At a glance

  • The Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal at Shun Tak Centre in Sheung Wan is not the same place as the Star Ferry piers. When booking, check your Hong Kong departure terminal and whether you’ll arrive at Macau’s Outer Harbour or Taipa terminal. Treating the two Macau terminals as if they were in the same place can add a long trip on your way back.
  • If Senado Square and the Ruins of St. Paul’s are your main priorities, focus your itinerary on the Macau Peninsula and don’t try to fit in shopping at Cotai hotels, too. If Taipa and Cotai are your main priorities, plan backward from the Taipa terminal and its transport connections.
  • Bring your original passport and check the Macau entry and Hong Kong re-entry requirements for your nationality. Unlike a domestic ferry trip, this journey involves immigration procedures in both places. Make sure the name on your round-trip booking matches your travel document, and check whether your mobile data plan works in Macau.

Day by day

Suggested itinerary

See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.

Morning departure

Arrive at the Sheung Wan terminal 60 minutes early → immigration → your booked Macau terminal

4–5 hours of sightseeing

Senado Square → Ruins of St. Paul’s → lunch and a café

Return before evening

Arrive at the return terminal 60 minutes early → immigration → your Hong Kong accommodation

How to fit it in

In the morning, go through immigration at the Sheung Wan terminal and travel to Macau. After arrival, set aside time for sightseeing on the peninsula, lunch, and a short café break. Aim to reach the terminal 60 minutes before your return ferry.

Reality check

Transport

The TurboJET sailing between Sheung Wan and Macau takes about 60 minutes. From MTR Sheung Wan Station, go up to the terminal on the third floor of Shun Tak Centre. In Macau, allow extra bus or taxi time between sights and your booked return terminal. The ferry transfer from Hong Kong Airport’s SkyPier is a different service from this city-center round trip.

Time

Plan for 9–11 hours in total and limit sightseeing to 4–5 hours. Allow at least an hour each way for immigration, waiting, and getting to the terminal. The operator recommends boarding 30 minutes before departure, so first-time visitors should aim to arrive at the terminal 60 minutes early.

Cost

Round-trip fares vary by weekday, weekend, evening sailing, and seat class. Budget HK$450–550 for the ferry and HK$200–300 for local meals and transport. These are planning estimates; use the actual round-trip total shown at checkout. Don’t assume that free hotel shuttles run from every terminal at all times.

Safety

Keep your passport and return ticket with you, and keep your bag close while traveling. If the sea is rough, consider seasickness and service suspensions, and postpone your visit if needed. Connecting this day trip to a same-day flight out of Hong Kong leaves much less room for delays, so it’s safer to keep them separate.

If plans change

If your preferred return ferry is sold out

Don’t extend your time in Macau before you have a ticket. Book an earlier ferry and shorten your sightseeing, or move the day trip to another date.

If there’s a marine warning or ferry suspension

Check round-trip service and cancellation terms, then switch to an itinerary in central Hong Kong. Consider a cross-border bus only after recalculating immigration time on both sides and the time needed to reach its stops.

Small tip

Skip outdated visa and service information in search results. Follow guidance from the Macau government and the transport operators only.

Final check before departure

  • Check your passport, entry requirements, and Hong Kong re-entry requirements with official agencies.
  • Confirm the round-trip date, whether you’re using Outer Harbour or Taipa, and the name on your booking.
  • Save details for mobile data in Macau, local payments, and the route to your return terminal.

TurboJET’s official page may show schedules with different effective dates. Don’t confuse the schedule in effect in September 2026 with the one taking effect on October 16. Search for your actual travel date. Read the policies for sold-out sailings, suspensions, refunds, and ticket changes before booking. Also check ticket counter hours and the requirements for collecting tickets booked online.

Information checked: 2026-10-03

Google Maps

Check the location on the map

Use Google Maps to review the location and nearby route. Recheck opening hours and prices with the official source before visiting.

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