1 destination · 18 things to do

Macau

Macau is a small, dense and unexpectedly layered city on the Pearl River Delta, a former Portuguese territory that is now a Special Administrative Region of China. On the peninsula, cobbled squares with wave-patterned pavements, yellow-washed churches, Taoist temples and the carved facade of the Ruins of St. Paul’s make up a UNESCO-listed historic centre where Portuguese and Chinese traditions sit side by side. A short bridge or bus ride away, the Cotai Strip turns the scale up: resort-size hotels, a gondola ride through a replica Venice, a water-based stage show at City of Dreams, an urban zipline and the 338-metre Macau Tower, which offers one of the highest bungy jumps in the world. Between the two, Taipa and Coloane keep a village feel, with Macanese food, egg tarts and quiet lanes. Macau is easy to cover on foot and by free hotel shuttle, and works equally well as a two-day city break or as a stop on a longer Asia trip. Entry rules differ from mainland China, so check the current requirements for your nationality before you travel.