Travel Tips: What to do in Macau – Las Vegas of Asia?

Located on the south coast of China, Macau was a Portuguese colony until it was returned to China in 1999. At the moment, it is a special administrative region of China, i.e. Macau’s system of government is separate from that of mainland China.

Macau is a major resort city and a top destination for gambling tourism. In fact, its economy is so heavily dependent on tourism and gambling that it is widely known as the “Las Vegas of Asia.” Also, its gaming industry is seven times larger than that of Las Vegas.

Getting there

It does have an international airport, making it easy-to-access by air. One can also travel to Macau by land from mainland China. However, taking the ferry from Hong Kong is the most used route into Macau.

Getting around

Exploring the city in Taxis can be an annoying experience as there is less supply of taxis compared to the enormous demand. Unfortunately, there are no transportation network companies (i.e. no Uber) in Macau. Even the buses may take big detours. However, there are numerous hotels that provide a shuttle service (for free!) to take you to the major tourist spots. You don’t even need to be a guest of their hotels. They are only offering these services in a bid to get you nearer to their casinos. And last but not least, you can always access nearby areas by foot.

Unique Culture

Macau has been influenced by both Cantonese and Portuguese cultures. This is evident from both the architecture and cuisine of Macau.

Senado Square

The Senado Square, also known as the Senate Square, is the most identifiable open space in Macau. It is full of shops, heritage sites, and street snack stalls. The Ruins of St. Paul’s is a UNESCO world heritage site at a walkable distance from Senado Square. As far as street food is concerned, the Macanese egg tart is a must-have. This tart is a unique combination of English, Macanese and Portuguese cultures.

Some more sights worth seeing

If you’re traveling in the summer, you should definitely laze around at the HacSa Beach, the largest natural beach in Macau.

Macau has museums with a variety of themes, like the Maritime Museum and the one-of-a-kind Grand Prix Museum. Macau also has the blessings of various churches that you can visit. The Taipa village is another place to visit to get a glimpse of what Macau looked like before the wave of tourism came in.

There are many urban parks in Macau, in case you are looking for some serenity. Nature lovers can head to the SeacPai Van Park. Apart from having many aquatic and land animals, the main attraction of this park is the two giant Pandas!

Macau Tower

There is the Macau Tower for Convention and Entertainment Center for the thrill seekers. As of April 2019, the Macau Tower is the world’s highest site for bungee jumping. This makes this jump a Guinness World Record for the Highest Commercial Bungee jump in the world. Now that should get your adrenaline rushing.

The Fisherman’s Wharf

Although it wasn’t the purpose of The Fisherman’s Wharf, one can always go there to move away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Macau. There are models of iconic structures like the Roman Coliseum. As this Wharf doesn’t really attract many visitors, it is an ideal getaway for a proper photoshoot!

Currency

Most of the big hotels and casinos accept credit cards. However, you’ll need to carry Macanese Patacas or Hong Kong Dollars in the village areas. Just make sure you use the Macanese Patacas in Macau itself, as they are not accepted anywhere else.

Best Luxury Hotels in Macau:

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