About Macau
Location
Macao is located at the western bank of the Pearl River Delta, 90 miles (144 kilometres) southeast of Guangzhou and 40 miles (64 kilometres) southwest of Hong Kong. It covers a total area of 30.3 square kilometres, with comprising of a peninsula and two islands- Taipa and Coloane and connected by three road bridges and a causeway.
Population and Language
The total population is estimated at around 636,200. Includes over 96% of Chinese speakers and 2% of Portuguese speakers; official languages used are mainly Chinese and Portuguese, and English is Macao’s third language.
For more information, please visit the website of the Macau Government Tourist Office.
Travel Information
Passports & Visas
All visitors must hold a passport or a valid travel document for travel to Macao. A Macao visa can be obtained through the Embassies/Consulates of the PRC and should be used within its validity. Visitors may also apply for an entry permit or visa upon arrival at the immigration checkpoint. However, visitors from certain countries are required to obtain a visa in advance before their trip to Macao.
For more information, please visit the website of the Macau Immigration Services of Public Security Police Force.
Useful Phone Numbers
| Organization Name | Phone Numbers |
|---|---|
| Emergency Number | 999/ 110/ 112 |
| Hospital Centre S. Januário | 28313731 |
| Kiang Wu Hospital | 28371333 |
| Public Security Police Force (PSP) | 2872 5488 |
| 24-Hrs Tourism Assistance Hotline | 28333000 |
| Consumer Council | 89889315 |
| Directory Enquiries | 181 |
Climate
Weather in Macao is fairly warm tropical climate. During summer (June – August), the weather is usually sunny and it should be relatively a good opportunity to visit Macao.
For more information, please visit the website of the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau.
Time Zone
Macao is eight hours of Greenwich Mean Time- (GMT +8).
Currency and Credit Card
Macao’s official currency, the Pataca (MOP) is divided into 100 avos. There are banknotes and coins in the following denominations:
Coins: 10, 20 and 50 Avos; 1, 2, 5 and 10 Patacas.
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas.
By the decision of the Government, the Pataca is linked to the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). The exchange rate is MOP103.20 = HKD100.00 and roughly 8 Patacas is equivalent to 1 US Dollar.
In addition, automatic teller machines (“ATM”s) offer the most convenient banking service and are available almost everywhere in Macao. Most credit cards are widely accepted in major hotels, restaurants and stores, etc.
Electricity
The standard voltage in Macao is at 230V, 50Hz. The power plug/ socket system used in Macao are of the three-rectangular-pin, square-shaped or round-shaped type.
Travel Options
By Air:
Macau International Airport:
Traveling to Macau is fast and convenient with direct flights into Macau International Airport within a three to five hours flight from many countries and regions in Asia including Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and many cities in China.
Hong Kong International Airport:
Passengers can simply transit into Macau without go through Hong Kong custom and immigration formalities and also without carrying their luggage to the ferry terminal.
By Helicopter:
Sky Shuttle is the largest transport helicopter operator in Pearl River Delta region. It offers a speedy and comfort option for passengers. Sky Shuttle currently operates 54 flights a day in every 30 minutes between Macau and Hong Kong, and 10 flights a day between Macau and Shenzhen. Each flight takes only 15 minutes!
For more information, please refer to: http://www.macau-airport.com/en/transportation/transport-connection/helicopter
By Sea:
With over 100 sailings per day, Cotaijet whisks visitors between Macau and Hong Kong in less than one hour on the high-speed catamarans at any time of the day, it operates 24 hours at every 15-30 minutes. Cotaijet also provides a convenient and fast sailing between Hong Kong International Airport and Macau, it takes only 45 minutes! Other ferry operators Turbo Jet and Macau Dragon also sail from Hong Kong and Macau.
By Land:
The Barrier Gate and the Cotai Frontier Post are two gateways available to and from mainland China. Bus services between Macau and major cities in Guangdong Province are readily available.
Transportation
Buses
| Transportation | Telephone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Transmac | (853) 2827 1122 | http://www.transmac.com.mo/ |
| TCM | (853) 2885 0060 | http://www.tcm.com.mo/ |
| New Era | (853) 2875 5210 | http://www.newera.com.mo |
For more information about public buses, please consult: Transport Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Taxis
For more information about public buses, please consult: Transport Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region.
Maps and Directions
The following will help you travel to the destination point within APrIGF2015 Macao.
A.
1. From Macao International Airport to Holiday Inn Macao, Sands Cotai Central
The airport is located on Taipa Island and is only 10 minutes away from the COTAI Frontier Post.
By Bus
| Transportation | Bus No. |
Routing | Fare* (MOP) |
Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmac | 26 | Bacia Norte Do Patane to Vilade Coloane | 3.2 | 06:34-23:24 |
Get onto the bus No. 26 and get off the bus at the stop- EST. DO ISTMO / SANDS COTAI CENTRAL.
2. From Macao Ferry Terminal to Holiday Inn Macao, Sands Cotai Central
By Bus
| Transportation | Bus No. |
Routing | Fare* (MOP) |
Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmac | 32 | Fai Chi Kei to Torre De Macao | 3.2 | 06:15-23:53 |
| TCM | N1A | Bacia Norte Do Patane to Praca Ferrira Amaral | 3.2 | 00:00-06:00 |
| New Era | 21A | Barra to Praia De Hac Sá | 3.6 | 07:00-23:00 |
| Transmac | 25 | Portas Do Cerco to Praia De Hac Sá | 3.6 | 06:05-01:15 |
| Transmac | 25X | Portas Do Cerco to Rotunda Flor De Lotus | 4.2 | 06:06-01:00 |
| Transmac | 26A | Bacia Norte Do Patane to Praia De Hac Sá | 3.6 | 06:10-23:30 |
Please note that no direct bus can travel to Holiday Inn Macao, Sands Cotai Central at that particular bus stop, you need to take either No. 32 or N1A to transfer to Praca Ferrira Amaral and then take another bus such as No. 21A/25/26A and get off the bus at the stop- EST. DO ISTMO / SANDS COTAI CENTRAL;
Or after transferring to Praca Ferrira Amaral, you can take 25X, get off the bus at the stop- EST. DO ISTMO / VENETIAN and walk for around 10-15 minutes to the destination point.
3. From Taipa Ferry Terminal to Holiday Inn Macao, Sands Cotai Central
By Bus
| Transportation | Bus No. |
Routing | Fare* (MOP) |
Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmac | 26 | Bacia Norte Do Patane to Vilade Coloane | 3.2 | 06:34-23:24 |
Get onto the bus No. 26 and get off the bus at the stop- EST. DO ISTMO / SANDS COTAI CENTRAL.
For visitors who want to travel by using the Sands Cotai Central Shuttle Bus Services, please refer to The Sands Cotai Central Shuttle Bus Services schedule.
* There are two types of shuttle bus: a)travel to Holiday Inn Macao & Conrad Macao, Sands Cotai Central or b)travel to Sheraton Macao, Sands Cotai Central. The three hotels (Holiday Inn Macao, Conrad Macao & Sheraton Macao) are actually connected together and they are just next to each other. Attendees of APrIGF are encouraged to take the first option as their priority, hence the shuttle bus driver can drop them off to the destination point- Holiday Inn Macao directly.
4. From Holiday Inn Macao, Sands Cotai Central to Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST)
According to the map, walking is the best and the most convenient way to get to the university as there is no shuttle bus or bus can reach there.
The attached map shows the 1st floor complex with the shuttle bus pick-up and drop off points of Cotai Central:
B.
Want to explore and experience more about Macao?
If you want to visit the landmark or tourist attractions in Macao, out of which, we are pleased to introduce two of them to you.
I. From The Venetian Macao to Rua Do Cunha
- Rua do Cunha- countless famous old restaurants which offer plenty of traditional cuisines; have numerous shops selling desserts and mainly food souvenirs such as almond biscuits, egg rolls and peanut candies. In addition, there is an interesting Taipa Flea Market sets up stalls every Sunday in the near square which you could discover lots of pretty hand-made items. Don’t miss the chance for getting there.
- The Taipa Houses-Museum
- Museum of Taipa and Coloane History
The three areas are actually connected and it’s near to the meeting venue. Right after you walk out from the Holiday Inn Macao, Sands Cotai Central, you can either choose to walk to the bus stop near The Venetian Macao, take the bus No. 15 and get off the bus at the stop- RUA DO CUNHA (Note: Every 35 minutes);
Or choose to walk directly to Rua Do Cunha and it will take for around 25-30 minutes.
By Bus
| Transportation | Bus No. |
Routing | Fare* (MOP) |
Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmac | 15 | Jardins Oceano to Povoação De Ka-Hó | 2.8 | 07:30-18:35 |
II. From The Venetian Macao to Ruins of St. Paul’s
Considered as Macao’s best known landmark and it is near the downtown of Macao, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro (San Malo).
Walk to the bus stop near The Venetian Macao, get onto the bus No. 26A and get off the bus at the stop- ALMEIDA RIBEIRO.
By Bus
| Transportation | Bus No. |
Routing | Fare* (MOP) |
Time* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmac | 26A | Bacia Norte Do Patane to Praia De Hac Sá | 4.2 | 06:10-23:30 |