- Two terminals
- Outer Harbour is ON the Peninsula; Taipa is not
- Taxi tariff
- MOP 21 flagfall, MOP 2 per 220m (DSAT)
- Taipa surcharge
- MOP 8 boarding fee at Taipa terminal
- Taipa to Senado
- About MOP 90-110 by taxi
- Free option
- Casino and hotel shuttles from both terminals
The single most important thing to check before you book a Hong Kong-Macau ferry is which terminal it lands at, because Macau has two and they are not interchangeable. TurboJET arrives at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, which is already on the Macau Peninsula - the historic centre is a short hop away. Cotai Water Jet arrives at Taipa, across the bridge near the airport and the Cotai resort strip. Here is what the onward trip costs from each, with fares from official Macau government sources checked 31 October 2026.
If you land at Outer Harbour (TurboJET)
You are already on the Peninsula. Senado Square and the Ruins of St Paul are about 3 km away, so a taxi is a small fare, not a decision: the official DSAT meter starts at MOP 21 for the first 1.6 km and adds MOP 2 every 220 metres (tariff effective 8 February 2024, still the current published rate). Expect roughly MOP 35-45 with a suitcase (MOP 3 per bag in the boot). The taxi queue outside arrivals is the straightforward option; buses stop nearby too if you know your route. And if you are heading to one of the big casino resorts first, their free shuttle buses pick up right at the terminal - no ticket needed.
If you land at Taipa (Cotai Water Jet)
Taipa Ferry Terminal sits by the airport, and getting to the Peninsula means crossing the bridge. By taxi, budget about MOP 90-110 to Senado Square: the same DSAT meter plus a MOP 8 boarding surcharge that applies to pickups at the Taipa ferry terminal taxi stand (and the airport, Hengqin and HZMB ports). The cheaper modern option is the LRT: the Taipa line starts right at the terminal and since late 2023 runs through to Barra station on the Peninsula, a short walk or bus hop from A-Ma Temple and the old town. Fares are distance-based, MOP 6 to MOP 12 per trip (mlm.com.mo), so the crossing costs at most MOP 12 and takes roughly 25 minutes. City buses are a flat MOP 6 with no change given (macaotourism.gov.mo), and the casino shuttles are free from this terminal too.
What to check before landing
First, your ferry operator and terminal - if your hotel is on the Peninsula, TurboJET to Outer Harbour saves the bridge crossing entirely; if it is in Cotai, Cotai Water Jet puts you five minutes away. Our Hong Kong to Macau routes guide compares the operators and their 2026 fares. Second, cash: taxis take Macanese patacas or Hong Kong dollars at par, so no currency run is needed, but small notes help. Third, the meter: Macau taxis are black with a cream roof and must run the meter - the flagfall is MOP 21 and any flat quote to the Peninsula from Taipa much above MOP 110 is worth questioning. Fourth, timing: after the last evening ferries the shuttle buses thin out, so late arrivals should plan on the LRT or a taxi.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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