Access to and from Macau is chiefly by boat from Hong Kong. Large numbers of competing vessels make the one-hour journey between Macau and Hong Kong's Shun Tak Centre daily, including jetfoils (marginally the fastest at 55 minutes, and the most frequent, even running through the night), catamarans and high-speed ferries (roomy and cheap, but infrequent and much slower than the others). There are also less frequent catamaran services from the China Ferry Terminal on Canton Road in Tsimshatsui. Tickets vary slightly in price according to type of boat, time and class of travel; reckon on paying HK$100-150 each way, though about half that for the high-speed ferry (ticket prices all include a government departure tax). Unless you're planning to travel at peak times, such as weekends, it is not normally necessary to book in advance, though you should do so if you are on a tight schedule. In Macau, advance tickets are available from the Jetfoil Terminal in the Outer Harbour. Otherwise, for travel in either direction, simply show up at the pier, purchase a ticket for the next sailing, clear passport control and board.

 

Guangzhou is the other important city linked to Macau by boat. Tickets (100-150ptca depending on class) for outward-bound Guangzhou ferries, which leave daily from the terminal on the Inner Harbour, can be bought from the Yuet Tung Shipping Co (tel 564306) at the same pier.

By air , you can fly to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Bangkok, Pyongyang and Singapore and a quickly increasing list of other Chinese cities. It's hoped that this list will increase soon, to include direct flights from Europe and North America.

By land, you can walk across the border (daily 7am-9pm) at the Barrier Gate, into the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone. Alternatively, there are two daily bus services which go direct to Guangzhou, taking six hours. The MTIB can give details; tickets are available at the Kee Kwan Motors on the inner harbour.