What to do and see in Macau
There is a wide variety of adult destinations in the world. For example, here at City – Dog we have one of the most popular destinations for adults to go on holiday is Lanzarote. However, others want a more exotic city and Macau is the ideal place.
The Macau region is famous for many things, although it is mainly characterised by casinos.
Despite this, there are hundreds of things to do in the city, many of them in a single day.
Where is Macau?
Macau is a territory of China, but administratively it is one of the special regions that are politically and economically autonomous. It only depends on China for military and foreign policy matters.
Centuries ago the region was a Portuguese colony, from the time they arrived in 1556 until independence in 1999. In fact, Macau became the last territory in the East to be occupied by Europeans.
Macau is divided into two parts: the mainland and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. The mainland is where the entire historic centre is located along with most of the tourist attractions. The islands of Taipa and Coloane are located to the south and are not as urbanised as the mainland. They also have many natural spaces and is where the airport is located.
What to do in Macau
First of all, according to WH, it would be a good idea to head to the Taoist- A-Ma Temple. This is the oldest temple in the region and one of the most special places for the local people. It is located at the base of a small hill and must be accessed by winding paths lined with shrines.
You can then head towards the Rua da Barra, which takes you directly into the historic centre, to continue your sightseeing and see the Islamic influenced Quartel dos Mouros and the Largo do Lilau. This last location, curiously, was the largest water reservoir with which the town was supplied.
Having been a Portuguese colony, the street names are in Portuguese, as you can see. So you could stroll along Rua da Felicidade and stop off at Pastelería Ramalhão to sample the cream cakes for which it is so famous, while enjoying the view of the ruins of the Igreja de São Paulo.
What surprises tourists most about Macau as soon as they set foot on its territory is the large number of casinos that flood the city. In fact, it is known as the Las Vegas of Asia because it has more than 40 casinos. If you are curious, you can enter one of them and try your luck at a slot machine, However, if you prefer a little more privacy when it comes to betting or gambling, you can always do it online. Sites like VegasSlotsOnline give you the opportunity to play their real money games from the comfort of your own home, for example. The casinos that make up their website are 100% safe and secure, and have a wide variety of games ranging from classic slots to progressive jackpots. It is a good alternative if you do not have much time in Macau or are left wanting more, especially since you can pay with any payment method, which makes it much more convenient.
It is said that the region moves four times more money than Las Vegas itself thanks to its casinos!
What to visit in Macau city
Casa do Mandarim is a UNESCO heritage site that you will love if you are one of those people looking for a good photo to upload to your social media. The building turned out to be the residence of Zheng Guangying, a very famous Chinese writer from the 19th century.
Macau’s first Catholic church is located at the end of Rua da Barra. The Igreja de São Lourenço is one of the largest in the region, and a few metres away from it, there is another called Igreja de Santo Agostinho, as well as the Teatro Don Pedro V. This theatre is the first to be built in the entire western area.
You can then head towards Largo da Companhia de Jesus to discover the symbol of the city. Just look for the statue of a Portuguese man giving a flower to a Chinese girl, symbolising the brotherhood between the two peoples.
To finish the tour, you can’t miss the opportunity to visit the ruins of the Igreja de São Paulo, one of the most impressive sights in the whole city. Its facade is spectacular, and the fact that it is in ruins is because in 1835 it suffered a terrible fire that it almost completely destroyed it.
It is worth discovering every corner of Macau. We have left out many emblematic sites because it is impossible to write them all down and visit them all in a very short period of time, but with these you will be able to enjoy a few days full of magic in the city.