Travel in Macau: when to go, places and advice

Four centuries of Portugal in China on thirty square kilometres: lanes paved with calçada, baroque churches, incense-hazed Taoist temples and pastéis de nata facing the most outsized casinos on the planet. Macau has dethroned Las Vegas at the tables, but its UNESCO-listed historic centre, its unique Macanese cuisine and its villages of Taipa and Coloane tell another story. An hour by ferry from Hong Kong, a world apart.

Capital: Macau
Currency: Pataca (MOP)
Language: Cantonese, Portuguese
Direct flight: No direct flight, via Hong Kong
Time difference: +7 hr in winter, +6 hr in summer

Itineraries

Our trip ideas in Macau

The itineraries in Macau are in the works: the day-by-day programme, named hotels, tickets to book flagged in advance. Leave your address to be notified when they come out.

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The right season

When to go in Macau?

Like its neighbour Hong Kong, Macau shines from October to December: dry air, golden light on the façades, 24 °C. Winter stays mild, spring humid and misty. Summer is sticky, between tropical showers and possible typhoons from August to September. The November Grand Prix and Chinese New Year send hotel prices soaring, book well ahead.

January : Pleasant
February : Pleasant
March : Pleasant
April : Pleasant
May : In-between
June : Avoid
July : Avoid
August : Avoid
September : In-between
October : Ideal
November : Ideal
December : Ideal

Ideal
Pleasant
In-between
Avoid

Quick guide

Understanding Macau

Getting around

Everything is done on foot on the historic peninsula, and the casinos' free shuttles link the airport, the ferries and the Cotai: Macau's best-shared transport secret. The public buses fill in for Coloane.

Money

The pataca (MOP), but the Hong Kong dollar is accepted everywhere at a 1-to-1 rate. Cash remains king in the old streets, cards reign in the resorts.

Language

Cantonese dominates, Portuguese remains official on the plaques and documents. English works in the hotels and casinos, less so in the small shops.

Useful apps

The casinos' free shuttle maps, a photo translator for the menus in characters, and the Cotai Water Jet or TurboJET ferry booked online to arrive from Hong Kong.

Accommodation

The Cotai resorts sell off their immense rooms midweek: a 5-star here costs a European 3-star. For charm, a few historic pousadas on the peninsula side.

Etiquette

In the temples, plant the incense with both hands and do not point at the statues. In the casinos, proper dress, no photos at the tables, and entry is forbidden under 21.

The iconic places

Ruins of St Paul's

Peninsula

The façade of the 1640 Jesuit cathedral, sole survivor of the fire, standing at the top of its grand staircase. The absolute emblem of Macau.

Senado Square

Peninsula

Portuguese cobbles in black and white waves, pastel façades and azulejos: the heart of the UNESCO-listed historic centre.

A-Ma Temple

Barra

The shrine of the goddess of sailors, older than the Portuguese arrival, said to have given Macau its name. Spirals of incense hang overhead.

Taipa Village

Taipa

Green and yellow lanes, colonial houses on stilts and the street-food street: the Macanese postcard, steps from the Cotai casinos.

Mount Fortress

Peninsula

The 1626 citadel that repelled the Dutch, its cannons and the Macau Museum. The best panorama over the old town.

Coloane

The village at the end of the world: the yellow chapel of St Francis Xavier, black-sand beaches and the original pastel de nata at Lord Stow's.

Tap a dot, or browse the list below the map.

Ruins of St Paul's : The emblematic façade of Macau
Senado Square : The Portuguese cobbles of the UNESCO centre
Mount Fortress : The 1626 citadel and Macau Museum
A-Ma Temple : The shrine that named Macau
Guia Lighthouse : The first lighthouse of the China Sea
Taipa Village : Colonial lanes and street food
Cotai Strip : The mega-casinos face to face
Coloane : Yellow chapel and pastéis de nata