Season guide · Macau · China
Macau in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Cool, dry and mostly sunny with festive lights, but Lunar New Year brings peak crowds and prices. Expect highs up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 16 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 12°C (54°F) to 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 16
- Sea
- 18°C (64°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18°C (64°F) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| February | 18°C (64°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 8 | 11.4 h | 5/5 |
| December | 20°C (68°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 3 | 10.8 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 19°C (66°F) against a yearly 26°C (79°F), and 16 of the year's roughly 130 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Lunar New Year — fireworks and parades (late January or February)
- February: Lunar New Year fireworks over Nam Van Lake (around Lunar New Year)
- February: Lantern Festival (15th day of the lunar new year)
- December: Macao Light Festival — illuminations in the Historic Centre (usually December)
- December: Macao International Marathon (usually early December)
Good choices for winter
Historic site · Barra and the Inner Harbour
Mandarin's House
Combine it with Lilau Square next door and the A-Ma Temple a few minutes downhill.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Nam Van and the peninsula casinos
Macao Science Center
A cone-shaped building by architect Kevin Roche on the Outer Harbour waterfront, with hands-on exhibition galleries and a planetarium showing dome films.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Senado Square and the Historic Centre
Monte Fort and Macau Museum
Take the escalator beside the Ruins of St. Paul's up to the fort and walk the ramparts for views across the peninsula.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
Architecture · Cotai Strip
The Venetian Macao
One of the largest buildings in the world, the Venetian holds a mall laid out along indoor canals with gondola rides under a painted sky, a large casino and a 15,000-seat arena.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
- Free
Day trips in winter
- Hong Kong (About 1 hour by ferry or bridge bus) — Hong Kong's harbour, Victoria Peak, Star Ferry and dim sum houses are close enough for a long day, though most visitors combine the two cities with overnight stays in each.
- Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Hengqin) (About 30–45 minutes including the border) — A large marine theme park on Hengqin Island in Zhuhai, with whale sharks, beluga and polar bear exhibits, rides and nightly shows.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Macau?
Yes: December is among the best months. Cool, dry and mostly sunny with festive lights, but Lunar New Year brings peak crowds and prices.
+What is the weather like in Macau in winter?
Highs of up to 20°C (68°F) and lows around 12°C (54°F), with about 16 rainy days over the season.