Macau Tower
The 338-metre tower on the southern tip of the peninsula, with an observation deck, glass-floored walkways and some of the highest adventure activities in Asia. A clear-day view over the Pearl River Delta is the reward.
Macau (China)
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.
Don't miss
Macau Tower
The 338-metre tower on the southern tip of the peninsula, with an observation deck, glass-floored walkways and some of the highest adventure activities in Asia. A clear-day view over the Pearl River Delta is the reward.
The House of Dancing Water
Macau’s big water spectacle at City of Dreams: a 90-minute production of acrobatics, diving and stage engineering around a huge pool. It is a long-running production that is not staged every night, so check the schedule.
Ruins of St. Paul’s
The carved stone facade and broad staircase of a 17th-century church, the symbol of Macau and the star of the UNESCO-listed historic centre. It is free, open to all, and best early or late to avoid the crowds.
Venetian Macao Gondola Ride
A short gondola ride along the indoor canals of The Venetian Macao, under a painted sky and past the shopfronts of a replica Venice. It is a playful Cotai classic, and a good rainy-day idea.
Things to do in Macau
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Venetian Macao Gondola Ride
A short gondola ride along the indoor canals of The Venetian Macao, under a painted sky and past the shopfronts of a replica Venice. It is a playful Cotai classic, and a good rainy-day idea.
Macau Zipcity Urban Zipline
An urban zipline at the Lisboeta Macau resort on Cotai, billed as the first of its kind in Asia Pacific. You ride a zip line from a tower, and a challenge jump adds a harder option.
The House of Dancing Water
Macau’s big water spectacle at City of Dreams: a 90-minute production of acrobatics, diving and stage engineering around a huge pool. It is a long-running production that is not staged every night, so check the schedule.
FreeRuins of St. Paul’s
The carved stone facade and broad staircase of a 17th-century church, the symbol of Macau and the star of the UNESCO-listed historic centre. It is free, open to all, and best early or late to avoid the crowds.
30-60 minutesDetails →
FreeSenado Square
The pedestrian heart of old Macau: a wide square paved in black-and-white waves, ringed by pastel colonial buildings and a short walk from the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Free to enjoy, and full of snacks.
30-60 minutesDetails →
FreeA-Ma Temple
A hillside Taoist temple complex at the foot of Barra Hill, dedicated to the sea goddess A-Ma. Its curling incense, red lanterns and rock-set shrines are among the oldest in Macau, and it is free to enter.
1 hourDetails →
FreeGuia Fortress, Chapel and Lighthouse
The hilltop fortress, chapel and lighthouse on Guia Hill, the highest point of the Macau peninsula. A green climb, a historic lighthouse and good views over the city make it a calm, free contrast to the casinos.
1-2 hoursDetails →
Macau Private Tour with a Local Insider
A private four-hour tour of Macau with a local guide, shaped around your interests rather than a fixed route. Strong reviews and a flexible pace make it a good first-day orientation.
Guided Macau Sightseeing Tour
A five-hour guided sightseeing tour that starts from your Macau hotel and covers the city’s highlights without any planning. Strongly reviewed, and a good value way to see the main sights in a morning.
Golden Reel Ferris Wheel
A giant figure-eight Ferris wheel at Studio City on the Cotai Strip, with air-conditioned cabins and a slow, high loop over the resorts, the reclaimed land and the lights of Taipa. It is one of the easiest ways to see Cotai from above.
Eiffel Tower at The Parisian Macao
A half-scale Eiffel Tower replica at The Parisian Macao, with an observation deck for views over Cotai. It is a playful, photogenic stop, and the Paris-themed resort around it is worth a wander.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Four Seasons Hotel Macao
Cotai Strip
The splurge pick on the Cotai Strip: 360 rooms and suites, five outdoor pools, a full spa, a Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant and free valet parking, next door to The Venetian Macao.
Check rates →
$$$Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16
Inner Harbour (Macau Peninsula)
A large waterfront hotel on the peninsula with 408 rooms, two outdoor pools, a spa and free self-parking, within reach of Senado Square and the old town sights.
Check rates →
$$$Artyzen Grand Lapa Macau
Avenida de Amizade (Macau Peninsula)
A resort-style hotel on the peninsula with 426 rooms, a pool with waterslide, a spa, tennis courts, a kids’ club and free self-parking, close to Guia Fortress and the Macau Tower side of town.
Check rates →
$$Regency Art Hotel Macau
Taipa Village
A seaside four-star hotel in Taipa Village with 326 rooms, a seasonal outdoor pool, a garden and playground, and a short drive to the Cotai Strip and the airport.
Check rates →
$Hotel Sintra
Old Centre (Macau Peninsula)
The budget pick: a 240-room hotel on Avenida de Dom Joao IV in the old centre, a short walk from Senado Square, with a restaurant, free Wi-Fi and a front desk open all night.
Check rates →Wynn Palace
Cotai Strip
A lavish Cotai resort known for its floral decor, a lakeside fountain show and a cable car that glides over the water. It suits couples and splurge travellers who want a resort stay with a strong sense of occasion.
Check rates →Mandarin Oriental, Macau
NAPE waterfront
A smaller, quieter luxury hotel on the peninsula waterfront, with a spa, a pool and restaurants that put service ahead of spectacle. It is a refined alternative to the Cotai mega-resorts for a stay close to the old town.
Check rates →Grand Hyatt Macau
Cotai Strip
A large, modern hotel inside the City of Dreams resort on the Cotai Strip, steps from the House of Dancing Water. It is a convenient base for shows, dining and family time on Cotai.
Check rates →Macau guides
First Time in Macau: What to Book, How Many Days and Getting Around
A practical primer for a first visit to Macau: what to book ahead, how many days to plan, how to get between the old town and Cotai, and where the headline sights fit.
Where to Stay in Macau: Old Town, Peninsula, Taipa or Cotai
A neighbourhood guide to Macau: the old centre for heritage and walking, the waterfront and northern peninsula for families, Taipa Village for food and Cotai for resorts and shows.
Macau in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary for the Old Town, Cotai and the Islands
A three-day plan for Macau that splits the territory into the historic peninsula, the Cotai Strip and the quieter islands of Taipa and Coloane, with timing, transport and booking tips.
Eating and Drinking in Macau: Macanese Dishes, Egg Tarts and Where to Find Them
A guide to food in Macau: Macanese dishes, egg tarts, pork chop buns, almond biscuits, noodle shops, Portuguese restaurants and the best areas for an unhurried meal.
Best Time to Visit Macau: Seasons, Weather, Festivals and Crowds
When to go to Macau: how the seasons, humidity, typhoon months, festivals and public holidays affect the weather, the crowds and hotel prices, with a month-by-month overview.
Macau with Kids: Family-Friendly Sights, Rainy-Day Ideas and Where to Stay
A family guide to Macau: pandas, gondolas, a Ferris wheel, indoor play, parks and easy village walks, with advice on timing, transport and family-friendly hotels.
