Macau: What To See & What To Skip

Thanks largely to its growing reputation as the Las Vegas of the East, Macau has been put on the map as a tourist destination. The area, which is effectively an autonomous sub-region of China, has some of the finest resorts in the world as well as a surprisingly rich and interesting history. And as you might imagine of one of the trendier Asian destinations of the last 10 or 15 years, there are all sorts of recommended sights, activities, and attractions. If you have the time, most of it is worth checking out. But if, like most travelers, you have to do a bit of prioritizing, I have some tips on what to see and skip on a trip to Macau.

What To See

Macau Historic Centre – One of the main things that makes Macau so interesting among popular resort destinations is that it has colonial heritage. The Portuguese in fact made it the first European colony on the East Asian mainland. Much of this heritage can be seen at the historic city centre, which is a UNESCO-recognized area of about 30 places and buildings within Macau. Main attractions include Senado Square, Monte Fort, and the incredible facade of the otherwise-ruined St. Paul’s Cathedral, first built in 1627.

The House Of Dancing Water – Macau’s must-see show is sort of like Cirque du Soleil over a tank of nearly four million gallons of water. Roughly 100 people are involved in what’s ultimately an incredibly expensive show, and it’s one of the most commonly and justifiably recommended attractions in town.

Taipa Village – This is basically another historic area in Macau, and one that’s just a short distance from the main casino resort hub. What makes Taipa Village unique however is that you’ll see Chinese and Portuguese history essentially all mixed up into one area. In a way that makes this the quintessential snapshot of Macau, such that even without a specific main attraction it’s an area not to be missed.

The Venetian – While I’m focusing largely on Macau beyond its reputation as a casino hotspot, there are a few casino resorts in the area that have to be experienced. City Of Dreams is certainly one of them, but The Venetian may be even more spectacular. It’s a towering, gleaming, and frankly stunning resort complex. And like its sister casino in Las Vegas, it has a system of canals, shops and restaurants meant to mimic the actual city of Venice. While something of a gimmick, it’s still quite charming.

What To Skip

Casino Floors – Casinos have become accessible the world over. Any and all games can be found online and in mobile app stores. People can play for free or for real money. They can use PayPal to make deposits, or in some cases even play with bitcoin. Basically, there’s little need to play at a physical, real world casino, unless it’s simply something you personally enjoy. So while I did recommend visiting The Venetian for the overall spectacle, I’d say the actual casino floors of the Macau resorts can be skipped in favor of other activities – particularly given how easy it’s become to play casino games from virtually everywhere else.

Guia Hill – Guia Hill is basically a 19th century fort that further exemplifies the colonial heritage of Macau. However, compared to some of the other historical areas – particularly at the historic centre and at Taipa Village – it’s non-essential.

Fisherman’s Wharf – Fisherman’s Wharf is a very cool concept, actually. It’s effectively a theme park with little areas that are designed to imitate different interesting cities and attractions throughout the world. There’s a miniature New Orleans, a mock Cape Town, an imitation of the Roman Colosseum…. It’s all rather impressive looking, but at the same time it’s all fake. Macau has enough interesting things to see and places to visit that are more authentic and unique to the area, so Fisherman’s Wharf can be skipped if you have limited time.

Macau Tower – Macau Tower is striking. Standing at 338 meters high, it towers over the rest of Macau. However, because it’s so visible as the area’s main skyscraper, you can see it as you go about exploring Macau without actually visiting up close.

Grand Lisboa – Grand Lisboa is another of the famous resorts in Macau, and I don’t mean to suggest it doesn’t offer its share of entertainment and intrigue. However unless you’re there specifically to check out the casinos, it’s one that can be missed. Next to City Of Dreams and The Venetian, it just doesn’t stand out quite as much.