Is Macau Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Updated On November 7, 2023
Macau, China
Safety Index:
66
* Based on Research & Crime Data
User Sentiment:
84
* Rated 84 / 100 based on 5 user reviews.

Macau is a Chinese city, the most famous for its gambling facilities and it has, in some terms, even exceeded Las Vegas.

What makes it attractive to people seeking cultural and historical data is the fact that it is the first and last European colony in China, representing a perfect connection between East and West.

It is full of churches, temples and other old buildings dating from the period of Portuguese rule, hundreds of narrow alleyways and several pretty gardens attractive to the people around the globe.

The main sights of Macau are a statue of the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara, Rua da Tercena – the flea market street in Macau, the Macau Tower and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Warnings & Dangers in Macau

Overall Risk

OVERALL RISK: LOW

In comparison to other major cities in the world, Macau is considered quite safe for travelers. Also, the city constantly develops its tourism, so the Macau government tends to make the city clean of crimes. Petty crimes are common, while the more serious one is very rare.

Transport & Taxis Risk

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Because there are not enough taxi drivers in Macau, and the demand is on the constant rise, taxi drivers tend to be dishonest and overcharge tourists. There have been reports of taxi drivers who stole customer’s luggage or even some kidnapping in the taxi vehicles. Since most taxi drivers do not speak a language other than Chinese, it is a good idea to have your destination written in Chinese.

Pickpockets Risk

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

To protect yourself from thieves, you need to remain cautious, particularly in the crowded streets and in front of the famous landmarks of Macau. Pickpockets and purse snatching are common and thieves usually come in a group. One of them distracts people’s attention while others steal purses and wallets.

Natural Disasters Risk

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

There is a constant risk of typhoons in Macau, and there is even a warning system according to which people in Macau tend to behave. The tourists who decide to visit Macao need to be familiar with this system. When there is the warning of the most dangerous typhoon, people stay at home and do not go out, due to the risk of being injured. Some other possible dangers are storms, flooding, and landslides.

Mugging Risk

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Violent crimes, like mugging and kidnapping, especially against tourists were not reported in Macau. These kinds of assaults are possible against Macau citizens and they usually happen away from tourist's eyes. Nevertheless, watchfulness and vigilance are advisable.

Terrorism Risk

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

The possibility rate of a terrorist attack in Macau is low, but the greater military pressure on the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq increases the risk of it. Macau’s casinos might be a target for Islamic terrorists.

Scams Risk

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

As in most of China, fake money is a huge problem, especially when tourists are in question. They need to pay attention when exchanging money in places that are not licensed for that. There are also people claiming to have lost their wallet and asking for money. Try to avoid these kinds of people, and do not show your cash in public.

Women Travelers Risk

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Female travelers are relatively safe in Macau, as well as in the whole China. Even though there are no reports of serious crimes done on female tourists, they need to act as in any other country where the risk of assault is at a higher level.

So... How Safe Is Macau Really?

A Chinese city of Macau, which represents a mixture of the Eastern and Western culture and architecture, with its enormous casinos and a big part of the city that has been put under the UNESCO World Heritage site protection is well worth visiting.

While touring the heritage buildings, like the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum, tourists should not worry about personal safety since the police are very effective in terms of preventing and stopping possible criminal acts.

Macau had some gang wars, but the Macau police managed to put the situation under control.

Less serious crimes, such as pickpocketing and scamming are present in Macau, and the following of a few simple safety rules is enough to stay safe here.

How Does Macau Compare?

CitySafety Index
Macau66
Shanghai66
Tianjin67
Hong Kong70
Shenzhen64
Beijing65
Guangzhou64
Cordoba (Argentina)61
Toronto (Canada)81
Melbourne (Australia)80
Montreal (Canada)81
Sydney (Australia)80
Santiago de Chile (Chile)71

Useful Information

Visas

Visas

A valid passport is necessary documentation when entering China. There are 51 nations whose citizens can have 72 hours of transit time in China. Macau has a special immigration rule since all travelers have to go through immigration and customs checks. If you require a visa, you can get it in a Chinese embassy or consulate, or once you arrive in Macau.

Currency

Currency

Yuan or renminbi, in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1 yuan, is the official currency in China. You can get your money from ATMs in big cities, and bear in mind that most of the services in China are still paid in cash.

Weather

Weather

Macau has a subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Summer season is a typhoon season, so it should be avoided since many of the activities stop there. The winter winds cause the temperature to drop below 0°C. July and August are the hottest months of the year.

Airports

Airports

Macau’s major airport is Macau International Airport which serves many international flights and is one of the busiest in China. It is located on Taipa island and can handle about 6 million passengers per year.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

The travel insurance policy which covers theft and medical problems is always suggested when traveling abroad. If you are interested in some dangerous activities, make sure that your policy covers injuries to these. Problems can never be predicted.

Click here to get an offer for travel insurance

Macau Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Jan 15° C
Feb 16° C
Mar 19° C
Apr 23° C
May 26° C
Jun 28° C
Jul 29° C
Aug 29° C
Sep 28° C
Oct 25° C
Nov 21° C
Dec 17° C
Choose Temperature Unit

Average High/Low Temperature

Temperature / MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High
°C
181821252830323130282420
Low
°C
121316202426262625221814
High
°F
646470778286908886827568
Low
°F
545561687579797977726457

China - Safety by City

CitySafety Index
Beijing65
Guangzhou64
Hong Kong70
Macau66
Shanghai66
Shenzhen64
Tianjin67
Tibet87
Xinjiang80

Where to Next?

5 Reviews on Macau

  1. Currency is not in Yuan but Macau pataca (MOP), HKD also works. If you only plan to visit Macau but not other parts of China, you only need to apply for the Macau visa. The visas of Macau is approved by Macau government and you get the visa of Macau from Chinese Mainland government

  2. been living here for almost 30 years, never saw any robbing at all, u can pretty much wear ur gold , rolex, dress like a queen that no one will touch u, at night its pretty safe for a man or woman alone, and since there are cameras and cops everywhere or almost, crimes are pretty low, or almost non, just make sure dont get scam by taxi drivers, they love to add more haha

  3. B
    BradJill says:

    This…..The main sights of Macau are a statue of the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara, Rua da Tercena – the flea market street in Macau, the Macau Tower and Fisherman’s Wharf.

    I have to wonder if you the writer has actually been to Macau. Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara? I think you meant either the giant A-Ma Temple in Coloane or the Kun Iam Statue on the southern end of the N.A.P.E.

    Rua da Tercena(?) – Nobody goes there for sightseeing. Perhaps you meant the nearby and famous Rua de Felicidade (Red Street). It is very popular with tourists.

    Sadly, only Macau Tower from your list can be included amongst main sights for tourism in Macau. The list should have included the Ruins of St. Paul, Senado Square, St. Dominic’s Church and A-Ma Temple for starters. You could also include Rua do Cunha in Taipa Village. If you wanted to list a few of the better museums with Macau Museum at Monte Forte, Maritime Museum at Barra Square and Macau Museum of Art (known as MAM). As for the Cotai Strip, some of the most important are Venetian Casino and Complex, City of Dreams, Parisian, Studio City, MGM Cotai (free cable car ride over the Performance Lake). Hope this helps.

    As the other poster above noted, your listed currency for Macau is incorrect. The official currency here in the Pateca (MOP), not the Yuan from mainland China. Do note as well that Hong Kong dollars (HKD) are widely accepted throughout Macau and are the price usually given for high end purchases, hotel room rates and betting in the city casinos.

  4. I’m a South African with a z visa working in mainland China, I want to visit Macau for a couple days soon, will I be able to?

  5. J
    Jordan Barnes says:

    Well worth a visit but pay attention

    Be careful that you know money really well and not do exchanges in the wrong places. You can get scammed with ease here as there are plenty of scammers around. I got scammed once but I learned from it and the rest of the trip was nice. You have a lot of monuments and other cultural places to see. There’s a mix between culture and gambling here that while it sounds weird, actually works.

Macau Rated 4.2 / 5 based on 5 user reviews.

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