Hong Kong Airport to the Macao Ferry｜Sheung Wan Terminal Transfers and How to Change to the Boat

Before travelling from Hong Kong International Airport to Macao, first work out whether you are a transfer passenger who has not cleared Hong Kong immigration or someone who has already cleared immigration and collected their luggage. Eligible transfer passengers can use the SkyPier ferries or coaches inside the airport restricted area, with no taxi needed; if you have already entered Hong Kong and are taking an urban ferry, what matters now is checking whether your ticket departs from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan. A fixed price from the airport to Sheung Wan is around $270–$300, taking roughly 35–50 minutes.

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Hong Kong airport to Macao: pick the right one of three transfer routes first

How	Who it suits	Clear Hong Kong immigration?	Need a Hong Kong taxi?
SkyPier ferry	Arriving in Hong Kong from overseas, meeting air-to-sea transfer requirements, with a suitable sailing	No — do not clear immigration first	No
SkyPier coach	Eligible transfer passengers going from the airport restricted area to the Macao port via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge	No — do not clear immigration first	No
Ferry from the Sheung Wan Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal	Already cleared Hong Kong immigration and collected luggage, travelling on to Macao after a stay in Hong Kong	Yes, immigration must be cleared first	Yes, an airport-to-Sheung Wan taxi can be booked
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle bus	Already cleared Hong Kong immigration, with no suitable ferry time or a need for 24-hour cross-boundary transport	Immigration formalities generally apply under the relevant procedures	A short transfer to the Hong Kong Port can be booked, or use the airport’s connecting transport

Most important: once you clear Hong Kong immigration, you cannot return to E2 for a SkyPier ferry

If you intend to use the SkyPier ferries inside the airport restricted area, follow the signs for "ferries to the mainland / Macao" or for transfers to Transfer Area E2 after landing. Do not clear Hong Kong immigration first, and do not make your own way out of the restricted area to collect luggage. Once a traveller has cleared Hong Kong immigration, they have to switch to an urban terminal or the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Option one: the SkyPier ferry to Macao

For eligible transfer passengers only — it is not an ordinary terminal for Hong Kong residents setting out from the city

International flight arrives in Hong Kong
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Do not clear Hong Kong immigration
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Transfer Area E2
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Check ferry and baggage eligibility
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SkyPier / ferry terminal
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Macao

Who can use it

The SkyPier ferries are a transfer service inside the airport restricted area, mainly for eligible travellers who fly into Hong Kong from elsewhere and go straight on to Macao or another designated Greater Bay Area port. You need a valid ferry ticket, travel documents and any visa your destination requires, and you must meet the airline, ferry operator and baggage transfer rules.

Do not collect your checked baggage yourself

The airport’s official guidance states that air-to-sea transfer passengers should go to the designated ferry counter before clearing immigration. Checked baggage is generally forwarded on the strength of the airline’s baggage tag, and travellers should not head out of the restricted area to collect it themselves.

Check-in cut-off times

The ferry operators’ current information indicates that passengers with checked baggage generally have to complete formalities at the designated counter at least 60 minutes before the sailing departs; there is an earlier check-in cut-off even without checked baggage. Requirements vary with the route, airline, ticket type and sailing, so go by your ticket and the operator’s latest rules.

If you are eligible, a SkyPier transfer usually needs no taxi at all

The great advantage of the SkyPier transfer is that you stay inside the airport restricted area, with no need to enter urban Hong Kong and come back out to a terminal. But sailings are not frequent all day, and not every airline, sailing and baggage arrangement qualifies, so verify before buying a ticket.

Option two: the SkyPier coach to Macao across the bridge

Besides the ferries, Hong Kong International Airport also runs a SkyPier coach service linking the airport restricted area with the Macao Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Eligible travellers can cross the bridge to Macao without clearing Hong Kong immigration.

Flight arrives in Hong Kong
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Keep your transfer status
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E2 transfer counter
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SkyPier coach
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Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
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Macao Port

Ferry or coach — how do you choose?

It mainly comes down to your arrival time, the sailings and departures available, fares, your airline, baggage transfer eligibility and your final destination in Macao. The ferry arrives at the Macao Maritime Ferry Terminal, while the coach crosses the bridge to the Macao Port; either way you may need to change to local transport in Macao.

The SkyPier coach is also for eligible transfer passengers only

The SkyPier coach is not the same thing as an ordinary Hong Kong port shuttle bus. Travellers using the restricted-area direct service equally must not clear Hong Kong immigration first. Those who have already entered Hong Kong should take public transport or a taxi to the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, clear departure formalities there and take the shuttle bus from the Hong Kong Port to the Macao Port.

Option three: a taxi from the airport to the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan

For travellers who have cleared Hong Kong immigration, collected their luggage, or are changing to a boat after a stay in Hong Kong

Official terminal name	Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal
Name in English	Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal
Address	3/F, Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Nearest MTR station	Sheung Wan station
Indicative fixed airport taxi price	$270–$300
Off-peak journey time	About 35–50 minutes
Allow at peak times	About 50–75 minutes or more
Usual taxi type	Urban red taxi
Ferry destinations	To the Macao Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal or the Taipa Ferry Terminal, according to that day’s sailings

Usual driving route

Hong Kong International Airport
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North Lantau Highway
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Tsing Yi / Cheung Tsing Highway
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West Kowloon Highway
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Western Harbour Crossing
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Sheung Wan Macao ferry terminal

The airport to Sheung Wan run normally goes via Tsing Yi, West Kowloon and the Western Harbour Crossing onto Hong Kong Island, then along Central and Sheung Wan roads to Shun Tak Centre. The actual route depends on traffic, road works and where passengers get in and out.

When booking, always say "the Macao ferry terminal at Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan"

"The Macao ferry terminal" could be taken to mean the SkyPier, the Sheung Wan Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal, the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, or even the Macao Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. When booking, send a screenshot of your ticket or write it out: Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal, Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan.

Does the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui still have boats to Macao?

The China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui sits at China Hong Kong City, 33 Canton Road. It remains a cross-boundary passenger terminal, but it now mainly serves routes to ports in mainland China. Scheduled ferry services from Kowloon to Macao were suspended at one point, so travellers must not rely on pre-pandemic guides or old timetables and simply ask a driver to take them to China Hong Kong City for a boat to Macao.

What to check	What to do instead
The departure terminal on your ticket	See whether it says "Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal / Sheung Wan" or "China Ferry Terminal / Kowloon"
The operator’s sailings	Confirm with the operator or the Marine Department’s latest sailing system that there really is a Macao sailing that day
Old information online	Do not rely on articles or screenshots from when a Kowloon-to-Macao route still existed
Booking a taxi	Send a screenshot of the ticket and give the terminal’s name and address explicitly

Going to the wrong terminal can mean missing the boat

The Sheung Wan Macao ferry terminal and the Tsim Sha Tsui China Ferry Terminal sit on opposite sides of Victoria Harbour. Both names relate to cross-boundary ferries, but one cannot stand in for the other. If your ticket says Sheung Wan, Sheung Wan is where you must go; head for Tsim Sha Tsui only when an operator-confirmed ticket clearly states Kowloon or the China Ferry Terminal.

Option four: to Macao via the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

If you have already cleared Hong Kong immigration, or the ferry times do not fit, you can consider heading for the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, clearing Hong Kong departure formalities and taking the Hong Kong-Macao shuttle bus to the Macao Port.

Item	Bridge arrangements
Hong Kong Port to Macao Port	Take the Hong Kong-Macao shuttle bus
Hours	24-hour service
Daytime	Generally 06:00–23:59, with frequencies set by demand and time of day
Overnight	Generally 00:00–05:59, usually at wider intervals than during the day
Ordinary Hong Kong taxi	Can only drop you at the Hong Kong Port’s designated pick-up and drop-off area; it cannot carry passengers across to Macao
After arriving in Macao	You must clear Macao immigration, then change to a Macao bus, taxi, hotel shuttle or other transport

The Hong Kong Port is fairly close to the airport

The Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge sits near Hong Kong airport. Travellers who have cleared immigration can take a public bus, connecting transport or a taxi to the Hong Kong Port, according to the airport’s and the port’s arrangements that day. A taxi only covers the Hong Kong leg; shuttle bus tickets are bought separately.

Good for a missed ferry or an overnight crossing

The Hong Kong-Macao shuttle bus runs 24 hours, so the bridge may suit you better when the urban ferry sailings have finished for the day, when your flight lands late at night, or when you would rather not go to Sheung Wan to change to a boat.

For full transport and booking details, see Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port taxis.

The four ways from the airport to Macao, compared

How	Clear Hong Kong immigration?	Main advantage	Main limitation
SkyPier ferry	No, not beforehand	You stay inside the airport restricted area and, if eligible, never carry luggage into Hong Kong	Limited sailings, and restricted by airline, ticket and baggage transfer eligibility
SkyPier coach	No, not beforehand	Straight from the airport restricted area to the Macao Port across the bridge	Eligible transfer passengers only — it is not an ordinary public bus
Taxi to Sheung Wan for the ferry	Yes	Travellers who have cleared immigration go straight from the airport to the ferry terminal	You have to allow for Hong Kong immigration, luggage, road traffic and checking in at the terminal
Hong Kong Port shuttle bus	Travellers who have cleared immigration can head for the Hong Kong Port	The Hong Kong-Macao route runs 24 hours, and the airport is close to the Hong Kong Port	Formalities at both the Hong Kong and Macao ports, and you still need onward transport in Macao

A simple way to choose

Not yet cleared Hong Kong immigration: ask at Transfer Area E2 about SkyPier ferry or coach eligibility first.
Cleared immigration, with a suitable sailing: book a taxi to the Sheung Wan Macao ferry terminal.
Landing late at night, or sailings that do not fit: consider the Hong Kong Port of the bridge and its 24-hour shuttle bus.
Need to reach a Macao hotel directly: enquire separately about a cross-boundary vehicle with the right eligibility — an ordinary Hong Kong taxi cannot cross the boundary.

How much time should you leave between a flight and a Macao ferry?

If you have cleared Hong Kong immigration and are taking a taxi from the airport to the Sheung Wan ferry terminal, the road journey is not the whole story. The full transfer involves parking the aircraft, disembarking, Hong Kong immigration, collecting luggage, customs, waiting for a car, road traffic, checking in at the terminal and Hong Kong departure formalities.

Stage	What to allow for
Parking the aircraft and disembarking	A remote stand, a shuttle bus or a large aircraft can all take longer
Hong Kong immigration	Depends on your eligibility, the self-service channels and how busy it is
Collecting luggage	The flight’s "landing time" tells you nothing about when the bags are out
Airport to Sheung Wan	Usually about 35–50 minutes, rising to 50–75 minutes or more at peak times
Terminal check-in and departure	The operator sets check-in and boarding cut-offs, so arrive early as the ticket requires
Total buffer we suggest	At least about 3–4 hours between the flight’s scheduled arrival and the sailing’s departure; more if the tickets were bought separately, you have a lot of luggage, or it is a holiday

If you buy the flight and the boat separately, missing the sailing is usually your risk

If the airline and the ferry are not on one through ticket, a delayed flight that makes you miss the sailing will not necessarily get you a free change. Read the operator’s change, refund, standby and check-in cut-off terms before buying, and avoid a sailing that leaves too soon after your flight is due to land.

Luggage, tickets and travel documents

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Travel documents

Travellers are responsible for meeting Hong Kong and Macao immigration requirements, including a valid passport, Hong Kong identity card, Home Return Permit, visa or any other applicable permit.

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Check the terminal on your ticket

Confirm whether your ticket says the SkyPier, the Sheung Wan Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal, the Tsim Sha Tsui China Ferry Terminal, or the Macao Port of the bridge.

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Checked baggage

SkyPier transfer passengers have their baggage forwarded under the airline’s and the operator’s procedures; travellers who have entered Hong Kong carry their own luggage to the urban terminal.

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Prams and large luggage

Tell us how many large bags and prams you have when booking a taxi; when buying a ferry ticket, also confirm the operator’s baggage size, weight, charges and check-in rules.

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Keep connected and charged

During a transfer you may need to show an e-ticket, receive flight notifications, contact a driver and produce booking details, so keep your phone charged and able to get online.

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Each mode is paid for separately

A taxi, a ferry, the airport transfer coach, the bridge shuttle bus and local transport in Macao are all different services; unless it is stated explicitly, one ticket does not include another.

How to book an airport transfer to the Sheung Wan Macao ferry terminal

First be sure you have decided to clear Hong Kong immigration: if you might still use a restricted-area SkyPier transfer, do not book an urban taxi yet.
Give your arriving flight: airline, flight number, arrival date and scheduled time.
Give the sailing details: send a screenshot of the ticket, the departure time, the operator and the departure terminal.
Give passengers and luggage: including large bags, prams, wheelchairs and any other special items.
Confirm the destination: write out "Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal, Shun Tak Centre, Sheung Wan" rather than just "the Macao ferry terminal".
Confirm the fixed price: state whether the Western Harbour Crossing, the cross-harbour return toll, luggage, airport parking and waiting are included.
Contact us once you have your luggage: after clearing Hong Kong immigration and customs, tell the driver and check the registration mark and pick-up point.

For general booking guidance, see how to book an airport taxi, booking in advance and payment methods.

Back from Macao, on to the airport or a hotel

Arriving at the Sheung Wan Macao ferry terminal

Once you have cleared Hong Kong immigration and collected your luggage, you can pick up an urban red taxi near Shun Tak Centre, or book a car to Hong Kong airport, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon or the New Territories. When booking, give the Macao departure time, your expected arrival time and your Hong Kong destination.

Arriving at the Hong Kong Port of the bridge

After the shuttle bus brings you from the Macao Port to the Hong Kong Port, you clear Hong Kong immigration, then go to the public transport interchange for a bus or a taxi. For the airport, choose a connection according to the Hong Kong Port’s transport arrangements that day.

Changing to a flight via the SkyPier ferry or coach

Travellers coming from Macao to Hong Kong airport through a SkyPier transfer service are transfer passengers: they must stay inside the airport restricted area and cannot enter urban Hong Kong or go out to collect luggage. No urban Hong Kong taxi booking is needed for such a trip.

The ferry’s arrival time is not when you can get into a car

You still have to get off the boat, clear Hong Kong immigration and collect checked luggage. When booking a pick-up from a sailing, tell the driver to come to the designated pick-up point only once those steps are done, and confirm the free waiting time and what happens after a long delay in advance.

Terminal transfers and night-time safety

The situation	What we suggest
Someone touting for business at the airport	Use the official taxi rank or a booked car whose registration mark you have checked; avoid private cars without legal taxi markings
Your sailing is about to leave	Contact the operator first to find out the check-in cut-off; do not ask a driver to speed or drive dangerously
Arriving at a terminal at night	Check that the terminal still has the sailing you need, and line up a backup plan for transport and accommodation
A lot of luggage	Count the pieces, keep valuables with you, and confirm the check-in procedure before changing to the boat
Electronic payment	Check the payee, the Hong Kong dollar amount and the transaction status, and ask for a receipt after paying
Immediate physical danger	Call the Hong Kong emergency services on 999; for an ordinary service complaint, keep the registration mark and receipt and follow it up afterwards

For more, see the night-time ride safety guide, beware of illegal taxis and the taxi payment methods guide.

Hong Kong airport to Macao: frequently asked questions

Not necessarily. Travellers who have not cleared Hong Kong immigration, who are eligible and who have a suitable departure can use a SkyPier ferry or coach inside the airport restricted area, with no taxi needed. Once you have cleared immigration and collected your luggage, you switch to the Sheung Wan Macao ferry terminal or the Hong Kong Port of the bridge.

No. Go to Transfer Area E2 before clearing immigration, and do not go out to collect luggage yourself. Once you have cleared Hong Kong immigration you cannot come back to the ferry ticketing counter to use the restricted-area transfer service.

What matters now is checking whether your ticket departs from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, at 3/F, Shun Tak Centre, 200 Connaught Road Central. Go by your ticket and the operator’s sailing information for the day.

Do not assume it does. Scheduled ferry services from Kowloon to Macao were suspended at one point, and the China Ferry Terminal now serves a number of routes to mainland ports. Go there only when the operator confirms it and your ticket clearly states Kowloon or the China Ferry Terminal.

An indicative fixed price is around $270–$300, confirmed in practice by date, time of day, vehicle type and direction. When booking, ask whether the Western Harbour Crossing toll, the cross-harbour return toll, luggage and airport parking are included.

Usually about 35–50 minutes; at peak times, in the rain, or when the Western Harbour Crossing and the Central and Sheung Wan roads are congested, it can take 50–75 minutes or more. On top of that, add Hong Kong immigration, collecting luggage and checking in at the terminal.

No. An ordinary Hong Kong taxi only carries passengers within Hong Kong and cannot take ordinary passengers directly into Macao. A direct cross-boundary trip needs a cross-boundary vehicle with the relevant licences and eligibility.

It depends on your arrival time, your eligibility and your destination. Travellers who have cleared immigration can head for the Hong Kong Port and take the 24-hour Hong Kong-Macao shuttle bus; eligible transfer passengers who have not cleared immigration can ask about the SkyPier coach.

Yes — the Hong Kong-Macao shuttle bus between the Hong Kong Port and the Macao Port runs 24 hours, but frequencies differ between peak, off-peak and overnight periods, so check the latest timetable.

The operators’ current guidance generally requires passengers with checked baggage to complete formalities at the designated counter at least 60 minutes before departure. Requirements differ by sailing and airline, so go by your ticket and the operator’s latest notices.

For clearing Hong Kong immigration and then heading to the Sheung Wan terminal, we suggest at least about 3–4 hours between the flight’s scheduled arrival and the sailing’s departure; leave more with a lot of luggage, on a holiday, or when the tickets were bought separately.

Tell the operator and your original transfer service straight away, and check the change and refund terms. You may be able to take the next sailing, or, depending on the time, head for the Hong Kong Port of the bridge and its 24-hour shuttle bus.

No. A taxi quotation covers road transport within Hong Kong only; the ferry, the airport transfer coach, the bridge shuttle bus and local transport in Macao are all ticketed separately, unless the confirmation says otherwise.

Macao, border crossing and airport transfer guides

From the airport to Hong Kong hotels and districts

Information and disclaimer: sailings, frequencies, fares, baggage rules, check-in cut-offs and passenger eligibility for Hong Kong to Macao ferries, SkyPier ferries, SkyPier coaches and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge shuttle buses may all change. This page cannot replace official notices from airlines, Hong Kong International Airport, the Marine Department, ferry operators, the bridge operators, or the Hong Kong and Macao immigration authorities. SkyPier transfer services are for eligible transfer passengers only, and users must not clear Hong Kong immigration first; travellers who have cleared immigration should use an urban terminal or the Hong Kong Port of the bridge. Ordinary Hong Kong taxis carry passengers only within Hong Kong and cannot take ordinary passengers directly into Macao. All prices and journey times are indicative; the written booking confirmation and actual traffic conditions prevail. Last updated: 31 August 2026.