Weekend Away: Your Guide to Macau
Macau is one of the most popular weekend destinations for Hong Kong residents and Chinese nationals. It has transformed from a colonial Portuguese trading port to the largest gambling center in the world, thanks to mainland China’s centuries-old belief in numerology and good luck.
But aside from gambling, there are lots to see in this little jewel of a city-state, ranging from historical sites and ruins to beaches, resorts, shopping, food, and more. Pacific Prime Hong Kong will showcase things to do and eat and stay in Macau for a short weekend getaway.
How to Get to Macau?
Getting to Macau is easy for Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and metropolitan Guangzhou residents thanks to excellent train, bus, and ferry connectivity. For Hong Kong residents in particular, there are two major methods of transport.
Hong Kong — Macau
The ferry is the fastest option, taking about 1 hour. There are two types of ferries– high-speed (1 hour) and normal-speed (1.5 hours). Ferries frequently depart from Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm.
The second option is the Golden Bus via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB). It takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour and departs from Hong Kong Port near the Hong Kong International Airport. It operates 24/7 so this will be your only option to get there before the sun rises.
And from most other locations around Asia, daily flights to and from Macau International Airport make it a great destination for a short getaway.
What To Do in Macau?
Heritage Tour
Every first-timers to Macau must participate in the UNESCO World Heritage Tour walk. The walk takes about half a day but is well worth it. The key to enjoying this stroll is doing it top to bottom – that way you’ll still have some energy for the rest of your afternoon or evening.
Start at the Fortaleza do Monte and walk to Senado Square, a route almost entirely downhill. Along the way are essential sights including the ruins of Sao Paulo Cathedral, lots of local homes, shops and restaurants, the shopping district, Mandarin’s House, St. Dominic’s Cathedral, and more.
Be sure to take a quick look inside the Legal Senado Civil and Municipal Affairs Building, which has an old library upstairs that overlooks the beautifully restored, Portuguese-tiled Senado Square. The building also has a nicely hidden garden to relax.
This experience will give you a unique perspective of what it would have been like to live and work in Macau a century ago. Plus, you have a high chance of freeing yourself from the crowd, as most tourists don’t know that the place is open to the public, so it’s usually pretty empty.
Then, the true hardcore history and architecture junkies can grab some lunch and get ready to power on for a few more hours, heading further south to A-Ma Temple and passing by the Moorish Barracks along the way.
There is so much to see in this city that the walking tour above doesn’t even take in the historic center of Macau, which includes the Guia Chapel and Lighthouse, located within the huge Guia Hill Park and well worth a couple of hours.
For more details check out the Macau Government Tourist Office’s website and what UNESCO has to say about the city.
Artsy Spots
Albergue is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved colonial residential neighborhoods in Macau. The traditional European-style homes set on tree-lined streets beg to be photographed.
For a break from all the quaintness, check out 10 Fantasia, a former leprosy-hospital-cum-modern-art-gallery with regularly changing international exhibits.
Shopping
The Venetian offers a massive indoor shopping mall and restaurant complex housed in a faux Venice connected via a gondola service that floats in a real canal. With nearly a million square meters of floor space, the Venetian is recognized as the largest building in Asia and the sixth largest on Earth.
What To Eat in Macau?
Macau has a well-earned reputation as a foodie heaven. The Portuguese are famous for delicious food in big portions, and a few remaining traditional restaurants in Macau make their homeland proud.
Portuguese Cuisine
Every Portuguese restaurant in Macau claims it is the best, but some outstanding spots include O Santos, A Lorcha, Henri’s Galley, Miramar, A Petisqueira, Restaurante Fernando, and António.
Since it feels like every Portuguese resident still in Macau runs an eatery, these establishments are usually packed thanks to the traditional food and atmosphere. A reservation is strongly recommended, as most restaurants are small-sized, so getting a table can be tricky as a walk-in patron.
And of course, remember to try a couple of warm, fresh pastel de nata while in Macau. They are best with cinnamon sprinkled on top and served with a cup of heartwarming coffee.
Macanese Cuisine
The deliciousness doesn’t end at Portuguese fare, either. Macau was a Cantonese fishing village well before the Portuguese showed up for the party in 1513, and southern Chinese cuisine is great in its own right.
Combining the two cooking styles, flavors, and ingredients and then letting them marinate for about 500 years has created an unprecedented cuisine known as Macanese – and it represents the perfect mix of cultures in Macau.
A few great places that showcase Macanese-style dishes are Fat Siu Lau, Riquexó, and Amagao. There are also Macanese fusion chain restaurants all over Macau (and throughout Asia) as a testament to its tasty success, so try this cuisine out in the city where it originated.
Where To Sleep in Macau?
Hotels in Macau are expensive. Macau knows that nearly everyone staying in the hotel came expressly to gamble, and since there are no legal casinos in mainland China, deep-pocketed patrons are willing to fork over full price for a fancy room in the casino.
Fortunately, discounts are available if you know where to look. Macau is filled with small travel agencies that advertise discounts on room rates, often 50 to 60 percent off.
Some websites such as agoda.com, asiatravel.com, or booking.com also offer significant discounts to hotels in Macau, so make sure you research and compare before pinning down one.
Ensuring a Safe Trip to Macau
Whether you gamble or not, Macau is still a visit-worthy location with a deep heritage of culture. In order to entirely enjoy the trip, it is recommended to secure travel insurance. It covers emergency treatments and lost properties so you are personally and financially secure.
Pacific Prime is a trusted insurance broker with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We have liaised with worldwide insurance providers to offer you the most suitable insurance plan for your requirements.
Contact us today for an obligation-free quote and more information about the insurance plan quoted!
Since joining Pacific Prime, Eric was exposed to a new world of insurance. Having learned about insurance products extensively, he has taken joy and satisfaction in helping individuals and businesses manage risks and protect themselves against financial loss through the power of words.
Although born and raised in Hong Kong, he spent a quarter of his life living and studying in the UK. He believes his multicultural experience is a great asset in understanding the needs and wants of expats and globe-trotters.
Eric’s strengths lie in his strong research, analytical, and communication skills, obtained through his BA in Linguistics from the University of York and MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Bristol.
Outside of work, he enjoys some me-time gaming and reading on his own, occasionally going absolutely mental on a night out with friends.
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