Macau border crossing: ferry or bridge back

Two borders in one day

Hong Kong and Macau are both Special Administrative Regions of China, and each runs its own border control. Macao's Public Security Police Force handles immigration there, and the tourism office says every visitor must hold a passport or valid travel document. Hong Kong's Transport Department likewise says cross-boundary visitors should have a valid travel document. So your passport comes out at each end of the crossing, in both directions. Keep it where you can reach it, not at the bottom of a bag.

What official sites say about entry

Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check yours before you book. Macao's tourism office says all visitors need a passport or valid travel document, and a visa unless their nationality is exempt. Some visitors can apply for an entry permit on arrival, while others must get a visa in advance. Macao's immigration page asks for a document valid for at least 90 days beyond your intended stay, and says biometric data may be collected at the border. Hong Kong sets its own visa-free periods by nationality. Any Macau visa is your responsibility, not the tour's.

• Macao Immigration Services: Macau entry rules
• Hong Kong Immigration Department: Hong Kong visa rules
• Your own government's travel advice

The ferry out

The tour crosses by TurboJET. Your Hong Kong guide gives you the tickets and sees you off, and after the customs process you board for a crossing of about an hour. A Macau guide meets the group when the ferry arrives. The Hong Kong government lists TurboJET boarding at the Hong Kong-Macao Ferry Terminal in Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan, or at the airport's SkyPier, which is only for transiting air passengers. Your confirmation shows where to meet for your date, so rely on it rather than on general ferry pages.

Which pier you land at in Macau

Macau has three ferry terminals: the Outer Harbour, the Inner Harbour and Taipa. The Hong Kong government says TurboJET serves the Outer Harbour and Taipa, and that the other ferry company on the route, Cotai Water Jet, serves Taipa. Which pier your group uses is not stated, so don't assume. This matters if you read general ferry information online, because much of it covers only one terminal. Each terminal has its own immigration checkpoint, so the border check happens wherever you land.

The bridge shuttle

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opened in 2018. The whole system is about 55 km long, with a 6.7 km undersea tunnel in its main section. The Transport Department lists two shuttle bus routes from the Hong Kong Port, one to Zhuhai and one to Macao, and says the port operates 24 hours a day. Macao's bridge frontier post is at Macao Port. If you take this return, a bus replaces the ferry, but the border checks still apply at the ports.

Ferry or bridge: how to choose

Choose the ferry if you would like to repeat the sea crossing. Choose the shuttle bus if you would rather see the bridge from the road. The tour offers both for the way home, and you take the ferry out either way. How and when you make the choice is not stated, so ask your guide. Weather can change plans: Macao's tourism office says that at typhoon signal 8 and above the cross-sea bridges can be closed at any time, and advises suspending marine activities.

• Ferry: repeats the sea crossing
• Shuttle bus: crosses the bridge by road
• Both: passport and border checks

Season, weather and timing

Macao's tourism office puts typhoon season between May and November, with July to September the peak, and says warnings can affect traffic and opening hours. The tour is cancelled in bad weather. You can cancel up to three days ahead for a full refund when you book through GetYourGuide, and there are no refunds inside that window unless the operator cancels. The same office calls October and November the ideal months to visit, with mild temperatures and dry weather, and May to September the rainy season. The booking calendar shows the start time for your date.

How long the day runs

The tour lasts about ten hours, counting pickup, the crossings and the stops. The booking calendar shows the start time for your date, so this guide gives no departure times. In the morning the group may wait in Macau for guests arriving on different boats, which can delay the start of the walk. The order of stops can change with conditions. Avoid plans that depend on a fixed finish on the same day, such as a dinner reservation or a flight, and check your confirmation for the details. Our hour-by-hour guide covers the stops.

Read next: Macau day tour from Hong Kong: book or DIY

What to wear and bring

Bring your passport, comfortable shoes and any visa you need. The tour lists pets and shorts as not allowed, and casinos require smart casual dress, with men in shorts refused entry. Macao's official currency is the pataca, which is linked to the Hong Kong dollar. The tourism office says credit cards and many mobile payment apps are widely accepted, although your bank may charge transaction fees. Tips are not included, so decide in advance whether you plan to tip your guide.

Language, children and access

Your guide speaks Chinese or English, so choose when you book. Chinese and Portuguese are Macau's official languages, Cantonese is the most widely spoken, and English is generally used in trade, tourism and commerce. Infants must sit on laps. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. The facade of the Ruins of St Paul's stands at the top of a staircase, and a day of walking between stops suits comfortable shoes and a steady pace more than hurry.

Who this isn't for

This day isn't for you if you want to cross at your own time, because the transport is part of a fixed group tour. It isn't for anyone who needs a wheelchair-accessible tour. It isn't for travellers who have not checked their entry papers, since a Macau visa is not included. It also isn't a ferry ticket only: if you just want to cross, the ferry companies and the bridge shuttle sell their own tickets. Check how to buy those with the operators listed on the Hong Kong government's ferry page.