Hong Kong & Macau
Here is your quick guide to the country
2024
The Visa
Information about this Visa is based on American Citizenship
- American citizens do not require a visa to visit Malaysia for business or social reasons if their stay in Hong Kong is 90 days or less.
Good To know
- Octopus card
- Can be obtained from 7-Eleven
- Used to pay for transportation around the city
- Can be refilled and are cheaper than a regular fare
- The MTR or Airport express Customer Service Center will refund the remaining balance
- Can also use your own credit card to pay for public transport.
- Hong Kong and Macau have two different currencies Hong Kong Dollar (HNK) vs Macanese Pataca (MOP)
- Pro tip: Its better to stay on Hong Kong Island as oppose to main land.
Foods to Try
- Dim sum
- Paradise Dynasty – delicious Dim sum place
- Wontons and wonton noodles
- Dumplings
- Pineapple bread
- Clay pot rice
- Fishballs
- Stinky Tofu (iconic “weird food”)
- Cha Siu Baau (steamed pork buns)
- Egg tarts
- Aka Pastel de Nata from Portugal
- Bakehouse is a popular spot to get them from
Hong Kong
Things to do
Places to eat
- Kwai Chung Plaza
- Lan Kawi Fong
- Temple street night market
Things to do
- Hong Kong Disney
- Really enjoyed my time here as this park is the least visited and I got to ride everything as many times as i wanted.
- Cost around $80 USD
- Pro tip: Download the Hong Kong Disney app before going
- Ngong Ping Village:
- Tian Tan Buddha
- Open 10am-5:30pm
- Access to the Buddha is free, there is an exhibit that does have a fee
- On a clear day you can see Macao
- Must climb 268 steps to reach the platform where the Buddha sits
- Ngong Ping 360 is a cable car which takes you from Tung Chung district to the Buddha
- Cable car opens at 9am (weekend), 10am (weekday); 20 min ride
- Po Lin Monastery
- Right near Tian Tan Buddha
- Open 8am- 6pm
- Free to visit and an active monesta
- Tian Tan Buddha
- Ocean Park
- Amusement park
- Cost around $50
- Open 10am-6pm
- Victoria Peak
- Highest point, great to visit at night
- Can take the tram up: cost 52HK (around $6) for roundtrip or 37HK (around $5) for single
- View spot at the Lions view point pavilion
- Can ride the 15 Bus to the peak (less expensive) located at Central pier 5; they come every 10min, the last stop is called the peak
- Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery
- Monster building
- Victoria Harbor
- Bruce Lee Statute
- Symphony of lights
- light show happening every night at 8pm
- Ladies Market
- K11 Musea
- A luxury mall filled with art- free to go in
- Times Square
4-6 days is good for Hong Kong
Macau
How to get there from Hong Kong
Head to either Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal (Sheung Wan) or China Ferry Terminal (Tsim Sha Tsui). Ferries depart frequently, and you can grab tickets online or at the terminal. It’s a 1-hour ride across the sea, arriving at Macau’s Outer Harbour or Taipa terminals.
Ferry tickets from Hong Kong to Macau typically range from HKD 160 to HKD 220 for economy class, depending on the time of day and ferry operator. You can choose between TurboJET or Cotai Water Jet service
Helpful tip Alert: Don’t get a round trip ticket; you can get a one way that way you can leave from the opposite island you arrived on. (That’s what we did) Beware, however, tickets can sell out so plan accordingly.
Things to do
Macau Peninsula
•Macau Fisherman’s Wharf
•Senado Square
•St. Dominic’s Church
•Ruins of St Paul
•Monte Fort
•Casino Grand Lisboa
•Casino Hotel MGM
Taipa Island
•Macao Giant Panda Pavilion (free panda exhibit)
•Studio City Macau
•The Parisian Macao
•The Venetian Macao
•The Londoner Macao
•City of Dreams
•Wynn Palace (fountain show at night)
•MGM Cotai
•Grand Lisboa Palace Resort
Everything is walkable you’ll just need to take a taxi to get from one island to the other.
1-2 days is good for Macau
I actually recommend two days, one night in Macau. One day exploring the old town and another enjoying the casino side. I suggest seeing the casinos both in the day and night.
