Macau — Travel Tips
Social Conventions
Entertaining generally takes place in restaurants and public places. It is rare to be invited to a private home, unless the person is wealthy. Spirits are standard gifts in return for hospitality. Apart from the most formal occasions in restaurants and nightclubs, casual wear is acceptable.
International Travel
Getting There By Air
The territory has its own airline, Air Macau (NX) (website: www.airmacau.com.mo), which operates regional flights.
Departure Tax
Included in the ticket cost.
Main Airports
Macau International Airport (MFM) (www.macau-airport.gov.mo) is 7km (5 miles) southeast of the city. To/from the airport: Buses run to the city and Macau-Hong Kong ferry terminal via major hotels (journey time - 45 minutes). Taxis to the city center are also available (journey time - 15 minutes); each piece of luggage carried is paid for separately. Facilities: Banks and bureau de change, car hire, duty-free shops and restaurants.
To/from Hong Kong International Airport: High-speed ferries connect Macau's ferry terminal with Hong Kong International Airport.
Helicopter: Heli Express (website: www.helihongkong.com) operates regular flights between Hong Kong and Macau (journey time - 16 minutes). Helicopters depart from the Macau Maritime Terminal, situated in the Outer Harbour. Services also operate to Shenzhen, on the mainland.
Getting There By Water
Main port:Macau.
High-speed ferries between Macau and Hong Kong are operated by TurboJET (tel: 8790 7039; www.turbojet.com.hk) and New World First Ferry Services (tel: +852 2131 8181, in Hong Kong; www.nwff.com.hk), with regular sailings each way throughout the day (journey time - 55 to 60 minutes). Both companies also run ferries to Shenzhen, China (journey time - 1 hour).
Getting There By Road
The crossing point into China is via the Barrier Gate (Portas de Cerco) (open 0730-0000 daily) or the COTAI Frontier post (open 0900-2000 daily). Buses run frequently to and from this point from 0800-1830 (journey time - 2 hours 30 minutes). The Kee Kwan Motor Road Company runs a service between Macau and Guangzhou (tel: 2893 3888; website: www.keekwan.com).
Duty Free
Overview
The following goods may be imported into Macau without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco products.
• 1L of wine and 1L of spirits (each not exceeding 30% volume).
Restricted imports: Fish, shellfish, meat and all plants require an import permit.
Note: There are no export duties, but as travel is almost invariably via Hong Kong, the relevant Hong Kong import/export regulations must be observed.
Prohibited Imports
Firearms, ammunition, gunpowder and explosives, narcotics, drugs, chemicals and pharmaceutical products, dangerous goods, radioactive substances/irradiating apparatus, endangered species of animals and plants, and pesticides.
Internal Travel
Getting Around By Water
There are several daily harbor tours in Chinese junks between the inner and outer harbors (journey time - 30 minutes). Tours depart from Pier 1.
Getting Around By Road
Traffic drives on the left. There are two bridges: one to Taipa Island, and a bridge carrying a four-lane highway from the international airport to the Macau-China border at Zhuhai.
Bus: Services operate frequently around Macau and to the islands. The main operators are TCM (Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos de Macau) (tel: 2885 0060; website: www.tcm.com.mo) and Transmac (Transportes Urbanos de Macau) (tel: 2827 1122; website: www.transmac.com.mo).
Taxi: Taxis are either black with a cream-colored top, or all-yellow (radio taxis). They generally have a destination guide written in Chinese, English and Portuguese.
Rickshaws and pedicabs (cycle rickshaws): Available for hire. Prices should be agreed in advance - but many of Macau’s attractions are located on hilltops, beyond the reach of even the strongest-legged pedicab driver.
Bicycles: Bikes can be hired on Taipa Island but cannot be taken to the mainland.
Car hire: Available through several agencies. Drivers must be over 21. Chauffeur-driven limousines are also available.
Regulations: The speed limit is 60kph (37mph) for cars and 40kph (25mph) for 50cc motorbikes.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
