Why Macau for a Honeymoon
Macau offers contrast in a very compact package. In a single afternoon you can climb the steps to the facade of St. Paul's, the most photographed ruin in the city. Light incense at the A-Ma Temple, which dates to the 15th century, then finish with a warm Portuguese egg tart on a bench in Senado Square.
Then comes Cotai, where resort hotels compete on scale and service. Many have excellent spas, large pools and Michelin-starred Chinese restaurants. Rates can be lower than in comparable Hong Kong hotels, especially on weeknights.
The quieter side of Macau surprises people. Coloane, the southern island, has a sleepy village with a chapel by the water, hiking trails and a black-sand beach. Taipa Village keeps old colonial houses beside a lotus pond.
What Macau lacks is beaches worth flying for and much nightlife beyond casinos and hotel bars. Treat it as a flavorful stopover, not a main event.
Best Time to Visit
Macau shares Hong Kong's subtropical climate. October through December is the best time, with clear skies, low humidity and daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s. November also brings the Macau Grand Prix, which fills hotels and closes some roads, so book early or avoid that weekend.
January through March is cool and sometimes damp, but still pleasant for walking. Chinese New Year brings lion dances and fireworks along with large crowds from the mainland. Spring grows humid and foggy.
From May through September, expect heat around 90°F, heavy rain and typhoon risk, especially from July to September. When storm signals are raised, ferries stop running, which can strand you on either side.
The Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, usually held on several evenings in September and October, is a nice reason to visit. December's light festival decorates the old town.
Where to Go
Macau splits into four areas for visitors, each with a different mood.
- Macau Peninsula: the historic center, with Senado Square, the Ruins of St. Paul's, Mount Fortress, the A-Ma Temple and Guia Fortress with its old lighthouse. The Macau Tower offers views and a famously high bungee jump.
- Cotai: the reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane, home to the big resorts, spas, shows and restaurants. Our Cotai guide covers it in detail and it is where most couples stay.
- Taipa Village: narrow lanes of snack shops, small restaurants and the restored Taipa Houses, a short walk from the Cotai resorts.
- Coloane: a quiet village with Lord Stow's Bakery, the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Hac Sa beach and green hiking trails.
Two or three days covers all four comfortably. Many couples stay in Cotai and take taxis or the light rail to the peninsula for sightseeing.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Macau rarely needs more than three days, so this plan pairs it with Hong Kong.
- Day 1: Arrive in Hong Kong. Harbor walk and the Star Ferry at dusk.
- Day 2: Victoria Peak, dim sum and Sheung Wan antique shops.
- Day 3: Hike the Dragon's Back and swim at Shek O.
- Day 4: Lantau Island for the Big Buddha and Tai O.
- Day 5: Ferry to Macau. Check into a Cotai resort and spend the afternoon at the pool.
- Day 6: Historic center on foot: Senado Square, St. Paul's, Mount Fortress and a Macanese lunch.
- Day 7: Taipa Village in the morning, Coloane and Hac Sa beach in the afternoon, dinner by the sea.
- Day 8: Return to Hong Kong. Spa afternoon.
- Day 9: Final shopping and a tasting-menu dinner.
- Day 10: Fly home.
If you prefer more beach time, swap the last Hong Kong days for a short flight to Thailand or the Philippines.
Budget and Costs
Macau's costs swing widely depending on the day of the week. These ranges are approximate.
- Hotels: large Cotai resorts often cost $150 to $350 a night midweek, rising sharply on weekends, holidays and during the Grand Prix. Top suites and the most exclusive hotels go much higher.
- Food: a Macanese or Portuguese lunch in a local restaurant might be $15 to $30 a person. Egg tarts and pork chop buns cost a few dollars. Michelin-starred dining in the resorts can cost several hundred dollars for two.
- Transport: buses, light rail and taxis are cheap. Ferries from Hong Kong cost more but are still reasonable.
Plan your Macau nights for Sunday through Thursday to get the best hotel rates. Prices are often quoted in Hong Kong dollars, which trade at nearly the same value as patacas.
Getting There and Around
No flights connect the US and Macau directly. The usual route is a nonstop to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific or United, then onward to Macau. High-speed ferries run from Hong Kong to the Macau Outer Harbour and Taipa terminals in about an hour. Buses also cross the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, linking the Hong Kong side near the airport with Macau in roughly 40 minutes of driving.
Macau International Airport, on Taipa, has flights from Taipei, Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul and many mainland Chinese cities, useful if you are coming from elsewhere in Asia.
Once there, the Light Rapid Transit links the airport, the Taipa ferry terminal, Cotai and parts of the peninsula. Public buses are cheap and frequent. Taxis are inexpensive though sometimes hard to find at peak times. Many resorts run free shuttles from the ferry terminals and border gates.
Culture and Etiquette
Macau feels relaxed and welcoming. Cantonese is the main language on the street, but signs are bilingual in Chinese and Portuguese. Resort staff speak English.
Dress for warm weather but cover up a little for churches and temples. Holding hands is normal, while bigger displays of affection are best kept for the hotel. At temples, avoid touching offerings and step over, not on, raised thresholds.
Gambling is legal and central to the economy, but it is optional for visitors. Casinos require guests to be 21 or older and may ask for ID. Photography inside gaming areas is not allowed.
Tipping is not expected in local restaurants. Many resort restaurants add a service charge. Rounding up a taxi fare is appreciated.
Macau is part of China under the one country, two systems framework, with its own laws and currency. As in Hong Kong, keep clear of political demonstrations and avoid controversial statements in public.
Quick tips
- Carry some patacas for small shops and taxis; change from Hong Kong dollar payments usually comes back in patacas.
- Many big resorts run free shuttle buses from the ferry terminals and border crossings.
- Climb to the Ruins of St. Paul's early in the morning, before tour groups arrive.
