option. Shuttle stops and hours vary by hotel, so follow your hotel’s latest information. From the Taipa Ferry Terminal you can take the Macao Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Taipa Line. Its official page says the line runs from Taipa Ferry Terminal station to Barra (媽閣) station on the peninsula, with a total journey time of about 28 minutes. It operates 06:30–23:15 from Monday to Thursday and 06:30–23:59 from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. If you are staying at a Cotai resort, its free shuttle may be easier. ![Taipa Ferry Terminal entrance with departure hall and ticket office signs]() Taipa Ferry Terminal entrance with departure hall and ticket office signs At the HZMB Macao Port, the bridge shuttle website lists the city bus routes. Route 101 is a loop from the Macao Port via Praça Ferreira do Amaral, and its stop list includes Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (新馬路) and Ponte 16 (十六浦). Senado Square opens onto Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro, so this is the route to check for going straight to the historic centre. Route 102 passes through Cotai on its way to the Hengqin border post, and route 103 goes to the Taipa Ferry Terminal. The same page lists resort shuttles to Grand Lisboa Palace, The Venetian, The Parisian, The Londoner, Wynn Palace, MGM Cotai, Galaxy, Studio City and City of Dreams. Most start around 09:00–10:00 and finish between 21:00 and 23:30. The page describes these details as for reference only, with the operators’ notices taking precedence. ## Let the last ride back decide: day trip or one night A day trip works without strain if you stay on Hong Kong Island, take a morning ferry to the Outer Harbour, spend the day walking the historic centre and come back on the 21:00 or 22:00 sailing. Know that 23:00 is the last TurboJET sailing from the Outer Harbour, but do not build your plan around it. If bad weather or a sold-out sailing makes you miss it, there is no later sailing from that terminal. Cotai Water Jet lists 23:00 and 23:59 departures from Taipa to Sheung Wan, but that is a different terminal you would need to reach separately, so check that day’s timetable first. Once you land in Sheung Wan, the ride to a hotel on Hong Kong Island is short, so a late return is manageable. If you stay in Kowloon, you can mix the two directions. Go out by A21 to the bridge port in the morning and take the bus across, then come back in the evening by ferry from the Outer Harbour to Sheung Wan and continue to Kowloon on the MTR. If you want to stay in Macau until very late, the 24-hour bridge bus is the option with the least time pressure. In that case, whether a day trip is realistic depends on whether an overnight bus actually runs from the Hong Kong Port towards your hotel. A night in Macau makes more sense in some cases: when you want Senado Square after dark or a show in Cotai, when you are carrying luggage on to your next destination, or when you are flying out of Hong Kong airport the next day. In the last case, returning by bridge bus and taking the B4 to the airport is the shortest route in the operator’s information. If you land in Hong Kong late at night, our guide to a [late arrival in Hong Kong: airport hotel or city]() covers that night separately. For a night in Macau, it helps to think in two bases: the historic-centre side and the Cotai side, as with the two hotels below. ![Senado Square at night with Christmas decorations lit]() Senado Square at night with Christmas decorations lit ## Historic-centre night: Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 is on Rua do Visconde Paço de Arcos by the Inner Harbour on the Macau peninsula. Ponte 16 is a stop on bus route 101 in the list published by the bridge shuttle operator, which suits a trip where you arrive over the HZMB, walk the historic centre and stay one night. [Check rates for your dates on Agoda]() · [Check room details on Trip.com]() ![Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 lit up at night with the Inner Harbour behind]() Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 lit up at night with the Inner Harbour behind The official Accor page lists Superior rooms with two single beds or one king bed and Luxury rooms with river views, among others. If two people need separate beds, choose the bed type first on the booking screen. The hotel’s strength is that it is on the same peninsula as the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro area onto which Senado Square opens. It is easy to walk the historic centre again in the evening, and the next morning the Outer Harbour ferry back to Hong Kong Island is a straightforward option. If Cotai’s large resorts or shows are your main reason to go, you would have to move between the peninsula and Cotai each time, and the Cotai base below may suit you better. ![King-bed room with Macau Tower visible through the window]() King-bed room with Macau Tower visible through the window ![Sofitel lobby entrance with a chandelier inside]() Sofitel lobby entrance with a chandelier inside ## Cotai night: The Venetian Macao The Venetian Macao is on Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança in Cotai. Its official transport page describes free shuttles used from the airport, ferry terminals, border gates and the HZMB Macao Port, and links to The Venetian’s own shuttle schedule. It suits a one-night trip where you arrive at Taipa by Cotai Water Jet and continue by resort shuttle, or come over by bridge bus and switch to the shuttle. [Check rates for your dates on Agoda]() · [Check room details on Trip.com]() ![The Venetian Macao at night with its bell tower and arched bridge]() The Venetian Macao at night with its bell tower and arched bridge The bridge shuttle website lists the resort shuttle between the Macao Port and The Venetian at 10:00–21:00, every 10–12 minutes. If you cross the HZMB late at night, you may need a bus or taxi instead. Check the official shuttle timetable on the hotel’s transport page for your date. Staying in Cotai makes evening shows and resort facilities easy, but the historic centre means a separate trip from Cotai to the peninsula. A comfortable order is to visit the peninsula the next morning by LRT Taipa Line or bus, then return to Hong Kong by Taipa ferry or bridge bus. ![Room with a king bed and a seating area by the window]() Room with a king bed and a seating area by the window ![Outdoor pool lined with palm trees in front of the hotel tower]() Outdoor pool lined with palm trees in front of the hotel tower ## Check these again before you go Hong Kong and Macau have separate border controls. Whether you take the ferry or the bridge bus, you clear Hong Kong departure and Macau arrival, and go through the same steps on the way back. Bring your passport and check the entry conditions for your nationality with the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the Macao Public Security Police. TurboJET also states that passengers must meet the entry requirements of both places before boarding. Services can stop for typhoons or events. The bridge shuttle website carries notices of suspensions and resumptions during typhoons in 2025 and 2026, and the Macao LRT has its own rules for typhoon signals. If you travel in summer or autumn, check the operators’ notices the night before and on the morning of departure, and leave slack in your return-day plans. In short: if you stay on Hong Kong Island and can be back around 22:00, look first at a ferry day trip. If you stay at the airport or in Tung Chung, or fly out of Hong Kong the next day, make the bridge bus your default. If you stay in Kowloon, mixing the two directions is fine, and if you want to stay out late, consider a night in Macau seriously. If you are still choosing an area in Hong Kong itself, compare the bases and their transport in [where to stay in Hong Kong](). [HZMB shuttle bus timetable and fares]() · [HZMB shuttle bus port transport]() · [TurboJET sailing schedule and fares]() · [Cotai Water Jet schedule and fares]() · [Macao LRT lines]() · [The Venetian Macao transportation]() · [Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 (Accor)]() Photo credits · 7 images 1. Macau Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal with three red high-speed ferries alongside [Diego Delso]() · [CC BY-SA 3.0]() · Resized 2. Passengers with luggage queuing at a TurboJET gate in the Sheung Wan ferry terminal [LN9267]() · [CC BY-SA 4.0]() · Resized 3. Public transport interchange at the HZMB Hong Kong Port under a curved roof [SH6188]() · [CC BY-SA 4.0]() · Resized 4. Gold-coloured HZMB shuttle bus parked at the Hong Kong Port [LN9267]() · [CC BY-SA 4.0]() · Resized 5. The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge seen across the sea from Tai O [LN9267]() · [CC BY-SA 4.0]() · Resized 6. Taipa Ferry Terminal entrance with departure hall and ticket office signs [JohnLEE Brothers]() · [CC0]() 7. Senado Square at night with Christmas decorations lit [kewl]() · [CC BY 2.0]() · Resized