Compared to Hong Kong, Macau is very mellow… but if you’ve never been to Asia, it’s mellow compared to big Asian city standards which means it’s more bustling than you’re probably used to… It’s very compact with tons of pedestrians, vehicular traffic and some great historical sites to see.
Macau used to be a Portuguese colony a long time ago. This means many of the signs are in Portuguese and the European influence can be seen around every corner. There are random European fountains and pedestrian friendly squares where shops converge. there are seating areas where pedestrians can sit and relax their tired feet.
The Portuguese and Chinese cultural blend is brilliant! Some streets are paved in a traditional wavy/zigzag pattern that can be seen in other Portuguese speaking countries like Brazil. The historical monuments make this amazing city worth walking around and discovering something new on a daily basis.
Now that it’s not a Portuguese colony the Chinese influence over this great city adds so much culture and density to the city. It’s breathtaking to say the least.
Macau, China and Casinos
Macau is known, to some people, as the Las Vegas of China. I hate gambling so I didn’t explore any of the casinos the city has to offer. There are many casinos in the area. In fact, I stayed at the Sofitel, which also had a casino on the first floor. However, I was away from the bustling casino center of it all.
Taipa is the island where all giant casinos and hotels are. Since I don’t really care for Las Vegas or Casinos in general I did a drive-by tour of the place. As I took a cab to the beach I noticed many of the same casinos you see in Vegas are also here. You have The Venetian, The MGM, The Wynn and other Macau-only casinos.
I should probably mentioned I heard a lot about the gambling in Macau being very serious. It’s not a party city per se (like Vegas.) People come here to spend money.
But like I said I don’t enjoy casinos so I stayed away from them all.
A Few Macau Sights
There are three amazing sights I highly recommend when visiting Macau. The first is a very Portuguese shopping district. Its beautiful. It also looks like a small piece of Europe just plopped in the middle of China, which makes it more interesting. The architecture is adorable but it’s always busting with people. If you can stand the crowds I’d say go to Largo Do Senado! If you hate shopping, just go see the incredible and beauty of it. It’s worth it and totally Instagram worthy.
Fortaleza Do Monte is another great sight. I actually just stumbled upon it the next morning, after arriving. I was so jet-lagged I woke up at 5am. Had a bite to eat and some coffee and decided to go for a walk. I continued walking up until I got to this fort-looking-thing. It’s made of stone with cannons on top. Not sure what it was, I entered.
It’s a beautiful park with lush vegetation and amazing looking trees. It overlooks the city. You can see the beautiful Macau skyline from here.
The coolest thing about this accident is the groups of people practicing their Tai Chee in the morning. The air was crisp. The morning was still and the group played traditional Chinese music on a small radio as they moved their hands slowly through the sky. I thought it was majestic.
The next great site I saw on this trip is The Ruin’s of St. Paul. It’s basically just the facade of an old church. The church itself no longer stands. But for some strange reason this place is amazing!
Perhaps it really is about first impressions. The square where the facade stands is very well done… There are many steps that lead to the facade and rows and rows of bushes as well. Its pristine and clean and full of history.
This place gets full too. Coming here early is best if you want to avoid crowds. Either way, it’s so worth it. Even if its just for a good Instagram picture.
Let me break it down for you:
Macau is a great mix of cultures. The street signs are in Portuguese, Chinese and Macanese. The amazing mix of European and Chinese influences makes this city extremely different.
There are countless casinos you can gamble in, if that’s your thing. It’s not mine though.
Sights you have to see:
- Fortaleza do Monte
- Ruins of St. Paul
- Largo Do Senado
All three sites I talked about in this article are also free to enter and free is always good in my book!
These are just three of the things to do here but there is so much to see, do and even eat. If you do things right you can do it all in a weekend…
Is Macau worth a side trip? You bet your pretty little face!
Check out the video i made of Macau… Dont laugh. It was my first vlog ever and it came out really bad… but I still really enjoy it because I had so many great memories from this trip. Macau is really something.