Hello, I have a layover at Hong Kong airport for close to 11 hours. Is this long enough to make a quick visit to both Macao and China (Shenzhen)? HK-Macao-Shenzhen-HK
The travel date is in July, which is Chinese school holiday. Though I know it is one hour trip to Macao, has anyone got an idea how long is immigration wait at the ports?
You said 3 hours before the flight but realistically on a transit where you are already checked in and have your boarding pass, 2 hours is plenty of time.
90 mins should be fine at HKG, and 30 minutes to get out when arriving.
However they have missed the fact that if you take the bus to Macau, you need at least 30 mins to get from the bridge to anywhere useful, and if they take a ferry from Macau to SZ, they land at Shekou or SZX airport from where it's up to an hour to get to downtown SZ. Plus the timetables will not be perfectly aligned so could be an extra 30 mins of waiting at each interchange.
The only way this could work is if 1) the OP just wants to tour the transport infrastructure of the area and 2) they make an extremely detailed itinerary with every contingency planned for, then have it all go to shit when the flight lands on runway 25R and takes an hour to taxi to the terminal (happened to me recently, went all the way to gate 23 so yes it was really an hour)
Sdrowkcab krow.
Advise
They really need to put the breaks on post like this.
You're getting upvotes but I think it should be 'advice', I take it as a noun in this context. I don't think the title has any verbs
comment posted before post revision
Ah that checks out, glad I'm not the crazy one!
I fell asleep in the terminal. Didn't even set an alarm, luckily woke up just in time for connection.
Why would you want to rush it? Just get a lounge pass and hang out. The food in the airport is actually legit good as well
some people want to experience everything in one go in the form of a checklist
Geesus just walk around hong kong, enjoy the food and their pretty chicks. Ok maybe couple hours in Macao
Crazy to even consider this.
Take a bus into kowloon or causeway bay and tick off a few touristy things but don't push it.
It’s too short. You just need one delay to make things very uncomfortable. Ie if there is heavy rain or wind between China/Macau and Hong Kong then the train and the ferries shut down. During the holidays travel between borders will be slow especially if you hold a foreign passport. They tend not to man many lines for foreigner checks and you have go through security checks when you leave China through any means of transport. Last time we went too at least 1.5 hour wait for security checks at the ferry to China. And also at the bridge from China back to Hong Kong.
11 hours gives you a decent amount of time to hang around hk and go to a few places. The metro is quick to get anywhere within Hong Kong.
Heaps of time - might as well pop over to Taiwan too
As you are transiting at HKG I assume you would not have checked in luggage’s to collect and (re)check in? If that’s the case, then it I assume you will need 30 min to clear customs (arrival), and 1 hour for departure?
Bus from the airport to the Bridge (port/checkpoint) will take 30 min as the service is not that frequent. Passport control there shouldn’t take long. And as fellow ozbargainer, I assume you will catch the golden bus? The wait time/queue varies so I assume the whole trip will take one hour. Passport control in Macau hopefully shouldn’t take long.
BUT the Macau port/checkpoint is not close to anything except buildings under construction- it is on a newly reclaimed island. If you want something to buy/eat it will be a bus trip to the local (lower class) residential area. Getting to touristy areas in the Macau peninsula it will be a 45 min bus ride(check if buses serve your destination before you go). Bad traffic happens daily particularly peak hours - public buses will be packed and will not stop at your stop.
So my question to you is - what is the reason to visit Macau? Is it necessary? Are you really that keen? Because I can imagine this quick trip will be your Amazing race. If your next flight is another long haul flight , this Macau trip will be tiring and will you very exhausted.
In my opinion, a 11 hour layover trip to Macau is doable but will be very taxing. If I were you, I would rather visit other places in Hong Kong and chill out . Like what the other comments suggested, if there is any delay(and for this trip to Macau, likelihood is high)then you won’t make it to your connecting flight. Only exception is that you hire a private cross border car for 9 hours but that will cost 1000 aud .
And don’t even consider both Macau and Shenzhen - either one city is not so feasible already
Oh no, you dont have lounge then? 😞
I think for 11 hours, just stay in Hong Kong. Go to some malls, eat some good food, visit some places you haven't already been.
If you had an extra couple of days then you could do a Macau / Shenzhen trip, with a day in each. Trying to cram it all into 11hrs just feels like too much, and you might end up pushing things just a bit too far and then missing your connecting flight.
Whats wrong with looking around Hong Kong ???????????
Hell no
Hello, I have a layover at Sydney airport for close to 11 hours. Is this long enough to make a quick visit to both Melbourne and Norfolk Island?
Maybe if australia had reliable and fast transportation system
As others have said - this will be too tight and you’ll be rushing and possibly miss your connection anyway, or at least be stressed the whole time . The immigration lines in and out of the airport and in and out of Macau are slow for foreigners. Just catch the Airport Express train to Central and enjoy wandering around the IFC Mall (the “rooftop” garden is good for viewing the surrounding city and across the harbour: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/things-to-do/ifc-rooftop-g…) and maybe catch a taxi to ThePeak if you’re still in HK in the evening, or catch the Star Ferry Tsim Sha Tsui and walk along the Kowloon harbour front (https://www.chinahighlights.com/hong-kong/attraction/avenue-…) - enjoy great views and the 8pm light show (https://www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/eindex.html)then taxi to Kowloon Station and the AirPort Express train back to the airport. Enjoy a drink and dinner at the airport. Nice and easy (and relaxing sightseeing).
just hang around Tung Chung maybe visit the big buddha or cable car
don't remember to get $120HKD departure tax refunded from the airport as you are flying out same day
Wait what's the departure tax refund? I had a 13h layover in HKG and spent time in Hong Kong.
I didn't pay any tax, but would the airline have even collected it for a transit? Or is this only collected if you booked two seperate flights?
hahaha it's a tax you already paid in the plane ticket for over 12 years old
but if you arrive and depart same day you can go to counter to get the refund in cash
I think you can also lodge a claim afterwards too but need to show proof you arrived and depart
here you go https://www.cad.gov.hk/english/departure_tax.html
That's bizzare, so anyone who buys a connecting ticket through Hong Kong will pay this tax (eg. Australia to Europe via Hong Kong?).
Wouldn't most people be entitled to a refund then? Unless people who are actually stopping in Hong Kong? That seems bizzare.
I'm just over the 28 days deadline for my journey from Australia, but I could still claim for my return journey. This seems fishy or I'm misunderstanding this haha
@cheesecactus: it's not anything new it's just one of those not very opening advertised things that if you know and eligible and fly out before 11:59:59pm then you just claim it at the airport… come October it is increasing to $200HKD from $120HKD. I should put it as a deal on Ozbargain haha.
yes if you arrived in HK via car, bus, air, ferry and you can prove it and flying out same day you can get it
most people would already be in HK the previous day so they are not eligible
but most people that claim this is interconnecting flights or they just came from Macau or the Mainland and leaving via HKIA
return journey? nah it's only for leaving HK not for arriving HK
@Poor Ass: That should definitely be a deal!
Return journey I meant I flew Europe>HKG>Australia, so I arrived and left HKG again.
So anyone transiting HKG for a trip would be entitled to submit two of these forms. On their departure (from Australia) and return (to Australia).
@cheesecactus: well they are actually all departure from HKG but I get ya
they said if it is paid on the plane ticket but I don't even know where it's located…. everything is in AUD I can't actually see $120 HKD or $23-$24AUD on the ticket
@Poor Ass: It's on your invoice from the airline. For mine from Cathay it shows as tax "I5" for $21.20 (for flights purchased last year).
But that was for my complete journey Aus>Europe>Aus via HKG both ways. So looks like it only gets charged once per itinerary maybe?
Both Hong Kong layovers didn't cross into the next day. One was 13h, one was 8h.
@cheesecactus: ya pretty sure you can get it each time then
I don't think it's the I5 because kids also pay that.
If you look again it should be the XX.XX HK amount so if you flight out twice from HKIA it should be around $46 to $48.
I mean if AUD crashes and HKD or USD (they are pegged) goes up then you could be making $
@Poor Ass: You're totally right. It's HK not I5. My mistake. I5 is Airport Passenger Security Charge.
Turns out I wasn't charged the HK fee on my flights at all!
So looks like they don't charge it if you're just transiting on the same day?
Makes sense! No forms for me to submit then!
So looks like they don't charge it if you're just transiting on the same day?
that must be it otherwise it'll be a rout
all my flights have them because there are no other flights on the same day out of HKIA
@Poor Ass: Yep that all makes more sense now 👍
Good to hear we're not being ripped off (too badly at least)
Do a food tour of the city. Some memorable pork buns can be found just off the train in the station at central. Michelin rated places everywhere.
1 - Pay for the direct Airport to Macau bus, don’t dick around entering HK and getting a local bus to the border just to leave again
2 - Decide what you want to see/do in Macau and then match it up with a free casino shuttle bus, I would recommend Pointe 16 as its close to the action and they run every 30 mins or so from the bridge.
3 - I would then embark on a sweaty walking tour across town taking in the sights and pick up wither the 101x or 102x back to the bridge, at which point you go through the check in process for the bus directly back to the airport, they even give you a voucher to get a refund on your HK departure tax (which you probs haven’t paid if you’re just transiting anyway)
1 - Pay for the direct Airport to Macau bus, don’t dick around entering HK and getting a local bus to the border just to leave again
maybe instead of paying $280 that goes direct they want to pay the $70 gold bus but requires hk immigration
Takes way too long and I think for most of the year the Macau govt is subsidising the buses so they’re free (I was able to take advantage of this last year)
https://macaonews.org/travel/macau-free-ferry-bus-tickets-ho…
Free again yes
Macau is doable; you're practically 1/3 the way there. IIRC, I was 15 minutes through Macau immigration when I caught the gold bus and went on the bridge instead of catching a ferry at the airport.
errrr why would you catch the gold bus when you could of just caught the direct bus from airport to macau that doesn't require to clear HK immigration
I wasn't transiting through HK, but I stayed there, and Macau was a side trip.
Hello, I have a layover at Hong Kong airport for close to 11 hours. Is this long enough to make a quick visit to both Macao and China (Shenzhen)? HK-Macao-Shenzhen-HK
Frankly this is a stupid idea. You want to make 3 border crossings on an 11 hour stopover? And rely on no problems, perfect timing with transport connections, etc?
Is this a troll post?
HK is a great airport - good food and facilities. I'd laze about, go to the sky garden, book into a lounge and have a shower and rest, and eat a bunch (presuming your stopover is during the day when stuff is open, and not overnight).
Too much stress for me to head into town, even with 11 hours. Enjoy your trip whatever you choose to do!
The airport is way too overpriced, considering you can get on a bus and pay one tenth of the price for a better meal. I'd say catch a bus into mong kok, have a nice dinner and a stroll about, then catch a bus back to the airport and loaf about until your flight.
Yes, ignore the haters, life life on the edge. Whats one missed international flight anyway
Macao & Shenzhen are rubbish compared to hanging downtown in H.K.
That must be why everyone flocks to Shenzhen every weekend.
HK has gone downhill in the last 10 years. Gangxia in Shenzhen now has better food and cleaner streets than anywhere in HK.
Errr when was the last time you went
Couple of weeks back. Love HK.
did you buy a I Love HK t-shirt in women's street?
was Macao and SZ rubbish because you didn't know where to go and maybe communication
@Poor Ass: See you in LKF next week. Go on, get your poor ass up there. I’ll buy you a beer to help heal your salty wounds.
By the way, you buy T-shirts at the Ladies Market, not “women’s street”, if that’s the type of thing that turns you on.
@cashless: Women's street is interchangeable with ladies market. Locals don't even say ladies market they say women's street
Enjoy ya overpriced tourist beer in LKF
Consider this a neg vote as I run out of my daily quota :)
Graciously accepted. 🙏
Surely you can't be serious.. You've got 11 hours and you want to somehow fit in Macao and Shenzhen??
Some people won't even risk leaving the airport! lol
I'd go into HK city/habour and that's it.
Go to Mong Kok and try haggle over anything at the Ladies market.
It's what a true Ozbargainer would do.
Gotta get some knock-off Luis voutton to go with your investment BMW.
Halo misi would you like to buy a wat chu
Macau's customs are quite slow as everything is manual.
Could actually be do-able if you only Macau and Zhuhai (mainland), both places have easy transport back to HKIA (airport), just look for signs to HKZMB port to re-enter Hong Kong. Immigration clearance would be about 15-30 mins (if you have HKID, add 15 mins more if not) for Macau and about 20-60 mins for Zhuhai. You could go to Macau via Ferry (or gold bus) from HKIA and then work your way up to Zhuhai then take a HKZMB bus back to HK for another clearance back into HK around 30-60mins depending on the date.
I personally would not recommend unless you know exactly where you want to go before hand.
Thanks, I will try Zhuhai instead of Shenzhen.
In my opinion, visiting Macau is not worth is risk. Best use of time would be to take the peak tram, go to victoria Peak. Enjoy the views, roam around the CBD a wee bit and then back to the airport.
Peak tram is a rip and you can't see shit
Might as well catch the bus up
Btw there's no real CBD it's everywhere
What time of the day you are landing and leaving HKG. HKG is dead at night.
As others have said, I would not recommend trying to do both on an 11 hour transit as you will not get to enjoy much of either place, especially if you add some extra fat into your schedule to allow for any delays at the multiple border crossings.
Macau doable if you use the direct bus service, that doesn't require you to clear HK customs and immigration.
It also appears to be FREE at the moment. Can't beat that for a bargain.
But it's still a risk.
I've done Disneyland on a previous transit, and I'm doing an 18 hour transit this weekend with someone who hasn't been to HK before, so will just hit up the usual stuff.
SF Express will store your hand luggage if you don't want to lug it around. They are in T1 Arrivals hall level 5 HKD$14/hr (HKD$165 max) per piece.
Awesome. This is great.
Spend the 11 hours waiting in line for the Peak tram.
I had a 13h layover in HKG last month. Fortunately it was from 8am to 9pm so was perfectly timed.
We did the peak tram (wasn't busy at 10am on a Wednesday, but the line to buy tickets was slow. I just bought them on my phone while inline and then jumped out of the line and scanned in), there's a free and quite big aviary next to the base of it which we spent some time in too, ate some dimsum in the "central" suburb, a short walk after taking the tram back down, took a tram for the fun of it, and spent some time walking around the CBD as well.
There is a train from the airport, but it's very expensive. The bus, A11, was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper and not too much longer as it goes further (depends where you want to go though).
They advertise that credit cards work on the bus.
They did not for any of my cards or my partner's cards.
But google pay did work. So make sure that's set up.
If you have the same in the future, you can setup octopus for tourists on your phone and use that to travel on all transport. Any funds remaining when you leave can be transferred back onto your account. The only small negative is that the app will not let you transfer funds in using HKD so have to use their exchange rate.
We did the peak tram
ripped off should of caught the 15 or X15 $11-$15HKD
peak tram can't see shit anyway just a tourist trap
Yes why not, if you shout out loud "delay no more" at the bus/train station while you're waiting, it will make it come quicker
might as well throw in a few more like DLLMPKHGC
Hong Kong Disney is right near the Airport. And you could also go to Citygate outlets at Tung Chung (1 MRT stop away from the Airport) on the way back and load up the empty suitcase that you took with you with duty free clothes and electrical goodies at some of the best prices.
Just did this last Thursday. But for me, it was only an 8.5 hour layover.
I would not recommend leaving HK. The additional custom and immigration can be very messy. Thursday was Labor Day holiday for both China and HK, so lots of people travelling both ways across the border.
This was what I was able to achieve (I was going from China to HK with an evening flight):
- Fast train through Guangzhou to HK - 1hr
- Clearing customs and immigration at HK border - 45min
- Store luggage at Mainland Coach station connected to the high speed rail station - 15min
- Reactivate my ancient Octopus card and go North up the Tung Chung line from Kowloon to switch across to the Tuen Mun line to get to East Tsim Sha Tsui
- Go Nathan Rd, walk up about 2kms of it visiting some of my old favourite shops and exchange some cash in Chungking Mansion.
- Had lunch, went to the island (Admiralty, Central) visit more stalls, get a juice, then head back to Kowloon to get my luggage and get onto the Airport Express.
- This ended up being 4.5 hours worth of roaming, I could have pushed it another hour, but that would have been the max before I would head to the airport.
I had already done all of the 'tourist' things in HK before but my recommendation for HK for the first time is if it is shopping that is your interest, visit a mall on HK Island, or if you are more into the street stalls, go to Mongkok. If you want to see some sights, go to the island, take the tram or bus up Victoria Peak, then visit one of many good restaurants.
Only because I am familiar with the MTR system and how the shopping centres connect via multi-level walkways etc. do I get around fairly efficiently, no missed stops, no wrong way trips etc. I would add at least 30 minutes to any exploring if it is your fist time on the system. Use Google Maps to give you the correct exit numbers (D1, C2, H1 etc.) so you are efficient in how you get in and out of the MTR stations.
But overall enjoy exploring what I still find a bustling and vibrant city. I was there during the riots and pre-Covid and yes, it isn't quite the same as it was back then but for short visits, it still has that big city hustle that I enjoy.
Victoria Peak, then visit one of many good restaurants
visit one of the last 3 Burger King's in HK which tastes ultra crap
this is ozbargain we don't eat fancy overpriced the peak food
You want to visit 3 countries in an 11 hour stopover???
Technically, 1 country. 2 Special Adminstrative Areas (Hong Kong and Macau) and a City of China (Shenzhen). But yes, it's way too ambitious given the timeframe!
Work backwords.
You have 11 hours.
You need to be at airport 3 hours before flight home. That leaves 8 hours.
You need ~an hour from Shenzhen to airport. That leaves 7 hours.
You need ~an hour from Macau to Shenzhen. That leaves 6 hours.
You need ~an hour from airport to Macau. That leaves 5 hours.
You need ~an hour or two from landing to disembarking, passport control, baggage claim etc. That leaves 3-4 hours.
Add in some contingency for delays, missed shuttles, meals, etc and it feels doable, but very very rushed.
Maybe consider just Macau to reduce stress and actually be able to enjoy it.