Stand at the top of the Fortaleza do Monte and the whole shape of Macau lays itself out: the grey-and-pink jumble of the Macau Peninsula below, the towers of the Cotai reclamation zone on the horizon, and the Pearl River estuary beyond. It is a view that explains the place in a single look — a territory where Portuguese churches, Chinese temples and casino towers share the same few square kilometres.
Macau suits travellers who like to walk. The old part of the peninsula is a maze of narrow alleyways, and much of the downtown area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its blend of Portuguese, French, English, Italian and Chinese architecture. If the density of people becomes tiring, you can head south to Taipa and Coloane, each with a village and a slower pace.
This guide covers the main sights and experiences on the peninsula and the islands, with practical notes on when to go and what to combine. It does not attempt to list every casino or restaurant; for full listings, see the district pages.
Top things to do in Macau
1. Macau Heritage Walk circuit
The Macau Heritage Walk is the single best way to cover the historic centre. A large section of the Macau Peninsula is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with 25 buildings and sites deemed to have cultural and historic significance, and the walk strings them together through the old streets.
If you cannot catch the Heritage Walk timing, the key buildings — the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum — are adjacent to each other and can be seen individually without difficulty. Plan this for your first morning, while the streets are still manageable.
2. Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum
These three sit next to one another, which makes them the most efficient cluster of heritage sights in Macau. The Fortaleza do Monte was constructed in response to frequent Dutch naval incursions, and the museum sits within the same group of buildings.
Because they are adjacent, you can see all three in one visit even on a tight schedule. Combine them with the wider Heritage Walk rather than treating them as separate outings.
3. The old casino area and Casino Lisboa
For decades the Casino Lisboa was the largest and most famous casino in Macau, and it remains worth a visit: its halls contain many original antiques from the private collection of gambling tycoon Stanley Ho. The old casino area runs along the waterfront on the southern side of the Macau Peninsula.
North of the Lisboa is a strip of smaller casinos, hotels, bars and restaurants, including several Portuguese restaurants and a good Indian one. Parts of this strip are fairly sleazy, with sex workers and touts, so some caution is in order. Note that gamblers must be at least 21 years old to play.
4. Venetian Macao and the Cotai Strip
The Cotai Strip has become the "Las Vegas Strip of the East". The Venetian Macao, which opened in August 2007, is the largest casino in the world and has a Venice-styled shopping mall with canals running through it.
Cotai is a reclaimed zone between Taipa and Coloane, so it pairs naturally with a visit to either island village. Come here to see the transformation of the area rather than for heritage.
5. City of Dreams and The House of Dancing Water
The City of Dreams, in Cotai, is not much smaller than the Venetian, with high-end fashion shops and three hotels. It also hosts The House of Dancing Water, described as the world's most expensive theatre show, costing US$250 million to produce.
The stage holds five Olympic swimming pools' worth of water, and ushers give towels to the front few rows of the audience — so if you sit close, expect to get wet. Book the show as an evening anchor for a Cotai day.
6. Macau Tower
The Macau Tower offers views over the territory and a range of adventure activities. At a height of 233 m (764 ft), its bungy jump, maintained and operated by A.J. Hackett, is the second highest in the world.
If a free fall is not for you, there is also the Sky jump, which is more protected and does not involve a free fall, and a sky walk on a protected platform running around the circumference of the floor. Bouldering and sport climbing are conducted at the tower's base. See the Macau Peninsula page for details.
7. Taipa Village and Coloane Village
Both villages were previously inhabited by fishermen and retain colonial-era shops and houses along narrow lanes. They draw many visitors and make a good counterweight to the density of the peninsula.
Each village sits on its own island, so pair Taipa Village with the Taipa museums and Coloane Village with the southern beaches or the panda pavilion.
8. Macao Giant Panda Pavilion
The pavilion is in the middle of Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane and is worth a visit, especially for those not planning to travel into Mainland China. Entry to both the park and the panda pavilion is free.
Besides four resident giant pandas, the park has red pandas, several simians, a flock of flamingoes and other rare animals, plus an onsite gift shop selling panda memorabilia. Try to arrive in the morning, around 11AM, as the pandas tend to sleep later in the day. The park is a little harder to reach than other attractions; it is served by bus lines 15, 21A, 25, 26, 26A, 50, 59 and N3, with the bus stop on the north side of the park.
9. Hac Sa and Cheoc Van beaches
Macau's two beaches, Hac Sa (black sand) and Cheoc Van (bamboo bay), are on the southern side of Coloane island. They are popular with locals and visitors alike, especially at the weekend.
If you prefer pools, there are several public swimming pools across Macau, and all high-end hotels have swimming pools.
10. Hiking and cycling on Taipa and Coloane
The relatively rural islands of Taipa and Coloane offer opportunities for hiking and cycling. In Taipa, the two hills Taipa Grande and Taipa Pequena are the main spots for hiking trails, and a cycling track is available near Ocean Gardens and Avenida dos Jogos da Ásia Oriental da Taipa.
Coloane is much more rural and harder to spot, and its more mountainous terrain creates more opportunities for hiking. A list of hiking and cycling paths is available at the IAM website.
11. Avalokitesvara statue
Near the sea by the Sands Casino and MGM Grand, at the end of Dr. Carlos d' Assumpção Park, stands a statue of the Bodhisatta Avalokitesvara (known in Cantonese as 觀音, kwoon yam). Despite being a Chinese deity, the statue is distinctly European in design and resembles statues of the Virgin Mary found in Europe.
It is a quick stop rather than a destination, and it sits in the NAPE area south of Avenida de Amizade, where newer casinos including Wynn Macau and Sands Macau have opened.
12. Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf is the place to go for theme-park activities and shopping, and it is a reasonable option if history is not your main interest.
Pair it with the Macau Tower, which is also on the peninsula, for an afternoon of activities rather than monuments.
13. Museum of Taipa and Coloane History and Taipa Houses Museum
Macau has several museums, most of them on the Macau Peninsula, but two are on Taipa: the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History and the Taipa Houses Museum. Note that the "Macau Museum Pass", which used to give discounted entry to most museums, is no longer sold.
These two fit neatly into a Taipa Village visit, since the village lanes are the main reason to be on the island.
14. Bowling at the Macau Dome
A bowling centre of international standard was constructed in 2005 for the East Asian Games at the Macau Dome in the Cotai area. There is also a bowling alley in Macau near the Camoes Garden and Protestant cemetery.
This is a wet-weather or evening option, and the Cotai location combines easily with the Venetian and City of Dreams.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start on the Macau Peninsula with the Macau Heritage Walk circuit, taking in the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum, which sit adjacent to each other. Walk the old alleyways while the streets are quietest.
Afternoon: Move to the old casino area along the southern waterfront and look inside the Casino Lisboa to see the antiques from Stanley Ho's collection. From there, head to Cotai to see the Venetian Macao and its canal-lined shopping mall, and the City of Dreams.
Evening: Stay in Cotai for The House of Dancing Water at the City of Dreams, and sit back from the front rows unless you want the towels the ushers hand out.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to gamble in Macau?
Gamblers are required to be at least 21 years of age to be allowed to play. Local civil servants are not allowed to enter the casinos except during the first three days of the Chinese new year.
When is the best time to see the giant pandas?
Try to arrive in the morning, around 11AM, as the pandas tend to sleep later in the day. Entry to Seac Pai Van Park and the panda pavilion is free.
Is the Macau Museum Pass still available?
No. The "Macau Museum Pass", which used to give discounted entry to most museums, is no longer sold.
Where are Macau's beaches?
Macau's two beaches, Hac Sa (black sand) and Cheoc Van (bamboo bay), are on the southern side of Coloane island. They are very popular and are frequented by locals and visitors, especially at the weekend.
With the heritage circuit, the islands and the Cotai strip all within easy reach of one another, you can start mapping out your days in Macau now.