What to see in Macau: a guide to Asian Las Vegas

Why go

• Wander through the Portuguese streets and at the same time not apply for Schengen;
• try your luck at gambling and understand what Las Vegas is — again without a visa;
• replenish the coin collection with a rare specimen — Macao pathaka;
• see a circus show that surpasses the Circus in entertainment du Soleil”, and ride the world’s only Ferris wheel in the form of an eight;
• combine a trip to Hong Kong and Macau: ferries run between them several times a day. After that, enter China on a 144-hour visa-free transit. 

You can try your luck at gambling and understand what Las Vegas is — again without a visa. Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock.com

The most beautiful places in China: top 10

We have told you about the sights of the Celestial Empire that cannot be missed here.

How to get there

It is most convenient to combine a trip to Hong Kong and Macau — the ferry between the two cities takes one hour and costs $ 22 (about 2000 rubles). In this case, you can fly directly to Hong Kong by Aeroflot from Moscow (from 77,000 rubles in both directions). 

Here and below, the ticket price is given as an example to show the minimum amount of the flight in the spring of 2024, available at the time of publication of the article.

China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Aeroflot airlines fly from other Russian cities with transfers in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou or Chengdu (from 59,000 rubles in both directions). A flight to Hong Kong from a number of Russian cities with a transfer in Beijing, Shanghai or Moscow will cost from 47,000 rubles round trip.

The most convenient way is to combine a trip to Hong Kong and Macau. Photo: weerasak saeku/Shutterstock.com

Briefly about Macau

Macau is a special administrative region within China. Macau and Hong Kong have the same status, which allows both to adopt their own laws and carry out border control. 

There are two official languages in the region — Portuguese and Chinese. Street signs can be found on both: all because this territory was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century and remained under its control until 1999, when it was transferred to China. Macau was one of the last European colonies in Asia.

Where to stay

Macau is located west of Hong Kong and is bordered by the South China Sea. It occupies several islands and the Macao Peninsula. The latter is the old part of the city with traditional Portuguese buildings and historical sites. Those who miss the European aesthetics should settle here.

Here are a few options:

• Mandarin Oriental in alluvial areas, which are now actively developing and being built up with ultramodern skyscrapers.
• Harbourview Hotel in a classic building with traditional European interiors.
• Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16 is an excellent four—star hotel with an outdoor pool and views of China.
• Holiday Inn is a four—star chain hotel in a small European-style building.
• Hotel Sintra is one of the few budget hotels in the city.

There are two islands to the south — Taipa and Koloan. The atmosphere here is already truly Las Vegas – with expensive hotels and gambling areas. If you want to settle in the center of this glamour, look for accommodation in the Kotai area.

Sofitel Macau At Ponte 16.

Take a closer look at these options in Kotai:

• The Venetian Macao Resort is for fans of Venice, it is here that you can ride a gondola along the canals.
• The Parisian Macao was created for connoisseurs of Paris (the Eiffel Tower was recreated on its territory).
• Studio City is a resort for comic book fans, especially Gotham City, read more about it in the “What to do” section.
• Nuwa is a modern five—star hotel without cosplay in different cities of the world.
• Banyan Tree Macau is perhaps the most luxurious hotel in Macau.

When you want to relax in a green area with parks and historical buildings, go to the southernmost part of Macau — Coloane Island. There are not many accommodation options here, but they are all high-end.

The Venetian Macao Resort.

Look for all these options — and many other interesting ones — on the Island:

What to do

Admire the colonial architecture

Start your walk from the Senate Square, and then walk past the Portuguese fortress wall to the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Only the main facade remains of the latter, but it is also impressive. Then turn into small streets or go to the south of the region to the island of Coloane, where you can also find old Portuguese houses, but there will be fewer tourists here.

A ferry from Hong Kong sails to the Macau Peninsula directly to the old city. From here it is convenient to immediately go on a guided tour of the sights of the Portuguese time.

Bungee jump from the Macau Tower

If you want to test your nerves, climb to the very top of the tower, where there is a bungee jumping platform (or simply bungee jumping). It is considered the tallest in the world — 223 meters (it’s like four 20-storey buildings stacked on top of each other!). However, get ready and give about $360 (about 33,000 rubles) for this pleasure.

If you want to test your nerves, climb to the very top of the tower, where the bungee jumping platform works. Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock.com

Visit the show “House of dancing Water”

The Chinese circus is famous for its acrobats all over the world. Here, unique decorations worth $250 million are added to their skill. The House of Dancing Water show takes place in a specially built building, the central part of which is occupied by a huge swimming pool, which accommodates five Olympic-sized ones. The building and decorations for the show were built for five years, the last two years before the premiere were devoted to rehearsals of the performance, which is attended by about a hundred artists. The show was staged by Franco Dragone, a legendary circus director who worked with Cirque du Soleil.

Should I change money in Macau?

Both the local pataka currency and Hong Kong dollars are used here. At the same time, change in shops and cafes can easily be given to you in both currencies. Their rates are approximately equal, so if your plans also include a visit to Hong Kong, then it’s easier to come here with Hong Kong dollars. Well, if you want to take away local coins and banknotes to a collection or for souvenirs, it’s better to go in and change some money.

Try your luck at the casino

Casinos in Macau are found at every turn — there are about 40 of them here. They are located in hotels in the old town and on the territory of huge resorts in the Kotai area. Both classic card games and slot machines are played here. Be sure to take a walk to the legendary Grand Lisboa in the old town. This postmodern skyscraper is considered the tallest building in Macau (258 meters) and can be seen from everywhere. And outwardly it stands out from hundreds of standard towers, as it repeats the outlines of a lotus flower.

Be sure to take a walk to the legendary Grand Lisboa in the old town. Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com

Try all the free entertainment in Kotai

Casinos in the Kotai area are not just rows of poker tables or slot machines, but also a set of amazing entertainment. Firstly, you can get here from the old town on free hotel shuttles (it is not necessary to live in a hotel). Secondly, you can enter The Venetian Macao Resort for free, where you can ride a real gondola along the pseudo-Venetian canals, and then take a photo with The Eiffel Tower at The Parisian Macao. By the way, it is twice as low as the Parisian one, but its evening lighting is much more fun than the original one. Then head to the Wynn Palace Hotel, where you can take a ride on the free cable car, and then watch the fountain show.

Walk around Gotham City

We left the Studio City hotel complex for a sweet treat. It is based on the comics of the DC universe (“Superman”, “Batman”, “Wonder Woman”) and is designed in the style of Gotham City. The world’s only Ferris wheel in the form of an eight is built into the very center of the hotel complex. In addition, you can stroll through the scenery of American cities and hang out in 4D entertainment.

The Studio City complex is based on the comics of the DC universe and is designed in the style of Gotham City. Photo: psgxxx/Shutterstock.com

What to try

The Grand Lisboa Hotel at the casino of the same name has a restaurant, The 8, awarded three Michelin stars. The menu is dominated by Cantonese cuisine, for example, 40 varieties of dim sum. In the same building there is another three—star restaurant from the Michelin guide – Robuchon au dome, already with French cuisine on the menu.

They also love various seafood dishes in Macau. However, in addition to the mussels and shrimps we know, sea cucumbers and other bizarre aquatic inhabitants are cooked. In Gotham City, the Studio City Hotel has a luxury Japanese restaurant, Hidemasa.

Don’t forget about the Portuguese cuisine. In the restaurants of the old town you can find cod bakalyau and cabbage soup kaldu verde. Well, pates, custard cakes, are baked and sold just at every step.

Pates, custard cakes, are baked and sold simply at every turn. Photo: Stock Photo.Touch/Shutterstock.com

What to bring

• Macau is a duty—free zone. It is profitable to buy jewelry and branded items here.
• There are many antique shops in the city with unique goods and works by Chinese craftsmen — sellers help to arrange transportation documents.
• Tea from all regions of the country, Chinese herbs and medicines.
• Traditional food: fortune cookies, dried pork, spices and spices.

Traditional food can be brought from Macau: fortune cookies, dried pork, spices and spices. Photo: Wei Ming/Shutterstock.com

Macau is a unique place where you can visit Paris, Venice, Las Vegas and New York in a couple of days, and at the same time see a performance that eclipses the Cirque du Soleil. Moreover, the hotels here are one better than the other — it is convenient to book them on the Island by paying for accommodation with a card of any Russian bank.

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Cover photo: Sean Hsu/Shutterstock.com