Spending a Day in Macau

The Ruins of Saint Paul's

I recently went to visit Hong Kong, where I grew up. As a kid, my parents and I would often take the ferry to go to Macau, which is a special administrative region of China that used to be a Portuguese territory until 1999. This is also what makes Macau so unique and different from Hong Kong. You can definitely see the Portuguese influence on this region when it comes to its architecture, its street signs, and even its food! Yes, you can find the famous Portuguese pasteis de nata in Macau! Since I have so many fond childhood memories from my trips to Macau, I HAD to take a day trip there again. So, if you are travelling to Hong Kong, and are looking for potential day trip ideas, read on to discover some of my recommendations from my own day trip there!

Getting There from Hong Kong

There are two ways you can get to Macau from Hong Kong - by ferry, or by bus. There are three terminals in Hong Kong where you can take a ferry to Macau: one in Hong Kong island, one in Kowloon, and one near the airport. Growing up in Hong Kong, I would always to go Macau via ferry, since it was the only option available at the time.

Now, however, there is also a bus that will take you from Hong Kong to Macau, and this was the option I opted for this time, since I had never tried it before. As someone who can get seasick, I appreciated having the option of taking a bus instead. The trip only took about 45 minutes to an hour!

About to take the bus to Macau

Things to Do in Macau

Visit the Ruins of Saint Paul's

This is, without a doubt, one of the busiest and most popular tourist attractions in Macau. The ruins are what's left of a Catholic religious complex from the 17th century, which burned down in 1835 during a typhoon. Now, this landmark is one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the world. 

Take pictures at Travessa da Paixão

This alley can be found super close to the Ruins of Saint Paul's, and it is easily one of the most Instagrammable spots in Macau. It features colourful houses, and is even known as the "Romantic Lane" in Macau. Even though I've been to Macau many times as a kid, I actually hadn't walked through this alley before. It was super cute!

Visit the Venetian and the Parisian

The Parisian

The Venetian

These are casino and hotel resorts that are owned by the Las Vegas Sands Company. It might not sound like there is much to see here, but I'm telling you, the décor in these resorts is SPECTACULAR. Even if you are not into gambling, these resorts are worth the visit just to marvel at the size and the design. 

The resorts are so big, that I found it very easy to get lost in them 😅  Different types of events are hosted at these resorts all year round, so make sure you check in advance if anything's happening at either one of these resorts around the time you visit! 

Eat!!!!!

Oh man, where to even start with this?? There are so many amazing food options in Macau, but one of the must-eats is of course, the famous Portuguese pastel de nata, which is a custard tart. This has always been one of my favourite desserts, and with Macau being a former Portuguese colony, you just can't miss this pastry.

Another dessert that's worth mentioning is the double skin milk pudding. This is a dessert that's made using steamed milk. There are a variety of flavours to choose from. It can be served either hot or cold, and you can add different kinds of toppings too!

Classic double skin milk pudding served cold

Double skin milk pudding with red bean, served hot

As for non-dessert items, pork chop buns are a super popular snack in Macau, and is even considered a specialty of the region. These pork chop buns are derived from bifana, a Portuguese pork sandwich.

Pork chop buns

Honestly, there are quite a few streets in Macau that are just filled with restaurants and snack shops. You could walk and graze to your heart's content, and it's a great way to try out the different types of food that Macau has to offer.

Alleys filled with restaurants and food shop

I am so grateful that I got to visit Macau again after such a long time. It was interesting to see what aspects of the region still remain the same, and what has changed over time. If you decide to visit, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!