# Macau travel guide (澳门) Macao Special Administrative Region · South China, China · 17 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/macao/macau ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Ruins of St. Paul's → Lou Kau Mansion → Macao Museum → St. Dominic's Church → Senado Square → A-Ma Temple → Fisherman's Wharf - **Day 2:** Macau-Taipa Bridge → Taipa Houses-Museum → The Venetian Macao → Hac Sa Beach → Coloane Island ## The feel of the place - **Street Circuit Racing:** Only two places in the world still hold street circuit races: Monaco and Macau in China. Macau's roads are average, but traffic management is good, and many streets run one way. Unlike the purpose-built track in Zhuhai, Macau's street race sets up only a few grandstands at corners and on the balconies of several hotels, screened off by all kinds of signboards, with tickets priced at MOP100–300. On race day the streets are packed with spectators, and cars covered in advertising and bright colours scream past one after another. The thrill is hard to describe in words. ## The feel of the place ### No Need for a Group Tour The best way to visit Macau is independently. There is no need at all to join a tour group. ### Preparation and Information ### Language Cantonese is the main language. Most people understand Portuguese and English. ### Climate and Best Time to Visit Macau has a mild climate year-round, with an average temperature of about 20℃ and an annual range of 16–25℃. October to December is the ideal season to visit, with mild temperatures and low humidity. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There Macau sits on the west bank of the Pearl River Estuary and consists of the Macau Peninsula and the two islands of Coloane and Taipa. Arriving from Hong Kong or Zhuhai is the most convenient and quickest option. ### By Air Macau's air services include fixed-wing flights and helicopters. Passenger flights mainly connect with mainland China, the Philippines and Thailand. Helicopters fly to Hong Kong and Shenzhen with frequent departures, usually taking under half an hour, but fares are higher. ### Airport Tax The airport tax at Macau International Airport is MOP110. Passengers flying to mainland China must also pay a passenger service charge of MOP80; children aged 2–12 pay MOP50. Direct transit passengers and those returning due to unexpected events are exempt from the airport tax and passenger service charge. ### By Sea Jetfoils run around the clock between Hong Kong and Macau. Ferries also operate from Shekou Ferry Pier (Shekou) in Shenzhen to Macau. Standard seats cost RMB220, premium seats RMB390 and child tickets RMB110. All crossings take about one hour. Direct coaches run from Macau to Guangdong every day from 9:20 to 17:50, departing from Qiguan Station (Kei Kwan Station) near the Wan Shi Fa Hotel in Inner Harbour. They serve major cities across Guangdong. ### Getting Around Macau has a well-developed local transport network. Taxis, buses, bicycles and car rental are all easy to find. Pedicabs are a distinctive local mode of transport. There is no standard fare, so you need to negotiate with the driver; a typical rate is MOP150 per hour. Within the city, bus fares are per person: MOP3.2 within the peninsula, MOP4.2 to Taipa, MOP5 to Coloane, MOP6.4 to Hac Sa Beach, and MOP4.2 to Macau International Airport. Buses do not give change. Macau has two types of taxi: black taxis and yellow radio taxis (dial-a-taxi). The flag-fall is MOP19 for the first 1.6 km, then MOP2 for every 240 m. Each large piece of luggage costs an extra MOP3. - tip: Macau's “dial-a-taxi” service lets you phone the dispatch centre, state your location, and a car will be sent straight away. The fares are calculated in the same way as for regular taxis. - phone: 00853-8893-9999 ### Historic Centre The Historic Centre of Macau preserves the essence of more than 400 years of exchange between Chinese and Western cultures and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Centred on the old city where Chinese and foreign residents once lived side by side, it links squares and streets into one whole. It includes several squares, such as A-Ma Temple Square, Senado Square, the Jesuit Church Square and Pigeon Hill Square, along with more than 20 Chinese and Western historic buildings, including A-Ma Temple, Mandarin's House, the Ruins of St. Paul's and Guia Fortress. ### Highlights Macau is a charming little island. Walking tourists fill the streets, each clutching a guide map, and they are a sight in themselves. The Portuguese adored Chinese porcelain, especially blue-and-white. The walls of the Civil Affairs Building, built in the 18th century, are covered in blue-and-white tiles, and all of Macau's street signs are made from uniform blue-and-white ceramic plates bearing both Portuguese and Chinese. - **Macau Kei Kwan Bus Terminal (Qiguan Station)** — (Pier at No. 12, Huochuantou Street, Macau, 00853-28933888) ## Eat & drink Macau's Chinese dishes include roast chicken, steamed fish and roast suckling pig, and they are excellent. The teahouses' dim sum, such as shrimp dumplings (har gow) and siu mai, are also very popular. Macau's Portuguese dishes include caldo verde, red bean and pork trotter stew, bacalhau (salt cod, a fish the Portuguese love), Portuguese chicken, African chicken and curry chicken. ### Sweet Treats ### Chinese Restaurants ### Portuguese Restaurants - **Lord Stow's Bakery** — A long-standing favourite. Its Portuguese egg tarts are much thicker than ordinary tarts, with a crisp, flaky crust that showers crumbs all over you when you bite in, and a filling that melts in the mouth with no eggy taste. The Portuguese tarts, egg tarts and cheesecake are the shop's top recommendations. (Ground floor, No. 1 Taipa Market Street, Coloane town centre, 00853-28882534) - **Kam Kei Souvenirs (St. Paul's Branch No. 5)** — A long-established souvenir shop and Macau's best-selling snack-souvenir brand, with a huge range of products. It is always busy, and the best part is that you can taste samples. Pork jerky, almond cookies, phoenix rolls, beef jerky and peanut brittle are must-buys. (Ground floor, Hing Wah Building, 23A–23B Rua de São Paulo, Macau Peninsula, 00853-28357609) - **Tai Lei Loi Kei Coffee House (Taipa Main Branch)** — “Macau's most famous pork chop bun,” limited to 300 a day, so queue early. The milk tea and curry fish balls are also signature items. (No. 18 Rua Kou Lei Ngo Sai Lei Wa, Taipa, 00853-28827150) - **Wing Lei Xuan (Wynn Macau)** — A crystal dragon made of more than 90,000 crystals hangs on the wall facing the entrance. The head chef has 50 years of Cantonese cooking experience, and the restaurant never uses MSG, lard or frozen ingredients. The wild ginseng double-boiled black chicken is highly recommended. (Inside Wynn Macau, Rua Cidade de Sintra, 00853-89863688) - **Fernando's** — Signature dishes include roast suckling pig, stir-fried clams, salad, grilled bacalhau, beer beef, crab casserole, garlic crab and grilled sardines. (No. 9 Estrada de Hác Sá, Hac Sa Beach, 00853-28882264) - **Amano Portuguese Restaurant** — A genuine Portuguese restaurant run by an owner who has lived in Macau for many years and speaks fluent Cantonese. The menu is carefully researched, so the restaurant is full of diners every day. (Ground floor, No. 90 Rua de Fei Nang Pou, Taipa, 00853-28827571) - **Fan Qie Wu Portuguese Food (Dao Hui Old Shop)** — Fan Qie Wu claims to be Macau's cheapest authentic Portuguese restaurant. Portions are generous, the food is tasty and prices are down to earth, offering authentic Portuguese flavour at much lower prices than the Portuguese restaurants on Rua do Oficial Ferreira. (Ground floors of Nos. 4 and 6, Fu An Building, Lin On Back Lane, 00853-28355627/28362171) ## Nightlife Macau's many sauna bathhouses and nightclubs are an important part of its nightlife. The two nightly shows at the Grand Lisboa add an air of mystery to Macau after dark. ### Transport Tips Macau is a small city with many streets and narrow alleys, which makes driving difficult. Macau has a large number of buses, but because the streets are narrow and the routes wind around a lot, journeys can take a long time. Buses are best suited to sightseeing. If you are in a hurry, it is better not to take the bus. ### Souvenir Shops Macau's souvenir shops are the equivalent of local specialty stores on the mainland. ### Travel Permit First-time visitors from mainland China must bring their ID card, household registration booklet and photocopies, plus a two-inch photo, to the exit-entry administration office at their household registration location to fill in forms and apply for a Hong Kong and Macau Travel Permit. At the same time, apply for a Macau tourist visa (G-type), which costs ¥20 and allows a stay of up to 7 days in Macau. ### Best Time to Visit Hotel prices in Macau vary widely depending on location, age, star rating and time, and timing is the most important factor. Prices more than double during Golden Week, the Spring Festival, New Year's Day and Christmas, and rise by 0.5 times on weekends and during the summer holidays (July–August). The best time to visit Macau is from mid-November to late December, when the weather is at its best and hotel prices are at their lowest. Since it is close to the Christmas holiday season, it is also when shopping malls hold major sales. ## Shopping Macau is a free port with a low-tax policy, which makes it an ideal place to shop. The Macanese pataca and the Hong Kong dollar are both accepted, and visitors from Hong Kong and elsewhere may take limited quantities of cigarettes and alcohol out of Macau, so cigarettes and imported spirits are popular items. Macau's main shopping areas are concentrated along Infante D. Henrique Avenue, New Street, Shuikengwei Street and Baimaxing. The Central Square on Infante D. Henrique Avenue houses several world-class luxury brands, including Emporio Armani, Escada and Yves Saint Laurent. If you want designer clothing and leather goods, head to the Sintra Shopping Arcade. The Landmark in the newly developed Outer Harbour area is also a great shopping destination. On Maixiangdi Street you will find inexpensive sportswear and casual clothing, and nearby, at the Yingdi Street market and the Senado Square area, there are stalls selling affordable export clothing or surplus garments from clothing factories. Shops selling antiques and souvenirs are concentrated on Duijie Street and Da Sanba Street near the Ruins of St. Paul's. Macau's jewellery shops are mainly located along New Street in the Central district. When buying gold jewellery, branded watches, antiques, handicrafts, or dried seafood and medicinal herbs, choose reputable shops. Keep the guarantee certificate and receipt, and check that the receipt lists the items you bought. ### Duty-Free Shops and Boutiques The Landmark on Friendship Avenue has several high-end fashion boutiques. Near Nam Van Lake Garden, along Infante D. Henrique Avenue and along New Street, there are boutique hotel shopping arcades, such as those of Hotel Lisboa and Sintra Hotel. ### Leisure in Macau - **New Yaohan Department Store** — One of Macau's largest department stores, and once the largest Yaohan store in the world. It houses a shopping centre, retail stores, a children's play area, a supermarket and food courts, catering to shoppers at every level. (Nam Van Commercial Avenue) - **Senado Square and Rua de Santo António** — The liveliest street in Macau, with plenty of shops. Macau's branded clothing is 20–30% cheaper than on the mainland, and it is even better value during seasonal sales. Here you will find Baleno, Giordano and the bossini Pan Cheong branch, with prices lower than on the mainland and a wider, more up-to-date range of styles. Discounts and special offers make them very good value. The general retail shops are also tempting in price. Well worth a visit! - **Baimaxing** — The whole street is lined with shops selling all kinds of new and stylish products. Among them is the “Xin Da Cheng” building, on its 2nd - **floor “By** — Pass” is a trendy shop selling creative Southeast Asian goods, and its lighting displays are especially eye-catching. The 3rd floor mainly stocks goods from Hong Kong, Korea and Japan, making it a great place to quickly update your look. - **Open-Air Markets** — Macau's most popular open-air market is near the Ruins of St. Paul's, where street vendors sell pottery, small sculptures, historical souvenirs and other old items. Another open-air market is near Kangong Temple, between October 5th Street and Seaside New Street. This area was once the heart of the old market. - **Museum Shops** — Souvenirs can be bought at the sales counters inside the museums. The Macau Grand Prix Museum sells souvenirs related to the event, such as books and videos about the FIA Formula 3 World Cup. The Maritime Museum sells illustrated books and distinctive souvenirs, such as sailing boat models, as well as finely made nautical souvenirs. - **Sintra Shopping Arcade** — The Sintra shopping arcade houses designer clothing and leather goods, where you can find imported designer apparel and leather products. (Sintra Hotel, Dr. João IV Avenue) - **Macau Soda Nostalgia Shop** — This shop specialises in nostalgic goods. It is not very large, but its range is comprehensive, with collectibles such as toys, magazines, comics, antiques, soda bottles and old banknotes. (No. 58, Macau Municipal Hall, Yingdi Street, Jinwan District) - **Macau Golf Course and Country Club** — (Westin Resort Hotel, 1918 Hac Sa Road, Coloane, 00853-28871188) - **MGM Golden Palace Casino** — (Lot A, Block B2, Zone B, Outer Harbour New Reclamation Area, Macau Peninsula, 00853-88028888) ## Where to stay Macau's hotels range from long-established properties to ones with classic, elegant architecture. On weekends, public holidays and festivals such as the Lunar New Year, Easter, Christmas and Grand Prix week, as well as during the July–August peak season, hotels are often fully booked, so it is best to reserve a room before visiting Macau. Rooms may be discounted in the low season. ### Recommended Hotels - **Grand Lisboa** — Located in the city centre, the hotel is a symbol of Macau's luxury and a must-stop for photos. Its rooms are luxuriously designed and well equipped, with windows offering panoramic views of Macau. (2–4 Avenida de Lisboa, 00853-28283838) - **Macau Zhenxing Hotel (Towns** — Well Hotel) Located in central Macau at Santo António, the city's famous historic district. The Ruins of St. Paul's are right outside. It is next to Senado Square, the souvenir and gift street, New Street, Hotel Lisboa, Royal Casino and more. (6–6A Nezha Temple Slope, Ruins of St. Paul's, Macau, 00853-28356868) - **Golden Dragon Hotel** — Features the stylish “Bai Si” restaurant and “Li Si” lounge. A few minutes' walk takes you to the Macau Ferry Terminal, and it is close to Sands Casino and Macau Fisherman's Wharf. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool in a quiet setting, ideal for sunbathing. (Malacca Street, 00853-28361999) - **Lu Huan Hai Tian Resort Hotel** — A renowned international luxury resort hotel in Macau, overlooking Hac Sa Beach and the enchanting South China Sea, far from the bustle of the city. (1918 Hac Sa Road, Coloane, 00853-28871111) ## Things to see - **A-Ma Temple** (★★★★): Opening hours 8：00—18：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/a-ma-temple - **Macao Museum** (★★★): Admission Adults MOP 15; children MOP 8; Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/macao-museum - **Hac Sa Beach** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/hac-sa-beach - **Coloane Island** (★★★★): Time needed 2–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/coloane-island - **Ruins of St. Paul's** (★★★★): Time needed 0.5–1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ruins-of-st-paul-s - **Senado Square** (★★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/senado-square - **Macau-Taipa Bridge** (★★★★): Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/macau-taipa-bridge - **Rua do Cunha (Taipa Food Street)** (★★★★): Opening hours Open 24 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/rua-do-cunha-taipa-food-street - **St. Dominic's Church** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 10：00—18：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/st-dominic-s-church - **Macau Fisherman's Wharf** (★★★★): Opening hours 11：00—19：00; Time needed 0.5 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/macau-fisherman-s-wharf - **Lou Kau Mansion** (★★★): Opening hours 10:00–18:00 (closed Mondays); Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lou-kau-mansion - **Macau Tower** (★★★★): Admission Adult MOP 195; Opening hours Weekdays 10:00–19:00; holidays 11:00–20:00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/macau-tower - **Taipa Island** (★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/taipa-island - **The Venetian Macao** (★★★★★): Time needed 3–6 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/the-venetian-macao - **Guia Hill** (★★★★): Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/guia-hill - **Kun Iam Temple** (★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kun-iam-temple - **Mount Fortress (Monte Fort)** (★★★): Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-fortress-monte-fort --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2632–2652. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.