Macau is a Special Administrative Region of China on the Pearl River Delta, about 60 km west of Hong Kong. Its compact peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane combine a UNESCO-listed Portuguese colonial old town, Cantonese temples and street food, and the glittering casino resorts of the Cotai Strip.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Almond cookies
Crumbly almond cookies sold in gift tins
Price: MOP 40-100 per box (approx USD 5-13)
Where: Rua da Felicidade, Rua de Sao Paulo, Koi Kei Bakery
Pork jerky (bak kwa)
Sweet grilled pork strips sold by weight
Price: MOP 60-150 per 250g (approx USD 8-19)
Where: Rua de Sao Paulo, Senado Square
Portuguese egg tarts
Fresh egg tarts, best eaten the same day
Price: MOP 11-15 each (approx USD 1.5-2)
Where: Lord Stow's, Margaret's Cafe e Nata
Azulejo tiles and Portuguese ceramics
Hand-painted tiles and small ceramics
Price: MOP 50-400 (approx USD 6-50)
Where: Rua de Sao Paulo, Taipa Village
Chinese antiques and art
Porcelain, wood carvings and prints; ask for provenance
Price: MOP 100-20,000 (approx USD 13-2,500)
Where: Rua de Sao Paulo antique shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Mercado Vermelho (Red Market)
Bauhaus red-brick municipal market with fresh food and a cooked-food centre.
Where: Avenida de Horta e Costa
Hours: Daily approx 7AM-7:30PM (verify)
Mercado de Sao Domingos
Historic municipal market just off Senado Square.
Where: Near Senado Square
Hours: Daily approx 7AM-7PM (verify)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Senado Square and Rua da Felicidade
Old-town pedestrian shopping with bakeries and souvenirs.
Rua de Sao Paulo
Antiques, art, and cookie shops leading to the Ruins of St Paul's.
Taipa Village
Boutique lanes with Portuguese-style souvenirs.
Cotai resort malls
Air-conditioned luxury and fashion malls.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Grand Canal Shoppes
About 350 shops around indoor canals.
Hours: Daily approx 10AM-11PM
Shoppes at Four Seasons
Luxury brands and boutiques.
Hours: Daily approx 10AM-11PM
Galaxy Macau Mall
Resort mall with fashion and dining.
Hours: Daily approx 10AM-11PM
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Fixed prices in malls and bakeries; bargaining is not done
At antique shops on Rua de Sao Paulo, offering 60-70% of the first quoted price is normal
Ask for a receipt and written description on antiques; export of items over 100 years old may need a permit (verify with the Cultural Affairs Bureau)
Compare two or three shops before buying souvenirs; prices are similar across stores
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Macau is duty-free for most goods, but each country sets its own import allowance on return, Mainland China limits duty-free returns to RMB 5,000 for Mainland residents, Counterfeit goods can be seized on return home