Trifter

Macau is perhaps one of the smallest administrative regions of China. However don’t let the size fool you. This state has much to offer tourists in terms of sightseeing, entertainment, food and, if you’re feeling lucky—gambling.

It takes as little as half a day to experience Macau’s rich culture that uniquely blends its Chinese heritage and history as a former Portuguese colony.

But here’s a two-day itinerary that my husband and I created, which allows for more than enough time to take pictures and enjoy great cuisine.

Day 1

Since we’re based in Hong Kong, the best way to get there was via Turbojet. This high-speed jetfoil sails from the ferry located at the Shun Tak Centre at Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island. We took the 7 am trip. We docked at the Macau Ferry Terminal by 10 am.  

If you’re booked at one of the glitzier hotels, free services by bus or van parked at the ferry will take you straight to the hotel. But for us, we boarded the free bus ride to The Venetian.

The Venetian Macau is pretty much an attraction on its own. The hotel’s shopping area is huge that guests may opt to cruise down via a gondola. This area is made to look like a Venetian street with a trompe d’oeil sky, street lamps and bridges.

Exploring the interior and exterior of the hotel has worked up a good appetite. So, we flagged down a taxi to take us to take us to Fernando’s on Hac Sa Beach in Coloane.

Fernando’s is a must if you want to savor the best of Portuguese cuisine in Macau. You don’t even have to show the taxi driver a map; just tell him “Fernando’s” and he’ll take you to the resto’s front step.

We then hopped on a bus that will take us to the town center of Macau. We checked in at the Ole London Hotel, a boutique inn with very modest but very clean facilities. After a quick nap, we then headed off to start the first part of the historical walk.

Since our hotel was located at the heart of the trail, we decided to move southwards. Our first stop was the St. Augustine Square, which contains the Dom Pedro V Theatre and the nearby St. Joseph’s Seminary and Church.

The map then pointed out Lilau Square and the Moorish Barracks. Our trail ended at the A-ma Temple and the Maritime Museum. By the end of our self-appointed tour, dinner was in order. There are a lot of restaurants serving Portuguese and Macanese fare in the area. Just take your pick.

Later in the evening, we caught a percussion performance at the Dom Pedro V Theatre, which was part of the then-on going Macau Arts Festival. After the performance, we decided to burn more calories by taking in the lights of the casino strip along Avenida de Lisboa.

Day 2

Our objective on the second day was to get great photos and beat the tourists. So this meant getting up as early as 7 am. We had a light breakfast at the Starbucks on Leal Senado.

After breakfast, we hiked up towards Mount Fortress then down to the Ruins of St. Paul.  We took a breather at the steps by the ruins for a decadent egg tart break.

We picked our way through the little streets towards the Luis Camoes Garden, Casa Garden and the Protestant Cemetery. By now, my head was swimming in the rich blend of Chinese, Catholicism and a hint of the British presence.

We trooped back down to the ruins for more egg tarts, pork jerky and for lunch at the Leal Senado Square. Then it’s back to the hotel and a bus to the ferry terminal.

If you plan to leave later in the afternoon, I suggest taking a taxi or bus from Leal Senado to the Flora Garden, which has a cable car. The area is also near the Guia Lighthouse. We would have gone had it not been for the springtime rains. If you have money to burn, spend it on an adrenaline rush at the Macau Tower. They let you choose between bungee jumping or walking the circumference of the tower top –on the outside.