Macau is undoubtably the Las Vegas of the east. It is a city that is well known for its casinos. Macau is made up of three islands the Peninsula of Macau, Taipa Island and Coloane Island (even though it looks like Taipa Island and Coloane Island are connected on a map).
The airport is located on Taipa Island, however, if you take the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau it’ll put you on the Peninsula of Macau. Depending on the mode of travel you choose to will determine which island you will arrive at.
While in Macau it may be helpful to know that the overwhelming majority of people speak Cantonese. I’m sure that there is a decent amount of the population that speaks Portuguese but none that I was able to find (I was traveling with someone who spoke Portuguese), or at least there should be as the majority of their street signs are in Portuguese. There were very few (local) people that spoke Mandarin as well. So, be aware that if you don’t speak Cantonese, that there may be some trouble with communicating.
The Ruins of the Church of St. Paul 大三巴牌坊
The Ruins of the Church of St. Paul is a must see while in Macau. Now from most of the pictures that you’ll see about this sight you may think that the ruins are of an entire church or the remnants of the church… It is not. It is more of a wall of the church, so just keep that in mind. This sight is free to visit. That being said there are a quite a lot of people who want to see the Ruins of the Church of St. Paul. So, it may be a bit difficult to get a good picture of the ruins without a lot of other people in it (unless you go really early or really late to visit this sight. The Ruins of the Church of St. Paul is also in the heart of a walking/shopping street, which only inflates the amount of people that visit this sight.
This is definitely one of the most iconic scenes that you’ll see in Macau. It is one of the staples of Macau and definitely worth a visit.
The Churches 教堂
Macau has a plethora of churches that are beautifully constructed. Most of these churches are active churches so be aware of what time you are going to visit them and be respectful of the people who are exercising their faith. Many of the churches in Macau have a colonial style of architecture to them making them look very distinct.
The Casinos
The casinos are another place that you should check out while in Macau. The casinos are kind of like the trademark of Macau. I have heard that the casinos are very different than western casinos in both the games played and the way that they are played. It would be worth it to go inside of a couple and take a look even if you don’t feel up to gambling. From what I’ve heard of the casinos they are much more… chaotic or giving the appearance of unorganized. However, I personally didn’t have enough time while in Macau to check out the inside of a casino.
Going on your own tour of the Macau Peninsula
Macau in many places is an easy city to navigate by foot. Many of the sights and areas of interest on the Macau Peninsula are relatively close together. So, walking from one sight to another could managed.
My recommendation is to start off at the Ruins of the Church of St. Paul and follow the walking street/shopping street down to the Senado Square. From there head to the church area and check out some of the colonial architecture and churches.
Also, while on the Macau Peninsula be sure to check out a casino or two.
Hiking Macau
On Coloane Island there is a trail that is supposed to be one of the best hikes in all of China. It is called the Coloane Trail and its a bit more than 8 km long. It wraps around the Coloane Island and is said to hold some incredible sights and views.
The Ferry from Hong Kong to Macau
One way to travel to Macau is from Hong Kong via Ferry. There are a few things that you should know when considering whether this mode of transportation is suitable for you.
The first thing that you should know is that it will be on average between $300-$350 USD to take the ferry. So, don’t expect that because you are taking a ferry that you will be saving money. You can buy your ferry ticket at the port in Hong Kong. Be warned at the port it is like a flee market of travel agencies that all offer similar prices for the same tickets to go to Macau, just know that while the price may dip slightly, it will not drop very far.
The second thing is to not buy an open return ticket. Be sure to have a time that on your ticket for your return passage. Open return tickets may be a bit cheaper but that is for a reason. Open return tickets are marketed as tickets in which the passenger can return at their own leisure and that aren’t bound by a certain time for their return to Hong Kong. Sounds good right? Wrong! What these tickets are essentially, are standby tickets. If you would like to return to Hong Kong at let’s say 4:30pm, you would cue up in the standby line and hope that there is still space on the boat after everyone that has a return ticket for 4:30pm has been seated. If the boat is full you would have to wait for the next boat, and the next boat if that one is full and etc. I mention this because it is not uncommon to miss 4 or 5 boats (boat run every 30-45 minutes) while waiting on standby. This is not the best use of your time while staying in Macau and there is always the possibility that you will not make it back to Hong Kong on the same day.
The third thing that should be known about taking the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau is that it is a rough trip. I am not sure why the seas between the two cities are so rough when out is so close to shore, but it is a trip of ups and downs with a lot of waves in between. If you are prone to motion sickness or have a fear of being lost at sea, it might not be the best way for you to go to Macau. The trip is about 1 1/2 hours long (more or less) but you will be counting the minutes until you reach the port due to the turbulent seas.
How long should you stay in Macau?
I would recommend staying anywhere from 2-3 days.
Macau isn’t that big of a place 2-3 days should give anyone a good chance to see most of the things worth seeing and go for a scenic hike around the lower island.
Tentative Itinerary for Macau
Day 1:
- Head to the Ruins of the Church of St. Paul.
- Visit the walking street and take it to Senada Square.
- From Senada Square head to the Colonial area filled with old architecture and churches.
Day 2:
- Visit a casino or two.
- Check out any of the remaining historical sites or churches that interest you (there are quite a few churches in Macau).
Day 3:
- Take the Coloane Trail hike and enjoy some of the best scenery Macau has to offer.
International Kev 