Macau is a small territory, so airport transfers are short and affordable. Better still, the taxi meter runs on a published government tariff, so most of what follows is worked out rather than guessed.
Distance and travel time
MFM airport sits on Taipa Island. The Cotai Strip with its casino resorts is just 3-5 km away, about 5-10 minutes by car. Macau Peninsula, including the historic center and older hotels, is 8-12 km away, taking 15-20 minutes. Traffic is generally manageable, though it thickens around the Cotai area on weekends and holidays.
Fixed-price private transfer
MFM Macau City Center
From€62for 2 passengers
Cost by transport type
Taxi: Macau taxi fares are set by the government. The flag-fall is MOP 21 covering the first 1,600 m, then MOP 2 for every 220 m, with MOP 2 charged for every 55 seconds of waiting. Boarding at the Macau International Airport taxi station adds a MOP 8 surcharge — it applies at any hour, not just at night — and each item of luggage in the boot adds MOP 3. Working that through, the Cotai Strip comes to roughly MOP 45-60 including the surcharge, and Macau Peninsula to roughly MOP 90-125, before waiting time in traffic. Tariffs are revised from time to time, so check the current one before you travel.
Free casino shuttle: No cost. If you are staying at The Venetian, Galaxy Macau, Parisian, City of Dreams, Wynn Palace, Studio City, or Grand Lisboa Palace, the shuttle is the obvious choice. Buses depart every 10-20 minutes.
Public bus: MOP 6.00 flat per ride. Routes run to points across the Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane, including the airport. Bring coins — the buses give no change — or use a Macau Pass stored-value card.
Private transfer: a flat price fixed when you book, so you see the total before you fly. Door-to-door, driver waiting at arrivals. Best if your hotel lacks a shuttle or you prefer personal service. A minivan costs more than a sedan and is the sensible choice for groups or families with heavy luggage — price both when you book.
Light Rail (LRT): priced by the number of stations you ride: MOP 3 for up to 3 stations, MOP 4 for up to 6, MOP 5 for up to 9, MOP 6 for up to 12 (Macao Light Rapid Transit, July 2026). Connects the airport area to Cotai and the ferry terminal.
Cost by destination
Taxi figures below are worked out from the government tariff and include the MOP 8 airport surcharge, but not luggage or waiting time. Transfer prices are quoted per booking, so get a live quote rather than trusting a range here.
- Cotai Strip resorts: free by casino shuttle, or roughly MOP 45-60 by taxi
- Taipa Village: roughly MOP 35-45 by taxi
- Macau Peninsula / Senado Square area: roughly MOP 90-125 by taxi
- Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal: on the Peninsula, so budget as above
- Hengqin (Zhuhai border): note that boarding a taxi at the Macao Port Zone of Hengqin Port carries its own MOP 8 surcharge on the way back
Currency tips
Macau uses the Pataca (MOP), but Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) are accepted everywhere at a 1:1 rate. If you are coming from Hong Kong, you do not need to exchange money -- your HKD works fine. ATMs at the airport dispense MOP and some offer HKD. Most casino resorts also exchange currency.
When free is not the best option
Casino shuttles are free but come with tradeoffs. You wait for the next departure, the bus makes stops, and you share the ride with dozens of other passengers. If you arrive late at night, the shuttle may have stopped running. For a family with tired children and heavy luggage, a transfer that takes you directly to your hotel entrance is often worth the modest step up from free.