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Territory of China

Eastern Asia

MacauTravel guide

Explore Macau visa rulesCommon scams in Macau

Macau is a former Portuguese colony and a Special Administrative Region of China. It is known for casinos, Portuguese and Chinese architecture, historic streets, beaches and distinctive food.

Why go

  1. Explore old streets, churches, temples and fortresses on the Macau Peninsula.

  2. See historic buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which recognises important cultural sites.

  3. Visit the villages of Taipa and Coloane.

  4. Try Portuguese, Macanese and Cantonese food.

  5. Explore the large casino resorts and shopping malls of Cotai.

Getting there

By air

  • Macau International Airport serves mainland China and several other Asian destinations. Air Macau and several low-cost airlines operate here.
  • Air Macau's website may be difficult to use outside China. Booking through a travel agent may be necessary.
  • The airport has light rail, buses and taxis. For the city centre, a bus may be the most useful option.

By land

  • Shuttle buses cross the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge around the clock, with departures up to every five minutes. The journey takes about 40 minutes.
  • At the bridge's Hong Kong Port, tickets are sold at machines and a ticket desk. The desk accepts cash and credit cards.
  • Coaches from Guangzhou and Shenzhen take about three hours. Some services stop near the border so you can walk into Macau.

By sea

  • The Outer Harbour ferry terminal on the Macau Peninsula serves Hong Kong, Shekou and Shenzhen International Airport.
  • Taipa Ferry Terminal is next to the airport and serves Taipa, Cotai and Coloane. It has connections to Hong Kong and Shekou.

Customs

  • Macau has its own border controls, separate from mainland China.
  • Ferry arrivals do not need to complete an arrival card. Immigration is usually quick outside peak times.
  • Keep the landing slip issued at the border. You will need to show it when booking your hotel room.

Getting around

  • Public buses

    Transmac and TCM, Macau's two bus companies, serve the territory. Most buses run roughly from 6AM to midnight. Routes can be winding and directions difficult to understand. Get a free route map and advice at the ferry terminal's tourist information desk. Carry your destination written in Chinese, as drivers usually speak Cantonese and little English. The cash fare is MOP$6, and drivers do not give change. Hong Kong coins are accepted except the HK$10 coin. Macau Pass and the MPay app offer discounted fares and free transfers. Macau Pass has a non-refundable MOP$30 card fee and a minimum first top-up of MOP$100. MPay registration needs a Macau, Hong Kong or mainland Chinese phone number. You can add money with cash at convenience stores.

  • Hotel and casino shuttles

    Many hotels and casinos provide free shuttle buses from the Outer Harbour ferry terminal. Free casino shuttles also operate from the Macau Port of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. Use these established services instead of accepting cheap rides from ferry-terminal touts.

  • Light rail

    Light rail serves the airport, Taipa, Cotai and Barra at the southwestern tip of the Macau Peninsula. The Hengqin line connects with Hengqin Port and its railway station. For the city centre from the airport, a bus may be more useful.

  • Taxis

    Taxi ranks are available at the airport and Outer Harbour ferry terminal. Keep your hotel's name card to show the driver. Airport trips have extra charges for the pickup, bridge and bags. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.

What to see and do

  • Historic Macau Peninsula

    See churches, temples, fortresses and old streets that mix Portuguese and Chinese influences.

  • Largo do Senado and the Ruins of St. Paul's

    Explore the historic centre and the souvenir shops along the streets between these landmarks.

  • Taipa village

    Visit a pretty village on an island also known for Portuguese and Macanese restaurants.

  • Coloane village

    Explore another pretty village and the quieter southern part of Macau.

  • Kun Iam statue

    This seaside statue of a Chinese deity has a distinctly European design. It stands near the Sands Casino and MGM Grand.

  • Macau Tower

    Visit for wide views and adventure sports.

Food and drink

  • Macanese egg tarts

    These have flaky pastry and a soft, sweet filling. Lord Stow's Bakery in Coloane invented the Macanese version.

  • Portuguese dishes

    Try salted cod with potatoes and vegetables, kale and sausage soup, or bean stew. More authentic Portuguese food is mostly found in a few high-end restaurants.

  • Macanese chicken

    African-style chicken comes with spicy piri-piri sauce. Portuguese-style chicken is a Macanese dish made with coconut curry.

  • Minchi and pork chop buns

    Minchi is stir-fried minced pork with potatoes, onions and sauces. A pork chop bun contains freshly fried pork, sometimes with pieces of bone.

  • Almond cookies and beef jerky

    Almond cookies are a common souvenir. Vendors on the street towards the Ruins of St. Paul's offer samples of moist beef jerky.

  • Cantonese food

    Dim sum, seafood, rice and noodle dishes are widely available. Simple eateries in central Macau offer meals for under MOP$30, though menus may be only in Chinese.

Money

Macanese pataca (MOP). Hong Kong dollars (HKD) are also widely accepted.

  • Prices marked only with a dollar sign usually mean patacas.
  • Hong Kong dollars are almost universally accepted at one Hong Kong dollar to one pataca. Change may be returned in either currency.
  • Spend your remaining patacas before leaving, as they are difficult to exchange outside Macau.
  • Government offices, post offices and government museums accept only patacas. Casinos prefer Hong Kong dollars.

Tipping: Tips are usually neither given nor expected, though hotel bellhops may expect about MOP$10 for carrying bags. Full-service restaurants usually add a service charge; give any extra tip discreetly in cash directly to the person.

Typical costs

  • Public bus: MOP$6 when paying cash.
  • Bus with Macau Pass or MPay: MOP$3 on regular routes and MOP$4 on express routes.
  • Simple rice or noodle meal in central Macau: under MOP$30.
  • Portuguese wine: around MOP$20 a glass in a restaurant, with bottles starting below MOP$100.
  • Chinoy Express internet cafe: MOP$5 per hour.
  • Hotel and port branches of McDonald's charge roughly twice as much as regular branches.

Language

  • Cantonese is the main spoken language and an official language.
  • Portuguese is also official, but only a small minority of residents speak it.
  • Mandarin is widely understood, especially by younger people and staff at major visitor attractions.
  • English is common among tourism staff, but less widely spoken by the general population.
  • Government signs use traditional Chinese and Portuguese. Many tourist signs also have English.
我食齋 (ngóh sihk jāai)
I eat vegetarian food.
素 (sou)
Vegetarian; look for this character on restaurant signs.
Terminal Maritimo
Ferry terminal, as shown in bus information.

Staying safe

  • Macau is relatively safe, but keep valuables secure in crowded attractions and border stations.
  • Pickpockets may work in groups, with one person distracting you while another steals.
  • Use public transport or a proper taxi instead of accepting cheap rides from ferry-terminal touts.
  • Ignore suspicious calls and messages asking for personal information.
7 common scams in Macau, and how to avoid them

Local customs

Do

  • Learn a few useful Cantonese words or phrases.
  • Follow traditional Chinese table manners when dining.
  • Give any extra tip discreetly and directly to the person you want to thank.

Don't

  • Do not assume local residents speak English or Portuguese.
  • Do not binge-drink or behave drunkenly; this is not tolerated.
  • Do not assume that views about politics or identity are the same as in Hong Kong.

Staying healthy

  • Carry a sweater or long-sleeved layer for strongly air-conditioned buildings. Moving repeatedly between hot outdoor weather and cold interiors can cause discomfort and cold symptoms.
  • Tap water is safe to drink, but building pipes and storage systems may be poorly maintained. Boil the water if you are unsure about your accommodation's pipes, or use bottled water.
  • Keep good personal hygiene.
  • Use mosquito repellent or wear long clothing, especially at dusk. Cases of dengue fever have occurred.

Phone and internet

  • Look for the free public network "FreeWiFi.MO by WiFiGo". Some hotspots run all day, while others operate from 8AM to 1AM.
  • "CTM-WIFI" provides limited free access each day. Neither public network is particularly reliable.
  • Public buses have free WiFi. Some hotels and casinos also let non-guests use their WiFi.
  • The tourist information office at Largo do Senado has free internet access on a few computers. You may need to queue.

Where to stay

  • Most hotels are on the Macau Peninsula. Taipa and the Cotai Strip also have many options, including high-end resorts.
  • Coloane has fewer and quieter places to stay. These include the beachside Pousada de Coloane.
  • Hotel rates are highest on Friday and Saturday nights because of weekend demand.
  • A travel agent may offer a much lower rate than walking into a hotel, even for a same-day booking.

Outdoor adventures in Macau

Macau has hiking and cycling on Taipa and Coloane, with more mountainous ground on Coloane. Macau Tower offers high-rise adventure activities, plus bouldering and sport climbing at its base.

  • Macau Tower bungy jump

    More to doMacau Peninsula

    Go to Macau Tower for the bungy jump operated by A.J. Hackett.

  • Macau Tower Sky Jump

    More to doMacau Peninsula

    Visit Macau Tower to try the Sky Jump.

    • This is a more protected jump that does not involve free fall.

  • Macau Tower sky walk

    More to doMacau Peninsula

    Visit Macau Tower for a walk on the platform around the outside of the tower.

    • The walk has protective safety measures.

  • Taipa Grande hiking trails

    HikeTaipa

    Head to Taipa Grande hill for its hiking trails. The IAM website lists hiking paths.

    • Use mosquito repellent or wear long clothing, especially at dusk.

  • Taipa Pequena hiking trails

    HikeTaipa

    Head to Taipa Pequena hill for its hiking trails. The IAM website lists hiking paths.

    • Use mosquito repellent or wear long clothing, especially at dusk.

  • Coloane hiking

    HikeColoane

    Head to Coloane for hiking. Use the IAM website's list of hiking paths to choose a route.

    • Use mosquito repellent or wear long clothing, especially at dusk.

  • Ocean Gardens–Avenida dos Jogos da Ásia Oriental cycling track

    CyclingTaipa

    Go to the cycling track near Ocean Gardens and Avenida dos Jogos da Ásia Oriental da Taipa.

  • Coloane cycling

    CyclingColoane

    Head to Coloane for cycling. Consult the IAM website's list of cycling paths.

  • Macau Tower bouldering

    ClimbingMacau Peninsula

    Go to the base of Macau Tower, where bouldering activities are held.

  • Macau Tower sport climbing

    ClimbingMacau Peninsula

    Go to the base of Macau Tower, where sport climbing activities are held.

Airports, metros and trains in Macau

Airports with scheduled flights

  • MFMMacau International AirportNossa Senhora do CarmoMain international airport

Trains

Rail network
13 km
Electrified
13 km

People and safety in Macau

Religion

Most people are Folk religions. Mixed.

  • Folk religions59%
  • Buddhist17%
  • No religion15%
  • Christian7%
  • Other1%

LGBT+ travellers

Legal

  • Same-sex marriage is not recognised.
  • Some laws protect against discrimination.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 191 of 198 countries can visit Macau easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required86
  • Visa on arrival105
  • Visa required7

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Europe46 of 46 countries
  • Americas35 of 35 countries
  • Oceania14 of 14 countries
  • Africa53 of 54 countries
  • Asia43 of 49 countries

Questions

Is Macau part of China?

Macau is a territory linked to China, with its own entry rules. Check them separately even if you can visit China.

Does a China visa let me visit Macau?

Not automatically. Many territories set their own entry rules, so a visa or visa-free entry for China may not cover Macau. Check the Macau visa page for your passport.

Is Macau worth visiting if I do not gamble?

Yes. You can explore historic streets, churches, temples, villages, gardens and beaches, and try Portuguese, Macanese and Cantonese food.

Can I use Hong Kong dollars?

They are almost universally accepted at one Hong Kong dollar to one pataca. Government offices and government museums accept only patacas.

Can I arrange travel without booking online?

Travel agents can book flights and hotels, and hotel rates through an agent may be lower than walk-in rates. Bridge shuttle tickets are also sold at the Hong Kong Port ticket desk.

Will I manage if I only speak English?

Most front-line tourism staff speak English, but many other residents may not. Carry your hotel's name card and have destinations written in Chinese.

Do I need exact change for buses?

Yes, if paying cash: the fare is MOP$6 and drivers do not give change. Hong Kong coins are accepted except the HK$10 coin.

When are hotels most expensive?

Friday and Saturday nights are the most expensive because of weekend demand.

Is vegetarian food easy to find?

The Peninsula has small Buddhist vegetarian restaurants offering inexpensive meals. Look for the character 素 and check dessert ingredients if you are vegan.

Can I drink the tap water?

Tap water is safe, but pipes and storage systems in individual buildings may be poorly maintained. Boil it if you are unsure, or use bottled water.

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