Although Hong Kong is connected to Macau and mainland China by bridges, railways and highways, boats remain the preferred mode of transport.
Especially from Macau to Hong Kong, ferries are the fastest and most convenient mode of transport. Towards mainland China, ships are particularly popular on the route to Zhuhai.
Choose the best accommodation with a view of Hong Kong
When travelling from Macau to Hong Kong or vice versa, you must always pass through passport control on both sides. Although both cities are formally part of China, they are two autonomous regions with their own rules, so you cannot travel between the cities without a passport.
Ferries from Hong Kong to Macau
The busiest shipping service operates to the neighbouring Macau 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 Hong Kong and Macau. See below for an accurate map.
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?
- Hong Kong Sheung Wan
- "Sheung Wan" subway station - dark blue "Island Line"
- "Macau Ferry" bus stop
- 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)
- 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
The Octopus transport card, which you load with Hong Kong fares, can be purchased at all metro 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 from Hong Kong to mainland China
Shipping is also important when travelling from Hong Kong to nearby cities in mainland China.
More distant destinations in China are faster to reach by train.
Routes and ticket costs
Two companies sail between Hong Kong and mainland China.
- CKS - official website, online ticket booking, timetables: cksp.com.hk
- Turbojet - official website, online ticket booking, timetables: turbojet.com.hk
Most services to China are operated by CKS departing from the China Ferry (Kowloon), HK Macau Ferry (Sheung Wan) and Skyper (at Hong Kong Airport) terminals.
Turbojet only operates on the route to Zhuhai.
Ticket prices are divided into economy and business class.
- 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 food to airplanes)
| Destinations in China | Port of Hong Kong | Economy Class | First Class | Cruise time | Frequency | Company |
| Zhuhai | China Ferry (Kowloon) | 200 hkd | 300 hkd | 70 minutes | 7x daily | Turbojet |
| Zhuhai | HK Macau (Sheung Wan) | 200 hkd | 300 hkd | 70 minutes | 7x daily | Turbojet |
| Shenzhen She Kou | Skypier (HKG Airport) | 310 hkd | 410 hkd | 30 minutes | 1x per hour | CKS |
| Shenzhen She Kou | HK Macau (Sheung Wan) | 140 hkd | 180 hkd | 60 minutes | 3 times a day | CKS |
| Guangzhou PaZhou | Skypier (HKG Airport) | 325 hkd | 380 hkd | 140 minutes | 4x daily | CKS |
| Guangzhou PaZhou | China Ferry (Kowloon) | 250 hkd | 320 hkd | 165 minutes | 1-2x daily | CKS |
| Zhong Shan | Skypier (HKG Airport) | 310 hkd | 390 hkd | 70 minutes | 4x daily | CKS |
| Zhong Shan | China Ferry (Kowloon) | 240 hkd | 320 hkd | 90 minutes | 1x every 2 hours | CKS |
| Dong Guan Hu Men | Skypier (HKG Airport) | 350 hkd | 470 hkd | 90 minutes | 3 times a day | CKS |
| Shenzhen Airport SZX | Skypier (HKG Airport) | 310 hkd | 390 hkd | 50 minutes | 1-3x daily | CKS |
| Shenzhen Airport SZX | China Ferry (Kowloon) | 160 hkd | 240 hkd | 70 minutes | 1-2x daily | CKS |
| Nan Sha | China Ferry (Kowloon) | 220 hkd | 270 hkd | 90 minutes | 3x daily | CKS |
| Shun De | China Ferry (Kowloon) | 200 hkd | 230 hkd | 120 minutes | 2x daily | CKS |
How are the passport controls?
Immigration checks are quick and as they are located right in the wharf 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.
Because many nationalities of the world need to have a visa processed from the embassy to enter mainland China, the checks are a little longer than, say, a trip to Macau.
Typical waiting times on both sides of the border are 15 to 45 minutes.