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Macau surprised us. In one city you get Portuguese streets in Old Macau and a glittering, Las Vegas-style Cotai Strip full of casinos, a fake Venice, London and Paris. Of everywhere we've travelled, it's one of the best "two cities in one" experiences. Give it two full days, not a day trip.
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How we got here straight from Hong Kong airport: step-by-step guide.
Old Macau
Senado Square
A UNESCO-listed historic centre with European-style buildings, cafés, shops and hilly lanes. It feels like Europe, not Asia. It was packed on Sunday, much calmer on Monday, so avoid weekends.
Ruins of St Paul's
Macau's most iconic landmark: only the stone façade of a grand church survived a fire in 1835. It was under renovation (scaffolding) when we went. Next to it is the most beautiful Uniqlo building we've ever seen. Prices were similar to India.
St Dominic's Church & the food lane
Little boats on the ground guide you along the route. The lane is full of food stalls handing out free samples, plus queues at shops selling handmade cosmetics and hand creams.
Egg tarts
Try them freshly baked at Koi Kei Bakery (lots of branches). Macau's egg tarts beat Hong Kong's: flakier and crispier.
Cotai: the Las Vegas of Asia
Take the public bus (MOP 6) and go around 5:30 pm to see it in daylight and lit up at night.
- The Londoner: Big Ben, London taxis, all of it.
- The Parisian: its own Eiffel Tower.
- The Venetian: canals, gondola rides and a painted artificial sky. At 11 pm it still felt like an evening stroll in Venice. Luxury brands everywhere (Dior to Louis Vuitton). Get an egg tart at Lord Stow's inside. The food court was excellent: claypot chicken rice with mushroom, and a tom yum soup better than any we had in Thailand.
- All the malls and casinos are connected by sky bridges, so you rarely need to go outside.
Our first casino
We tried the casino under the Venetian. The first hour went just on understanding how things work, and we came back the next day for 2–3 hours. We came out ahead! No cameras are allowed inside.
Day 2: Fisherman's Wharf & Grand Lisboa
- Fisherman's Wharf: an entertainment area recreating Rome, an African village and more, with harbour views of the sea bridge and cafés. It doesn't feel like a replica. There are endless photo spots and it wasn't crowded on a Monday.
- Grand Lisboa: the golden landmark building, with casino floors from the basement up. Every table was full.
Costs & practical tips
- Food and taxis are expensive. Meals were rarely under ₹1,000 per person, and a Hainanese-style chicken rice was about ₹800, more than Thailand or even Singapore.
- Language: English is understood, but it's spoken fast with a Chinese accent, so listen carefully.
- Best time: January–February, around 18–20°, with no rain for us.
- Leaving for Hong Kong: we took the ferry from the Outer Harbour terminal to Hong Kong Island. No booking needed. Take a seasickness tablet if you're prone to motion sickness.
Next: our full Hong Kong & Macau itinerary.
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Open Agoda →FAQs
How many days do you need in Macau?
At least two full days. A day trip from Hong Kong isn't enough to see both Old Macau and Cotai.
Is Macau expensive?
Food and taxis are expensive. A meal rarely cost less than about ₹1,000 per person, and a simple chicken rice dish was around ₹800. Buses are cheap at MOP 6.
When is the best time to visit Macau?
January to February was lovely for us: not too cold, not hot, no rain. Avoid weekends and Chinese New Year if you can, because it gets very crowded.
TAGS: MACAU · VENETIAN · COTAI · SENADO SQUARE · CASINO · EGG TART
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Prashant & Sunaina
A travel couple from Pune with Kashmiri Pandit × Maharashtrian roots, 8+ countries and counting. Every rupee shared.
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