Macau
Created by: Ho Yin Yeung (Alex)
Macau
- Transportation
- Hotel/ Accommodations
- Food & Beverage/ Restaurants
- Recreation/ Entertainment
- Itinerary
- Reference
Introduction
Location: Macau
Macau is a very popular city to visit. The interesting historical background and unique culture of Macau combine Chinese and Western culture. This city’s tourism has been promoted by the government which attracts more tourists to visit.
Macau is located in southern China. It is on the north coast of the South China Sea and in the western part of the Pearl River Delta. This city borders with Zhuhai city of Guangdong province in the north and it is 63 km away from the neighboring city Hong Kong in the east.
History
Macau has an interesting historical background. It was the Portuguese Colony from 1557. Originally the Han Chinese people settled a fisherman village here. When the Portuguese people came to Macau, they began to settle here. The Portuguese government developed it to be a large-scale commercial city and the Portuguese people began living in this city. However, the Han Chinese people are still the majority ethnic group in Macau. The southeastern Asian community is also one of the major ethnic groups in Macau. These people come to Macau to work. In 1847, the Portuguese government developed economically in Macau by legalizing the gambling industry. It became the major economy in Macau. The Portuguese government handed Macau over to China in 1999. After the handover, Macau became a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The Macau government has been focusing on developing the gambling and tourism industry which attracts many tourists. They constantly build more tourist attractions, casinos and promote the historical and cultural sites.
Weather
The weather in Macau is a subtropical monsoon climate making the city hot and rainy in summer and cold and dry in winter. The temperature is between 54 and 62 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and between 86 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit in summer. By being near the South China Sea, the air in Macau is pretty much humid because of the wind direction from the ocean. However, the wind direction turns to the Northside where the Mainland China in winter causes the air to be dryer. The weather is suitable for traveling to Macau all year round unless there is a strong typhoon. Typhoons occur in Macau during the summer causing damage to the city. Except for typhoons, there are no other serious natural disasters in Macau.
Tourism
The gambling in Macau has been legalized since 1847 by the Portuguese government. Gambling tourism plays an important role in Macau’s economic which contributes about 50% of the economy and it has become the “gambling center of the world.” Currently, the gambling industry has the biggest revenue in the world, it even overtook the Las Vegas gambling revenue in 2007. Macau has numerous tourists visiting every year. Most of the tourists are from Mainland China and Hong Kong which are near Macau. It also attracts tourists from Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Portugal. Normally there are two different kinds of tourists in Macau. The first kind of tourists visit casinos in Macau. Their primary interests are gambling during their vacation. Most of them are people from Mainland China and Hong Kong who enjoy the gambling tour in Macau. The second kind of tourists usually visit the historical sites, learn about the cultural heritage, enjoy the cuisines and leisure traveling to Macau. These tourists come from different countries of the world. Macau is a small city, and tourists usually stay for two or three days. Tourists can find accommodation in Macau easily because there are 113 hotels that provide 37634 accommodations and they are located in the casino areas. The official languages in Macau are Chinese Cantonese, Chinese Mandarin and, Portuguese. The English language is also popular in Macau. It is convenient for tourists to use English to communicate with people in Macau. Although Portuguese is an official language in Macau it is not popular in Macau and few people speak it. The currency in Macau is Macanese Pataca known as MOP, the rate to USD is 1 USD: 8.08 MOP. Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) and Renminbi (RMB) are also acceptable in Macau so people can use these two currencies in Macau.
Transportations
Air
Macau has an international airport. It located on an island called Taipa and it is about 5 km away from the urban area in Macau. There several airlines in this airport such as Air Macau, China Eastern, AirAsia, and Scoot. Only Air Macau is using Macau International Airport as its base. The flying destinations from the Macau International Airport focus on Asian countries such as Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Macau also has helicopter service flying to Hong Kong. The helicopter flight to Hong Kong only takes around 15 minutes.
Water
The ferry service plays an important role in Macau transportation. When the tourist travel between Macau and Hong Kong, most of them use the ferry boat. Macau has two major ferry terminals located in Macau and Taipa. There are two companies that provide ferry services between Hong Kong and Macau. Those are TurboJET and Cotai Water Jet. The ferry leaves every 15 minutes and the total ride lasts for about an hour. The ticket for the ferry is about $25 USD or $200 MOP/HKD.
Ground
Tourists can also take a bus and rail travel to Macau. Tourists can take a bus or train to Zhuhai station that is next to the Macau Border Gate connecting Macau and Mainland China. Tourists from Hong Kong can also take a bus or drive to Macau through Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. The HZMBus company operates 24 hours a day. The bus lines drive every five minutes. The total bus journey from Macau to Hong Kong is about 40 minutes. The fare of the shuttle bus is 8.3 USD or 65 MOP/HKD. Macau has two public bus service companies: Transportes Urbanos de Macau, S.A.R.L. (Transmac) and Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos de Macau, S.A (TCM). Both bus companies operate public bus service throughout Macau. The fare for every route in Macau is 6 MOP only.
Getting Around Macau:
When tourists visit Macau, a ferry, bus, or taxi are available for transportation. Tourists can travel from the Airport to Macau center by taxi and public bus. The taxi fare starts with 19 MOP for the first 1.6km, then the charge will be 2 MOP per 260 meters. If there are large pieces of luggage, each item will be charged with an additional 3 MOP. The public bus service is organized well in Macau. Macau has two public bus service companies – Transportes Urbanos de Macau, S.A.R.L. (Transmac) and Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos de Macau, S.A (TCM). Both bus companies operate 78 public bus routes throughout Macau. The fare for every route in Macau is 6 MOP only. Macau has a tourist ferry service “Macau Cruise” which connects Taipa and Coloane ferry pier.
The fare for this sightseeing ferry service is 100 MOP and it offers 4 sail destinations. The total journey lasts around 45 minutes. Macau does not have a railway system at the moment. The city is constructing a light rail system that connects the Macau International Airport, ferry terminal, and the tourist area. The construction of Macau light rail is expected to be finished in 2020. For the guests’ convenience, most hotels and casinos provide a free shuttle bus service which is available 24h a day. The human tricycle is a unique way of transportation in Macau. There is also a possibility of having rickshaw sightseeing Macau. The tourists can also rent a tricycle for 150 MOP per hour and they can visit some specific tourist attractions on Macau Peninsula.
Hotel / Accommodations
When travelers visit Macau, they usually like to stay at a business hotel or at a resort hotel. These two types of hotels are the majority in Macau and people prefer hotels with casinos and entertainment services. The resort and casino hotels can meet their needs because these hotels provide a luxury service for guests. The casino hotels are usually a little bit away from urban areas and the rent is usually more expensive than at other hotels because it focuses on the casino, entertainment, leisure, and luxury market. Although it is expensive to stay in a resort or casino hotel, most tourists still choose this type of hotel because it can meet the needs of their vacation in Macau.
HOTELS / RESORTS
| Name | Category | Cost | Amenities | Audience | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel, Cotai Central | Resort/ Casino Hotel | USD $133 | Free High-Speed Internet (WiFi),
Pool,
Room service,
Restaurant,
Bar/Lounge,
Spa,
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room,
Airport transportation,
Casino. | 4001 rooms and suites | 5 |
Galaxy Hotel | Resort/ Casino Hotel | USD $333 | Free High-Speed Internet (WiFi),
Pool,
Room service,
Restaurant,
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room,
Free parking,
Bar/Lounge,
Spa,
Casino. | 1449 rooms | 5 |
Grand Coloane Resort Macau | Resort Hotel | USD $91 | Pool,
Restaurant,
Room service,
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room,
Free parking,
Free Internet,
Bar/Lounge,
Spa,
Golf Court. | 208 rooms | 4 |
The prices of a casino hotel are very high because most of them are 5-stars or 4-stars hotels. Some tourists do not choose to stay in a casino hotel. The business travelers choose the business hotels which are located in the urban area and it is convenient to do their business. The rent of the business hotel is usually affordable for guests. Some tourists might not like the casino, they would like to visit Macau to experience the culture, historical sites, and cuisine. They would not want to pay for an expensive price to live in a casino and resort hotel so they usually choose these business hotels as well.
| Name | Category | Cost | Amenities | Audience | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Holiday Hotel | Business Hotel | USD $45 | Free high-speed internet access (WiFi),
Room Service,
Concierge service,
Non-smoking hotel,
Room features,
Air conditioning. | 44 rooms | 2 |
Hotel Royal Macau | Business Hotel | USD $77 | Pool,
Restaurant,
Room service,
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room,
Free High-Speed Internet (WiFi),
Bar/Lounge,
Babysitting,
Banquet Room. | 380 rooms | 3 |
Hou Kong Hotel | Business Hotel | USD $52 | Free High-Speed Internet (WiFi),
Concierge,
Multilingual Staff,
Non-smoking hotel,
Public Wifi,
Wheelchair access. | 40 rooms | 2 |
Food & Beverage / Restaurants
Tourists can taste Chinese and European cuisines in the city. There are a lot of different types of restaurant and you can eat whatever you want. People call the city “the paradise of cuisines.” If you want to taste Chinese cuisine, Macau has some Chinese restaurants. Most of the Chinese restaurants are casual restaurants and their location is near the local residential areas. The prices at a Chinese restaurant are not too expensive. Most Chinese restaurants offer seafood. There are also a lot of European restaurants in Macau. Many European restaurants are fine dining restaurants that often serve Portuguese food. These restaurants are located near the tourist and casino areas, and the prices are often more expensive than at other restaurants because of better service to customers. Both types of restaurants are popular among tourists. This city also has some famous food such as Portuguese egg tarts and pork chop bun. You can find them in the quick-service restaurants which are located everywhere in Macau. Enjoying the cuisines in Macau can give you an impressive experience to visit this city.
Quick Service Restaurants:
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Margaret's Cafe e Nata | Cafe, Fast Food | Breakfast, Brunch | Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating | $ |
Lord Stows Bakery | Portuguese | Breakfast, Brunch | Takeout | $ |
Single Origin - Pour over and Espresso bar | cafe | Breakfast, Brunch | Takeout, Seating, Free Wifi | $$ |
Casual Restaurants:
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Restaurante Tou Tou Koi | Chinese, Seafood, Asian | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Takeout | $$ |
Tim Ho Wan | Chinese, Asian | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch | Takeout, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Table Service | $$ |
Tomato Portuguese Food | Local Macau cuisine, European, Portuguese | Lunch, Dinner, Brunch | Delivery, Takeout, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Table Service, Reservations | $ |
Fine Dining Restaurants:
| Name | Cuisine | Meals | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Guincho a Galera | European, Portuguese | Lunch, Dinner | Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Table Service | $$$$ |
Macau Tower 360 Cafe | Portuguese, Asian, Vegetarian Friendly | Lunch, Dinner, Brunch | Reservations, Buffet, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Validated Parking, Highchairs Available, Table Service | $$$ |
Lotus Palace | Local Macau cuisine, Chinese, Seafood, Asian, Diner, Vegetarian Friendly | Lunch, Dinner | Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi, Private Dining, Highchairs Available, Digital Payments | $$$$ |
Recreation / Entertainment
Although the casino is the common image of Macau to most tourists, this city has other recreational activities as well. These activities can provide a memorable experience when visiting the city. Macau government is promoting the Historic Centre of Macau which introduces the former Portuguese colony history to tourists. Historic Centre of Macau has been recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage since 2005. It is a valuable experience to visit the historical sites of Macau. The city offers also many adventurous activities such as bungee jumping or sky walking on the top of the tallest building, Macau Tower. The tourists can also jump from the top of the tower to the ground. If you are afraid of jumping from a high building, you can choose to skywalk which offers more safety protection such as your body connected with a wire and guided by the trained staff. The recreational activities and the promotion of historical sites are increasing in Macau, and it attracts more tourists every day.
Water Activities:
- Swimming on beach
- Diving
- Galaxy Water Park
- Sailing
- Water sports center
- Nam Van Lake Water bike
Natural Wonders:
- Coloane Country Park
- Hac Sa Reservoir Trail
- Panda Park
Sports, Recreation & Spas:
- Macau Tower (Bungy jump and Sky walking)
- Caesars Golf Macau
- Macau Golf and Country Club
- Coloane Miniature racing track
Arts, Culture, Entertainment:
- Exploring Historic Centre of Macau
- Visit Macau His Macau Historical Site (Guia Hill Fortress and Lighthouse, Ruins of St. Paul's)
- Skycab Cable Car
- Shopping
- The House of Dancing Water
Itinerary
FUN ON YOUR VACATION: AN ITINERARY FOR FAMILIES AND TOURISTS
Day 1: Exploring the history of Macau – visiting the Historic Centre of Macau
Morning: Guia Hill Fortress with the Lighthouse is the highest point in the Macau peninsula. Guia Hill Fortress was a Portuguese colonial military fort, a chapel, and the lighthouse complex which was built in the 17th century. Guia Hill also has a cable car that takes tourists from downtown to the hill. Although this is the shortest cable car line in the world, it attracts a lot of tourists. The ticket for the cable car line is very cheap. The round-trip ticket costs MOP $3. It is highly recommended to take the Guia Hill cable car to visit this site.
Afternoon: Ruins of St. Paul’s
If you travel to Macau, you must visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s which is one of Macau’s important landmarks. It is an ancient chapel, which was burned by a fire. The chapel was destroyed but the main entry and the front wall were saved. Eventually, it became a famous tourist attraction. You can take a picture of the Ruins of St. Paul’s and buy some Macau souvenirs here.
Day 2: Discovering the culture
Tourists have the lifetime opportunity to swim with the whales during the daytime. Families appreciate an unforgettable adventure together. The season for swimming with whales is July to October. The available places are 8 people per trip so it is advisable to book well in advance. Tourists usually leave the wharf at 9 am and return around 5 pm. They are provided with lunch and other services to make the trip worthwhile. The family dinner at ‘Oholei Resort is a perfect end to the day. On Wednesday and Friday nights, they serve different cuisines. For complete enjoyment, there is also a live band to entertain all guests.
Day 3: Family fun day at Sunset Resort
Morning: The Macao Museum is a place where tourists are introduced to the history and culture of Macau. It is opened from 10 am to 6 pm and it is closed on Mondays. There is an exhibition of the ancient lifestyle of Macau people and the social development under the Portugueses’ government rule. The turnover of Macau to China in 1999 is also an important historical event for Macau. The museum also explains how society changed after Macau was returned to China.
Afternoon: Macau Grand Prix is a famous annual event in Macau that attracts many tourists. These tourists are usually fans of Formula One. You can also go to the Grand Prix Museum to see the Formula One race and the race cars. There is also an opportunity to drive the Formula. You can try a simulated Formula One race at the museum.
Day 3: Experience the natural environments and recreational activities in Macau
Morning: Nam Van Lake is the only place where you can ride a water bike. The water bike service opens from 11 am to 7 pm every day. The water bike rent for two people is 20 MOP per 30 minutes and for four people the price is 40 MOP per 30 minutes.
Afternoon: Coloane Country Park is the biggest country park in Macau. Experiencing the natural environments of this place can help you relax. You can see the Reservoir and the ocean view of the South China Sea from the Coloane Country Park. This park also has a panda park that is opened from 10 am to 5 pm and it is closed on Mondays. There are four pandas and two red pandas in this park. Interaction with pandas creates a memorable experience.
Day 4 : Experience the casino and the extreme games in Macau
Morning: Casino is the major business in Macau, and there are a lot of casinos in Macau. You can visit some famous casinos such as Venetian Casino Resort, City of Dreams Macau, The Sands Macau, Wynn Macau, and Grand Lisboa Macau. These casinos are only open to gamblers who are aged 21 or above. You can also visit the shopping malls and watch performances at the casinos. Those who are addicted to gambling should reconsider their visit.
Afternoon: Macau Tower is the highest Macau building which provides special adventure activities to tourists. You can go to bungee jumping or sky walking on the top of Macau Tower. The bungee jumping service jumps from the top from the tower to the ground. The tourists can also jump from the top of the tower to the ground. If you are afraid of jumping from a high building, you can choose to skywalk which offers more safety protection such as your body is connected with a wire and guided by the trained staff. Tourists can also have dinner at a buffet restaurant on the top of Macau Tower. The restaurant offers Chinese, Portuguese, and Western cuisine with a view on Macau.