Banks: 10:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday; 10:00 to 12:00 Saturday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:30 to 19:00, daily
Business Offices: 08:00 to 21:00, Monday to Saturday
Government Offices: 07:30 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

Macau is a safe place to visit and the territory’s police do their best to keep it that way. Police stations and incident reporting centres are scattered throughout Macau and there are 24-hour emergency hotlines that have been set up to handle calls from tourists.

Pickpockets can be a problem in Macau, particularly in areas where tourists congregate. In addition, scam involving visitors from the mainland asking western tourists for money have recently been reported. The scammers claim to have lost their money and to be hungry, asking for enough cash to buy food. The police have issued advisories against giving money to these people in an attempt to stop the scam from spreading.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz three-pinned square and round plugs are used in Macau.

Macau’s healthcare system is one the most well developed in Asia, and the life expectancy is also one of the longest. Visitors are not required to show proof of any vaccinations to enter Macau and there are no diseases that are a major cause for concern to tourists.

Water from the tap is safe to drink on the peninsula and the islands. Quality is checked on a regular basis and is guaranteed to meet international standards by Macau’s Health Department. Food here is seldom the cause of stomach upsets, but you are advised to make sure that seafood is properly cooked.

In addition to hospital and clinics where western medicine is practised, visitors can also find doctors who practice traditional Chinese medicine. More information about traditional medicine is available from the Macau Health Department and Kiang Wu Hospital.

Kiang Wu Hospital: +853 2857 3822
Ambulance: 110 and 112
Police: 999

Cantonese and Portuguese are Macau’s official languages, with Cantonese being spoken by the greatest number of residents. Mandarin is also spoken by a substantial number of people, particularly those who have a formal education. Visitors will find that English is spoken by most locals who work in the tourist industry. Additionally, museums and casinos are staffed by English speakers, as are upscale shops and restaurants.

The use of English in Macau is more limited than it is in Hong Kong, and you’re likely to encounter residents who do not speak or understand the language at all. This also includes a large percentage of taxi drivers, so it’s important to have your destination and hotel address written in Chinese so that you don’t have any problem getting where you want to go.

The pataca (MOP$) is Macau’s official currency, with one pataca being equal to 100 avos. Banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 1,000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10 patacas. Coins come in 10, 5, 2 and 1 pataca(s) and 50, 20 and 10 avos. Macau’s currency is linked to that of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong dollar is readily accepted in Macau although the pataca and Hong Kong dollar are not exactly equivalent in value.

Major foreign currencies and travellers’ cheques can be exchanged for the local currency at banks, authorised currency exchange bureaux and at most hotels. In addition, there are currency exchange counters open 24-hours at Macau International Airport on Taipa Island. Most major credit cards are accepted at hotels, shops and restaurants in Macau.

Items that may be brought into Macau duty-free include up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 bottle of liquor and a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use. A reasonable number of gifts are also allowed to be brought in duty-free, as is camera film. There is no restriction on the amount of currency that can be brought into the country or taken out. Items that are prohibited include narcotics, firearms and endangered animals and plants.

Visitors may find people in Macau to be unfriendly, but this is commonly because locals are uncomfortable speaking English. Only a small minority of residents speak English language well enough to converse with visitors. Foreign tourists who visit Chinese temples should show the same type of respect that they would when visiting a church. It is usually permissible to take photographs, unless a sign prohibiting photography is displayed.

Dining Etiquette
In Macau, as in many other parts of Asia, people who dine together typically order several dishes that are then placed at the middle of the table and shared. Each person is served rice as an accompaniment to the dishes that are shared. It is impolite to take food directly from the shared dishes and place it in your mouth: it should be placed in your bowl first. It is also customary to leave at least a small amount of food left over, so that the host does not feel that too little food was served. This is a custom that

Nationals of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are permitted to enter Macau without a visa and stay for up to 30 days. Residents of the UK are permitted stays of up to 90 days without a visa. For visitors from other countries, a visa must be obtained from a Macau consulate or embassy prior to arrival. Visas arranged in advance can be valid for stays of up to six months. A passport that is valid for at least six months past the date of your expected entry into Macau is required in all cases.

There are tourist information offices located on Largo do Senado and at the jetfoil terminal, where you will find maps, information on attractions and events and helpful staff who speak English. If you’re looking for Internet access, the Largo do Senado tourist office offers free usage, although you may have to wait as there are only a few computers available.