Macau has a distinctly Mediterranean flavour: a languorous pace, balconied, pastel buildings and open squares.

Although its population is primarily ethnic Chinese, Macau—because it was a Portuguese territory for so long—has a distinctly Mediterranean flavour: a languorous pace, balconied, pastel buildings and open squares. It is 60 kms west of Hong Kong.

After centuries of administration by Portugal, Macau was returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999. For now, Macau is a wonderful place to stroll: if you’re feeling energetic, you could walk to almost all of its sights in a day as it covers only 28 sq km. The most famous landmark is the Church of Sao Paulo. All that remains is the façade but it’s worth climbing an imposing set of stairs to view the ruins up close, especially at night when you can see the lights of the city below.

Macau has long been a gambler’s destination of choice, and in recent years, world-famous casinos such as the Sands have opened huge venues there.

On weekends and holidays, Macau is filled to capacity with Hong Kong residents, who go for the gambling and the slower, more relaxed pace of life. So we highly recommend that you visit during the week.

When to travel to Macau

The climate in Macau is similar to that of Hong Kong. The humidity is quite high throughout the year. During the summer months, from July to September, the temperature soars. Winters are nippy.

The most pleasant time to visit is in autumn, from October to December and in spring from March until May. Then the temperature remains pleasantly moderate with an average of 20-25C.