Macau was a Portuguese territory for a long time until its recent turnover to China, and it still acts independently in many ways, similarly to nearby Hong Kong. It’s now known mostly as the gambling capital of the world, and a major destination for Hong Kong and China locals.
Macau has its own currency, but we’ve used Hong Kong dollars here since they are essentially the same value.
| Population | 550,000 |
| Area | 550,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+8 |
| Currency | Macau pataca |
| Airports | Macau International Airport (MFM) |
| Budget breakfast | Eat like the locals and you'll be filled up for cheap. | $3.07 - $5.11 |
| Budget lunch | The small restaurants in the city can offer great deals, and big casinos have inexpensive food courts. | $4.60 - $7.66 |
| Budget dinner | You can eat for as much or little as you want in Macau, and budget options are available even at some sit-down places. | $6.39 - $10.22 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | The local lager can be cheap in many restaurants and pubs. Imports will be more. | $1.28 - $2.55 |
| Portuguese wine (glass) | This table-style wine is widely available and cheap in Macau. | $2.55 - $3.83 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64 | 54 | 1.3 |
| February | 64 | 56 | 2.3 |
| March | 69 | 61 | 3.2 |
| April | 76 | 68 | 8.6 |
| May | 83 | 75 | 13.3 |
| June | 87 | 78 | 14.4 |
| July | 89 | 79 | 11.4 |
| August | 88 | 79 | 13.8 |
| September | 86 | 77 | 7.6 |
| October | 81 | 72 | 4.6 |
| November | 74 | 64 | 1.7 |
| December | 67 | 57 | 1.4 |
Macau has a climate that varies greatly through the year. The rainy season starts in mid April and it brings in occasional downpours and high humidity, lasting until early September. From October through March the temperatures are cooler and humidity isn’t a problem, so it’s the ideal time to visit.
| 21 Mar | 6:29am | 6:37pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:43am | 7:12pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:14am | 6:24pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:00am | 5:47pm |
Before the recent casino boom Macau was known for its unique Portuguese colonial influences, and most of that remains even though it’s overshadowed by huge hotels. It’s still easy enough to stay in one of those older sections and keep your budget under control.
Casino hotels in Macau can be pricey, especially on weekends, but budget accommodation does exist as well. Food from traditional stand-alone restaurants and street stalls can be quite cheap, while restaurants in the fancy hotels is anything but.
Macau hotels generally have two seasons, with the high season running from November through April and the low season running from May through October. Hotel prices on weekends tend to be higher as well, since this is a major destination for people from Hong Kong. Prices at lower-end places don’t change much through the year, but at fancier places great bargains can be had midweek and off-season.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 13.00 - 32.00 |
| 86.00 - 110.00 |
| 92.00 - 161.00 |
| 108.00 - 274.00 |
| 160.00 - 354.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 14.00 - 17.00 |