4 Best Areas Where to Stay in Macau + Fabulous 5-star Hotels

Planning a trip to fabulous Macau (Macao), the gambling capital of the world? Also known as the “Las Vegas of the East”, Macau is made up of a peninsula, two islands, and a strip of reclaimed land.

The best area where to stay in Macau is Macau Center (incl. Old Macau)! Here you’ll find the best hotels and fantastic attractions from casinos to historic sites. But don’t worry if that doesn’t appeal to you, I’ve added 3 more areas to this post perfect for nightlife, culture lovers, and nature lovers; Cotai, Taipa, and Coloane.

Make sure you don’t skip the last part of this post (that would be like missing the jackpot)! I’ve added a bonus with some incredible 5-star hotels in Macau, China, for those of you who want to visit in style!

Okay now it’s time to start, but I can’t go on without mentioning that you should absolutely book your Macau hotel in advance! This place is super popular with tourists from all over the world, so hotels sell out fast.

Let’s go!

If you are in a hurry

I know some of you are ready to book your hotels where to stay in Macau, right now! Have a look at the list below, it has the best hotels in Macau Center and Old Macau for each price point:

Check out this map which will help you visualize all the areas where to stay in Macau that I’ll talk about in the post: 

1. Macau Center (incl. Old Macau) – where to stay for the first time

Thinking of visiting Macau? Then there’s no better place to start your holiday than the center of Macau, also known as the Macau Peninsula. This area includes the historic Old Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with cultural attractions!

The Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal is also located in this area, so for anyone including a visit to Macau in your list of activities in Hong Kong, this is where you’ll arrive!

Macau City Centre is perfect for first-time visitors as it has a bit of everything! Firstly, Old Macau, China is a paradise for anyone who’s into history. This area has many Chinese temples, Catholic churches, and old administrative buildings.

While it may seem that the whole area is home to ancient sites, you’ll also find a few casinos, high-end shops, restaurants, lots of unique attractions, and amazing hotels! And luckily for us tourists, these parts of Macau are pedestrian-friendly so you won’t need to use other means of transport to get around.

As you might know, the Macau Peninsula gets lots of tourists so I highly recommend booking your hotels in advance here, as you’ll risk running out of good options if you book late.

Other options in Macau Center (incl. Old Macau)

Things to do in Macau Center & Old Macau

• Shop until your drop at Senado Square
• Visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Old Macau
• Learn new things at Macao Museum
• Try your luck at Casino Lisboa
• Admire the beautiful St. Dominic’s Church
• See the Na Tcha Temple on Macau Peninsula
• Check out the Monte Fort historic site

2. Cotai – the best place to stay in Macau for nightlife

This area is the place to be for anyone who’s into casinos, gambling, and wants to enjoy Macau’s nightlife. This is what makes the area super famous with tourists!

Also known as the Cotai Strip, this is Macau’s version of the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles!

Built on reclaimed land between Coloane and Taipa (which used to be separate islands), Cotai Strip doesn’t have any history or cultural spots but it is one of the most popular areas here hosting some of the top hotels. This area is super modern, and you can quickly notice that a lot of money was invested in making Cotai Strip the place it is today!

The entertainment options are never-ending on Cotai Strip! You can spend your days gambling at City of Dreams Casino and The Venetian, which is the largest casino in the world (wow, I guess these casinos kick all the casinos in Las Vegas)! Or you can try bowling and, of course, eat delicious meals in all the high-end restaurants!

Although Cotai isn’t super big, it’s not as pedestrian-friendly as the Macau Peninsula, so you’ll most likely need a taxi or bus to get around Cotai Strip.

Other accommodation options in Cotai

Things to do in Cotai

• Check out the replica of the Eiffel Tower
• Ride the Golden Reel
• Spend a fun day at Studio City Water Park
• Take the kids to the Legend Heroes Park
• Walk along the Cotai Strip
• Get souvenirs from The Grand Canal Shops
• Gamble away at Venetian Macao or at City of Dreams casino

3. Taipa – where to stay in Macau for culture lovers

Just like Coloane (which I will talk about next), Taipa Village is a bit more tranquil than the bustling Macau Center and Cotai. Connected to Macau Pennisula by bridges, this area is also home to the Macau International Airport, so is a great spot for those who are only visiting on a layover.

Although Taipa used to be the rural side of Macau, recently the area was developed and is now home to a few more shopping places, restaurants, and hotels. But this is not what makes Taipa one of the best places to stay in Macau, China…

In Taipa Village, you will notice Portuguese influences in some of the buildings alongside the traditional Chinese elements (there are also quite a few temples in the area which you can visit of course)!  

If you’re into cultural attractions and want to learn more about Macau’s past, there are many places you should check out here like the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, or the Taipa Houses Museum. But if you need a break from all these cultural attractions, don’t worry. There is also a casino or two in Taipa as well, so you don’t have to go all the way to the Macau Peninsula!

Other accommodation options in Taipa

Things to do in Taipa

• Admire the architecture of the Lady of Carmel Church
• Visit the Historical Museum of Coloane and Taipa
• Go for a walk in the Garden of Flower City
• Check out the swimming pool in Taipa Central Park
• See the Pak Tai Temple
• Enjoy the views from Taipa Grande hill
• Grab a quick bite on Taipa Food Street

4. Coloane – best place to stay in Macau for nature

If you need a break from all the casinos and stores, then I think you’ll love this area which is not too far from Macau Peninsula. Located south of Old Macau, this area is filled with lots of hiking trails, beaches, and parks! All this makes Coloane one of the best places to stay in Macau, China!  

Coloane, Macau is the most mountainous region of the peninsula, and you know what that means, right? Lots of areas where you can hike. Some of the best ones are the Seac Pai Van Park and also the Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail!

As you might’ve guessed, here you won’t find as many attractions as you would in Old Macau, but that also means you’ll get to relax and enjoy some peace.

There’s nothing like a trip to the beaches in Macau, China to put you in a good mood! Hac Sa Beach and Cheoc Van Beach are open to the public and trust me, you don’t want to miss out on a day spent here!

Although I already mentioned that you won’t see as many attractions here, there are still some temples you can (and should) visit, like the A-Ma Cultural Village and Tin Hau Temple.

Now let’s check out the best places to stay in Coloane, Macau!

Other accommodation options in Coloane

Things to do in Coloane

• Spend a fun day on Hac Sa Beach
• Visit the Seac Pai Van Park in Macau
• Go for a swim at Cheoc Van Beach
• Check out the Coloane Karting Track
• Take the kids to the Hac Sa Grass Slide Playground
• Enjoy some tranquility at Tin Hau Temple
• Explore the hiking trails in Parque de Merendas de Cheoc Van

BONUS: The coolest 5-star hotels in Macau, China

Macau is such a cool destination and it makes a fabulous day trip destination from Hong Kong, but to really enjoy it you should spend at least 1 night, and why not spend it in style!?

Although you’ll find some incredible places to stay in the first part of this post, I wanted to offer you three more fabulous unique 5-star hotels in Macau city!

All these luxury hotels have prices starting from US$350 to US$130 and are listed in descending price order:

• The Ritz-Carlton – If you love luxury and fancy decorations then you won’t want to miss this 5-star hotel in Macau, set within Cotai’s Galaxy integrated resort! Decorated with unique elements, marble, and lots of other beautiful features, this accommodation offers access to a waterpark, designer shops, and a cinema!
• City of Dreams – With a design focused on simple shapes and brown aesthetics, this unique hotel has rooms with ceiling-to-floor windows and a private bathroom. Located in Macau, Cotai the 5-star luxury accommodation offers guests evening entertainment in a nightclub and a casino. The next day you can relax at the spa or by the pool!
• Grand Hyatt – Indulge in all the delicious food at this hotel located in Cotai, Macau city, that has beautifully-decorated rooms with large windows offering stunning views! Start your day with a quick breakfast, a long bath in the tub, and then head down to enjoy all the perks at the hotel, including spa services, a casino, and a nightclub!  

FAQs about hotels in Macau

Conclusion

Already packing your bags to visit Asia’s own Las Vegas? I know the feeling! But first, don’t forget to book your Macau hotels or resort in advance, as this place is popular with tourists from all over the world!

I hope this post helped you decide which are the best places where to stay in Macau, China! We’ve gone through the top areas in the city plus a short bonus section with some unique 5-star luxury hotels in Macau city if you are looking for an unforgettable stay!

I know there are lots of hotels in this post and it can be hard to decide since all of them are so amazing! So here are my 2 favorite ones (I hope this will help you with your decision):

• MGM Macau – This fabulous luxury hotel in the City Centre has an infinity pool with breathtaking views of the city, and elegant rooms with lots of space
• Harbourview Hotel – A unique hotel near the Harbour area that comes with an indoor pool, classy decor and spa facilities

Well, I guess our virtual adventure ends here (for now), but for anyone who’s got any questions about an area to stay in Macau, China, or any of the hotels. If you leave a comment below, I’ll answer it ASAP!

Safe travels,

Victoria

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