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Destinations / Macau

Macau

Aomen

Portuguese heritage meets Las Vegas glamour.

luxuryfoodhistorynightlifeshopping
Plan your trip to MacauSee the top 10
683,000Population
683,000Metro area
Cantonese, PortugueseLanguage
MOPCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$180-300Typical day

Macau is a small Chinese Special Administrative Region mixing Portuguese colonial streets with huge casino resorts. Its food blends Cantonese and Portuguese. It suits food lovers and casino visitors.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. The stone facade of a 1600s church. It is the symbol of Macau. It is the facade of a 1600s church, part of the Historic Centre of Macau UNESCO site.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Entry is free; the nearby museum is paid.

    Tip. Visit early to avoid crowds and climb Mount Fortress behind for views.
    See on the map

  2. A square with wave-patterned paving. It is ringed by colonial buildings. Its wave-pattern pavement and colonial buildings are part of the UNESCO site.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Entry is free.

    Tip. Go early or late, and try egg tarts and almond cookies on the side streets.
    See on the map

  3. A temple to the goddess of seafarers, older than the city. Macau may be named after it. It predates the city and was dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu.

    45 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Entry is free.

    Tip. Visit in the morning when locals pray, and be respectful.
    See on the map

  4. A tower with views and the world's highest commercial bungee. It has a revolving restaurant. It stands about 338 metres high and has a bungee jump.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $15-30Cost
    noBook ahead

    Observation deck ticket; adventure activities cost more.

    Tip. Come at sunset and book thrill activities in advance.
    Official siteSee on the map

  5. A huge casino resort with indoor canals. It is in Cotai. It is one of the largest casino resorts in the world and copies Venice.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  6. Old lanes with Portuguese houses and snack shops. Rua do Cunha is the main street. It has old houses and street food on Rua do Cunha.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Streets are free; food costs vary.

    Tip. Visit for lunch, and try pork chop buns on Rua do Cunha.
    See on the map

  7. A hilltop fort with a lighthouse and chapel. It is UNESCO listed. It is the highest point on the peninsula and has a chapel and lighthouse.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Entry is free; the cable car costs a few MOP.

    Tip. Go in the late afternoon for clear views and cooler air.
    See on the map

  8. A quiet village with a chapel and Lord Stow's Bakery. Beaches are nearby. It is a quiet village with a chapel and seafood restaurants.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to visit; food and activities cost extra.

    Tip. Take a bus from Taipa, and try egg tarts at Lord Stow's, the original bakery.
    See on the map

  9. A fort next to St Paul's with the Museum of Macau. Views are good. It was built in the 1600s by the Jesuits and houses the Macau Museum.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $3-6Cost
    noBook ahead

    Museum has a small fee; the fortress grounds are free.

    Tip. Take the escalators up and ask about closing days.
    See on the map

  10. A Hollywood-themed resort with a figure-eight Ferris wheel. It has a water park. It is a resort in Cotai with a figure eight Ferris wheel.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Turn Macau into your plan

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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Macau in three days

Day one old town, day two Taipa and Cotai, day three Coloane and the tower.

  1. Ruins of St. Paul's30 minutes · Free
  2. Senado Square1 hour · Free
  3. A-Ma Temple45 minutes · Free
  4. Macau Tower1 hour · about $15-30
  5. The Venetian Macao2 hours · Free
  6. Taipa Village2 hours · Free
  7. Guia Fortress1 hour · Free
  8. Coloane Village2 hours · Free
  9. Mount Fortress1 hour · about $3-6
  10. Studio City2 hours
Beyond the city

Day trips

Hong Kong

Skyline and harbour.

37 mi · Bridge bus or ferry, about 1 hour

Zhuhai

Mainland city next door; check visa rules.

3 mi · Walk across the border

Hengqin Island

A newer area with theme parks and a nature reserve; check border rules.

3 mi · Taxi or bus through the border, about 20 minutes

Guangzhou

A large Cantonese city for food and history; needs mainland entry rules.

87 mi · High-speed train from Zhuhai, about 1 hour

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: October to December. Dry and comfortable.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.410.211.011.8JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

65°F
Typical daily high
Average63°F
Rain1.6 in
About5 rainy days
Sun strength3.0 kWh/m²

No season note for this month.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Nov

Macau Grand Prix

November

Street circuit motor racing.

Jan

Chinese New Year

January or February

Fireworks and lion dances.

Sep

Macau International Fireworks Display Contest

September and October

Teams from different countries fire shows over the harbor.

May

Feast of the Drunken Dragon

Usually May or June

A local dragon parade and street festival in the old town.

Year

Macau Arts Festival

Spring

Concerts, theatre and dance across the city.

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Know before you go

At a glance

5/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Macau Level 2, exercise increased caution, due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws; street crime is low.

4/5
Walkability

The historic center is compact.

4/5
Public transport

Free casino shuttles, buses and a light rail; Macau Pass works on buses.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Cotai

$$$$

Best for: luxury, families

Mega resorts.

2. Macau Peninsula

$$$

Best for: history

Near the old town.

3. Taipa Village

$$

Best for: food

Charming lanes.

4. Historic Center and Senado Square

$$

Best for: history fans, budget

Walk to the Ruins of St. Paul's, with cheaper rooms.

5. Cotai Strip

$$$

Best for: families, luxury, shows

Mega resorts with pools, shows, malls and restaurants.

6. Coloane

$$

Best for: nature lovers, relaxing

Beaches, quiet lanes and Portuguese-style churches.

Getting there and around

Main airportMacau International (MFM), 4 mi from the center
To the centerPublic buses link the airport with the Macau Peninsula and Cotai; many visitors arrive by ferry or bridge bus from Hong Kong.
Around townWalk the old center and use free hotel shuttles.
Ride appsDidi, Taxi
Taste it

What to eat

Portuguese egg tart

Flaky custard tart.

Minchi

Macanese minced meat.

Pork chop bun

A Macau snack.

African chicken

Spicy Macanese grilled chicken.

Ginger milk pudding

A smooth, lightly spicy chilled dessert.

Good to know

PlugsType G, 220 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingService charges are often included.
PaymentsHKD and MOP are both accepted; cards in resorts.
EtiquetteCasinos have dress codes.
  • HK dollars are accepted, but change is often in patacas.
  • Bring a passport.
  • Casino photography is banned.
  • Many shuttles are free.
  • Tap water is considered safe to drink by authorities, but many people choose bottled water.
  • Many border and ferry arrangements, visa-free periods and entry rules vary by nationality, so check your passport requirements.
  • Ferries from Hong Kong run frequently, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge also has shuttle buses.
  • Typhoon signals can close ferries and shops, so check the weather in summer.

A short history

Portuguese traders settled in Macau in the 1550s, making it one of the first European outposts in East Asia. It was a key trading port for centuries. Sovereignty passed to China in 1999, and casinos have since boomed. Macau was handed back to China in 1999 and is a special administrative region.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Macau