Attraction in Macau
Ruins of St. Paul's
UNESCO World Heritage
The soaring stone facade of the former Cathedral of St. Paul is Macau's most recognised landmark, a 17th-century Jesuit masterpiece built by Japanese craftsmen that survived a great fire in 1835. The intricately carved five-storey frontage blends European Baroque with Chinese and Japanese motifs, and a grand staircase of 68 steps leads visitors up to it. Beneath, the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt houses religious relics and artefacts from the colonial era.
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Travel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Macau
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Macau page at Yoogo.
Macau uses the Macanese pataca (MOP), though Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted at close to par in most shops, restaurants, and casinos. Credit and debit cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and casino resorts, but smaller local eateries and market stalls generally prefer cash.
Macau is generally considered a safe destination with low rates of street crime. The large casino environment brings its own character to the territory, but tourists visiting the historic sites and villages encounter few issues beyond the usual urban cautions around pickpocketing in crowded areas.
Macau's compact size makes walking the best option for the historic peninsula and Taipa Village. Public buses are inexpensive and air-conditioned, covering the peninsula and both islands, and major casino resorts operate free shuttle buses from ferry terminals and the border gate. Taxis are metered and plentiful outside peak periods, and high-speed ferries connect Macau to Hong Kong in around 55 minutes.
October to December is widely regarded as the most pleasant time to visit, with mild temperatures, lower humidity, and mostly clear skies. Spring (March to May) is also agreeable, though humidity rises from April onwards. Summer (June to September) brings heavy rain, high heat, and the possibility of typhoons disrupting travel.
Cantonese is the language of everyday life for the vast majority of residents, with Portuguese holding official status alongside Chinese. English is widely understood in hotels, tourist attractions, casinos, and most restaurants in the historic centre, making it straightforward to navigate as a visitor.
No vaccinations are legally required to enter Macau, but travellers are advised to ensure routine immunisations (including measles-mumps-rubella and tetanus) are up to date. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended, and it is worth consulting a travel health clinic or your GP several weeks before departure for personalised advice.
Tipping is not a strong local custom in Macau, and most restaurants and hotels automatically add a 10 per cent service charge to bills. In venues where no service charge applies, rounding up the bill or leaving a small amount for genuinely attentive service is appreciated but never obligatory.
Macau has good 4G and 5G coverage across the peninsula and both islands, and tourist SIM cards are available at the ferry terminals and airport. eSIM options through providers such as Airalo allow you to activate a local data plan on a compatible device before you travel, which is convenient if you want connectivity from the moment you arrive.