Macau travel guide

Getting there

Macau International Airport has regional flights across Asia. Most visitors arrive by ferry from Hong Kong or by bus across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, or overland from Zhuhai in mainland China.

Best time to visit: Oct–Dec – sunny, dry and comfortable.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: June-September - hot, humid and rainy, with the risk of typhoons.

Weather by month in Macau

• 18°J
• 18°F●
• 21°M●
• 25°A●●
• 28°M●●●
• 31°J●●●
• 32°J●●●
• 32°A●●●
• 31°S●●
• 28°O●
• 24°N
• 20°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Macau. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 191 of 198 other passports can enter Macau without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 7 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Macau (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-09-04). Read the advisory.

Stay

Most trips to Macau are based around Historic Centre of Macau, Ruins of St Paul's or A-Ma Temple. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$60–90 for a backpacker and US$150–250 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: G, D. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +853.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Historic Centre of Macau (Macau Peninsula · UNESCO): A cluster of churches, temples, squares and mansions blending Portuguese and Chinese heritage.
• Ruins of St Paul's (Macau Peninsula · landmark): The iconic church façade beside the Mount Fortress and Macau Museum.
• A-Ma Temple (Barra · temple): A colourful temple complex honouring the goddess of seafarers.
• Taipa Village (Taipa · old village): Charming streets with food stalls, colonial villas and a laid-back feel.
• Coloane (Coloane · beaches & village): Hiking trails, Hac Sa beach and a quaint village around the Chapel of St Francis Xavier.
• Cotai (Reclaimed land · resorts): A strip of huge integrated resorts, shows and shopping.
• Guia Fortress (Macau Peninsula · viewpoint): A 17th-century fort with the first modern lighthouse on the Chinese coast.

Things to do

• Climb to the Ruins of St Paul's. Stand before the carved stone façade, Macau's most famous landmark, and explore the crypt behind it.
• Stroll Senado Square. Walk on wavy black-and-white Portuguese tiles past pastel colonial buildings.
• Burn incense at A-Ma Temple. Visit Macau's oldest temple, built into the hillside overlooking the harbour.
• Eat a Portuguese egg tart. Bite into a warm, flaky, caramelised custard tart straight from a bakery.
• Wander Taipa Village. Explore lanes of colonial houses, snack stalls and the Taipa Houses-Museum.
• Look out from Guia Fortress. See a historic lighthouse and chapel on Macau's highest hill.
• Try Macanese cuisine. Taste African chicken, minchi and other fusion dishes that reflect centuries of trade.
• Relax in Coloane. Enjoy quiet beaches, a seaside chapel and village cafés on Macau's greenest island area.

Eat and drink

• Portuguese egg tart – flaky pastry with caramelised custard
• Pork chop bun – fried pork chop in a crusty roll
• Minchi – Macanese minced pork with potatoes
• African chicken – grilled chicken in spicy sauce

Money and safety

Currency: Macanese pataca (MOP). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: A 10% service charge is often added in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 999 all emergencies.

• The currency is the Macau pataca; Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted, but change is often given in patacas.
• Cards are accepted in hotels and malls, but small eateries may be cash only; ATMs are common.
• Macau is very safe, with low crime; watch for pickpockets around crowded tourist sites.
• Follow typhoon warning signals in summer and autumn.