10 Top Things to do in Macau

Macau, the Las Vegas of the East and one of the top gambling destinations in the world, is a special perk for Indian citizens as this is one of those countries where we get visa-free access. With easy Macau visas and cheap flights from India, it is no wonder that holidaymakers combine this gambling and cultural destination with a trip to Hong Kong.



A Macau holiday includes everything from casinos, gambling, glittering nightlife, adventure, great food, shopping to a rich cultural experience in its old Portuguese town and a UNESCO world heritage site. Here are 10 of the top experiences that you should indulge in on your next holiday to Macau.

1) Walk the Macau Heritage Trail



Even though Macau is famous worldwide for its casinos, I think its top highlight lies in its rich Portuguese past. With churches, a fort, colonial buildings and the Macau museum, this old part of the Macau peninsula is full of cultural and historical significance. You start at the ruins of the St. Paul’s church and then you slowly make your way through the tiny lanes and cobbled paths to the other attractions while soaking in this cultural flavor of Macau.

2) Try your Luck at the Casinos



Be it poker, blackjack, roulette, boule, Sic bo, Fan tan, keno or slot machines, you are never too far away from trying your luck at any of the casinos in Macau. While there are close to 40 casinos in Macau, my favorites are ‘The Venetian’, Wynn casino, Casino Lisboa and Sands Casino. Most of the action takes place in the night and this includes the colorful lights, expensive cars, designer clothes and of course the heavy gambling. When you are there, do make sure that you are well dressed and try to spend responsibly, even though I know it is difficult.

3) Watch City Views from Fortaleza do Monte



Macau may not have the skyscrapers of Hong Kong, but it is nice to see nonetheless. One of the better views of the Macau skyline can be seen from the roof of Fortaleza do Monte, the Portuguese fort located in the heritage part of the city. This is where you can see casinos, skyscrapers, slums and ruins all together from an ancient canon’s eye line.

4) Shop at Rua da Tercena



For designer labels, one can head to the malls of Hong Kong or the five star hotels and casinos of Macau, but if you are interested in budget shopping and something more authentic from the land, you should head to Rua da Tercena near Senado Square. This is where you will find top quality t shirts for less than a dollar, tailoring shops, art, antiques and a full fledged flea market. Do remember that most of these places shut shop by 7 pm.

5) Be amazed by the Colorful Lights of the Casinos



Like Las Vegas, the casinos of Macau are known to dazzle the spectators with an array of lighting, fountains, live performances and shows that are considered the best in the world. Water shows, laser shows, dragon shows and the iconic house of the dancing water form some of the top attractions. Each casino has its trump card. The City of Dreams, Venetian and the Grand Lisboa are my favorites for unique shows and experiences.

6) Do the 2nd Highest Bungee Jump in the World



Macau is not just about gambling, culture and shopping, but it is also about adrenaline rushes. Macau tower, an iconic landmark is home to most of these adventure rushes. At a height of 233 metres, it offers the 2nd highest bungee jump in the world, a sky jump, a protected sky walk for all he normal people, bouldering and sport climbing. And while you are feel like an adrenaline junkie, you can soak in possibly the best views of Macau and its coastline.

7) Relish the Portuguese Egg Tart



One of the Portuguese legacies left behind in Macau are its tarts, cookies and other baked items. The fresh, soft and hot Portuguese egg tarts are highly recommended and they make for great companions while you are walking the Macau heritage circuit. And so are the cookies and other baked goods, which not only are great power munchies, but are also fantastic souvenirs to carry back home to your family and friends.

8) Relax on the Hac Sa Beach



Macau is blessed with good nature too, especially through its small, but gorgeous coastline. The Hac Sa beach, Macau’s largest beach is known for its black sand is a great place for a swim. Popular with both locals and tourists, this beach makes for a great weekend getaway.

9) Take a Gondola Ride at the Venetian



The Venetian is the largest casino in the world and the single largest single structure hotel building in Asia. Designed after Venice, this luxury hotel resort is all about opulence, grandeur and European design. You can stay here, shop here, play here or even take a gondola ride in one of its canals. It is definitely one of the best hotels in Macau.

10) Tour Macau in a Tricyclos



When you visit Macau, you will notice these colorful cycle rickshaws parked in front of the casinos and at other tourist attractions. Locally called as Tricyclos, these cycle rickshaws are a great way to explore Macau at a leisure pace both at day or at night. While during the day, you can hop on them to explore the old town, the beaches and the Macau tower, during the night, you can use them for casino hopping. Even if you don’t wish to hire them for a full day, you should definitely take a ride in this iconic form of transportation.

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4 Of The Top Gaming Havens Around The Globe

These days, many people opt to gamble online, choosing to take advantage of convenient, internet-based options like Euro Palace casino games. Slot machines, blackjack, roulette and all your other favorites are waiting for you, and you can even get a welcome bonus of up to €500 for free. Still, land-based gambling has its charms, so you would be remiss if you ignored the leading gambling destinations around the world.

1. Las Vegas



Not for nothing is Las Vegas known as Sin City: There are around 100 gambling venues in the Las Vegas area. Poker players especially will find their needs catered to with the many well-run poker rooms open to the public. Originally centered on the old, downtown area, the hotspots in Vegas are now located along the Strip -- Las Vegas Boulevard South. Many themed resorts and casinos allow you to play within diverse environments. Las Vegas bills itself as a center of entertainment, so you will find a wide selection of fine dining, shopping, theatrical performances and other diverting amusements.

2. Macau



Macau, a special administrative division of China, has benefited from economic growth in the country and the rest of Asia in recent decades. In fact, it now generates more gambling revenue annually than any other city, including Vegas. More than 30 casinos would like to earn your custom, and the trend is toward huge establishments that spread almost any game you could think of. The "Big Game," as poker fans call it, runs regularly and features many variants of poker played for astonishing stakes by frequently drunk competitors with deep pockets.

3. Monaco



The casino in Monaco offers an upscale setting for ladies and gentlemen who enjoy high-stakes thrills. Since its opening in the 1850s, this center of iniquity has been the downfall of many an over-optimistic aristocrat. Despite the age of the casino, the gaming here is up-to-date, and the accommodations are first-rate. When you need a break from the tables, you can hang out by the French Riviera, check out the museum of vintage automobiles or visit the Prince's Palace.

4. London



London's other interesting elements often overshadow its gambling action, but you should be aware that a couple dozen gambling halls serve the capital of the United Kingdom. Most of them are open to the public, but there are a few exclusive clubs that maintain strict membership lists. London casino staff members have earned their reputation for being more polite and respectful than those in many other gambling destinations although they can be a bit reserved at times. Many professional gamblers, from England and abroad, call London home because gambling income is completely tax-free in the United Kingdom.

Pack your bags, and head to one of these highly regarded gambling destinations for a memorable getaway. Whether you prefer North America, Europe or Asia, you will be bound to find games that interest you as well as relaxing pursuits away from the tables. You deserve a break from your everyday routine, so make your arrangements today.

Note: The pictures have been borrowed from wikipedia.org under the Creative Commons license and each photo has been linked to the host page.

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The Cultural Side of Macau

Macau is extremely popular the world over for its casinos and its gambling circuit and this is what drives much of the tourism to this special administrative region of China. But, Macau’s equally famous and equally important tourism piece is its cultural side. A large section of the Macau peninsula is a UNESCO World heritage site and is deeply entrenched in rich Portuguese history through its ruins, churches, squares, streets, cathedrals, heritage buildings and Museums.


The best way to enjoy this cultural beauty of Macau is to go on a heritage walk that takes you through most of the buildings and areas that have cultural significance. The best way to enjoy your Macau holiday would be to explore the cultural side during the day and the gambling side during the night.


This will ensure that you set to visit all the heritage monuments that are open during the day and the casino shows that come to life during the evening and night hours.


If you are exploring on your own, it is best to start at Senado Square, a center point to this heritage stretch and home to most of the shops and restaurants. This square is closely located to the downtown area and hence easily accessible from most of the hotels in Macau.


At Senado Square, you can see buildings designed during Macau’s Portuguese rule. My favorite way to explore this stretch is after having some special Portuguese egg tarts, Macau cookies and waffles. There are many shops and street vendors at Senado square where you can find these items.


After Senado Square, your next stop should be St. Paul’s ruins. It is also known as Sao Paulo cathedral and is one of Macau’s oldest and richest buildings in terms of beauty and history. This cathedral also has a small museum, which you can explore. After this cathedral, you can make your way towards the Macau museum, which is situated inside the fort.


It is here that you will get a lot of information and insight into the colonial history of Macau. This is also one of the best places in this heritage zone to offer you a great aerial view of Macau town. You can see the casinos, the Macau tower, St. Paul’s ruins and also notice the stark difference between Macau’s rich and poor living standards.


Once you have got all your insights from the museum, you can stroll through the small heritage lanes that cut through heritage buildings, lanes filled with cookie shops and Portuguese churches with enough oomph to make you gape in wonder. For me, the Portuguese sign boards were a huge interest point.


The best part about this Macau cultural experience is that you can easily cover all of it in a single weekend. You only use the days for this cultural trail and do the casino, gambling and shopping circuit in the nights. This means that you can plan a power packed weekend holiday from Hong Kong and return with so many rich experiences and pictures.

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Travel Photo: Trishaws of Macau

Macau is associated with money, luxury and gambling. And to a lesser extent, its rich Portuguese culture. However, within all of this and something that you don’t normally associate with a casino destination are the Trishaws of Macau. This archaic mode of transport can be seen standing in front of the casinos and five star hotels in resplendent yellow colours.


Each of these trishaws have a menu at their disposal that tourists can refer to see which area of Macau they want to explore. To give you an idea of the menu, it has packages to the strip clubs of Macau, the happening night clubs, the busy casinos, the historic sites and much more. These trishaws or tricyclos are ideal for those who wish to explore this vibrant city at leisure and then step into the happening nightlife spots of this casino city.

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Travel Photo: The Portuguese Culture of Macau

Macau is known more for its casinos and its insane gambling amounts, but it also has a UNESCO World Heritage site by way of its rich Portuguese culture. This is the old area of Macau with the famous St. Paul’s ruins, St. Augustine’s Square and many colonial churches and buildings. And the best part is that all this old town can be easily covered by foot, thereby allowing one to explore all these sights at leisure.


I loved exploring this side of Macau by foot. All I had was a map in hand and a camera and I went clickety-click. Whenever I felt hungry, I grabbed a bite of the famous Portuguese egg tart or their superb baked cookies and kept moving through this very beautiful and well maintained old Portuguese area of Macau. Have you explored this side of Macau as yet?

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