Macau travel guide
Macau (also spelled Macao) is a Special Administrative Region of China on the southern coast, across the Pearl River estuary from Hong Kong. Over four centuries of Portuguese administration, which ended in 1999, left a historic centre of baroque churches and tiled squares that now stands beside large resort-casinos. It suits short trips, food lovers and side trips from Hong Kong or southern China.
Places worth the trip
Historic Centre of Macao
A UNESCO World Heritage Site linking more than twenty buildings and squares. Start at Senado Square with its wave-patterned Portuguese paving, walk past St Dominic's Church and up to the facade of the Ruins of St Paul's, the city's best-known landmark.
A-Ma Temple
One of the oldest temples in Macau, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, with pavilions climbing a hillside near the inner harbour. The name of the territory is often traced to this place.
Guia Fortress and Lighthouse
On Macau's highest hill, a 17th-century fortress encloses a small chapel with restored frescoes and the first modern lighthouse on the Chinese coast. Walking trails around the hill give views across the peninsula.
Taipa Village
Narrow lanes of colonial houses and small shops, with Rua do Cunha known for snack stalls selling almond cookies and jerky. The nearby Taipa Houses-Museum shows how Macanese families lived in the early 20th century.
Coloane
The quietest corner of Macau, with a small village around the Chapel of St Francis Xavier, hiking trails through wooded hills and Hác Sá beach. It is the place to try a Portuguese-style egg tart near where they became famous.
Cotai
Reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane now holds a strip of large integrated resorts with casinos, shopping malls, shows and themed architecture. Even if you don't gamble, the scale is worth seeing in the evening.
Macau Tower
The 338-metre tower has an observation deck with views over the delta and, for the brave, one of the world's highest commercial bungee jumps and an outdoor skywalk around the rim.
Interesting facts about Macau
- Macau was administered by Portugal from the mid-16th century until 20 December 1999, when it became a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
- Land reclamation has more than doubled Macau's land area over the past century, and the Cotai Strip stands on land that was once sea between two islands.
- Macau was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017, recognising Macanese cuisine, which blends Portuguese, Chinese, African and South-East Asian influences.
- The Macau Grand Prix has been held on the city's twisting Guia street circuit since 1954, and many future Formula 1 drivers have raced there.
- Macau is one of the most densely populated places on earth.
Best time to visit Macau
October to December is generally the most pleasant time, with dry, sunny days and mild temperatures. The Macau Grand Prix in November and the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest in autumn draw crowds, so book ahead. January to March is cool and can be damp and grey. Summer, from May to September, is hot and very humid with heavy showers, and typhoons are possible between about June and October. Chinese New Year and the Golden Week holidays in early May and early October bring large numbers of visitors from the mainland.
Getting around
Macau is compact. Buses cover the peninsula, Taipa and Coloane cheaply, and the Light Rail Transit links Taipa, Cotai and the border areas. Many large resorts run free shuttle buses between the ferry terminals, the border gate, the airport and their hotels, which visitors commonly use to get around. Taxis are metered. From Hong Kong, you can travel by fast ferry or by bus across the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. The Border Gate and Hengqin crossings lead into mainland China, which requires separate entry arrangements.
Practical details
- Capital
- Macau (a city territory without a separate capital)
- Currency
- Macanese pataca (MOP); Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted, usually at par
- Languages
- Chinese (Cantonese is most widely spoken), Portuguese
- Plug types
- G, D, M
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 999 (police, fire and ambulance)
- Driving side
- left
- Tipping
- Hotels and many restaurants add a 10% service charge. Otherwise tipping is not expected, though leaving small change is common.
Staying online in Macau
Mobile coverage is excellent throughout Macau, with fast 4G and 5G even in the old town's narrow streets, and the government runs a free public Wi-Fi service at many tourist sites. Google, WhatsApp and other international services work normally in Macau, unlike in mainland China, where many of them are blocked; check what your plan offers if you are continuing across the border. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land or step off the ferry.
Useful apps
- Google Maps: Walking routes through the historic centre and bus directions between the peninsula and Cotai.
- Google Translate: Chinese menus and signs; Portuguese street names are on most signs too.
- XE Currency: Convert between patacas, Hong Kong dollars and your home currency, since prices may be shown in either.
Macau travel FAQs
Yes, Hong Kong dollars are accepted almost everywhere, usually at a one-to-one rate, although change is often given in patacas. Patacas are not accepted in Hong Kong, so spend them before you leave.
Fast ferries run from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Hong Kong airport. Shuttle buses also cross the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge from the Hong Kong port near Lantau. Both take about an hour plus border formalities.
Yes, coverage is excellent across the whole territory. Roaming on a home plan can be costly, so many visitors use a travel eSIM for local data while keeping their home number active for calls and texts.
Yes. The UNESCO-listed historic centre, Macanese food, Taipa and Coloane villages and the hiking trails are reasons enough, and the resorts offer shows and dining that have nothing to do with casinos.