The best buys in Macau are jewellery (particularly gold), Chinese antiques, porcelain, pottery, electric gadgetry, watches, knitted wear, etc. They are available at duty free prices and no sales tax is charged, but bargaining is standard on such items.

It is better go to patronize recommended shops for antiques, jewelry, and gold rather than street stalls. Do not expect to buy treasures for a mere trifle from souvenir stalls such as those located at St. Paul's, the Border Gate, and Penha Hill. Obtain a warranty card and receipt for jewelry, gold, cameras, watches, and electrical goods for all purchases, and be sure that you understand what is written on them. Most of the antique and souvenir shops are in the Dui Jie area and along the Rua dos Estalagens. Gold jewelry is popular here and can be bought on the Rua dos Mercadores.

For knitted-wear and locally-made clothes at economical prices there are many street stalls near Senate Square and in Rua da Palha. Other popular buys are Chinese herbs and medicine,dried seafood like shark's fins, abalone, and Chinese and Macanese pastries.

The main shopping area is located along the Avenida do Infante D. Henrique and Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, S. Domingos Market, Rua da Palha, Rua do Campo, and Rua Pedro Nolasco da Silva. For those "in the know" for antiques and buried treasures, Macau's flea market is on the lanes around the Rua das Estalagens (near St. Paul's Ruins).

San Man Lo
The main shopping areas are Avenida Almeida Ribeiro,or commonly known to the Chinese as San Man Lo - famous boutiques like Lanvin, Cartier, Mondi, Bally are located, Avenida do Infante D. Henridque, Rua do Campo and the Outer Harbour, where you find brandname fashions, duty-free cosmetics, high quality children's wear, bargain - priced electronics and much more at the New Yaohan and Landmark department stores.

However, the place is more famous for its salted fish, especially to the Hong Kong visitors as they claimed that the salted fish available for sale here is the best in Asia.

Gold Jewellery Shops
Jewellery shops found on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro and throughout the city are famous for its gold, precious metals and gems as they are imported duty-free into Macau. They are sold like a commodity in coins, small ingots and jewellery and are bought by the Chinese as an investment. The employees in jewellery shops speak good English and do not mind browsers.

Antique Shops
Antique shops found near St. Paul's, along Avenida Almeida Ribeiro, on Travessa do Pagode and opposite the Kun Iam Temple offer wonderful antique and their reproductions that make excellent buys. Some of the items were smuggled out of China and most of them dates back to the Ching Dynasty. The items available for sale include snuffboxes, ancient coins, simple Ming bowls, porcelain and furniture.

Finally, alcohol and tobacco are good buys, especially in comparison with Hong Kong prices. There are numerous tobacco shops around town selling all kinds of imported cigarettes and cigars. The selection of wine (mainly Portuguese) and liquor is also good. Again, the stretch of shops on Avenida Almeida Ribeiro is a good place to start looking.