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Destinations

Macau

Portuguese lanes, Cantonese food and glittering casino resorts

foodhistorynightlife
Plan your trip to MacauSee the top things to doPick your cities
688,900People
MacauCapital
Chinese (Cantonese), PortugueseLanguage
MOPCurrency
2 to 3 daysIdeal stay
$150-250Typical day

Macau is a small special administrative region of China on the Pearl River Delta, about an hour by ferry or bridge from Hong Kong. Its historic centre mixes Portuguese churches and squares with Chinese temples. Cotai, on reclaimed land, is lined with huge casino resorts and shows. It is known for Macanese cooking, egg tarts and easy short breaks.

Where to start

Top 15 things to do

Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.

  1. The stone facade of a 17th century Jesuit church is all that remains after a fire in 1835. It is the symbol of Macau.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Come early morning before tour groups arrive.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  2. A wave patterned square surrounded by pastel colonial buildings. It is the heart of the historic centre.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit at night when the buildings are lit up.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  3. One of the oldest temples in Macau, dedicated to the goddess of seafarers. The name Macau is thought to come from it.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Walk on to the Maritime Museum across the square.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  4. A 17th century fortress on a hill beside the Ruins of St Paul's, now home to the Macao Museum. Cannons still line its walls.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. The museum gives a good overview of Macanese life.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  5. A hilltop fort with a chapel and the oldest modern lighthouse on the China coast. A small cable car runs up.

    1-2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Look at the restored frescoes inside the chapel.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  6. Narrow lanes of old houses, Portuguese restaurants and snack shops close to Cotai. Rua do Cunha is the main food street.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Try pork chop buns and almond cookies here.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  7. A line of giant casino resorts with canals, shows and shopping. Even non gamblers come for the spectacle.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Use the free resort shuttles to hop between them.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  8. A quiet village with a yellow chapel and the original Lord Stow's egg tart bakery. Nearby are hiking trails and Hac Sa beach.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Buy egg tarts warm from the oven.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  9. A 338 metre tower with an observation deck and one of the highest commercial bungee jumps. Views stretch to Zhuhai.

    1-2 hoursTime needed
    yes, for the bungee jumpBook ahead
    Tip. Go at sunset for day and night views.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  10. A Suzhou style Chinese garden with ponds, bridges and pavilions. Locals practise tai chi here in the mornings.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Go early morning for the quietest time.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  11. A large traditional Chinese residence from the 19th century, once home to the thinker Zheng Guanying. Its courtyards show local building styles.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Combine with nearby Lilau Square.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  12. The museum covers the Macau Grand Prix street race with cars, bikes and simulators. A wine museum shares the building.

    1-2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit in November to see the real race.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  13. A black sand beach on Coloane with a park and seafood restaurants. It is the largest natural beach in Macau.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Have lunch at a Portuguese restaurant behind the beach.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  14. A yellow baroque church just off Senado Square, founded by Dominican friars. Its museum holds sacred art.

    30 minutesTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Visit on the way between Senado Square and St Paul's.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access

  15. Local life away from the casinos, with a busy market and a red shuttered street of old shophouses and snack stalls. Great for food hunting.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead
    Tip. Look for jerky shops and fresh noodle houses.
    See on the map
    TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins from OpenStreetMap search; check a place before you go.
Not on the map: Monte Fort, Cotai Strip, Lou Lim Ieoc Garden, Grand Prix Museum.
Make it yours

Turn Macau into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
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Pick your bases

Cities to visit

Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.

Macau PeninsulaMelv_L - MACASR, CC BY-SA 2.0
2 nights suggested

Historic centre and local food.

history, food · Open the city guide
TaipaSyced, CC0
1 nights suggested

Village lanes and Portuguese restaurants.

food · Guide coming
CotaiDoraemon.tvb, CC BY-SA 3.0
1 nights suggested

Resort hotels and shows.

nightlife · Guide coming
ColoaneLN9267, CC BY-SA 4.0
1 nights suggested

Quiet village and beaches.

relaxation · Guide coming
Hong KongN509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0
2 nights suggested

Common pairing by ferry or bridge.

gateway · Guide coming
MacauMelv_L - MACASR, CC BY-SA 2.0
2 nights suggested

Historic centre and local food.

history, food · Open the city guide
Hac SaLN9267, CC BY-SA 4.0
1 nights suggested

A beach base on the eastern side of Coloane.

beach, relaxation · Guide coming
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Know the map

Regions

Macau Peninsula

Historic centre, markets and temples.

Ruins of St Paul's, Senado Square, A-Ma Temple

Taipa and Cotai

Old village beside mega resorts.

Taipa Village, Cotai Strip

Coloane

Green hills and beaches.

Coloane Village, Hac Sa Beach

Taipa

A mix of preserved village and new development.

Taipa Village, Taipa Houses, Cotai links

Cotai

Reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane with the large resorts.

Resort malls, Shows, Free shuttles

Short on time?

Ready-made routes

Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.

  1. Macau Peninsula, 3 nightsHistoric centre, forts and food.
  2. Taipa, 2 nightsVillage and Cotai resorts.
  3. Hong Kong, 2 nightsFerry across for city and harbour.
Plan your dates

Seasons and weather

Best: October to December. Autumn is dry, sunny and comfortable for walking.

Summer brings heat, humidity and typhoon risk from June to September.

Busy and pricey. October, Chinese New Year and Golden Week holidays: very crowded. High season: crowds and the highest hotel prices. Book ahead.
Shoulder. November to December, March to April. Good weather with fewer people and better prices.
Quiet and cheaper. June to September: hot, wet, typhoons. Low season: lowest prices and few crowds, but shorter days and some places closed.

January. No season note for this month.

Usual weather in Macau Peninsula

Temperature

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

Rain

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.410.211.011.8JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

65°F daily high, 63°F average, 1.6 in

  • Warmest month July (85°F)
  • Coolest month January (63°F)
  • Wettest month June (11.6 in)
  • Driest month December (1.0 in)

Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Macau Level 3: Reconsider Travel, citing limited consular help and arbitrary enforcement of local laws; street crime is low.

5/5
Getting around

Free casino shuttles, buses and a light rail make it easy to get around.

3/5
Value

Street food is cheap but hotels and casino dining are costly, especially on weekends.

Good to know

Entry with your passport

Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.

Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.

EntryRules change, so check the entry requirements page of the Macao Government Tourism Office and your own government's travel advice before you book.
PlugsType D, F, G, M; 220 V
Tap watervaries
TippingCasino and hotel staff may be tipped; in restaurants a service charge is often added.
PaymentsCards work in resorts, but carry patacas or Hong Kong dollars for small shops.
Emergency999
EtiquetteSpeak quietly in temples and avoid touching offerings. Avoid political talk, as local laws are strictly enforced.
What to wearCover shoulders and knees in temples and churches.
DrivingOn the left
Between citiesBuses and the Light Rapid Transit cover most areas, and resorts run free shuttles. Ferries and the bridge link to Hong Kong, and border gates lead to Zhuhai in mainland China.
Main airportsMFM
Ride appsDidi
Taste it

What to eat

Portuguese egg tartPork chop bunAfrican chickenMinchiAlmond cookiesSerraduraMinchi (Macanese minced meat dish)Dim sum and congee

A short history

Portuguese traders settled in Macau in the 1550s, and it became a key port for trade with China and Japan. It stayed under Portuguese administration for more than four centuries. Sovereignty passed to China in 1999 under the one country, two systems model. Casino licensing opened up in the early 2000s and turned it into a major gaming centre.

Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Macau