Territory capital · Macau
Macau city澳門
Go to Macau for the Portuguese-colonial old town, Macanese fusion food and casino spectacle: a day trip from Hong Kong, or one to two nights if you want the old town at a slower pace.
Macau is a special administrative region of China and was a Portuguese territory until 1999. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Cotai Strip holds large casino resorts built in the last two decades. Ferries and a bridge link it to Hong Kong and mainland China.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MOP
- Best months
- Oct–Dec (dry, mild, cooler air)
- avoid Jun–Sep (typhoon season, high heat and humidity)
- Airport
- MFM
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 4
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Macau ↗Entry rules differ from mainland China and Hong Kong and depend on your passport; check the Macao SAR Government and Public Security Police sources before you book, and carry your passport for every crossing.
- Macau ↗When Typhoon Signal No. 8 or higher is raised, ferries and buses stop and many shops close: stay where you are and re-plan the next day.
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Macau city999 ▾
- Police / Fire / Ambulance999
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Macau city, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?The local currency is the pataca (MOP, MOP$).Macau-wide
- SIM or eSIMCTM, China Telecom (Macau), Hutchison 3 and SmarTone sell prepaid tourist SIMs at the ferry terminals, airport and shops…Macau-wide
- Tap waterTap water meets standards, but old building pipes lead most locals to boil or buy water; hotels provide bottles.Macau-wide
- TippingRestaurant with 10% service charge: Nothing extra; leave small change if you wish.Macau-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets D/F/G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Macau-wide
- SafetyVery safe; typhoons, crowd crush at peak times and casino-adjacent money-changer scams are the main things to watch.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree and clean in resorts, casinos, malls and museums; public toilets in the old town are basic and sometimes lack paper.Macau-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police / fire / ambulance
- Sundays & holidayscheckMuseums close on Mondays (Macau Museum, Museum of Art — check); small shops and eateries close 2–3 days at Chinese New Year…Macau-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMFM Macau International (On Taipa island; about 20 min by taxi to the peninsula old town).
- Getting aroundFree shuttle buses link casino resorts, the ferry terminals and the airport, and are usable even if you're not a guest.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MFM Macau International (On Taipa island; about 20 min by taxi to the peninsula old town)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
Feb
not flagged
Mar
not flagged
Apr
not flagged
May
not flagged
Jun
Avoid
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
Avoid
Oct
Best
Nov
Best
Dec
Best
Best: Oct–Dec. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Weather and climate
Macau city: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Free shuttle buses link casino resorts, the ferry terminals and the airport, and are usable even if you're not a guest. Public buses are cheap and cover the whole territory; the historic centre itself is walkable. Taxis are metered but can be hard to hail at peak times.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Hong Kong
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h each way
Ferry (TurboJET / Cotai Water Jet), about 1 h, or bus over the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Macau Peninsula
Old town, walk to the historic sights and local food.
Cotai Strip
Casino resort hotels, often better room value, but a bus or taxi ride from the old town.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MOP 300–500 excl. bed
- Mid
- MOP 600–1,200 excl. bed
- High
- MOP 1,500+ excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Portuguese egg tart (pastel de nata) | MOP 10–15 |
| Pork chop bun | MOP 30–45 |
| Ferry to Hong Kong (one way) | MOP 170–270 (confirm — varies by class and day) |
| Local bus fare | MOP 6 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Typhoon signals can suspend ferries to Hong Kong with little notice: build a buffer day into your schedule if you have a connecting flight.
- Carry your passport at every border crossing, including between checkpoints within Macau and into mainland China.
- Casino-resort prices skew high: eat where locals do, away from the resort strip, for normal prices.
- Streets around the Ruins of St Paul's get extremely crowded on weekends and Chinese public holidays.
Emergency numbers
- Police / Fire / Ambulance
- 999
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Macau city. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Dec (dry, mild, cooler air) · avoid Jun–Sep (typhoon season, high heat and humidity) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Macanese tasting menu instead of a casino buffet
- Old town walk at night once the day-trip crowds thin
- Taipa Village for a quieter side of Macau
Sources
- officialMacao Government Tourism Office
- secondaryWikivoyage — Macau