What to do and see in Macau in a day
1. Visit the Grand Lisboa Casino
The Lisboa Casino and Hotel is the landmark of Macau’s gambling heart. Located in downtown, it’s the oldest resident casino on the island. However, in 2007 it underwent a facelift to a look that’s grander, glittzier and power-packed with glam (photo below). If there’s one casino royale to see in Macau, this is the one that’s distinct of the island.
Getting There: Take the free Grand Lisboa shuttle bus located outside the ferry terminal, directly to the hotel.
2. Do a casino tour and learn about the Asian gambling spirit
Being a gambling mecca of Asia, there are Asian games that a westerner may not recognize, such as Pai Kao (Chinese dominoes) and Fan Tan (a cup being scooped through a pile of buttons). Other popular gambling games in Macau involve horse racing and greyhound racing.
Aside from the Lisboa, there are recognizable western names as well, such as Wynn Resorts, The Sands, The Venetian Macau.
You must be over 18 years old. No wearing sandals, slippers or shorts. No photography and valid passport is required.
3. Visit Largo Do Senado
Cobble stone streets, alley marketplaces and Portuguese colonial architecture, capture the feeling of this busy tourist marketplace. Pastelarias line the main street with sweets and meat jerky shops, which draw you in with its tempting samples. The Largo Do Senado is a main square that’s one long street, ending at the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
4. Buy souvenirs at the pasteleria
Located between Largo do Seneca and Sao Paulo| St. Paul’s Cathedral is a cobble street marketplace filled with shops and pastelerias (stores selling sweets and jerky meats). Stores occasionally have salespeople standing outside ready to pop samples into your mouth so you’ll be lured in to shop. Watch out: it’s easy to get stuck going from store to store sampling samples.
5. Visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral
After strolling through the streets of crowded tourists and pastelarias, you’ll arrive at the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral (aka Sao Paolo). It’s a 17th century cathedral facade, which honors St. Paul the Apostle and is a reknown Macau UNESCO site.
The landmark is really just a façade. There’s a small museum of a couple of rooms, behind it with a few artifacts, a huge mystery rock and a reliquary of Japanese martyrs and monks. It’s free and open to the public.
5. Explore the streets and architecture
Just when you think you might be seeing a part of Chinese culture, Macau fools you. If you look closely, it’s a Chinese-Portuguese influence and there’s no middle way.
There are backstreet elements, which might remind you of the Spanish streets of Barcelona. Chinese store shops mirror a Chinatown, with the exceptional tweak of a Spanish/Portuguese sign. You’ll feel culturally confused for some time.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get out to the Macao Museum (recommended and not far from St. Paul’s Cathedral) to understand more about Macao’s culture and history. I thought with the interesting influences, the museum would be worth checking out.
6. Discover the Macanese quirks
A day in Macau is not enough to understand the culture thoroughly or even partly. I spent the rest of the day exploring Macanese quirks on foot.