Getting Around Macao

AP1 is the bus that you want to to take from Macau Airport to several important locations, including:

1) Macau Ferry Terminal

This is where you can get the Ferry to Hong Kong or Shenzhen.

2) Portas do Cerco/ China Border Gate

This is where you want to leave Macau to China, you can just walk to Zuhai. There is a bus terminal on the ground floor, where you can get express buses to cities in China like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and etc.

3) Av. Amizade, Mandarin Oriental Hotel / Sands Casino

The downtown of Macau, where most of the hotels and Casino are located.

Bus departs every 15 minutes from 6:30am to 1:20am.

Fare: MOP$6 each.

Just realized that I gave you the wrong name of the ferry service. It's Turbojet and NOT Turbocat. Sorry about that. Again, there's signage within HK Airport's transfer areas for the ferry service and it eventually brings you to the E-1 transfer point where you go to buy the ferry ticket for Macau. They also sell tickets for direct ferry to Shenzhen as well so make sure you're in the right line. You'll have to produce your passport and your boarding stub that you just got off of because they transfer the luggage that you've checked in all the way to the Macau Ferry Terminal where you'll go to baggage claim area AFTER you've gone thru Macau immigration formalities. It's a small area so you won't miss it. Also, the gate for the Turbojet Ferry in Hong Kong International is Gate 10 and is dedicated for ferry service transfer for shuttle buses to the Sky Pier. You won't be able to board the ferry until Turbojet and airport personnel are sure that your luggage has been transferred to the Sky Pier.

Below is a link to the website where you can also pre-book your ticket on Turbojet.
http://www.turbojetseaexpress.com.hk/eng/schedule/airport.html

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We used the Turbojet hydrofoil service directly to Hong Kong airport from Macao. You must have a valid airline ticket to use this service. Checkin when you arrive at the airport is in the hydrofoil terminal.
The journey from Macao to Hong Kong takes around one hour on a comfortable and fast boat. Although seats are allocated, it was a free for all on baording!

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Going around with Buses
Public buses and minibuses run from 6:45 a.m. to midnight. On all routes within the city, the fare is 2.5 patacas per journey. There are buses (Route 3, 3A, 10, 12, 23, 28C & 32) that provide regular service between the city and the piers for incoming or out going visitors.

All buses are air-conditioned and are quite comfortable. Try to avoid travelling during the rush hour, when buses tend to become over crowded.

There are buses from Macau to the islands with regular departures throughout the day, from 6:45 a.m. to 11 p.m. The fares are: Taipa - 3.3 patacas, Coloane Village - 4.0 patacas and Hac Sa Beach - 5.00 patacas. Passengers are required to have the exact fare.

There is a bus stop between Hotel Lisboa and the Portuguese school. You can enjoy a comfortable trip to the picturesque islands aboard an air-conditioned bus.

Bus number AP1 links the airport with the ferry terminal and downtown. It costs 6 patacas.

The Lonely Planet claimed that there is an Airport Shuttle bus. WRONG! There is no such thing. Technically, well, yes there is. The public bus service runs a line called AP-1 which will bring you out of the airport into the city (or to the airport from the city) at a flat cost of $3.30 patacas (circa May 2005). What you don't know is that this bus service is one of the most loop around service you will ever get as it virtually stops at every major tourist point in Macau. A journey could take you 40-50 minutes whereas a taxi could take only 20-25 minutes. And some of the bus drivers may not understand English. If you have time to spare and don't mind seeing Macau or if you are really intent on saving a few patacas (or HK$), well, don't let me stop you. The bus stop is right outside the airport, on the extreme left hand side after you get out from the Arrival Hall.

Route:
Barrier Gate←→Ferry Terminal←→Sands←→Cultural Cenrtre←→Landmark/Holiday Inn←→H.Lisboa←→Ocean Garden←→H.Hyatt/New Century←→Airport

There are 2 ways to get to Macau from Hong Kong:

TURBOJET
It costs HK$141 (circa 2005) one way to catch the ferry from Macau Ferry Terminal to the Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal in Hong Kong on Hong Kong Island (and vice versa). The journey takes about 1 hour, and yes, you need that passport.

Don't worry about tickets, they are easily available on the spot. Most standard hotels offer free shuttle buses to the ferry terminal in Macau.

Turbojet also offers service that brings visitors directly from HK Airport to Macau.
Addendum by seagypsy:
..."Only certain airlines with flights from HK are allowed on this service. And if you want to go via the opposite route, ie. from HK airport to Macau, you have to arrange this within the airport AND you must NOT go thru HK immigration. This needs to be arranged via the transit desk within HK Airport"...

FIRST FERRY
Catamarans from the First Ferry offer roundtrip sailings to and from Macau and the Kowloon Peninsula, arriving at the China (HK) Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon).
The journey takes about 60-75 minutes. The ticket price ranges from HK$140 to HK$275.

For details, please call Hong Kong (852) 2516-9581 or Macau (853) 726301.
You can also visit the website: http://www.nwff.com.hk.
(Disclaimer: I have not tried this service)

Macao is a relatively small city, with varied architecture and atmosphere, so visiting the sights on foot is a good idea and perfectly possible. The Tourist Office recommends walks which are well designed and interesting (though quite ambitious sometimes - I would plan more time for almost all the walks, particularly in summer when it can be very hot).

Sightseeing is fairly easy in Macau - many of the sights are within walking distance: churches, the famous Largo do Senado, the fassade of St. Paul's Cathedral, the lighthouse and many more sights!

For interesting walking tours within Macao, do have a look at the following website: