Macau has something for everyone. There are plenty of things to do and see in this tiny city. Exotic and unusual, it provides a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese cultures entwined, to offer visitors a one-of-a-kind experience.
Touring
There is plenty of touring to be done in this unique city. From temples to churches, and from museums to historic landmarks, Macau has a lot of place to visit. Some of the interesting museums in the city include; the Macau Maritime Museum, the Wine Museum, the Grand Prix Museum, the St. Dominic Church Museum, the Macau Institute of Art, the Taipa House Museum and Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial House. Some interesting churches to visit here include; the Ruins of Saint Paul, Saint Dominic Church, Chapel of Our Lady of Penha, Chapel of Our Lady of Guia, Chapel of St. Francis Xavier and the Chapel of Our Lady of Carmel.
The most noteworthy temples to visit in Macau are; the Temple of A-Ma (Ma Gua), the Temple of Kun Iam and the Pui Tai Un Temple. Some of the best landmarks in the city to visit include; Senate Square, the Macau Sky Tower, Barrier Gate, Hotel Lisboa, Taipa Village, Coloane Village, the Cybernetic Fountain and the Chinese Zodiac Sculptures.
Activities
If touring is not enough, there are plenty of other activities that one can indulge in while in Macau. There are jogging tracks around the Guia Lighthouse, the Avenida da Republica and the around the tip of the peninsula for fitness enthusiasts. Tai Chi is also practiced at the Guia Lighthouse. For those who like long walks or hikes, there is an 8 kilometer long trail in the hills of Coloane Island. Most hotels and resorts in Macau also have their own gyms and fitness centers as well. Additionally for golf aficionados, there is an extensive 18-hole golf course on Coloane Island.
Go to the Beach
For those who prefer to relax in the sun, Macau has two great beaches, Cheoc Van Beach or Bamboo Bay and Hac Sa Beach. Hac Sa in Chinese means black sand. At this beach the sand is actually grey in color, but by nightfall the sand looks completely black. Hac Sa Beach also has a park with a swimming pool, a play ground, a BBQ ground, and a recreational area for kids and adults. It is a popular holiday spot among local residents as well.
Gambling
The most popular activity in Macau is of course gambling. All nine casinos in the city are open 24-hours, and visitors have the choice of playing any game they like from baccarat and blackjack, to keno and poker. However unlike Las Vegas and Monte Carlo, there are no bright flashy signs or big shows at the casinos, here gambling is the only form of entertainment. In Macau gambling is a serious sport. Besides the regular casino games Macau casinos also offer traditional Chinese games like fan-tan and dai-siu. Some famous high-stake gambling houses include the Casino Lisboa, the Floating Palace Casino, the New Century Casino, the Mandarin Oriental Casino, and the Hyatt Casino.
Note – Foreign visitors must be over 18 in order to enter into a casino. The casinos also enforce a strict dress code with male guests not allowed to wear shorts, sandals or slippers. Weapons, cameras and bags of any kind are also strictly prohibited.
Besides gambling at the casinos, other forms of gambling in Macau include; Horse racing, Greyhound racing and Betting. At the Macau Jockey Club on Taipa Island, horse races are held every Tuesday, Thursday and weekends at night. With international standard racing facilities this club, it is a great place to kick back and go out for a fun night! Greyhound racing is held every Tuesday, Thursdays and on weekends after 8:00 pm. at the Canidrome. Located in the northern part of Macau, the Canidrome is the only Greyhound racing facility in Asia and is considered to be among the largest and best equipped in the world. Macau SLOT is the only legalized gambling company in Asia, and was the first government-franchised company in Asia to operate a sports betting business.
Some other interesting things to do
Some other interesting things to do include, visiting the Cybernetic Fountain, the biggest fountain in Asia. Installed in the reservoir opposite the Ferry Terminal, this fountain is computerized and consists of 292 water jets, the tallest reaching 70 meters. Special shows of sound and light are held at the fountain every night, except Fridays. Another interesting place to visit is the Macau Maritime Museum situated opposite the A-Ma temple. This museum focuses on Portuguese and Chinese maritime vessels. Displays at the museum include models, and real vessels at the nearby No. l pier. For those who enjoy fast-paced action, the Macau Grand Prix Museum located in the basement of the Tourist Activities Centre is a great place to visit.
Opened in 1993 for the 40th Macau Grand Prix, Asia's premier racing event, this museum contains some of the cars and motorcycles that won the Grand Prix in the past. Besides the pictures, videos and memorabilia of past winners such as Ayrton Senna, there are also interactive simulators for visitors to 'drive' the circuit. Even if you don’t gamble visiting Hotel Lisboa is an exciting experience. This massive building is a landmark in Macau and is shaped like a birdcage. You will often find gamblers rubbing pigs oil onto the lions statues that guard the door for good luck.
