Macau, a former Portuguese colony, is the Las Vegas of China. Some of the most famous casinos include The Venetian and The Grand Lisboa. This guide about exploring Macau in a day doesn’t cover gambling in Macau, but the lobbies of the casinos are worth taking a peek in since they’re usually displaying multi-million dollar artifacts (gems, carvings, artwork, and more). This guide instead talks about visiting some historical sites and eating some classic Portuguese fare in Macau. A day trip from Hong Kong to Macau can be a great getaway to experience a hint of Portugal without going too far.
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Essentials
Language: Cantonese, Portuguese, and Macanese.
Currency: Macau pataca or Hong Kong Dollars. Almost all businesses accept Hong Kong dollars, so no need to exchange for patacas if you’re coming from Hong Kong. See my post on Essential Items to Pack in your Carry-on for tips on what plug adapters to buy.
Voltage: 220V.
Major Ferry Terminal: Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal.
Major Airport: Macau International Airport
Getting There
Don’t forget your passport or travel documents if travelling to Macau from mainland China or Hong Kong.
Buy tours with Viator to explore Macau with local guides. A good, curated tour saves you the hassle of commute and planning. Check out my list of curated Viator tours to Macau.
By Bus from Kowloon in Hong Kong
From Hong Kong, take the direct bus from the bus ticket office TIL Chinalink on
695 A Shanghai Road to the border crossing of the Hong Kong-ZhuHai-Macau Bridge. When you buy tickets, note the time table and ask which casino the buses go to and buy a return trip, if needed. The Grand Lisboa is the closest to downtown historic Macau which is on a separate island from the island of casinos linked by a bridge.
The bus will first take you to the border crossing where you pass customs to exit Hong Kong. Then you get back on the bus and cross the 55 km Hong Kong-ZhuHai-Macau Bridge to get to Macau. The bridge itself is a feat of engineering. It starts off as a bridge then turns into a tunnel halfway through the trip before resurfacing over water. It takes about 45 minutes to cross the entire bridge.
You then cross the Macau border once you’ve crossed the bridge. Then the bus should take you directly to the casino you asked to be dropped off at when you bought tickets. The entire trip could take up to 3 hours to get to Macau from Hong Kong.
Then use Google Maps to find your way from the hotel to downtown Macau. The bus will pick you up from the departure time listed on your ticket from the same casino to return to Hong Kong.
By Boat from the Pier
You also have the option of taking the turbojets from the docks. I personally get very seasick so I avoid this option. But! It can be slightly faster depending on where you’re going in Macau. This post talks about seeing downtown historical Macau, so the bus might be more convenient. The turbojets drop you off closer to the island of casinos which is another island separate from downtown historic Macau.
Where to Stay
I don’t have personal recommendations on where to stay in Macau, since I’ve only ever been for a day trip. But there are lots of casino hotels around that should provide great accommodations.
What to See and Do
Exploring Macau in a day definitely means visiting some major, historical landmarks.
Marvel at the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral
The ruins refer to the façade of the cathedral built by the Jesuits in 1640. The entire building caught fire in 1835 destroying everything but the façade. The face of the cathedral is beautifully preserved with carvings depicting biblical scenes. Take a walk down into the archaeological site below the cathedral to see the catacombs of Portuguese missionaries and other religious artifacts.
Stroll Lover’s Lane with a view of St. Paul’s Cathedral
Lover’s Lane is literally a charming, adorable laneway on the side of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The lane is flanked by tall, colourful buildings making it great for photo opportunities. You also get a sliver of a view of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Walk Along Senado Square
Senado Square is the main square in Macau surrounded by pastel-coloured buildings and paved with gorgeous mosaics.
Where to Eat
Indulge in some classic Portuguese good eats while exploring Macau in 24 hours.
Delight in Delectable Po Tat
This is Macau’s take on the custard egg tarts inspired by the Portuguese pasteis de nata. Make sure to look for a food stall selling these on the main streets and definitely give one a try. Look for ones that seem like they’re baked fresh for the day (custard will be shiny and the crust flaky).
Savour Classic Portuguese Fare
Restaurant Name: Portuçao Restaurant
Address: Edificio Pak Hou, 7 Tv. de São Domingos, Macao
Head to the wonderful Portuçao restaurant for some savoury and classic Portuguese fare. We tried the succulent octopus, roasted piglet, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), and chorizo seared table side inside a ceramic pig. Don’t forget shishito peppers and order some crisp, white wine to go with all the scrumptious food.
Snack on Snack Food
There are plenty of shops and stalls selling local snacks all around town. However, I find the main street R. de São Paulo, which leads to the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, has the most interesting food stalls. Simply walk up to a shopkeeper and see what they’re handing out as tasters and try a bit of whatever they’re offering. I love the honey beef jerky which is a staple on this street.
Unless you plan on gambling, historic Macau is pretty small. You should only need a day to visit the historic sights, but the casinos also have Michelin starred restaurants in them. Spending a few nights in Macau on your next trip could be worth it!
Planning for some dream trips or bucket-list journeys? Check out my other travel guides for more tips and tricks on planning your ultimate dream getaways.
