Low-cost airlines based in Macau are mak-in the ultramodern Maca International Airport (  28861111; www.macau-airport.gov.mo), on the east coast of Taipa, much busier. 

For now, Air Macau (www.airmacau.com.mo; ground fl, 398 Alameda Doutor Carlos d'Assumpcao) has the lion's share of that traffic. Together with Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, both found at the China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC; 566;  2878 8034; www.cnacmacau.com; lat Teng Hou Bldg, Avenida de Dom Joao IV) office, Air Macau has at least one flight a day to mainland cities, in-cluding Beijing, Fuzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen.

East Asia Airlines/Heli Hong Kong ( in Hong Kong 852-2108 9898; www.helihongkong.com) runs a 16-minute helicopter shuttle between Macau and Hong Kong (HKS2200 Monday to Thursday, HKS2400 Friday to Sunday) up to 27 times a day from 9am to 10.30pm (9.30am to llpm from Hong Kong).

Boat

TO CHINA

A daily ferry run by the Yuet Tung Shipping Co (2877 4478; adult/child MOP$129/78) connects Macau with the port ofShekou in Shenzhen. The boat leaves at 10am, 12.30pm, 6.15pm and 8.15pm and takes 80 minutes; it returns from Shekdu at 8.15am, 9.45am, 11.45am and 6.30pm. Tickets can be bought up to three days in advance from the point of departure, which is pier lla, just off Rua das Lorchas and 100m southwest of the end of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro.

Sampans and ferries sail across the Inner Harbour to Wanzai (MOP$12.50) on the mainland from a small pier near where Rua das Lorchas meets Rua do Dr Lourenco Pereira Marques. They depart hourly between Sam and 4pm, returning a half-hour later. A departure tax of MOPS20 is charged.

TO HONG KONG

Three ferry companies operate services to/ from Hong Kong virtually 24 hours a day.

Turbojet (fs) 790 7039, in Hong Kong 852-2859 3333 information, 852-29216688 bookings; www.turbojet.com.hk; economy/superclass Mon-Fri MOP$142/244, Sat & Sun MOP$154/260, night crossing MOPS176/275) runs three types of vessels that take between 55 and 65 minutes. From Hong Kong Island, departures are from the Macau ferry pier at the Shun Tak Centre ( 2859 3359; 200 Connaught Rd, Sheung Wan), and in Macau from the Macau ferry termina (  2872 6416).

CotaiJet ('Br. 2885 0595, in Hong Kong 852-2359 9990; www.cotaijet.com; economy/superclass Mon-Fri MOPS134/236, Sat & Sun MOP$146/252, night crossing MOPS176/275) offers an alternative drop-off point in Macau, linking Hong Kong (and eventually Hong Kong International Airport as well) with the high-end hotels and casinos of Macau's Cotai Strip. Services depart every half-hour between 7am and 2am, travelling between the Taipa temporary ferry terminal and the Macau ferry terminal in Hong Kong. On arrival in Macau a shuttle bus service drops off at destinations along the Cotai Strip, including the Venetian.

New World First Ferry (@ 2872 7676, in Hong Kong 852-2131 8181; www.nwff.com.hk) operates highspeed catamarans from the Macau ferry terminal every half-hour or so between 7am and 8.30pm. In Hong Kong they leave the China ferry terminal (Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui) on the half-hour from 7am to 9pm or 10pm. The trip takes 60 to 75 minutes and tickets cost HKS140/175 on weekdays/nights (ie from 6pm to 9pm or 10pm from Hong Kong and 6.30pm to 8.30pm from Macau), and HKS155/175 on weekends and public holidays. Deluxe class is HKS245/275 on weekdays/nights and HKS260/275 on weekends and public holidays.

Macau is also linked directly to Hong Kong International Airport by the new Turbojet Sea Express (g in Hong Kong 852-2859 3333; www.turbojet seaexpress.com.hk; Macau ferry terminal), leaving at 8.15am, 10am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 3pm, 4pm and 8.15pm. It costs MOPS200/155/110 per adult/child/infant and takes 45 minutes.

Bus

Macau is an easy gateway into China. Simply take bus 3, 5 or 9 to the Border Gate (Portas de Cerco; Mapp562; 5j 7am-midnight) and walk across. A second, less busy crossing is the Cotai Frontier Post ( 562; 9am-8pm), on the causeway linking Taipa and Coloane, which allows visitors to cross over the Lotus Bridge by shuttle bus (HK$4) to the Zhuhai Special Economic Zone. Buses 15, 21 and 26 will drop you off at the crossing.

For buses further afield, the Kee Kwan Motor Road Co ( 566; g) 2893 3888) operates from the modest bus station on Rua das Lorchas, 100m southwest of the end of Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. Buses for Guangzhou (MOP$70, four hours) depart every half-hour. For Zhongshan (MOPS25, 70 minutes) they leave every 20 minutes between about Sam and 6.30pm. There are buses to Guangzhou (MOPS75) and Dongguan (MOP$80) from Macau International Airport.

GETTING AROUND

To/From the Airport

Airport bus API  leaves the airport and 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 every 15 minutes from 6.30am to 12.10am. There's an additional charge of MOP$3 for each large piece of luggage. Other services run to Coloane (bus 21 and 26) and the A-Ma Temple (bus 21).

A taxi from the airport to the centre of town is about MOP$40.

Bicycle

Bikes can be rented in Taipa Village . You are not allowed to cross the Macau-Taipa bridges on a bicycle.

Car

Avis Rent A Car( 2833 6789; www.avis.com .mo; ground fl, Macau ferry terminal) hires out cheap Suzuki Vitaras for MOP$700 a day during the week and MOP$850 at the weekend.

Public Transport

Public buses and minibuses run on 40 routes from 6.45am till just after midnight, with destinations displayed in Portuguese and Chinese. Fares - MOP$2.50 on the peninsula, MOP$3.30 to Taipa, MOPS4 to Coloane Village and MOP$5 to Hac Sa Beach - must be paid into a box; there's no change.

The Macau Tourist Map has a full list of both bus companies' routes, and a pamphlet listing all bus routes; it's worth picking up from MGTO outlets. Useful services on the peninsula include buses 3 and 3A, which run between the ferry terminal and the city centre. Bus 3 continues up to the Border Gate, as does bus 5. From the ferry terminal, bus 12 runs past the Hotel Lisboa and then goes up to the Lou Lim loc Garden and Kun lam Temple.

Buses 21, 21 A, 25 and 26A run to Taipa and Coloane.

Taxi

The taxi flag fall is MOP$11 for the first 1.5km and MOPS1 for each additional 180m. There is a MOP$5 surcharge to go to Coloane; travelling between Taipa and Coloane will cost MOPS2 extra. Not many taxi drivers speak English so it can help to have your destination written in Chinese.

Journeys starting from the airport cost an extra MOPS5, and large bags an extra MOP$3. For a yellow radio taxi call 2851 9519 or 2893 9939.