I knew my Macau itinerary was going to be a good time from the moment I arrived. As I exited the ferry terminal toward the city, palm trees swaying in the blue sky above me, I hopped into a cab blaring a Portuguese-language power ballad that must’ve sounded dated even in the 1980’s.
“You see Macau old buildings,” he said as he flicked his cigarette butt out the window, confirming that he understood why I asked to be dropped off at the Ruins of São Paulo Cathedral. “Old church, old fort.”
What follows is not only a Macau itinerary but, I hope, a rebuke of the prevailing wisdom about the territory: That it’s not really all that great. My Macau day trip from Hong Kong was nothing short of magical—here’s how yours can be, too.
Portuguese-Colonial China
I’ve lost count of the number of trips I’ve taken to Europe, and have visited just about every former European-colonial outpost in the Far East. Still, I found myself immediately and profoundly charmed by Macau’s conspicuous Portuguese character, from the moment I laid eyes on the aforementioned Ruins of St. Paul’s.
This feeling continued, to be sure, both as I mounted the nearby Monte Fort for a panorama, and as I descended into the city’s historical center, traipsing along the eclectic São Paulo and Tercena streets en route to Largo do Senado—and, after that, the supposedly seedier part of Macau that’s responsible for much of its reputation.
But I digress: This itinerary charmed me, and I didn’t even wander into the “alternative” areas of the territory (i.e. Coloane and Taipa) on this particular visit. In fact, I hardly veered from the tourist trail at all, except when framing shots of teacup dogs sitting beneath brick door frames, peering inside Chinese antique shops to watch women play raucous games of Mahjong and swiping samples of Macanese meat jerky from off the beaten path, once I’d exhausted all my freebies from the stalls on the main drag.
Vegas of the East
Many travelers—especially ones from the Chinese mainland—venture through the Pearl River Estuary solely for the purpose of visiting Macau casinos. These are many in number and easy to find, but since I don’t gamble, I found the colorful skyline of Macau’s gambling district (in particular, the Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino) to be the main draw for me, particularly reflected in Lago Nam Van before and just after sunset.
The lake, to be sure, is a great place to find yourself around the end of your itinerary, whether you admire the majestic Macau Tower (and go up it—or jump off it), scout out hidden treasures like the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Penha hilltop church or simply marvel at the neon lights of Macau’s casino district as they strobe like artificial rainbows in the darkening night.
One thing you’re unlikely to find (at least outside the casinos) is sleaze. The fact that the air here is moister and cooler than Vegas’ notwithstanding, I never once got the impression that this was a city of sin—the Rolex watches even appeared to be real, although I’m sure many were not.
Eating Macau: A Primer
After night had fallen and the time of my return ferry to Hong Kong drew nigh, my primary remaining goal was to try some of the local food I’d bypassed on my way through the historical center, when I was hungrier for photos than for nutrients. At minimum, I wanted to chow down on at least on Pastel de Nata, and enjoy a savory dish of Galinha à Portuguesa.
Unfortunately, this ended up being my maximum as well. Coupled with the beef jerky and almond cookies I’d sampled on my walk, my chicken dinner and egg tart dessert completely filled my belly. Macanese cuisine is a great deal more diverse than this, however, so I’d like to give you a run down of all the things I would’ve eaten, had this particular itinerary lasted more than a day.
To be precise, my list of foods to eat included Minchi (a dish of stir-fried beef or pork served with rice and a fried egg), Macanese chili shrimp and Galinha à Africana—African chicken. There’s also a very famous one that I didn’t plan to eat, but you might well decide is up your alley: Pato de Cabidela, or “bloody duck.”
How to Get to Macau from Hong Kong
As I finished my meal and walked back up to Monte Fort for one last look over the sparkling city, I had to admit: A Macau day trip from Hong Kong is not only incredibly easy, but very fulfilling. Not only do two companies (Cotai Water Jet and Turbojet) operate dozens of ferries per day between the two territories, but you can buy a Macau travel SIM on the boat before arriving in Macau, and the Hong Kong dollar is a de-facto Macau travel currency, since it’s equivalent in value to Macau’s own pataca.
Where to Stay in Macau
I briefly considered an overnight Macau itinerary, but decided against it at the last minute. If you’re also thinking of spending a night here, there’s good news and bad news when it comes to Macau hotels. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can get luxury hotels (I’d held a room at Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16) for much cheaper than comparable Hong Kong properties.
The Bottom Line
As you can see reading about my Macau day trip from Hong Kong, you don’t have to be a gambler to enjoy the so-called “Vegas of China.” In fact, I found Macau downright magical, thanks to its Portuguese-colonial heritage, interesting cuisine and profoundly photogenic quality. Whether you visit Macau from Hong Kong like I did, or stay a night here, I have a feeling you’ll have a similar experience—so you as you follow this itinerary.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
