30 Macau Travel Tips And Things To Know Before Visiting Macau For First Timers

Last updated on December 28th, 2023 at 03:45 am

We will tell you about Macau travel tips and all the cool facts about Macau and things to know before visiting Macau. From first timers to seasoned travelers, this post will be your go-to guide to get to know more of Macau and what awaits you from a lot of casinos, malls temples, culture to delicious food to try in Macau.

Read here Macau itinerary, Macau tourist spots, how to get from Macau airport to city center and how to get to Macau from Hong Kong!

Macau Travel Tips And Things To Know Before Visiting Macau For First Timers

1. IS IT SAFE MACAU?

Is it safe travel to Macau? Yeah you should know that Macau is one of the safest countries in the world. If you travel to Macau, safety won’t be a problem. You can feel safe everywhere, literally. Make sure that you keep your valuables with you in crowded places and that should be more than enough.

2. EASY VISA IN MACAU

Things to know before visiting Macau has an easy visa. You just need to hold a passport with at least 6 months before expiry. You will not get a stamp in your passport, they will give you a print paper with the date or arrival and the date that you should leave. It’s usually 90 days. US citizens will have to go through customs and immigration so always remember to bring your passport with you. Check the link below to see full details.

3. CURRENCY AND ATM IN MACAU

Macau has its own currency: the Macau Pataca. This is often abbreviated to “MOP”. Hong Kong Dollars are commonly used by Macau vendors. $1 USD = 8 HKD. Many tourists prefer to use Hong Kong Dollars.

You can find ATMs very easy in Macau to directly withdraw cash (usually HKD or MOP). Credit cards is accepted in most of the hotels and restaurants in Macau. Click here to check the current exchange rate in Macau.

4. BEST TIME TO VISIT MACAU

If you’re planning to visit Macau during its peak seasons. The best time to visit Macau is from October to December where the weather is great. March to April is also a great time to travel to Macau which is Spring time. From May to July expect rainy days in Macau. January and February are the coldest months.

 Click here to have more information about Macau weather forecast.

5. HEALTH TRAVEL INSURANCE

Things to know before visiting Macau we recommend always bringing travel insurance when traveling abroad just in case you have any problems. You can always have food Poisson, fever or any other kind of disease.

BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE

You can read Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance. You can get for $135 USD your Heymondo Travel Insurance with Heymondo discount code valid for 90 days. Read our full Heymondo Travel Insurance Review

You can get Safetywing Travel Insurance for Digital Nomads valid for 28 days Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included

FACTS ABOUT MACAU

6. Macau Is Expensive

If you have been traveling around Southeast Asia Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are so cheap and Macau has higher. Especially for accommodation where is not easy to find a room for less than $40 USD, prices for food and transportation are so affordable but still more expensive than in Southeast Asia. Keep reading below!

ACCOMMODATION BUDGET TRAVEL IN MACAU

There are a number of places for where to stay in Macau. Hotels in Macau generally cost between 300-2000 HKD which is around $40 USD cheapest option per night. You can get cheaper in dorms in Macau but there aren’t many available.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION IN MACAU WITH BOOKING!

CLICK HERE TO BOOK WITH AGODA!

FOOD TRAVEL BUDGET IN MACAU

For food travel budget in Macau you will find local restaurants with dishes from $3-10 USD. If you are looking for fine dinning restaurants can go to $20-30 USD and you can also find street food starting from $1 USD

Click here to get a discount booking activities with Klook in Macau!

7. WI-FI AND INTERNET CONNECTION IN MACAU

Internet in Macau works great and you will have no problems connecting any time to internet. You can access free WiFi at hostels and hotels and there are lots of restaurants that are offering free WiFi.

We advise in our Macau travel tips that you get a sim card in Macau and best Macau eSim if you need to catch up with some work online.

You can find the cheapest Macau eSim with Airalo Macau eSim prepaid for $4.5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days . For $13 USD with 5 GB data and $20 USD with 10 GB data valid for 30 days both of them. (USING DISCOUNT CODE GAMINTRAVELER 10%)

Holafly Macau eSim for less than $60 USD if you use our code GAMINTRAVELER you will have unlimited internet for 30 days in Macau just for $2 USD per day. GigSky Macau eSim for $5 USD with 1 GB data valid for 7 days. For $13 USD with 3 GB data valid for 15 days and for $20 USD with 5 GB data valid for 30 days.

8. ADAPTER IN MACAU

In our Macau travel tips you should know they use European adapter. A few places make it possible to fit your American adapter in the plug because they provide adapters. If you are coming from American countries, we recommend you to bring an adapter to be able to charge everywhere.

9. TRANSPORTATION AROUND MACAU

You have a number of options for local transportation in Macau, buses, taxi, and even you can hire Uber to move around Macau. Buses in our opinion is very easy to go around Macau by bus and really cheap for less than $1 USD. You can even go walking distance to most of the places to visit in Macau since is too small.

Taxi and Uber if you are in a hurry or you are bringing so much luggage will be more expensive. Using Uber you will be able to save a few dollars compared with the taxi prices.

10. MACAU BORDER CROSSING

Easy border crossing to Macau coming from China and Hong Kong. The borders are opened and the most popular one is the ferry where you can get a ferry available 24 hours from Hong Kong around 1 hour travel time. The ferries can go to Macau or Taipa Island. Make sure you check in advance what’s your final destination. And you can come overland by bus from China.

11. Portuguese Influence in Macau

You will see Portuguese influence in Macau starting from 16th century and Macau was transferred to China in 1999. Nowdays Macau is like Hong Kong an independent region. You will see architecture and many churches similar to Portuguese. A few people will speak Portuguese language and the food have a few dishes coming from Portugal too.

12. Macau Language

Macau language the most common is Cantonese. But people will speak Cantonese a few dialects. Also common people speak Portuguese language and English. With all these languages you can go around Macau anywhere if you need to ask locals.

13. Macau Is The Most Populated Place In the World

Macau is the most densely populated region in the world. Macau Island or Taipa you will see small places for accommodation in general and prices are high compared with food and transportation in Macau.

14. CASINOS EVERYWHERE IN MACAU

Macau is full of casinos everywhere. You will see them around city center and casinos include free transportation to the airport, ferry station and to your accommodation. Many of the local work in an activity related to the casino. You will have free entrance and if you can try gambling.

15. MACAU CITY CENTER IS UNESCO SITE

The whole centre of Macau is on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list which is brilliant so nearly all the sites here have historic importance. Portuguese influence are mostly seen in some of their architectural designs. Senado Square is my favorite and is always busy during the day time and night too.

FACTS ABOUT MACAU FOOD

WHAT TO EAT IN MACAU

Macau is not all about casinos. Macau has a unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese cuisine and we will tell you what to eat in Macau the most popular dishes to try.

16. MACANESE EGG TARTS

Macanese egg tarts, also known as Portuguese-style egg tarts. Egg tarts is the most popular Macanese food and we were eating daily. You can get an egg tart almost everywhere in Macau. Prices are starting half dollar as street food.

17. Minchi

Minchi is one of the most popular dishes to try in Macau. Minchi is made of minced beef and pork fried with onion and garlic, soy sauce, chili. Minchi is served with rice and fried egg on the top. Prices are around $5-6 USD.

18. CHAN KONG KEI ROAST DUCK

Chan Kong Kei Roast duck marinated in special homemade black pepper sauce. For both of us apart from Macanese egg tart roast duck with rice was our favorite. Prices are around $8-10 USD.

19. DUMPLINGS

Dumplings are also a popular food in Macau. Pork or beef mix it with some cabbage and onions and wrap it in dough. Dumplings are a universal food around the world. You can find them everywhere and especially in Chinese speakers countries.

20. NOODLES SOUP

Noodle soup is the best things during a cold weather in Macau. You will find noodle soup with beef, chicken or vegetarian in most of the local restaurants for lunch or dinner. Prices are around $5 USD.

FESTIVALS IN MACAU

21. CHINESE NEW YEAR

Chinese New Year is celebrated is celebrated by the Chinese people in Macau being the biggest festival in Macau. They decorate their houses with traditional decorations for a couple of weeks. They meet their family and friends cooking food, having tea and spending time together. Chinese New Year is celebrated at the end of January or beginning of February. Make sure you book in advance your accommodation during Chinese New Year in Macau.

More Macau Travel Tips And Things To Know Before Visiting Macau For First Timers

Places To Visit

22. THE RUINS OF ST PAUL

St. Paul’s ruins is from 17th century Portuguese church. St. Paul’s ruins area is surrounded with colonial Portuguese buildings, still preserved to show its original architecture. Definitely a good place to visit while visiting Macau. During the day is beautiful and at night with illumination show is stunning! 

23. SENADO SQUARE

Senado Square is the place most visited by tourists. Senado square is surrounded by people, shops and restaurants. We were walking around this square everyday and we loved getting lost around the area. It´s the most crowded place in Macau apart from the casinos!

24. SMALL FONTANA DI TREVI

Small Fontana Di Trevi is our secret place to visit in Macau. A small fountain colorful in the condo that we were staying. Just close to The Venetian Casino less than 10 minutes walking distance.

25. TAIPA ISLAND

Having a walk around the historic Taipa in Macau to admire the colorful buildings in the area. We were staying in Taipa, not only casinos around the area but also nice places to walk around. And many locals places where to eat in Macau.

26. A-MA TEMPLE

A-Ma Temple is one of the most popular places to visit in Macau. A-Ma Temple is also known as the Mazu Goddess Temple one of the oldest temples located in the Southwest of Macau. A-Ma Temple was built around 1488 during the Ming Dynasty sacred place for offering silence and stellar views.

27. MACAU TOWER

In Macau Tower you can find everything from watching movies, shopping, theatre performances and of course, magnificent views, this high tower is worth it to visit. Do you like adventure? You should also try their Skyjumping activity!

28. CASINO HOPPING AT MACAU

Casino hopping is the most common when visiting Macau. There are many casinos in Macau: The Venetian, City of Dreams Macau, The Sands Macau, or Casino Lisboa. Casino Lisboa is the largest casino in Europe and the top 10th largest casino in the world!

29. HAC SA BEACH

Hác Sá Beach is named after the black sea sand of its shoreline. Relaxing getaway from the crazy and chaotic city life. You can spend your day playing sports, swimming and walking along the beach. 

30. TRAVESSA DA PAIXÃO

Travessa da Paixao is also known as the Love-lane a street filled with colorful buildings. Tourists don’t come here often as they mostly spend their time in the Ruins of St. Paul. From there, you could walk for a few minutes to get here in Travessa da Paixao. It is a great place to have colorful and instagrammable pictures in your feed.

Hope you liked our Macau travel tips. Let us know if we missed things to know before visiting Macau and facts about Macau in the comments below.

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Happy Travels!