Hong Kong & Macau Tips: 14 Things to Know Before Travel
- Rick
- Aug 4
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Travelling to Hong Kong and/or Macau soon? This post highlights the important things to know before travelling to either or both destinations.
Both Hong Kong and Macau are designated Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of China. They are part of China but maintain a high degree of autonomy, with their own separate legal and economic systems, as well as distinct governing bodies. Crossing the borders between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will require immigration clearance with visa or entry permit, where applicable.
Most travellers will usually travel to both cities on a single trip since they are near to one another, separated by the Zhujiang / Pearl River Estuary (珠江口), and well-connected by frequent ferries and the 55-kilometre Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB / 港珠澳大桥) that began operation in October 2018.
1. Colonial Pasts
Similar to Singapore with a British colonial past, Hong Kong was under British rule for 156 years in total and was returned to China in 1997. Macau was under Portuguese rule for 442 years and reverted to China sovereignty in 1999. Both SARs have long colonial histories and are influenced by the Europeans. As such, a number of historical aspects, such as colonial attractions, traffic & vehicle orientation, power socket type, etc, are similar to Singapore.
2. Visa & Passport
For Singapore passport holders, entry to Hong Kong and Macau may not require a visa. Singaporeans can typically visit Hong Kong for up to 90 days without a visa. For Macau, a visa is not required for stays of up to 30 days. For longer stay that exceeds the specified days or involves activities like work or study, a visa or entry permit is needed.
Note that crossing the borders between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will have separate visa-free periods — they do not overlap. Singapore passport holders are allowed 30 days of stay in mainland China without visa.
Ensure passport is valid for at least six months — with reference to the date of entry into the region.
3. Arrival / Departure Card
As of 16 October, 2024, Hong Kong has discontinued the use of arrival cards for all travellers. Travellers are no longer required to complete and submit an arrival card when going through immigration. Similarly, no arrival / departure card is required in Macau.
However, every traveller will be issued with a printed "landing" slip by respective immigration authorities of Hong Kong and Macau that serves as proof of authorisation to stay and includes the permitted duration of stay. Travellers should keep this slip safe and be mindful of the stated limit of stay. The landing slip may be needed by China authorities if planning to travel to mainland China from Hong Kong / Macau.
Note that passports may not be stamped.
4. Travel Insurance
Hong Kong and Macau both boast high-quality healthcare system and tend to be rather expensive and more so for foreigners. A medical coverage for the duration of the period of travel will be advisable, especially for those susceptible to travel fatigue or sicknesses.
When travelling during the typhoon season from July to September (sometimes till October), getting a travel insurance is highly recommended. When Hong Kong hoists a Typhoon Signal No. 8, or higher, in the wake of an expected strong wind typhoon, flights may be delayed or cancelled.
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5. Climate
Hong Kong and Macau experience subtropical climate and has distinct seasons. The region is heavily influenced by monsoons, with wet southeasterly winds in the summer and dry northeasterly winds in the winter. Temperature varies within an average range from 17°C in January and February to 29°C in July and August. Over half of the annual rainfall falls between May and September.
Spring (March ~ May):
Warm and humid, with occasional spells of high humidity and fog.
Summer (June ~ August):
Hot and humid with frequent rainfall, including monsoon rains.
Afternoon temperatures often exceed 31°C, with high humidity at night.
Susceptible to tropical cyclones, especially from July to September.
Autumn (September ~ November):
Pleasant breezes, sunshine and comfortable temperatures.
Winter (December ~ February):
Cool and dry with occasional cold fronts and dry northerly winds.
Average temperatures can drop below 10°C in urban areas, with even lower temperatures possible in the New Territories and on high ground.
6. Time Difference
Geographically, Singapore time should be about an hour behind Hong Kong and Macau — both follow Beijing Time / China Standard Time — but, officially, Singapore (and Malaysia) chose to follow China Standard Time also, in 1982, for ease of trading with China, a growing economic force.
Although there is no time difference between Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, the two SARs experience earlier sunrise and sunset than Singapore. While Singapore has near-consistent 12-hour daylight between around 7am to 7pm, Hong Kong and Macau have varying daylight time throughout the year. Between October and March, the region experiences shorter days of close to 10.5 hours with the sun setting as early as 5:30pm. Between April and September, the longest daylight time may reach about 13.5 hours with sunrise as early as 5:30am — for outdoor activities, such as hiking or nature photography, plan to start the day early as it can be scorching hot during mid-day.
Reference: Timeanddate.com
7. Travel Seasons
In terms of weather, the better time to visit both Hong Kong and Macau is around October to December when the atmosphere is more comfortable with lesser rain and cooler air — expects more tourists during this peak travel season. From mid-December to February, the weather can be colder with lower temperature and occasional cold fronts and cold-weather wears are required.
The low travel season is during summer when the atmosphere is hot and wet with more rainfall and occasional tropical cyclones that may develop into destructive typhoons, causing fallen trees, damages to structures, flooding and landslides in its path. Travellers will not want to fly there, if not stranded at airports, to see the cities in battered states.
The period also coincides with the summer break (July & August) of most schools in Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China — there may also be more "local" tourists from China and between the 2 SARs.
8. Languages
The official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, and in Macau, Chinese and Portuguese — although only a very small population knows the language. The most commonly spoken language in both SARs is Cantonese. When Mandarin is spoken by locals, the grammar and vocabulary tend to have strong Cantonese influences.
Unlike in China, and Singapore, the written language in both SARs is Traditional Chinese instead of Simplified Chinese. Knowing how to read those complex Traditional Chinese characters on road signs and signboards will make travelling in the SARs easier. Written Chinese sentences tend to be direct "representation" of the Cantonese language rather than Standard Chinese (普通话) grammars and constructs, especially on local newspapers, magazine, etc, and may pose challenges for non-Cantonese Singapore Chinese too. However, most written texts in tourist spots tend to be phrased in Standard Chinese.
9. Currencies
The currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar (code: HKD, symbol: HK$) which comprises of banknotes in denominations of HK$10, HK$20, HK$50, HK$100, HK$150 (rarely used), HK$500, and HK$1,000. Coins are in denominations of HK$10 (rarely used), HK$5, HK$2, HK$1, 50-cent, 20-cent and 10-cent. The Hong Kong Dollar can be exchanged globally.
The currency of Macau is the Macanese Patacas (code: MOP, symbol: MOP$) which comprises of banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 patacas. The commonly used coins are 10 avos, 50 avos, MOP$1 and MOP$5. Unlike the Hong Kong Dollar, the Macanese Patacas is mainly exchangeable in Macau and may be few (with poorer exchange rates) or not possible elsewhere.
The Macanese Patacas is pegged to Hong Kong Dollar at 1 HKD : 1.03 MOP$ (no limit) since 1983. While HKD is accepted by most retails in Macau on a 1-to-1 equivalent basis, the MOP cannot be used to pay for goods and services in Hong Kong and in Macau casinos.
In Macau, it will be better to pay for high-price purchases in local MOP or charged to credit / debit cards in MOP, otherwise, there will be a loss of about 3% if paid using HKD on a 1-to-1 basis. For small-price purchases, sacrifice the 3% for convenience.
10. Power Socket Type
The common power socket types in Hong Kong and Macau are Type G and Type D — the latter may still be in use in older buildings. Type G is a three-pin plug with rectangular pins (same as in Singapore), while Type D is a three-pin plug with round pins in a triangular pattern. The standard voltage of both SARs is 220V at frequency of 50Hz.
11. Transportation
The easiest and affordable means of transport to get around Hong Kong are the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), with vast network connecting most cities, and public buses. Allocate more travel time when taking buses due to regular traffic congestions, especially near crossings between Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island. The Star Ferry services that traverse across Victoria Harbour and double-decked trams of Hong Kong Tramways that run along the northern coastline of Hong Kong Island are also affordable options within specific areas and are tourist attractions themselves.
Taxi services in Hong Kong are required to use taximeters, generally expensive, but often being criticised by travellers for rudeness, poor services and overcharging by inflating fares or refusing to use meters. E-hailing services, such as Uber, HKTaxi, etc, are available too, offering better services but are more expensive than taxis, especially during peak hours.
In Macau, taxi services suffer similar bad reputations as their Hong Kong counterparts and e-hailing service is illegal. The easiest and most affordable transport is the public buses with vast network to all corners of Macau at standard fares of MOP6 per one-way trip regardless of distance travelled.
In December 2019, Macau added the Macau Light Rapid Transit (MLRT) system on Taipa, connecting various areas in Taipa, Cotai and Coloane, including the Taipa Ferry Terminal and Macau International Airport. The light-rail network extends to the Macau Peninsula with just one station, called Barra Station, in R. de São Tiago da Barra. It is probably the easiest and most convenient way to cross the sea between the two main islands.
12. Escalator Etiquette
In Singapore, "Keep Left" is a general rule be it walking on pathways or driving on roads. On the escalator, stationary or slower commuters will keep to the left side, allowing those moving to walk or overtake on the right. Macau uses the same "Keep Left" etiquette.
In Hong Kong, the principle is "Walk on the Left". Stationary commuters generally stand to the right side of the escalator and allow others to walk on the left. On staircases, where everyone will need to walk, always go up / down on the left side. In many places, especially staircases leading into MTR stations, pedestrian overhead bridges, etc, there may be arrows painted on the floor to guide commuters.
13. Traffic & Driving
Same as in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau have left-hand traffic, meaning vehicles drive on the left side of the road and use right-hand drive vehicles. As mentioned above, the "Keep Left" rule applies to stationary, slow-moving and left-turning vehicles.
14. Zebra Crossing
In Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, drivers are legally required to give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings / crosswalks. However, unlike in Singapore where drivers usually stop their vehicles automatically for pedestrians waiting to cross the roads, some drivers in Hong Kong may not do so, although majority will stop when pedestrians are on the crosswalks. In the densely-populated city areas, crosswalks are installed with traffic lights to facilitate pedestrian crossings. For those without traffic lights, do exercise caution before stepping onto the crosswalks.
In Macau, zebra crossings are not supported by traffic lights. Automatic stopping by drivers is not always guaranteed and has resulted in serious safety concerns for pedestrians. Ensure vehicles stopped at zebra crossings before stepping out, otherwise, use crossings with traffic lights or overhead bridges, wherever possible.
The list above is not exhaustive. I will add-on to this list when I discover something worth taking note of before travelling to Hong Kong and Macau.
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