Discover also: Hong Kong Islands, Hainan and Xiamen and Gulangyu.
⚠️ Timetables, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
One hour from Hong Kong, on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary, Macao was a Portuguese trading post for more than four centuries, until its handover to China in 1999. Its historic centre, where baroque churches stand alongside Chinese temples, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2005. To the south, the former islands of Taipa and Coloane, now joined by the reclaimed land of Cotai, offer villages, beaches and trails away from the big casinos.
A peninsula, two islands and a Portuguese legacy
Macao (33 km², about 690,000 inhabitants) is a Special Administrative Region of China, with its own currency, the pataca, and its own entry rules. Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese are the official languages; street signs and menus still show it.
The city has three parts: the peninsula, with the historic centre and Macau Tower; Taipa, with its old village and colonial houses; and Coloane, the greenest, with its beaches and trails. Between the two islands, the reclaimed Cotai strip is lined with large resorts.
Baroque churches, temples and villages
The historic centre is best explored on foot, from Largo do Senado to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, then up to Monte Fort and the Macao Museum. Further south lie A-Ma Temple, older than the city itself, and the Mandarin’s House. For the panorama, head up Macau Tower, which also offers a 233 m bungee jump.
In Taipa, wander Rua do Cunha and the pale-green Taipa Houses-Museum of 1921; in Coloane, the village, the Lai Chi Vun shipyards, Hác-Sá and Cheoc Van beaches, the trails and the panda pavilion.
Via Hong Kong, by ferry or over the bridge
There are no direct flights between Europe and Macao: the easiest way is to fly to Hong Kong, then continue by ferry (about one hour) or by bus over the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge. Once there, buses, the light rail (Taipa, Cotai, Barra, Seac Pai Van), taxis and free hotel shuttles are more than enough.
Autumn
October and November are the most pleasant months: mild and dry. Winter is sunny but cool, summer hot and humid, with typhoons mostly from July to September. The Macau Grand Prix, a car and motorcycle race on the Guia street circuit, is held in November (73rd edition scheduled for 19–22 November 2026).
Macao at a glance
| Location | Southern China, on the Pearl River estuary, 60 km from Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Area | ≈ 33 km² (peninsula, Taipa, Cotai and Coloane) |
| Population | ≈ 690,000 |
| Languages | Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese; English in tourism |
| Time difference | UTC+8 (no daylight saving) |
| Currency | Pataca (MOP); Hong Kong dollars accepted at par |
| Access | No direct flights: via Hong Kong, then ferry or bus over the bridge |
| Entry | 90 days visa-free for EU/Schengen citizens (separate from mainland China) |
| Electricity | 230 V, three-pin plugs (mostly type G): adapter recommended |
Your questions answered
Do I need a visa?
Citizens of France and other EU/Schengen countries can enter Macao visa-free for up to 90 days with a valid passport. Macao has its own entry rules, separate from mainland China: if you continue to Zhuhai or Hengqin, Chinese rules apply. Check the rules for your nationality before travelling.
How do I get to Macao from Hong Kong?
By ferry (about one hour from Sheung Wan with TurboJET or Cotai Water Jet) or by bus over the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (about 45 minutes, 24 hours a day). In 2026, a free bus, subject to availability, links the transit area of Hong Kong airport to Macao for international travellers, without going through Hong Kong immigration.
How long should I stay?
One day is enough for the historic centre, but allow two to three days to add Taipa, Coloane and its beaches, the views from Macau Tower and a few good Macanese restaurants.
When is the best time to go?
October and November: mild, dry weather. Winter is sunny but cool; from May to September it is hot and humid, with typhoons mostly from July to September. The Grand Prix in November and Chinese holidays push hotel prices up.
Header photo: Ruins of St. Paul’s — Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons
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