Practical Info

Currency The Pataca (MOP) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macao’s official currency. There [...]

Currency

The Pataca (MOP) is divided into 100 avos and it is Macao’s official currency. There are banknotes and coins in the following denominations:
Coins: 10, 20 and 50 avos; 1, 2, 5 and 10 Patacas.
Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Patacas.

By the decision of the Government the Pataca is linked to the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). The exchange rate is MOP103.20 = HKD100.00. There is an acceptable variation up to 10%. Roughly 8 Patacas is equivalent to 1 US Dollar.

Currency exchange in Macao is easy. The service is available at the airport, piers and most hotels. There are also plenty of banks and bureaux de change on Macao streets. Electronic transactions are common and broadly accepted credit cards include China UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Visa and Mastercard. However, transaction fees from the card-issuing banks may apply. Alipay is also becoming more common.

According to the provisions of the Law, passengers arriving at Macao carrying cash or CBNIs, such as traveller’s cheques, cheques, bills of exchange, money orders and promissory notes, with value of or exceeding MOP 120,000.00, should use the Red Channel with a completed declaration form and make a declaration to the Customs officer. Passengers leaving Macao need to disclose truthfully the amount of cash or CBNIs carried when asked by a Customs officer, or they shall be liable to a fine of MOP 1,000.00 to MOP 500,000.00. Travelers who have a layover in Macao SAR and transit to another destination have no obligation of declaration. For more details, please visit the Macao Customs Service’s website: www.customs.gov.mo/cn/customs6.html

Climate & Clothing

Macao’s climate is temperate throughout the year. The average temperature is about 23°C (73°F), ranging from 20°C (68°F) to 26°C (79°F). It is rather humid, with the average relative humidity reaching 79%. The rainy season lasts from May to September. October and November are the ideal months to visit Macao, with mild temperatures and dry weather. It is often sunny in the winter months from December to March although it can be a little bit cold. Temperatures begin to climb in April and the heat becomes more intense from May to September.