Macau Travel Tips

Macau Travel FAQs and Tips introduce the useful numbers, best time to visit Macau, What to Wear, Banks, Expresses and post offices, hospitals, Macau visa, what currency used, languages in Macau, etc. When plan your trip to Macau, view our answers to questions about Macau travel to get better understanding of Macau.

Useful Numbers in Macau

Macau International Airport +853  2886 1111
Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal +853 2872 8079
Macau Ferry Terminal and Heliport +852 2307 0880
Macau Kiang Wu Hospital +853 2837 1333
Macau calling for help +853 999
Macau local telephone inquiries
181 (English and Portuguese), 
185 (Portuguese-speaking)
TurboJet +853 2855 5025
CotaiJet +853 2855 0595

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Best Time to Visit Macau

The spring and summer season is the off-season of Macau's tourism, because the weather is hot and rainy at this time, and it is easy to delay the trip. However, it is a good choice to swim to Hac Sa Beach and Cheoc Van Beach in Macau in summer. The autumn and winter season is the best time to visit Macau. Here you can not feel the severe cold of winter, which is especially warm and comfortable for tourists from the north. Whether it's a shopping trip to Macau or a walk in the historic blocks, autumn and winter are the best time to visit Macau.

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What to Wear in Macau

Spring(March-May)

In spring, it may be cooler at night than that during the day in Macau. So be sure to take a coat to keep you warm in case of the temperature change, especially at night.

  • Average Temperatures: 17- 29°C
    What to Wear:     Clothes for layering - T-shirts, pants or shorts, dresses
    Things to Do: May welcomes many events including the Festival of the Buddha, Dragon Boat Festival and the Macau Arts Festival. In the St Lazarus district, don’t miss the exquisite Portuguese artisanal goods and continental gourmet goodies at Albergue da Santa Casa da Misericordia.

Summer(June-September)

Summer season in Macau usually lasts till the end of September. The long summer season in Macau is very hot, rainy and humid and over in the hottest months of July and August. The months from July to September might be filled with frequent cyclones. For visitors, please try to avoid the typhoon season and stay at home when storms and cyclones come.

  • Average Temperatures: 26-32°C
    What to Wear:     T-shirt and shorts are suitable for the hot and humid weather and raingear is an additional must.
    Things to Do: It is a good time for swimming at the beach, like Hac Sa Beach and Cheoc Van Beach.

Autumn(October-November)

From October, the temperature and rainfall begin to decease and the weather becomes more comfortable. The comfortable autumn season brings drier and cool conditions with plenty of sunshine making it the best time to visit Macau and it is very suitable to get out and explore Macau. You could see a clear and refreshing autumn in Macau.

  • Average Temperatures: 19-28°C
    What to Wear:     T-shirts, short or lightweight pants, thin jacket
    Things to Do: It is a good time to visit Carmel Garden to see the leisure gardens complete with pagodas and bridges and commune with nature after some retail therapy.

Banks in Macau

  • Bank of China
    Add: Bank of China Tower, Avenida Doutor Mario Soares, Macau
    Tel: (853) 28781828
  • ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) Macau
    Add: Avenida Margina ldo Lam Mau, The Praia Shop "E", Macau
    Tel: +853 8398 7236
  • Tai Fung Bank
    Add: Building, 418, Alameda Dr. Carlos d' Assumpçâo, Macau
    Tel:  +853 2832 2323
  • OCBC Wing Hang Bank
    Add:  Avenida Horta e Costa; Macao
    Tel: +853 2833 5678
  • Standard Chartered Bank
    Add: Avenida da Amizade, No 555, Macau Landmark, 8 Andar 807, Macau
    Tel: +853 2878 6111
  • Banco Delta Asia Limited
    Add: Administrative Centre, Largo de St. Agostinho, Macau
    Tel: +853 8796 9600

Expresses and Post Offices in Macau

  • SF Express
    Add: Rua Cinco do Bairro da Areia Preta, n 3-3B Edificio Industrial Veng Fong, R/C, A Macau
    Tel: +853 2873 7373
  • UPS Macau Customer Service Center
    Add: D, E Edificio Centro Industrial De Macau
    Tel:  +853 2875 1616
  • LBC Express - Taipa Branch
    Add: Rua De Viseu No. 138 Fast Garden Block 2 R/C Taipa, Macau
    Tel: +853 6533 9082
  • Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal Post Office
    Add: Area de Chegadas, Res-do-Chao do Terminal Maritimo do Porto Exterior, Macau
    Tel: +853 2872 8079
  •  Macao Post’s branch
    Add: University of Macau (UM) campus
    Tel: +853 8822 8004

Hospitals in Macau

  • Hospital Conde S. Januário
    Add: Endereço Estrada do Visconde de São Januário, Macau
    Tel: +853 2831 3731
  • Kiang Wu Hospital
    Add: Rua de Coelho do Amaral, No 62, Kiang Wu Hospital, R/C, Macau
    Tel: +853 2837 1333
  • Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital 
    Add: Block H, Macau University of Science and Technology,Avenida Wai Long,Taipa, Macau
    Tel:  +853 2882 1838
  • Macau Yinkui Hospital
    Add:  2nd, 3rd and 4th (B,C) floors of the FIT Centre in Macau
    Tel: +853 2832 2283
  • Areia Preta Health Center
    Add: Rua Central da Areia Preta, Lote de Terra 18, Macau
    Tel:/

Other Important Tips for Visiting Macau

Macau Visa

Because Macau, Hong Kong, two Special Administrative Regions(SARs), are regarded as third regions from mainland China, it means Macau sets up own visa policy for non-Macanese visitors, and Chinese Visa does not give entry permission to Macau or Hong Kong. A Macau Visa is required normally for a travel to Macau. But, if you are citizens of specific foreign countries and territories, and visit Macau for short-term tour and business, you may have visa-free entry to Macau. US, UK, Australia, Canada citizens, Indians, Filipinos, Malaysians may get visa exempted for Macau, while passport holders of Pakistan, Vietnam and Nepal must obtain a visa for entry.

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144-hour Convenient Visa to Guangdong Province

Foreign nationals in Macau can visit China’s Guangdong province for a maximum of 144 hours(six days) via entry ports in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou and Shantou using the 144-hour Convenient Visa.

To be eligible for the 144-hour Convenient Visa, visitors:

  • Must join a tour organised by a registered Hong Kong travel agent.
  • Must travel in a group consisting of a minimum of two persons and a maximum of 40 persons.
  • Can have a choice of ports of entry or exit in Guangdong province, except Shantou.
  • Must enter and leave the areas together in their group via the ports of entry stated above.
  • Visitors are restricted to enter and exit via Shantou port only and their activities must be conducted within the Shantou area.

What Currency Used in Macau

Macau has their own currency, MOP, which is called pataca. In fact, pataca is the Portuguese name for dollars. Everyone uses and accepts Hong Kong Dollars in Macau so you can change your money into the MOP or Hong Kong dollars. Of course, you can also use RMB in Macau. The Chinese Yuan will usually be accepted in hotels, casinos, and upmarket restaurants but is not in common use and won’t be ​taken in most shops or on public transport. Tipping is not customary and restaurants will routinely add a 10% service fee.

Languages in Macau

The two official languages of Macau are Cantonese and Portuguese. However, Cantonese is the most common language spoken by locals. English is also widely understood – mostly in the casino resorts and main tourist areas. However, If you’re using taxis it might be better to look up the Chinese address of a place on Google and show the taxi driver that.

How to Get to Macau

Known famously as the 'Vegas of China,' Macau is a Special Administrative Region(SAR) of the People's Republic of China located just an hour’s ferry ride from Hong Kong. Macau is fascinatingly vibrant and energetic. Although there are similarities, Macau offers a completely different experience from Hong Kong. It has its own currency, own diplomatic policy, and a unique history. But the biggest reason why Hong Kong and Macau are always in the same bundle: they’re easily accessible from each other, only around an hour apart by ferry. The most common way of reaching Macau is by ferry via neighboring Hong Kong or by long-distance bus. The ferry journey takes one hour and there are two options. Ferry operator TurboJET travels directly to the Macau Peninsula ferry terminal every 15 minutes and the other ferry operator, Cotai Jet, travels directly to the Cotai terminal, every 30 mins, with easy access to the Cotai Strip and Taipa Island. Macau also has its own International Airport which mainly operates flights to and from neighboring countries in Asia. What's more, it is very convenient to get to Macau by ferry from Shenzhen or by helicopters. You can always find the best way to get to Macau according to your interest.

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Avoid Weekends and Public Holidays

If possible, avoid visiting Macau at weekends and public holidays and try for low peak times on weekdays. Visiting the popular sites, like the Ruin’s of St. Paul’s, Senado Square and the Historic Centre of Macao at the weekend, is nigh on impossible as the narrow streets are overflowing with tourists and visitors, mainly from Mainland China. With a population of 650,900 living in just 11 square miles, Macau is officially the most densely populated region in the world.

Telephone System in Macau

Local calls are free from private telephones; at a public payphone they cost MOP$1 for five minutes. Most hotels will charge you MOP$3. The international access code for every country, except Hong Kong, is 00. If you want to phone Hong Kong, dial 01 first, then the number you want; you do not need to dial Hong Kong’s country code (852). To call Macau from abroad – including from Hong Kong – the country code is 853. All payphones permit International Direct Dialing (IDD) using an Easy Call phonecard available for purchase from CTM for MOP$100. Rates are cheaper from 6pm to 9am on weekdays.

Macau Food

Macanese cuisine is unique to Macau, and consists of a blend of southern Chinese and Portuguese cuisines, with significant influences from Southeast Asia and the Lusophone world. Many unique dishes resulted from the spice blends that the wives of Portuguese sailors used in an attempt to replicate European dishes. Its ingredients and seasonings include those from Europe, Latin America, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, as well as local Chinese ingredients.

Macau has a 400-plus-year-old culinary legacy in the form of its own East meets West ‘Macanese’ cuisine. In addition, it has a reputation as a city where chefs come from all over to introduce their new dishes to Asia, which has resulted in UNESCO recognizing it as a Creative City of Gastronomy. The best food in Macau includes traditional Portuguese dishes, like the famous egg tarts or codfish based recipes, Chinese foods like dim sum and noodles, or unique fusion dishes that were created and developed right in Macau through the many influences coming through the trading routes.

Must-eat Dishes and Snacks in Macau

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Macau Shopping

Macau holds claim to housing one of the glitziest Louis Vuitton stores in the world. However, it’s not all about glitz and glamour here though; thanks to its free port status, brand label clothes, antiques and home furnishings can all be bought at significantly lower prices. Whether you are a bargain hunter, antiques collector or real big spender, Macau sets the stage for some conspicuous consumption. 

There is more to the sparkling lights of the casino city hub Macau. Though it is often dubbed as a shopping destination to most of the international high end and luxury fashion brands, it is not all about glitz and glamour here thanks to its free port status. Brand label clothes, sneakers, jewelry, cosmetic goods, antiques, and home furnishings can all be bought at significantly lower prices. Whether you are a bargain hunter, antique collector or real big spender, Macau sets the stage for some conspicuous consumption that makes the perfect destination for any type of shopaholic. In this list, we included the most popular shopping spots across the islands of Macau and Taipa to maximize your Macau shopping experience.

Top things you can buy in Macau

Where to Stay in Macau

Macau is a small territory that packs a big punch. It’s home to the largest casino in the world, historic temples, ancient landmarks, unique restaurants and beautiful beaches. If you don't have the consideration of rigid budget, it is recommended to stay in the center part of Macau, which will be convenient for your city transportation, shopping or just roaming around. Hotels near the famous landmarks and attractions are also suggested. Of course, you can always find the hotel that suitable for you.

Matters need attention

  • Although the hotel's bed sheet is replaced every day, it is best to prepare a set of comfortable pajamas.
  • Prepare some disposable toilet seats.
  • Try not to take a bath.
  • Before using the water glass, use the boiling water to disinfect.
  • It is best not to wear plastic slippers provided by the hotel.
  • Wash your hands after using the remote control.

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Things to Do in Macau

When come to Macau, confused what to see, do and experience in Macau? Known as the 'Vegas of China', Macau is indeed an epicentre of gambling and glitz. While luxury entertainment here is world-class, the city has much more to offer than that. Macau has several kinds of attractions listed below to show you all the highlights. The top attractions in Macau are the must-see for visitors.

Macau Tour Planning

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