Macau Transport

Coming and Going

Macau opened a flash new airport on Taipa Island in December 1995, with high hopes for a tourism-led boom. Only trouble is there are few direct flights from Europe, so the dream of visitors jetting in direct to Macau rather than via Hong Kong is still to be realised. The airport is one of Asia's least used, so you'll whiz through immigration and baggage pick-up. But one, and possibly two, new low-cost airlines based in Macau are set to make the ultramodern airport much busier.

New long-haul budget airline Viva Macau (www.flyvivamacau.com) is expected to service destinations including Milan, Moscow, Mumbai, Delhi, Jakarta, Manila and Abu Dhabi by late 2007. For now, Air Macau(www.airmacau.com.mo) has the lion's share of the traffic.

Macau Airport has direct links to Asian cities like Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Manila; mainland China destinations include Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou and Guilin. You can catch a helicopter to Hong Kong if you've got cash to spare.

Hong Kong is linked to Macau by more than 150 sea crossings every day, with a choice of jetfoil, turbocat, foilcat or express ferry services; the trip takes just under an hour by jetfoil. There's a daily ferry crossing to Shekou in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, north of Hong Kong. The Zhuhai Special Economic Zone town of Gongbei borders Macau to the north, on the other side of the historic Barrier Gate, and there are regular buses to Gongbei and Guangzhou.

Getting About

To/from the airport: catch the airport bus AP1, which zips around Taipa before heading to the Macau ferry terminal and the Border Gate. The bus stops at a number of major hotels en route and departs frequently. Otherwise hire a taxi or there are bus services to Coloane (Nos 21 and 26) and the A-Ma Temple (No 21.)

Other than walking, the best way to get around the Macau Peninsula is by air-conditioned bus or minibus. Routes take in most of the sights. Taxis are metered and reasonably priced, but not too many drivers speak English. As for those touristy three-wheeled pedicabs (triciclos) clustered round the Jetfoil pier and Lisboa Hotel - well, they can be more expensive than the taxis, plus they're slow-moving and restricted to touring the waterfront. Bicycles can be hired from Taipa Village but remember you cannot cross the Taipa-Macau bridges on a bike. Driving in Macau can be a somewhat hair-raising experience - there are way too many cars in too small a space, and the drivers all seem to think they're Grand Prix heroes. Cars can be hired though the traditional Mokes (Jeep like-convertible) may soon be phased out. Either way, they're best reserved for more tranquil Taipa and Coloane.