Common Buys and Spots when Shopping in Macau

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Whether a bargain hunter, an antique collector or just a window shopper, there is always something to enjoy when it comes to shopping in Macau. Macau is considered a free port area, which means that all items bought in the city are at duty-free prices with no sales tax applicable. Add those to the favorable exchange rate of Macau Pacatas and the fact that bargaining is a must, and you come to the conclusion that Macau shopping is undeniably a shopper’s haven.

Gold is timeless and is one of the most popular items being bought in Macau. Jewelry shops are extremely abundant around the city, offering gold in different grades. Another favorite buy is clothing. There are 500 running garment factories around the city with plenty of overruns being found in shops and stalls. These clothes would only cost you a small amount of what they would most likely cost you in some of the world’s leading boutiques. Other favorite shopping bargains include Chinese antiques, Portuguese wines, leather, dried seafood, Chinese herbs and medicines and Macau pastries. Electronics are also widely available in the city but as with jewelry and antiques, its best to ask for a guarantee or warranty upon purchase especially if the brand is unfamiliar. Buying porcelains and fine ceramic is also popular in Macau as some factories may custom-make an entire set of tableware just for you.

With the many shopping places in Macau, the area around Leal Senado Square where the new municipal market is remains one of the most popular. Leading off the square is Avenida Almeida Ribeiro that features both high-end luxury boutiques and traditional Chinese delicacies such as sharks’ fin and abalone. Not far from the square is an original artisan section of Macau. Follow Rua Nossa Senhora de Amparo to Rua da Tercena to find craftsmen carve family shrines, camphorwood chests, print gold or weld bedsteads in a traditional way.

Located at the corner of Avenida Almirante Lacerde and Avenida Hora e Costa is the Red Market which was built in an Art Deco Style. This live family food market is where the Rotunda de Carlos Maia can be found which is also known as the Three Lamps District. Another popular shopping street is the Avenida Horta e Coats which is a long shopping street that extends from the Red Market up to the Flora Garden which is beneath Guia Hill.

Opened in year 2002 on a reclaimed land in the Outer Harbor, the Fisherman’s Wharf is a fairly new shopping area in Macau. Structured like a theme park, the Fisherman’s Wharf is divided into various port towns such as New Orleans, Lisbon, Amsterdam and Cape Town. Nestled in the port towns are shops, restaurants, nightlife, an amusement park and an amphitheater which offer a refreshing experience to visiting shoppers.

Although shopping in Macau may not be as famous as its casinos, shopping in the city is still worthwhile. With a suitable range of shopping establishments to choose from and the free port status Macau is famous for, Macau shopping is indeed something to look forward to.