Nightlife · Macau · China
Macau nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Macau, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Macau's nightlife revolves around the casino resorts, with hotel bars, lounges, shows and the gaming floors open around the clock, plus a few low-key bars on the peninsula. The main areas are Cotai Strip, Nam Van and the peninsula casinos and Taipa Village.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 3
- Stay near the action
- Cotai Strip
- Local drink
- Portuguese wine
Where to go out
Cotai Strip
Resort lounges, cocktail bars, nightclubs and big-name concerts at the resort arenas.
Nam Van and the peninsula casinos
Casino hotels around the Grand Lisboa and Wynn Macau, with free fountain shows and late restaurants.
Taipa Village
Small bars and wine-focused Portuguese restaurants for a quieter evening.
Nightlife tips
- Casinos have a minimum entry age of 21 and require identification on request.
- Taxis are hard to find late at night outside the resorts; use the hotel taxi ranks.
- Many resort shows sell out at weekends; book tickets before you arrive.
Evening sights
Historic site · Senado Square and the Historic Centre
Ruins of St. Paul's
Come before 9am or after dark, when the façade is lit up and the steps are far less crowded.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- After dark
Viewpoint · Nam Van and the peninsula casinos
Macau Tower
Go up at sunset to see both daylight and the city lights in one visit.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Active
- After dark
- Iconic
Architecture · Cotai Strip
The Venetian Macao
Walk through the connected malls of the Venetian, the Parisian and the Londoner to stay out of the heat or rain.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
- Free
Street · Senado Square and the Historic Centre
Rua da Felicidade
Come in the evening for dinner, when the red shutters are lit and the day crowds have moved on.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Photo spot
- After dark
What to drink
- Portuguese wine — Macau's restaurants carry wide lists of Portuguese wine, from light vinho verde to Douro reds, often at lower prices than elsewhere in Asia.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 27°C (81°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 18:02 | 12°C (54°F) | 5 |
| April | About 18:46 | 21°C (70°F) | 12 |
| July | About 19:13 | 27°C (81°F) | 17 |
| October | About 18:01 | 23°C (73°F) | 6 |
Getting home late
- Walking — The Historic Centre from the A-Ma Temple to the Ruins of St.
- Bus — Pay with a Macau Pass card for a lower fare; drivers do not give change.
- Metro — The Macao Light Rapid Transit's Taipa line links Barra on the peninsula with Taipa, the Cotai resorts, the airport and the Taipa Ferry Terminal.
- Taxi — Show your destination in Chinese; many drivers speak little English.
- Ferry — High-speed ferries from Hong Kong arrive at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal on the peninsula and at the Taipa Ferry Terminal near Cotai in about an hour.
Late-night bites
- Pork chop bun — Long-established cafés in Taipa Village and local cha chaan teng diners across the peninsula.
- Almond cookies — The bakery chains along Rua de São Paulo and Rua do Cunha, where you can watch them being made.
- Meat jerky — Jerky shops on the street leading to the Ruins of St. Paul's and on Rua do Cunha.
Staying safe at night
Macau is generally safe for visitors. Watch for pickpockets in the Historic Centre crowds and avoid unofficial money lenders around casinos. In typhoon season, follow the official warning signals, when ferries and outdoor attractions may close.
- Emergency number
- 999 (police, fire, ambulance)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, nightlife and shopping
Cotai Strip
The reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane holds the Venetian, the Parisian with its half-size Eiffel Tower, the Londoner, Galaxy, City of Dreams, Studio City, Wynn Palace and MGM Cotai. Most of Macau's large hotel rooms are here, with pools, restaurants and entertainment under one roof.
- Good
- Large modern rooms and big pools; Shows, malls and restaurants on site; Walk to Taipa Village
- Watch out
- Little local character; Weekend room rates rise sharply
- Nearby
- The Venetian Macao, Taipa Village, Hác Sá Beach
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Macau?
Cotai Strip, Nam Van and the peninsula casinos and Taipa Village. Resort lounges, cocktail bars, nightclubs and big-name concerts at the resort arenas.
+Which area of Macau is best for nightlife?
Cotai Strip: Integrated resorts, casinos, malls and shows on reclaimed land.