Macau, any suggestions what to do and see?

[munitalP]

SWMBO & I will be landing in HKG and taking the ferry straight across to Macau where we will be staying at the Conrad for 2 nights.

We will then be returning to HKG for 1 night with a flight the following day to Ha Noi.

Can anyone offer suggestions for what to do over 2.5 days in Macau as I have never been there before.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Macau has some very nice old buildings, so just walking around is good. Then there is always casino gawping - really OTT here. And you must have an egg tart - said to originate in macau.

Ron did a trip report with photos .......... http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hotos/affs-tags-their-first-trip-23437-3.html

 

[MrHyde]

I've only been to Macau on a day trip and can second the recommendation of just wandering around Old Town or Old Macau. I still remember the signs out the front of pharmacies saying "Real medicine available here"

The other half of our day was spent wandering around the Venetian... really is an amazing place. We didn't go to any of the gambling areas as we had kids with us...

 

[bodog]

Suggest you pick up a local guide (one on one) - they are dirt cheap, very knowledgeable and entertaining. Get that done early then you can always go back to spend more time at anything that takes your fancy
As others have Sid the casinos are pretty impressive - a world of their own - the Venetian sky is worth a look

 

[MAX_1]

Portugese custard tarts. Walk from St Pauls down the hill through the shops. Go to a show. Book it while there.

Sky Jump.

Macau Bungee Jumping - YouTube

 

[mark62]

Assuming you dont want to spend 2 days in casinos, then I suggest a day walk around Old Macau. Start by taking a taxi to Guia Hill which has the oldest lighthouse on the S China Coast, and a small but quaint chapel. Follow the footpath round the side of the hill past some old fortifications, exploring the tunnel. If you follow the path you will end up at the upper station of what must be the world's shortest cable car journey - 2 minutes downhill. After exiting the cable car cross the road and visit the Memorial House of Dr Sun Yat Sen. Nearby is a picturesque walled garden, Lou Lim Yoc or something similar.

St Michael's cemetery is also worth a look as is the Senate Square which gives access to the historic centre with several picturesque churches such as St Dominics, St Augustines and the Cathedral, St Lawrences. The ruins of St Paul's are worth a look, and there is a very good Museum just behind them where you can spend a couple of hours. The Old Protestant Ceremony is also worth a visit. Finally the Camoes Gardens is a lovely relaxing spot to spend a while watching the world go by

 

[moa999]

For shows -
House of Dancing Water at City of Dreams is awesome
A HKD2 Billion Production! The World

Walking through the Venetian canals...
Fogo Samba Brazilian Churrascuria is recommended for a meal

 

[straitman]

SWMBO & I will be landing in HKG and taking the ferry straight across to Macau where we will be staying at the Conrad for 2 nights.

We will then be returning to HKG for 1 night with a flight the following day to Ha Noi.

Can anyone offer suggestions for what to do over 2.5 days in Macau as I have never been there before.

If you can do the HK bit first then Macau you will save on the HK departure tax. (I cannot remember the amount though)

You catch the ferry from Macau to the airport and as you arrive back in HK 'airside' they have a booth where they refund you the HK departure tax.

 

[munitalP]

If you can do the HK bit first then Macau you will save on the HK departure tax. (I cannot remember the amount though)

You catch the ferry from Macau to the airport and as you arrive back in HK 'airside' they have a booth where they refund you the HK departure tax.

Didn't know that, mind you, except for a promised trip up to the Buddha, I have nothing to do in Hong Kong except leave, hence the ferry across to Macau as we arrive. 1 night in HKG will suffice to do the "light show" and maybe a street food type market with the cable car ride the next morning before heading to the airport

 

[Mal]

You would want the cotai jet seeing crown is your destination. Choose first class. It is a negligible cost and gives you a San Miguel or two and a coughpy noodle bowl. But the great thing is couple seats and priority disembarkation.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

 

[marks]

Get the lonely planet guide (or google one) for the walking track through the old town. Great experience. But the walk up to the fort is heart attack material after those egg tarts.
There is a Michelin starred restaurant that does a very cheap set menu in the Lisboa Casino. Might need to google that one too.

The Casino are a copy of the US but strangely quiet on the gambling floor!

Cheers

 

[SeatBackForward]

Here are my suggestions - depending on how much time you have of course:


Ruins of St Paul
Adjacent to the Hill, has a museum around the back and under it thats worth looking at.

Senado Square
Has the old Portuguese charm, but watch out it gets crowded, especially on Sundays



Fishermans Wharf
Adjacent to the Sands Casino, a bit gawdy, but some restaurants and a pleasant walk that isnt too busy

Hac Sa Beach
Hac Sa translates to "black sand" and its the southern tip of Macau, on Coloane island. Good to get away from the crowds.



Fernandos
Is a famous Macanese restaurant next to Hac Sa beach. It has been known for people t o travel from HK just to eat a meal here.



Macau Tower
You can jump off it if you want! otherwise theres a movie theatre and usually some other exhibitions



Venetian Casino
There are of course plenty of casinos, this was the big one that opened while I lived there, though the Cotai strip now has plenty of casinos. Across the road is the James Packer owned City of Dreams


Here are some more of my photos from when I lived there in 2007:

More of my photos here: LINK

 

[Stephen65]

We did a day trip from HKG and followed the walking tour of the old city described in the Lonely Planet guide. You can do it in a day if you are keen even with a few stops for lunch and refreshments.

 

[bodog]

Here are my suggestions - depending on how much time you have of course:

Does he need to go at all now? - think you've showed him everything

 

[marks]

You can't lick this page to try the egg tart! You have to go there!

 

[fairhsa]

Not sure why anyone would prefer Macau over HK, but I assume you do so because you like Churches, Museums, Portugese food and Casinos, since that's really all there is in Macau. Everyone above has highlighted the obvious places.
For the less obvious, Fernando's might be worth doing, but frankly there are many restaurants that are 99% as good and MUCH easier to get into. People stand outside for an hour waiting to get into that place and they do not take bookings.
Coloane is nice - nice black beach and the original egg tarts. Also some relaxing noddy hiking in the hills (if you want real hiking you will need to go back to HK, which is a world-class hiking destination).

Back in HK - you seem to be staying near the airport given the comment about the Big Buddha, in which case please don't miss Tai O - a lovely fishing village just underneath the Buddha (which is a tourist infested modern "make attraction" rather than a real religious experience). You can get to Tai O by 21 bus or taxi from the Buddha. You might also want to enjoy the beaches on South Lantau, or cycling around Mui Wo, or the outlet shopping in Tung Chung, or the ferry from Tai O to Tuen Mun via Tung Chung (a reasonable chance of seeing pink dolphins from the ferry).

The light show is pathetic. If you want something spectacular, take a cab to Parkview and hike up to Jardines Lookout at night (15 mins for fit people; 25 mins if unfit). On a clear (or even clearish) night the lights of the city below are fabulous.

There is plenty more to do in HK (much more than in Macau) but you have not left yourself enough time.

(PS - I live here, in case you were wondering).

 

[casanovawa]

You could just buy a gambling book or two and go and try to break the bank of one of the casinos???

 

[SeatBackForward]

Does he need to go at all now? - think youve showed him everything

The air in Macao needs to be smelt, the food needs to be tasted and the casinos need to be heard. None of which those photos offer.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using AustFreqFly

 

[SeatBackForward]

Lord Stow's bakery on Coloane, for some of the best egg tarts around.