A few weeks ago, I took my very first tip to Macau, the “Las Vegas of Asia”. Whether gambling is your thing, or you would just prefer to explore, I truly believe there is something for everyone in Macau. So, let’s get down to it, here’s how we spent our time.

Here’s what you should know

1. Macau was the last European colony in China. Previously, inhabited by the Portuguese, Macau was handed over to China in 1999. Today, it is known as a Special Administrative Region of China (SAR), just like Hong Kong.
2. If you’re coming from Hong Kong, take the Hong Kong Macau ferry. The terminal is near the IFC Towers in the Shun Tak Center on Hong Kong Island. In about one hour, you’ll arrive in Macau. And don’t forget your passport! It’s easy to forget that you’re traveling to a new region, so you’ll also have to go through immigration.
3. The currency in Macau is the Macanese Pataca. The exchange rate is equal to Hong Kong Dollars (HKD), and the good news is, if you don’t have Pataca, you can use HKD.
4. Macau is pretty spread out, and there’s no “strip” like there is in Las Vegas. We took a taxi most places, but if you don’t mind walking, it isn’t terrible, just pack comfortable shoes!

Lodging

We found a great deal for the Sheraton Grand Macau Hotel. We honestly were only in the room to sleep, so it worked just fine. The room was spacious and clean. The other benefit of the Sheraton is that it’s connected to a slew of other hotels and restaurants, so we did a lot of walking. Here’s a list of some other hotels worth checking out in Macau.

Dining

This part of our whirlwind trip to Macau was lacking, and I take full responsibility for the poor planning of this area. We ended up dining and drinking around our hotel, so it gives us another reason to go back and branch out.

Activities

Ruins of St. Paul’s

The biggest tourist attraction in Macau is more than likely the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Standing with only the front facade remaining, this church was once the biggest Catholic Church in East Asia during the 1500’s. Unfortunately, a typhoon hit Macau in 1835, and the church caught fire. Restoration took place in the 1990’s, and today, you can tour what’s left of the grand steps and church.

Macau Giant Panda Pavilion

If you’re looking for something to do during the day that isn’t gambling, be sure to check out the pandas! Housed on this lot are also red pandas, emus and various types of monkeys. I, personally have never seen a panda before, so this was actually exciting for me.

Margaret's Café e Nata

While in Macau you’ve got to check out some of the famous egg tart pastries from Margaret’s Café e Nata. We got there sometime in the afternoon and waited in line for about 20-25 minutes. It’s a pretty famous shop, known for delicious pastries, so if you don’t mind the wait, it’s totally worth it.

Explore downtown Macau

If you escape from all of the casinos and head to the quaint downtown area, and you’re like me, you’ll be surprised at what you find. Downtown Macau is full of little shops and eateries that feel way more European than Asian, it was so interesting to see that the Portuguese influence was still evident in the architecture.

The House of Dancing Water

Ok, so I’m still trying to process everything I saw during this show. Before, I discuss it, go ahead and get some background on the House of Dancing Water here. In short, it’s like Cirque du Soleil meets exciting water acrobatics. For starters, the stage is a moving floor that reveals various levels of water. Sometimes a choreographed geyser sequence and other times just a deep pool with props and people coming up from under the water, as well as diving in to it. The performers (or mega athletes with 1 percent body fat) take you through two hours of death-defying stunts that left me in awe from start to finish. The sheer construction of the stage is worth seeing alone.

By the end, I was almost in tears because I think it was the only way my body knew how to handle it. I am not being dramatic, this show in seriously incredible. The first few rows are considered to be in the “splash zone”, keep that in mind if you want to sit close, however, the stage is a horseshoe, so there’s really not a bad seat. If you do nothing else when you come to Macau, see this show. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Have you traveled to Macau? Share your itinerary with me in the comments below!