Macau is a fabulous travel destination in the world where east meets the west. Macau travel guide is a concoction of the polity, history and society of two celebrated cultures. A jewel among the famed isles of the world, Macau, China, Asia offers a scintillating experience on your Macau tour. Macau Travel ensures our journey through the land of dragon once nourished by the Portuguese colonial masters. The terra firma is Chinese. Even the vox populi is utterly Chinese. But the culture is imbibed in the ethnicity of the Portugal. Your Macau tour is sure to be amusing amid serene places and population enthusiast with bonhomie for the tourists. Museums in Macau, Forts in Macau, Macau Amusement Parks and Festivals in Macau are enthralling enough to attract.

Travel to Macau is sure to unravel before you the most unusual Asian destination. A Travel Guide of Macau brings you face to face with the numerous tourist places colored in the glitz of history. The budding casinos, beautiful seashore, fabulous gardens, dotting castles and chapels, all are striking enough to hold your imagination. Popular destinations like Beaches in Macau like Taipa Island, A-Ma Cultural Village, Outer Harbour, Taipa Village, Coloane Village, San Ma Lo, Penha Hill, Guia Hill & Sao Lazaro, Penha Peninsula and many more are dazzling enough to fix your imagination. Macau, China, Asia is completely different in its cultural fusion, architectural panorama, religious hodgepodge and political system. The most striking in the Travel Guide of Macau is the gambling and the casino economy. Stuffed with economical and efficient Macau transportation system, travel to Macau is a dream for every globetrotter. Baraccarat game, alluring nightlife, incredible bars and conceivable shopping paradises charms every one on his or her travel to Macau. Plan your Macau tour and take pleasure in the scenic spots in the isles of Macau, China, Asia.

Official Language: Chinese (Cantonese), Portuguese

Demonym: Macanese

Currency: Macanese pataca (MOP)

Time Zone: MST (UTC+8)

Summer (DST): (UTC+3)

Internet TLD: .mo

Calling Code: +853

Visa formalities for Macau:

All visitors must hold a passport or a valid travel document. Please note that the validity of these documents must not be less than 30 days since the day you enter Macau.

If travel arrangements are made through an agent, the visa processing is handled by Macau tour operators.

A. Visas are required by all visitors except:

a) Residents of Macau;

b) Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and the United Kingdom(6 months) for a stay up to 90 days;

c) Nationals of Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days;

d) Nationals of China with valid Macau entry/depart documents, including residents of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas Chinese for a stay of up to 30 days;

e) The "Hong Kong Identity Card" (with symbol “*”, “***” or “R”),  "Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong Reentry Permit" holders may stay in Macau for a maximum period of one year.

f) Holders of Diplomatic Passport or "Laissez Passer" issued by the United Nations.

g) Holders of Consulate/Diplomatic documents issued by the Macau SAR or Hong Kong SAR.

B. Visas can be obtained from the Immigration Services through Embassies/Consulates of the PRC and should be used within the validity; the visa is expired after the valid date.

C. Visas are also available on arrival in Macau at the Immigration Services for a period of 30 days.

Embarkation Fee

Macau requires a departure fee of MOP$19, which is normally included in the ferry ticket price.

Attractions in Macau:

A-Ma Temple

The name Macau was taken from A-Ma-GAO (Bay of A-Ma) where this temple stands. Legend has it that A-Ma was a poor girl travelling to China, but was turned away by wealthy junk owners. Finally, a fisherman took her to Macau, surviving a storm that sunk all the other junks. Later, she reappeared to the fisherman as a goddess and so he built her this temple. Situated on the southern tip of Macau, the temple has a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and a steady stream of worshipers pray under the incense coils while fortune-tellers trade outside.

Barra Fort

Although not completed until 1627, this strategically important fortification was instrumental in defending Macau's inner harbour against the 1622 attack by the Dutch. Used only once, the fort's cannons were exchanged for rice to feed World War II refugees. Over the centuries the fort slowly fell into disrepair, and was gradually being demolished to make way for new roads. Luckily, leftover ruins were incorporated into the Pousada de Sao Tiago, a deluxe hotel that welcomes visitors to look round the remnants of the once powerful Barra Fort.

Dom Pedro V Theatre

Across the leafy square from the Church of Sao Agostinho is a fantastically ornate and classically proportioned theatre, designed by Pedro Germano Marquez in 1859, and completed in 1873. Shallow stone steps lead visitors up to the majestically colonnaded covered entrance. The oval auditorium has ground level and balcony seating, and although it is small in proportions this only adds to the intimate atmosphere. Sadly, only the occasional locally produced play or opera is held here.

Sao Agostinho

Sao Agostinho's Church is tucked away behind the Leal Senado, towards the south of the peninsula. Its cream painted walls surround a cavernous interior with a red carpet leading up to a colorful altar. Although built in the 19th century, the foundations go all the way back to 1586. It is a wonderfully cool, quiet place, as its slightly off-the-beaten-track location ensures that not too many visitors find it.

Senado Square

The Senado square is paved with a wave-patterned mosaic of colored stones, created by Portuguese experts. From the main road to the church of St. Dominic, the pavement extends to the ruins of St. Paul's, making the heart of the city a pedestrian paradise

Sao Lorenco

Seen from the appropriately named Rua de Sao Lorenco, the Sao Lorenco Church cuts an imposing figure. The double-towered, cream-colored building gazes down through an ornamental gate and positively welcomes you inside. But for us mere mortals, it is necessary to walk round to the back and enter through the side entrance. Inside the red-carpeted altar, cream walls and blue ceiling make for a breathtaking effect, and the beautiful stained glass windows and statues invite you to sit and absorb this visual feast at leisure.

Guia Fortress

Guia Fortress, built in 1637-38, occupies the top of Guia Hill, the highest point in Macau. It was designed to defend Macau from attacks from the sea, but because of its position overlooking the entire city, its chief value has been as an observation post. It originally contained barracks, a water cistern, ammunition and equipment stores, the commander's house, and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Guia. Today the Fort's most prominent feature is the lighthouse, built in 1865 and the oldest on the China coast. It is 91 metres high and has a light which can be seen for around 20 miles in clear weather. Near the lighthouse is the chapel which contains an image of the Virgin Mary, a few antique pictures, and vestiges of paintings that date back to the construction of the chapel in 1626. Also nearby is a post where signals are hoisted to warn of an approaching typhoon. In earlier times storm warnings were announced from the bell-tower of the chapel.

CLIMATE

Macau climate enters the winter season from January to February. The chilly air coming from Siberia via the Mid China and South China enters the Macao region and causes the cold and parched northerly winds. The warmth of urban district often drops below ten degree centigrade. Therefore, the lowest temperature is generally evident in these two months. The rainfall and wet days are less due to the insufficient water vapour in atmosphere. Climate of Macao witness seasonal interchange periods during March and April.The southeasterly wind route along the coast of South China causes the temperature and moisture augmentation. Beside some sporadic wet, foggy, drizzle and squat visibility days, the weather remains fine in spring. The humidity remains the maximum in spring and summer (April to September).

The summer climate of Macao is longer than other seasons. The blistering and drenched conditions during the summer months cause thunderstorms and heavy rain between May to September. The tropical cyclones frequently from July to September cause maximum precipitation, temperature, rainy day and thunderstorm of the year. The autumn weather of Macau begins in October. But it is very short. This is the best time to visit Macau. The cool dry wind from the north overtakes it towards the end of November.

Tourists must wear lightweight cotton outfits for the summer and bring jackets for the winter. The weather of Macau is decidedly unfixed and hard to forecast. However October to November and April to May are in all probability the best times to have vacation. In April, the humidity begins to build up. From May to September the Macau weather remains hot and humid with occasional rain and tropical storms called typhoons.