Eastern Asia
Macau: Travel Guide & Requirements
Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China · 中华人民共和国澳门特别行政区
Macau is a country in Eastern Asia. It has a population of 685,900 (#167 in the world) and covers 28 km². The official languages are Portuguese and Chinese. The currency is the Macanese pataca (MOP, P).
Where is Macau? Map of Macau
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China.
- Region
- Eastern Asia
- Coordinates
- 22.1667° N, 113.55° E
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 41 km
- Macau
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Macau
- Passport
Macao’s Public Security Police says your passport or travel document should be valid for at least 90 days beyond the period of your intended stay in Macao.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 90 need no visa, 101 get a visa on arrival, 7 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Macau entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Visitors must hold a valid onward or return ticket, unless they can prove they live in mainland China or Hong Kong; that exemption does not apply to Chinese or Hong Kong SAR passport holders transiting Macao to another …
- Proof of funds
Visitors must be able to show means of subsistence for their stay: at least MOP 5,000 for up to 7 days, MOP 10,000 for up to 14 days, MOP 15,000 for up to 21 days and MOP 20,000 for longer stays.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement.
- Customs allowance
Macao Customs says arriving travellers carrying cash or bearer negotiable instruments (such as traveller’s cheques, cheques and money orders) worth MOP 120,000 or more must declare them to customs officers, fill in a de…
- Travel advice
High risk — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
8 things to know before you travel to Macau
- Safety: Travel to Macau carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Macau Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: October to November — when daytime highs in the capital are around 24–27°C.
- Money: the Macanese pataca (MOP) — 1 US dollar is about 8.0791 MOP.
- Plugs: type D, G and M, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 999, Ambulance 999, Fire 999.
- Language: Portuguese and Chinese are official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 60 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: Asia/Macau.
Key facts
Macau at a glance
Languages spoken: Cantonese 81%, Mandarin 4.7%, other Chinese dialects 5.4%, English 3.6%, Tagalog 2.9%, Portuguese 0.6%, other 1.8% (2021 est.)
Geography & history
About Macau
Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the official entrepôt for all international trade with China and Japan and the first European settlement in the Far East. The first governor was appointed in the 17th century, but the Portuguese remained largely under the control of the Chinese. In the 1930s and ’40s Macau was declared a neutral territory during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II and became a refuge for both Chinese and Europeans. Portugal officially made Macau an overseas province in 1951. In April 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macau to Chinese rule in 1999, using the Hong K…
Read the full history
Portuguese ships began arriving in 1513. In the 1550s, Portuguese paying tribute to China settled in Macau, which became the official entrepôt for all international trade with China and Japan and the first European settlement in the Far East. The first governor was appointed in the 17th century, but the Portuguese remained largely under the control of the Chinese. In the 1930s and ’40s Macau was declared a neutral territory during the Sino-Japanese War and World War II and became a refuge for both Chinese and Europeans. Portugal officially made Macau an overseas province in 1951. In April 1987, Portugal and China reached an agreement to return Macau to Chinese rule in 1999, using the Hong Kong Joint Declaration between China and the UK as a model. In this agreement, China promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's political and economic system would not be imposed on Macau, and that Macau would enjoy a "high degree of autonomy" in all matters except foreign affairs and defense for the next 50 years. However, after China's multi-year crackdown against the pro-democracy movement in nearby Hong Kong, the governments of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region worked to limit Macau's political autonomy by suppressing opposition activity in the 2021 legislative elections.
Location
Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Climate
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain
generally flat
Highest point
Alto Coloane 172 m
Natural resources
NEGL
Natural hazards
typhoons
National symbols
lotus blossom
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Macau
The default speed limits in Macau are 60 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 6060 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 50 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Road deaths (2021)0.0 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Macau safe to visit?
Travel to Macau carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Macau Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Dec 2025 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Macau
The best time to visit Macau is October to November, when daytime highs in the capital are around 24–27°C. April and December are also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (30°C by day), January the coldest (16°C at night), and June the wettest with about 294 mm of rain.
- Jan19°C16°C
- Feb19°C17°C
- Mar21°C19°C
- Apr24°C22°C
- May27°C26°C
- Jun29°C28°C
- Jul30°C29°C
- Aug30°C28°C
- Sep29°C28°C
- Oct27°C25°C
- Nov24°C22°C
- Dec20°C18°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Macau
Plugs & sockets
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Gthree rectangular pins in a triangle
- Type Mthree large round pins in a triangle
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
Macanese pataca exchange rates today
Macau uses the Macanese pataca (MOP, P). One US dollar buys 8.0791 MOP; over the last 30 days the MOP has gained 0.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in MOP
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Macau ranks
How Macau compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Macau
5 airports and airfields — 1 large, 0 medium and 0 small, plus 4 heliports. 1 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Macau has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 41 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Macau (682,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys
Export partners
Hong Kong 73%, China 6%, USA 6%, Philippines 3%, Singapore 1% (2023)
Top exports
jewelry, garments, broadcasting equipment, precious metal watches, video and card games (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Macau
Chinese passport
Ranked #63: 93 countries visa-free, 30 with visa on arrival, 6 with an eTA and 31 with an eVisa.
Chinese passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Macau's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Macau
Dial +853 before the local number. Internet domain .mo.
Climate footprint
1.1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 1.47 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Macau: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Macau
Myanmar Keeps Visa on Arrival for Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Korean Tourists
Myanmar has extended its trial visa-on-arrival scheme for tourists flying in from China, India, Japan, South Korea and Macau by another year. The ext…
Macau's City of Dreams opens red-hued REM hotel with 149 rooms and suites
REM, Melco Resorts & Entertainment's newest hotel, opened at City of Dreams Macau with a grand opening on 20 October 2026. The 149-room property repl…
Macau Departures: Indians Pay Less for Mainland China Visas Until Dec 2026
Indian passport holders still need an L tourist visa before travelling to mainland China. Reduced Chinese visa fees for Indian applicants now run unt…
Frequently asked questions about Macau
What do I need to travel to Macau?
How long must my passport be valid for Macau?
Where is Macau?
What is Macau known for?
What language is spoken in Macau?
What currency does Macau use?
What is the calling code of Macau?
Does Macau have land borders?
How strong is the Chinese passport?
What is the speed limit in Macau?
Is Macau safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Macau?
What plug type does Macau use?
How many airports does Macau have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.