Macau

Known for years as the gambling paradise in Asia, Macau attracts gamblers from China, Hong Kong and the entire world. Apart from the gambling industry, Macau is also a nice place to visit, with incredible temples, fortresses and churches mixing the European and the Chinese and a very interesting way.

Location

Macau is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, located in southeast China.

How to get to Macau

The easiest (and usual) way to go to Macau is to fly into Hong Kong and then take a ferry to Macau. There are also ferries connecting mainland China to Macau.

Macau International Airport is served by several low-cost carriers which connect it to a lot of Asian countries as well as to Australia.

Most foreign citizens need a visa to visit Macau. The 30 days tourist visa is issued at the border crossing. Macau has a separate administrative regimen than China so if you go from the mainland to Macau you are deemed as leaving China. If you need to re-enter China make sure to have a multiple entries visa for China.

Gambling

Macau is very famous for its gambling industry. The most famous casino, and also a landmark in Macau, has been for many years Casino Lisboa. The newly opened Sands Casino managed to eclipse Lisboa though. Most casinos are located on the waterfront on the southern side of the Macau Peninsula.

Besides casinos, people also like to gamble on greyhounds. The greyhound racing is one of the very popular activities in Macau.

What else to do in Macau

The best way to explore Macau is by walking. The Peninsula is compact and there are dozens of attractions to discover. Although known for its casinos, Macau is filled with attractions mixing the East and the West, the European and Chinese cultures. Most of the attractions are on Macau Peninsula but there are plenty of nice things to see on Taipa and Coloane islands.

One of the interesting things to see is the statues of Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara, located right near sea, close to Sands Casino and MGM Grand. Although it represents a Chinese deity, the statue has a distinct European design.

You should also head to the top of Macau Tower (see photo) for some incredible views.

If you are in the mood for theme-park activities as well as shopping, check out Fisherman’s Wharf.

Macau also has some nice Museums to check out. Buy a pass which allows you to visit all of them and is cheaper than the individual fees. Don’t miss Macau Museum.

Did you know?

Until 1999, Macau was administrated by Portugal. As a result Portuguese is still widely spoken in the region. English is spoken in the tourist areas while Chinese is the official language.