Macau - Getting around

The centre of peninsular Macau is compact, and most of the sights and attractions are easily reached on foot. Other attractions, such as the Macau Tower, A-Ma Temple, Guia Hill and Coloane and Taipa islands are farther afield and require jumping on a bus or hailing a taxi, both of which are cheap, readily available and efficient.

Branches of the Macau Government Tourist Office, including the one on Senado Square, distribute the excellent (and free) Macau Tourist Map, with bus routes marked. City buses are operated by the state-owned Transmac (tel: 2827 1122; www.transmac.com.mo) and the smaller Transportes Colectivos de Macau (tel: 2885 0060; www.tcm.com.mo). These operators also run frequent buses to and from the adjacent islands of Taipa and Coloane as well as Cotai, the strip of reclaimed land adjoining them. They are accessed by any of three bridges across the bay.

For faster travel, hail a cab, with your directions written in Chinese characters to show the driver. Taxis are plentiful, safe and metered, and can be flagged down throughout the city. Calling a cab company (tel: 2851 9519 or 2893 9939) should only be attempted by guests who speak fluent Cantonese, as little English is spoken.