Macau

Where East meets West in style

Macau is a small territory on China’s southern coast where Portuguese history meets Chinese culture. The city was a Portuguese colony before returning to China in 1999 and this background shows in its architecture, food and festivals. Visitors can explore historic forts, colorful temples and casinos that reflect both East Asian traditions and European influences. Macau also has scenic views of the Pearl River Delta and nearby Hong Kong just across the water. Its compact size makes it easy to walk between old streets filled with shops selling souvenirs and local snacks.

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State/Prefecture in China

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.5

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	8

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, casinos, and major hotels. However, in local markets and smaller shops, knowledge of Mandarin or Cantonese may be helpful.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Macau Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Read how our scores work

Unique for casinos and Portuguese heritage. Explore historic squares, visit grand casinos, enjoy fusion cuisine and walk colonial streets.

Place score

8.3

Best at:

Luxury

Fine dining

Local cuisine

Luxury shopping

Street food

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

👩 8

Solo

China – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type I Type A: Type I: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) £1 ≈ CN¥8.88
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in China, particularly in urban areas. Mobile payment services like Alipay and WeChat Pay are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in China and is not expected, although it may be appreciated in high-end restaurants or by hotel staff for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in many places in China, but it is common in restaurants and bars.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and public transport, but enforcement can vary.

Chinese New Year (January/February)	Major holiday with family gatherings and public celebrations
National Day (1 October)	National holiday with parades and festivities

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 110 (Police), 120 (Ambulance), 119 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	DiDi, Uber
Other:	China is known for its vast cultural heritage, including historical landmarks like the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. It offers diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to beaches.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Macau, China

🌥️

Jan

☁️

Feb

☁️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

⛈️

May

⛈️

Jun

⛈️

Jul

⛈️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

🔥

Oct

🌤️

Nov

🌤️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - Feb., Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - May, July - Aug.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Typhoon season June to October, signal 8 or higher halts ferries and most services

Chinese holiday weeks (Lunar New Year, 1 May, 1 October) bring huge crowds and high hotel prices

Macau Grand Prix mid November, city streets closed to traffic and hotels fully booked

Don't miss

🏛️ Visit the historic Ruins of St. Paul's
🛍️ Explore the vibrant Senado Square and its shops
🗼 Admire views from the towering Macau Tower
⛩️ Tour the ancient and serene A-Ma Temple complex
🚤 Experience gondola rides at Venetian Macao resort

You've been here?

Why travel to Macau?

Macau is an absolute treat for travelers who love history, culture and entertainment. The UNESCO-listed Historic Centre offers a glimpse into the city's colonial past, while the Cotai Strip rivals Las Vegas with its grand casinos and shows. Beyond gambling, Macau boasts incredible fusion cuisine, beautiful temples and unique festivals. However, it can get crowded and hotel prices rise during peak events.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 St. Dominic's Church
2 Lin Zexu Memorial Museum of Macao
3 Ruins of St. Paul's
4 A-Ma Temple
5 Dom Pedro V Theatre
6 Guia Fortress
7 Macau Tower
8 Mandarin's House
9 Senado Square
10 Taipa & Coloane

🎡Places for activities

1 City of Dreams
2 Tap Seac Gallery
3 Lotus Square
4 Studio City Water Park
5 The Venetian Macau Casino
6 The house of dancing water

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Seac Pai Van Park
2 Hác Sá Beach
3 路環賈梅士大馬路(近海蘭花園)公廁 Na Avenida de Luís de Camões, Coloane (perto do Hellene Garden)
4 Guia Hill

🛍️Shopping

1 New Yaohan
2 Fisherman's Wharf of Macau
3 官也街 Rua do Cunha
4 Broadway Macau
5 One Central
6 Red Market

🎈Events

Macau Grand Prix
Macau International Fireworks Display Contest
Macau Arts Festival
Chinese New Year Celebrations
Macau Food Festival
Dragon Boat Festival
Lusofonia Festival
Macau International Music Festival
International Film Festival & Awards Macau
Feast of the Drunken Dragon

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Officially a SAR; combine a Macau visit with nearby珠海 if possible.
Try Portuguese-inspired snacks and fusion cuisine reflecting Macau's heritage and unique identity.
Plan Temple Street and Senado Square early to avoid crowds and heat, especially in peak season.
Most attractions are within easy walking radius; use free casino shuttle or efficient taxis for distant sites.

How to travel to Macau

Macau is accessible via Macau International Airport (MFM) or by ferry from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong‑Zhuhai‑Macau Bridge also allows easy bus travel from Hong Kong and Zhuhai.

Access summary

From Macau Airport (MFM): Local buses or hotel shuttles, roughly 15–25 minutes.
From Hong Kong: High-speed ferries to Macau, usually about 55–70 minutes.
From Guangzhou/Shenzhen: Intercity buses or Zhuhai train then border crossing, about 2–4 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Macau

Macau offers everything from luxury resorts on the Cotai Strip to more affordable guesthouses in the historic center. Prices vary greatly, especially during major events and holidays.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Grand Lisboa Palace Macau

Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau

8.9

Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 Hotel

8.6

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Macau

Getting around Macau is easy with public buses, taxis and the free shuttles provided by many casinos. Walking is also a good option in the historic center. Ferries connect Macau to Hong Kong and Zhuhai.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-28 %

Daily expenses in Macau are around 28% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-1 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CNY) is 1% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£51	£114	£331
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£60	£150
🍝 Food per day	£21	£49	£162
🚕 Transportation per day	£3	£5	£18

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£19
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£5
🍟 Fast food combo	£4.60
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£8
☕ Cappuccino	£3.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.55
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.25

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£11.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£27
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£19

Safety information overview

General safety

Macau is generally safe for tourists. Petty crime is rare but be mindful of your belongings in crowded places. The casino areas are well-secured.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Macau are of good quality, with public hospitals and private clinics available. Pharmacies are well-stocked with common medicines.

Accessibility

Major tourist sites, hotels and casinos are generally accessible. However, some older parts of the city and historic sites may pose challenges for those with mobility issues.

Tap water

Tap water in Macau is safe but not typically consumed directly. Most locals and tourists prefer bottled or boiled water. Hotels usually provide bottled water for guests.