Macau madness: A day trip from Hong Kong

Ever wanted to visit Portugal, Las Vegas, and China in one go? I didn’t think it was possible either… until I visited Macau!

What to expect in this article:

About Macau

Macau (or Macao) is a Special Administrative Region of China, just like Hong Kong. It’s only about 1 hour away by boat from Hong Kong, which makes it perfect for a day trip! Also, Hong Kong is amazing. I had a great time there, so you definitely have to consider HK if you haven’t.

Macau was ruled by Portugal for over 400 years, which is why the region feels super western, even though it’s in Asia. Since 1999, it has been part of China again—but it still has its own rules, money (Macanese Pataca, or MOP), and culture.

What is it most known for? Macau is also known as the “Las Vegas of the East” because it’s full of huge, fancy casinos and hotels.
I had the chance to visit Macau in January of 2025, while visiting Hong Kong and was amazed by everything I saw!

When to visit Macau

If you’re like me and don’t enjoy melting in the sun or be in a surprise typhoon (no thanks!), then try to visit in:

October to December – This is the best time! The weather is cool, dry, and perfect for walking around without sweating through your clothes.
March to May – Also a nice time. A bit warmer and more humid, but still good for sightseeing.
June to September – Really hot, humid, and rainy. Also typhoon season. I’d skip it unless you love storms and sweat 🙂

I went in January, and it was cool and comfy. Like light jacket weather!

Getting to Macau from Hong Kong

So, how do you get there?

The easiest (and cheapest) way is by ferry! I took the TurboJET from Hong Kong Sheung Wan Ferry Terminal (very central). It took around 1 hour and cost about HKD 380 (roughly €40 – 45 euros) for 2 people (beginning of 2025), up and down. They leave every 15–30 minutes, so it’s super easy and no need to book far in advance (unless it’s a holiday!). We just went to the terminal and bought our tickets there.

You can also travel from Kowloon or the airport, but Sheung Wan is the most popular destination. The waves can be bumpy, so you’d better take a motion sickness pill if it bothers you, but luckily, you will be there in no time (1 hour).

Don't forget to book an activity in Macau

What money do you use in Macau?

Macau has its own currency called the Macanese Pataca (MOP). But here’s the funny thing: Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) are accepted almost everywhere, and at the same value!

So if you already have HKD from your trip to Hong Kong, there’s no need to exchange it. Just use it like normal cash. As I collect banknotes and MOP is unique, I did get some. I changed HKD at the ferry terminal; luckily, there was an option for it. Yay!

Tip: If they give you change in MOP, don’t worry—it works fine, but you might not be able to use it back in Hong Kong. So try to spend it all before heading back. I did not use it much, as I collect it and took it home.

Am I in Europe? Or Vegas? Or China?

I stepped off the boat and my brain got confused. First, I got a new stamp in my passport, which I was happy about 🙂

One moment, I saw golden lion statues, buildings in the most weird shape luxury casinos, and the next I was walking through cobbled streets with blue-and-white Portuguese tiles. Wait… wasn’t this supposed to be China? Or not, am I not allowed to say that, as it is a special administrative region of China?
At least I knew I was still in Asia!

Did you know: Macau was ruled by Portugal for over 400 years—until 1999! That’s why you see pastel buildings, the typical stones, azulejos, churches, and even Portuguese street names (yep, Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro is there). So all the signs are in Portuguese/ Chinese and English, which is super weird to experience. Or the safety instruction video on the boat, was in 3 languages…

Well, I haven’t been to Las Vegas (USA) yet, but most people compare Macau with that giant city and I can imagine that. Anyway, walking in Macau (Cotai more specifically) felt like walking in a candy store, I could walk all day and be amazed by every special building.

Read this article about Hong Kong!

Why you should visit 10.000 Buddha’s Temple in Hong Kong!

What to see one day in Macau

If you only have a day (like I did), here’s how to make the most of it:

Definitely visit the area of Cotai! From the boat you can easily take a bus to the center of Cotai and then walk and see some really special buildings:

The Cotai Strip: Just follow this road and see luxury
The Venetian: Makes you feel like you are in Venice (Italy)
The Parisian: The only thing that was missing was a croissant
The Londoner Carriage: Or do you prefer being in the UK?
Wynn Palace: See a gorgeous fountain show like you are in Dubai
City of Dreams: There are often shows here, and they are playing APT from Bruna Mars (why does every child love this song?)
Casino: Even if you don’t like to gamble, just visit for 5 minutes and feel like you are in a zoo, just look at the different kind of people
Studio City Macao: A building like a Marvel movie
After this, make sure to have some food somewhere
Then take a bus and go to Casino Lisboa, which is on the other island. This is one of Macau’s most famous buildings and you can walk around this area for some time
After this, it is probably time to head back to the boat to Hong Kong

What to see if you have more days in Macau

These are some things to do if you have more time. Unfortunately, I did not have time for it, but I did save it for you.

Ruins of St. Paul’s – It’s basically the front wall of a church with nothing behind it.
Senado Square – It feels like you’re in Lisbon, but everyone’s speaking Cantonese. Oh man, I would have loved seeing this.
Monte Fort – Great views over the city, looking at pictures, it looks like you are not in Macau anymore, but somewhere in the Middle Ages.
Taipa Village – Cute colored streets. From the pictures, it makes me think like it is Balat (Istanbul) or Burano (Venice)
Macau Fisherman’s Wharf: Feel like you are in Rome and see the Asian Colosseum
Templo de Kun Iam Tong: Don’t just experience the craziness, but also have a spiritual experience at a temple

Walk around, there is so much to see! Now I feel like I want to go back, to see more.

What to eat in Macau

I had no idea what to expect of the food in Macau. Would it be Portuguese or Chinese food? But here are some things you should try:

Portuguese egg tarts or pastel de nata: The Portuguese famous tart– Crispy outside, creamy inside. It has been some time since I was last in Portugal, so this was very welcome and nice.
Macanese food – A mix of Chinese and Portuguese. Try African Chicken (not actually African but should be good).
Minchi – A comfort dish made with minced meat, potatoes, and rice.
Hou Choi Seafood & Chinese Restaurant: This is where we ate for dinner and had some nice seafood.
Shopping mall: We also went to a mall to have some nice food at a food court. As I need to be careful with my stomach, as I get food poisoning fast (like in India), so I always hope they have food that I can trust.

There are small bakeries everywhere, so follow your nose 🙂

Getting around Macau

How to get around Macau? With just a good pair of shoes and Google Maps! I mostly walked and took the bus to the other island (to visit Casino Lisboa), but here are options:

Free hotel shuttles – Yes, free! Big casinos like the Venetian run free buses from the ferry terminal. Even when you don’t stay at a hotel, you can take the free shuttle! Unfortunately, I found out about this too late.
The Venetian, Parisian, Londoner, Sands Macao, MGM, Grand Lisboa are a few examples of hotels that offer free hotel shuttles. Make sure to check timetables and pick-up points online! (ChatGPT is everyone’s best friend now)
Public buses – Cheap and easy! It can get crowded, though. From Cotai to Casino Lisboa, we had to stand. You can also pay with the Macau Pass and sometimes with AliPay and other apps like that.
Taxis – Not too expensive, but not every driver speaks English. I’ve read stories online that there are not many taxis in Macau. We were on a budget, so never even looked at taxis.

I personally loved wandering around and getting a little lost. That’s how we found the most interesting buildings. And to be honest, it was pretty quiet (almost eerie) at most places, except for at the Cotai Strip, the hotels and casinos there and at Casino Lisboa.

Don't forget to book this activity in Macau

Why is it so crazy and underrated?

Macau is like someone threw Portugal, Las Vegas, and China into a blender. It’s such a strange combo—and most of the times I felt like walking in an amusement park.

And yet… not many people talk about it! Everyone knows about Las Vegas, but what about Macau!? Most people skip it or think it’s just for gamblers. But there’s so much more! I only went for the day and that was enough for a taste, but honestly, I wouldn’t mind going back and see more crazy buildings. Or maybe do I just visit Las Vegas? 🙂

Also, what to consider when visiting Macau: My friend and I were budget travellers, especially my friend, as she had been travelling around Asia for more than seven months. But! When you visit Macau, you will need money and should dress nicely. So make sure to take that in your bag/backpack when going here 🙂 The crowd is mostly people with money there.

Final thoughts

So, is it possible to do a day trip to Macau from Hong Kong for a day? Yes! And it is completely worth it. I don’t regret it. A day trip is enough to cover the most important sites and you will understand the vibe.

Also, if you’re already in Hong Kong and want to do something totally different, go to Macau. It’s fun, walkable, historical, flashy, and full of surprises. Just don’t expect to win big at the casino I guess 🙂

Lastly, would I recommend it for more than one day?I actually do! But even if you just have one day (like we did), it is great to witness the craziness of Macau and spend the day here.