For years now, what was once the small fishing town of Macau has become the undisputed gambling queen, beating even Las Vegas. Macau’s casinos and luxury hotels, however, have given way to so much more: the city has a unique charm because although Macau is in China, the Portuguese influence creates a mixture of genres that is truly unique in the world. In fact, the city was a colony of Portugal from the 16th century until 1999, so much so that Portuguese is still the official language, along with Cantonese, and everywhere, you can see traditional blue tiles with street names, colonial palaces, and art deco buildings.
What to see in Macau
The Chinese city of Macau has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site; it’s really worth taking a tour of the centre, which is so small and easy to get around that it’s perfect for even the laziest of people. So no excuses: with comfortable shoes and good will, we will really manage to experience a unique vacation. If you’ve got time between stops but you don’t want to head to a physical casino, there are tons of online options where you can tap into the “vibe” of Macau without having to actually get dressed up and go out. You can have fun on the digital tables, hopefully garnering a few roulette payouts, check out live dealer games with your favourite card options, or even try your luck at slot machines. But of course, you’re not just going to spend your time in Macau on this, so let’s check out other activities!
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Only the front facade remains of the building, as the rest was destroyed in a fire in 1835. Nevertheless, it is the city’s number one monument and attracts thousands of tourists because of its beauty.
Macau Tower
From ancient fishing town to supermodern city, Macau’s evolution has its greatest expression in this tower. It offers so many activities and amenities, including a revolving restaurant, dizzying outdoor walks, and even bungee jumping!
A-Ma Temple
A-Ma Temple dates back to the 16th century and is dedicated to the goddess of sailors. Today, the quaint traditional-style temple houses various religious beliefs.
Grand Prix Museum
Motor enthusiasts know Macau in China specifically because of the motor racing circuit it hosts. That’s why the city decided to dedicate a museum to this passion, which features 30 racing vehicle exhibits, memorabilia, and other curious objects.
Senate Square
The past Portuguese domination is really evident here, thanks to the buildings, but especially the mosaic pavement, which, with its wave decoration, recalls the city of Sintra, Portugal.
Fortress of Guia
Built in the 1600s as a military outpost, it fully expresses the city’s cultural melting pot. Eastern and Western elements are particularly mixed in the chapel; the lighthouse is the union between the two maritime cultures and emphasizes the attachment to the sea.
Black Beach and the island of Coloane
Black Beach is slightly out of town, but the trip is really worth it. Extremely picturesque, although the black is no longer absolute because the government has added common sand to prevent erosion. The beach is about a kilometre long and owes its colour to the minerals washed ashore by the waves.
For those who want to escape even further from the town proper, we recommend a trip to Coloane Island. Strict government regulations and title deeds make buying real estate and land very difficult here, so time seems to stand still: there are low houses, tree-lined boulevards, and plenty of tranquillity. Here is the famous Lord Stow bakery, the birthplace of egg tarts exported from Macau all over the world. For lunch, we can stop at the famous Fernando restaurant, and order garlic prawns and roast suckling pigs.
Taipa House Museum Complex
On the nearby islet of Taipa stands this quaint museum complex: a series of brightly coloured residences where the Portuguese governor, his officers, and their families once resided. The area is filled with typical little stores, perfect for a shopping spree.
Macau Museum
If we still have time and do not know what else to see in Macau, we can visit the city museum in the Mount Fortress. Here, we can admire artefacts and antiques that tell us about colonial history and ancient Chinese tradition.
What to eat in Macau?
The flavours of Macau are unique. Its watchword? Fusion! Portuguese and Chinese ingredients are combined here to great effect, with influences from Brazil and Goa, which were other Portuguese colonies, also taking hold. The main ingredients are seafood, cod, sardines, and crab, but also rabbit meat, duck, and chicken. Imported spices are turmeric, cinnamon, chilli pepper, and coconut, with which dishes are seasoned and generally cooked in the oven or on a spit.
The national dish is minchi, ground beef or pork with potatoes, onions, and soy sauce. If we are still hungry we can order another typical dish: green cabbage soup, which replaces European cabbage with Chinese Bok Choy.
How to get to Macau?
Travel is becoming easier and easier, with more insights into it than ever before, and so many places in the world are now accessible. The easiest way to get to Macau is by sea: in fact, it is only one hour by ferry from Hong Kong, but it is also connected with mainland China. In addition, many hotels and casinos offer free crossings to get there, so we can inquire when making reservations. If we intend to arrive by car, we should know that only vehicles with Macau or China license plates can enter.
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