Where to Stay in Macau – 3 TOP Areas for Tourists in 2024

Planning a trip to Monte Carlo of the Orient? You’re in luck! I’m here to help you decide where to stay in Macau as a tourist!

I recently planned a trip to Macau but unfortunately had to cancel at the last minute. I don’t want to let all that research go in vain, so I’ll share with you all the best areas and hotels that I handpicked in every area to help you plan your stay!

Macau Peninsula with its Old Macau is the best place to stay for first-timers! It’s the most vibrant and touristy area of all and where I had my hotel booked.

I’ve also got you covered with 2 other districts that may just work better for your travel plans. And stick until the end for a bonus list of the best 5-star hotels in Macau!

P.S. Please book your stay in advance, the best hotels in Macau get sold fast!

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Check out the best hotels in Macau Peninsula:

This map will help you visualize all the areas to stay in Macau that I’ll talk about in the post: 

1. Macau Peninsula – where to stay in Macau for first-timers

There’s no better place to start your holiday than Macau Peninsula! This area includes the historic Old Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with cultural attractions! I recommend it as the best place to stay for first-time visitors.

Macau was a Portuguese colony from 1557 until it was handed over to the Chinese in 1999! Over 400 years of Portuguese heritage can be felt in architecture, street signs, and even language! Portuguese is the official language in Macau, along with Cantonese.

The food is also really interesting here. UNESCO even gave Macau the title of “Creative City of Gastronomy”! You’ll find a fusion of Portuguese and Chinese dishes everywhere! For example, a local favorite snack, pork chop bun, is made in a Portuguese bread roll. You can try it on every corner in Macau’s Old Town! 

Macau is also the only place in China where gambling is legal. This unique trait, along with the luxury that surrounds it, has earned Macau the nickname “Las Vegas of the East” and “Monte Carlo of the Orient.” 

If your visit to Macau is part of your broader vacation in Hong Kong, the main ferry terminal from Hong Kong is located here. By the way, you can also take a bus from Hong Kong to Macau since they’re connected by a bridge. The bus has more daily departures, and it’s cheaper but also takes longer (4 hours vs 1 hour) than the ferry.

One of the most sacred monuments of Christianity in Asia, the Ruins of Jesuit St. Paul’s Church (map), is a must-see in Old Macau. Also, walk down the paved UNESCO-protected Senado Square (map), and you’ll instantly feel like you’re in Portugal!

PRO TIP: Check out the district around St. Lazarus Church (map) for more beautiful Portuguese architecture without all the crowds! This part of Macau is pedestrian-friendly, so you can walk anywhere in less than 30 minutes. There are also free shuttle buses that commute between all 31 casinos in the city and major ferry ports and border gates (they usually carry the name of a hotel they’re in). I only recommend taxis if you have no other option since they’re expensive and very scammy.

NOTE: Peak hours for traffic jams in Macau are all morning until 11 AM and then from 4 PM to 9 PM, especially around bridges and borders. Ideally, visit Macau from Monday to Thursday when there are fewer crowds, and definitely avoid visiting during the Grand Prix in November.Finally, Macau’s historic center is covered with a free internet connection. The username and password are “wifigo”. However, for a smoother and more secure data connection, use Airalo’s flexible eSIM packages for Macau.

Other accommodation options in Macau Peninsula

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Grand Lisboa hotel is another iconic luxury option. It’s one of the landmarks of Macau with its lotus-shaped building that you can see from almost anywhere in town! It also has a casino and a free shuttle bus.

Things to do in Macau Center & Old Macau

• Visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Old Macau
• Visit Macau’s oldest temple, A-Ma Temple (map), dating from 1488 
• Shop until your drop at Senado Square
• Learn new things at Macao Museum
• Try your luck at Casino Lisboa (map)
• Check out the Monte Fort historic site (map)

2. Cotai – the best place to stay in Macau for nightlife

If you’re into nightlife, casinos, and expensive hotels, Cotai is definitely the best place to stay in Macau! When you walk around Cotai, it’ll be clear to you why they call it “Las Vegas of the East.” 

Most of the attractions in Cotai revolve around luxury hotels. For example, the iconic House of Dancing Water show, with multiple daily projections, takes place in the City of Dreams Hotel. The Eiffel Tower replica, one of the most popular attractions in Cotai, is part of The Parisian Hotel.

Cotai is home to the 1st largest (The Venetian) and 3rd largest (Wynn Palace) casinos in the world. In fact, 7 out of the 10 largest casinos in the world are all located in Macau!

Most of the largest casino resorts are located within walking distance of each other, but you also use public buses and free shuttles when needed. Check here for line info for public buses across Macau or see free tourist maps available anywhere in the city. Have MOP $6 in cash ready because the ticket machine in the bus doesn’t give back change.

Beware that, unlike Las Vegas, where you can find cheap hotels with casinos, all such places in Macau cater to luxury travelers. Hopefully, this will change in the future! But for now, if you plan to stay in a hotel with a casino, know that it’ll be a luxury stay. 

THE VENETIAN FACTS: From all the hotels in the Cotai Strip, the iconic Venetian has the largest rooms and really interesting amenities. It’s a bit of an old hotel, but it’s known for plenty of late-night amenities with restaurants and shops, while some other hotels close their entertainment options early. The shops and restaurants in The Venetian are called The Grand Canal Shoppes (map) and are made to resemble the canals of Venice, Italy! You can visit all of them even if you’re not a guest!

P.S. If you’re happy to shop on your hotel premises, Parisian has a shopping mall inside, too!

And if you ever want to relax from the casinos and urban entertainment, head to nearby Coloane Village (map) to explore old temples, walk along the beach, and meet local pandas!

NOTE: Airbnb and short-term rentals are technically illegal in Macau. They must be registered and comply with strict local regulations. This is why you’ll find very few Airbnbs and the ones that are listed are mostly hotel rooms.

Finally, as you can probably guess by now, there are no mid-range or budget hotels in Cotai. They are all 5-star options. I sorted the hotels below from the highest-priced to the lowest-priced rather than by their hotel class.

Other accommodation options in Cotai

Things to do in Cotai

• Check out the replica of the Eiffel Tower at Le Parisian Hotel (map)
• Walk along the Cotai Strip
• Get souvenirs from The Grand Canal Shops
• Gamble away at Venetian Macao or at City of Dreams casino
• Catch a House of the Dancing Water projection
• Spend a fun day at Studio City Water Park
• Explore the Hac Sa Beach (map) and Panda Pavillion (map) in Coloane

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3. Taipa – where to stay in Macau for culture lovers

Taipa Village is a bit more tranquil than the bustling Macau Center and Cotai. Connected to the Macau Peninsula by 2 bridges, this area is also home to the Macau International Airport. This makes it a great spot for those who are only visiting on a layover!

If you’re arriving by ferry from Hong Kong, take the free Galaxy bus to Taipa, and then you can easily walk to your destination. You can also use the public bus from Old Macau.

Although Taipa used to be the rural side of Macau, recently, the area saw quite an improvement and is now home to nice shopping places, restaurants, and hotels. But this is not what makes Taipa one of the best places to stay in Macau, China.

In Taipa Village, you will notice Portuguese influences in the many colorful buildings alongside the traditional Chinese elements (there are also quite a few temples in the area which you can visit of course)! 

If you’re into cultural attractions and want to learn more about Macau’s past, there are many interesting places here, like the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History (map) or the Taipa Houses Museum (map). Both have free admission!

For casino lovers out there, you’ll still find a few casinos in Taipa, and you can even walk to the best ones in Cotai, like The Venetian or Galaxy!

NOTE: The official currency in Macau is Patacas (MOP). The Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) is also widely accepted.

Other accommodation options in Taipa

Things to do in Taipa 

• Visit the Historical Museum of Coloane and Taipa and Taipa Houses Museum
• Try minchi, a local Macao dish, in La Famiglia Restaurant (map)
• Grab a quick bite on Taipa Food Street (map)
• See the Pak Tai Temple (map)
• Go for a walk in the Garden of Flower City (map)
• Enjoy the views from Taipa Grande Hill (map)

👑 Luxury price:	US$200
💵 Mid-range:	US$120
🛏️ Budget:	US$80
📍 Best area:	Macau Center & Old Macau
🛎️ Best luxury hotel:	Mandarin Oriental
🧳 Best mid-range hotel:	Hotel Inn Express
👛 Best budget hotel:	Caravel Hotel

BONUS: The coolest 5-star hotels in Macau, China

Although you’ll find some incredible places to stay in the first part of this post, I wanted to offer you 4 more fabulous 5-star hotels in Macau!

All these luxury hotels have prices starting from US$130 to US$800. I listed them for you from the most to least expensive:

• The Ritz-Carlton – If you love luxury and fancy decorations, then you won’t want to miss this 5-star hotel in Macau, set within Cotai’s Galaxy resort! Decorated with unique elements, marble, and lots of other beautiful features, this accommodation also offers access to designer shops and a cinema!
• City of Dreams – With a design focused on simple shapes and brown aesthetics, this unique hotel has rooms with ceiling-to-floor windows and a private bathroom. Located in Macau, Cotai, the 5-star luxury accommodation offers guests evening entertainment as well. The next day you can relax at the spa or by the pool!
• Grand Hyatt – Have a fabulous stay in this Cotai hotel with beautifully-decorated rooms with large windows and stunning views! Start your day with a quick breakfast, a long bath in the tub, and then head down to enjoy all the perks at the hotel, including spa services, a casino, and a nightclub!  
• Studio City – This 5-star resort has all the amenities you could ask for all types of travelers: nightlife seekers and families with kids. They have a special fun zone inspired by Warner Bros, but also a cool casino and anything in between!

FAQs about the best places to stay in Macau

Final thoughts on the best place to stay in Macau

You’ve reached the end of my guide on where to stay in Macau! Hopefully, you now have your answer! Macau is a really fun and unique Asian city to explore due to the mixed Portuguese and Chinese heritage, but also for all its casinos. 

If you’re still indecisive about the hotels, these are my 2 absolute favorite ones:

• Mandarin Oriental – there must be something between me and Mandarin Oriental hotels, I absolutely love every single one I see
• Holiday Inn Express – a great Holiday Inn with a central location in Macau near the attractions

Remember to book your hotel in Macau in advance, as the good ones really sell out fast! And if you have any questions or would like personalized advice for your upcoming trip, drop me a comment below!

Enjoy Macau,

Darija

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