So you’re in Hong Kong, you’ve done the night markets, you’ve dragged yourself up Victoria Peak, and someone tells you “you absolutely HAVE to do a day trip to Macau.” And honestly? They’re right. Although for me it was raining the whole week and on that day there was a pocket of sunshine, I ended up going. Macau is basically what happens when Portugal and China had a baby and that baby really, really loved casinos. And people. There’s a f***ton of people. It’s chaotic, it’s beautiful, it’s kinda really cool, and it’s only about an hour away by ferry. Here’s everything you need to know to pull this off in a day.
🛳️ How do I get there? Ferry from Hong Kong → Macau
Both ferries depart from the Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan (you can take the MTR to Sheung Wan station since it’s connected). Ferries run from around 7:30am to midnight, so you’ve got options. I’d recommend catching an early one (7:30 or 8:30am) to maximize your time.
The ferry takes about 50–60ish minutes one way. You’ll go through immigration at both ends since Macau is its own thing with its own border. Bring your passport. Optional: motion sickness meds
🚤 TurboJET
The OG. TurboJET has been running this route for over 50 years, and they depart to both Macau Outer Harbour Terminal (closer to the historic peninsula, Senado Square, etc.) and Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal (closer to the Cotai Strip casinos).
- Economy (Super Class): $175HKD weekdays (~$22USD) / $190HKD weekends & holidays (~$24USD)
- Night sailings (from 18:30): $220HKD+ (~$28USD)
- A single-person round-trip promo package starts at $340HKD (~$44USD)
📅 Check TurboJET’s timetable & book here
🚤 Cotai Water Jet
Run by Sands China (yes, the casino people), Cotai Water Jet goes to Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal, which puts you right next to the Cotai Strip— great if you’re planning to casinos right away.
- Cotai Class (Economy): $175HKD weekdays (~$22USD) / $190HKD weekends & holidays (~$24USD) / $220HKD night sailings (~$28USD)
- Cotai First (Business-ish): $330HKD weekdays (~$42USD) / $348HKD weekends (~$45USD) / $380HKD nights (~$49USD)
📅 Check Cotai Water Jet’s timetable & book here
Which terminal should you pick? Honestly, prices are nearly identical. The main difference is the terminal on the Macau side:
- TurboJET → Outer Harbour = better for the historic old town (which is what I did)
- Cotai Water Jet → Taipa = better for the resort/casino strip
- Both companies also go to Taipa, so check what’s available for your preferred time
🛂 What do I need?
1. Your Passport
Even though Macau is technically part of China, it operates as a Special Administrative Region with its own immigration. You WILL go through border control leaving Hong Kong AND entering Macau, and then again on the way back. No passport = no Macau. Don’t be that person.
2. Cash (HKD or MOP)
This is the big one that nobody warns you about. Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and Amex are not widely accepted in Macau — especially at street food stalls, local restaurants, and smaller shops. Macau uses Macanese Patacas (MOP), but Hong Kong dollars are accepted almost everywhere at a 1:1 rate, so you don’t need to exchange if you’re already carrying HKD but do expect MOP as change.
Note: I DID NOT KNOW THIS. I am SO glad Uber came back in service the month of my trip because I ran out of cash and did not bring any USD with me to exchange. I also somehow forgot to bring a charging cable, but that’s a different problem to have.
Alipay works great if you have it set up, but if you’re a Western traveler like me who doesn’t use Alipay… just bring cash… which I should have done…
🗺️ What can I do?
Macau is pretty small. You can cover the main highlights in one day if you’re strategic. This route is ordered starting from the Outer Harbour Terminal (TurboJET’s main drop-off point on the peninsula), working your way through the historic core and up to Guia Hill before heading toward Taipa in the afternoon.
Morning: The Historic Peninsula
1. A-Ma Temple
Step off the ferry and you’re practically at A-Ma Temple already — it’s one of the first things you’ll pass heading into the city. One of Macau’s oldest temples (dating back to the 1400s), it’s dedicated to the goddess of the sea and has a quiet, incense-heavy atmosphere that feels a million miles from the casino strip. Takes about 30–45 minutes to wander through. Free entry.
2. Senado Square
Head north from A-Ma and you’ll hit the heart of the old town. Senado Square is a UNESCO-listed piazza paved in cool wavy Portuguese mosaic tiles.
🥐 Food Stop: Grab a Portuguese egg tart (pastel de nata) from one of the bakeries near Senado Square. I’m allergic but Lord Stow’s Bakery is apparently the legendary bakery, but there are good ones all along the tourist trail.
3. Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Walk uphill from Senado Square and you’ll reach the most iconic image in all of Macau. All that’s left of this 17th-century Jesuit church is the dramatic stone facade — it survived multiple fires and a typhoon. Get here before the afternoon tour groups arrive if you can.
4. Mount Fortress (Fortaleza do Monte)
Right next door to St. Paul’s, this old Portuguese fort sits at the top of the hill with sweeping views over the city. Free to enter, great for photos, and usually less crowded than the ruins right below it.
Mid-Morning: Guia Hill
From Mount Fortress, it’s a short taxi ride (or a 15–20 minute walk) northeast to the base of Guia Hill at Flora Garden.
5. Guia Hill Cable Car
One of the world’s shortest cable car rides (80 seconds, 9 tiny gondolas, 4 people each), this thing costs almost nothing and takes you straight up to the summit of the Macau Peninsula’s highest point. It departs from the entrance of Flora Garden on Avenida Sidónio Pais.
- One-way: $2MOP (~$0.25USD)
- Return: $3MOP (~$0.37USD)
- Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 8am–6pm (closed Mondays!)
💡 Note: The cable car is closed on Mondays. If you’re visiting on a Monday, you can still hike up the trail on foot — it’s not far.
Personally, I just did a one-way ride and walked down the summit.
6. Guia Fortress & Lighthouse
At the top of the hill sits a genuine UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Guia Fortress is a 17th-century military complex, and next to it stands the Guia Lighthouse — the oldest Western-style lighthouse on the Chinese coast, still operational since 1865. There’s also the small Chapel of Our Lady of Guia tucked inside the fortress walls, with original frescoes that somehow survived centuries of history. The panoramic views from up here are some of the best you’ll get in Macau.
Midday: Eat & Wander
7. Taipa Village (Rua do Cunha)
Hop a taxi over to Taipa Village — a charming neighborhood with colorful colonial houses, cobblestone streets, and loads of little cafes and souvenir shops. It’s a bit more relaxed than the main tourist area and perfect for lunch.
🍽️ Lunch: Portuguese-Macanese fusion is the move here like African chicken, bacalhau (salt cod), and of course more egg tarts. Most restaurants in Taipa Village offer set lunches at very reasonable prices.
Afternoon-Evening: The Cotai Strip (Optional but Fun)
Even if you’re not a gambler, The Venetian Macao is worth seeing just for the sheer absurdity of it. It’s one of the largest buildings in the world, there’s a fake Italian sky painted on the ceiling, gondolas floating through indoor canals, and enough shopping and food to get lost in for hours. I was able to finally buy a charging cable here for my poor phone at 7% battery life left.
8. Casino Hopping
You don’t have to gamble to enjoy the casino floor energy! The big resort casinos on the Strip are full of free entertainment, stunning architecture, and food halls.
🛳️ Getting Back: Ferry from Macau → Hong Kong
Same deal, reversed. Ferries run until almost midnight so you have flexibility, but make sure you check the time table to confirm the schedule.
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