We went to Macau to visit 2 of our Canadian friends who teach at an international school in Macau. If it was not for them, we may not have visited Macau, but the city / country is full of fun sights + things to do, so we are glad we had the opportunity to explore it. We had the pleasure of spending 2 weeks in Macau, whereas a lot of people only stay a few days, or maybe even just take a day trip from Hong Kong. Macau has a lot to offer, so don’t skimp out on time spent there, and if you can, give yourself at least a week.
Here are our top recommendations for things to see + do while in Macau:
1) Take a stroll through the casinos
Before going to Macau, we had heard that it was the “Las Vegas of China”, but what we didn’t realize is that it actually has a lot of the same casinos as Vegas, including the Venetian, the Wynn, MGM and Paris. Just like in Vegas, Macau has a strip called the Cotai strip which is reclaimed land between Taipa island and Coloane island. Because of the strip, the islands are no longer separated, and it makes for an interesting afternoon to stroll the casinos.
2) Visit the historical area on Macau
Start in Senado Square and make your way up to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, stopping into one of the many stores to sample an almond cookie (or 2) and some of their signature jerky. Along the way, you’ll twist and turn through the old cobblestone streets, encountering a number of colorful, old churches.
One of the things that we loved most about this area is that all of the signs are in Cantonese (national language of Macau), English + Portuguese. You can clearly see that Macau was an old Portuguese colony through the architecture. It’s interesting walking through Macau, because some areas feel very Chinese, some feel very American (Cotai strip), and others feel very European / Portuguese.
3) Visit Coloane
From Macau, you can take a bus all the way to Hac Sa beach, which is the southern most part of Coloane. From Hac Sa, you can get a delicious Portuguese meal at Fernando’s before making your way on foot up to the A-Ma Temple, which is the highest point in Macau.
Normally, you would get a fabulous view of Taipa + Coloane, but we went on a rainy day with no visibility. The temple at the top is beautiful though, and it’s a nice hike to get up there. From there, make your way back down the mountain visit Macau’s Giant Panda’s. It costs a small fee to see them, but if you’re a panda bear fan or have never seen pandas, it’s definitely worth it.
From there, you can hop the bus back to Taipa or Macau, depending on where you are staying.
4) See a luxury movie at the Venetian
We are obsessed with luxury movies! They are such a nice treat, and a way to spoil yourself affordably. The movie theater in the Venetian has a “Directors Club” where you get a lazy boy and popcorn service!
5) Jump off the Macau Tower!
Why not? It’s the world’s tallest bungy jump… for now, at least. You can read more about Amanda’s experience doing the Macau Tower Bunjy jump here.
6) Explore Taipa Village
We stayed on Taipa, and this was our favorite area in Macau. It’s calmer than the Macau side, yet still very easily accessible by bus. There are a ton of great restaurants in the area, as well as some nice parks and hills to walk around.
Like the Senado Square area, Taipa Village is very clearly Portuguese. It’s an older area with small cobblestone streets and, of course, almond cookies. The thing that struck us the most about Taipa Village is the proximity to the Cotai strip. You can see the casinos from the village, and the difference between old and new is amazing to see all at once.
What else did you do in Macau? If you have any questions and / or suggestions, don’t hesitate to send us an email and let us know!
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