Day 1 in Macau

Welcome to Macau! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check-in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the city and wander around the colorful public Senado Square found in the historic heart of the Macau Peninsula. The bustling square is part of the UNESCO Historic Center of Macau World Heritage Site bursting with restaurants, cafes, gift shops, and entertainment. Sit back at one of the open-air cafes and enjoy a delicious lunch while taking in the charming atmosphere, after lunch, do some shopping and pick up that perfect souvenir to take home.

One of the best ways to see the vast number of sights and attractions in the city is to take a ride on the Macau Open Top Bus Tour to see the famous landmarks and various attractions in Macau. There are day passes available with tours offered during the day and at night, with 16 stops along the way and a full tour lasting 70 minutes. Highlights include stops at Macau Tower, A-ma Temple, Kun Iam Statue, Grand Lisboa and the Casinos of the Cotai Strip.

Another great way to explore the city and its exciting sights is to do the Macau Heritage Walk, where you get to see heritage buildings including the Sao Paulo Cathedral, the Fort and the Macau Museum. The city is a fascinating place to just wander around decorated with temples, churches, fortresses, and other historic buildings and a mix of Chinese and Portuguese architecture.

Be sure to make a stop at The Ruins of St Paul, which is a famous landmark in the city. All that remains here is the Renaissance facade and a set of granite steps of the 17th Century Portuguese church, which was dedicated to Saint Paul the Apostle. The church is part of the Historic Center of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the church burned down during a fire in 1835.

Check out the Macau Museum with exhibition spaces presenting the history of the city and territory of the former Portuguese colony of Macau. This is the largest museum found in the heart of the city, housed in the famous Monte Fortress adjacent to the Ruins at St Paul. Explore the three storey`s featuring 3,000 exhibits and historical relics on display.

If you wish to do some shopping in the city head to The Rua da Tercena, the most popular art, antiques, and flea market section of the city filled with antique shops and bustling markets close to the Ruins of St Paul`s. Wander along the authentic cobblestone narrow streets here brimming with shops, boutiques, vendors and galleries.

Rua du Cunha, also known as `Food Street`, is another narrow pedestrian street in the city famous for its variety of delicious local foods. Here is where you can find some of the most famous Macau eateries including Lord Stow, Gelatina Mok Yi Kei, Seng Cheong Crab Porridge and more, stop in and sample one of the city`s famous Macanese egg tarts.

Visit the Guia Fortress, a 17th-century colonial military fort, chapel and lighthouse and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Historic Center of the city. The fort and chapel sit at the highest point on the peninsula and offer breathtaking views, construction dates back to the 1600s and boast original Chinese and Portugues architecture, the lighthouse stands next to the chapel at 300 feet tall, it was the first western-style lighthouse in East Asia and can be seen from 20 miles away.

As evening approaches make your way to Macau Fisherman`s Wharf, a large dining and entertainment complex on the waterfront near the Hong Kong -Macau Ferry port. The wharf features different replica port `towns` including Miami, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Venice, and New Orleans, there is an abundance of restaurants in the complex along with 150 retail stores, a marina, two hotels, and a casino. One of the most amazing attractions found here is the Roman Amphitheatre, which resembles the Colosseum in Rome, it can hold up to 2,000 spectators and is the host of concerts and shows. Aladdin`s Fort is a Middle Eastern fort featuring rides for children and the `Vulcania` the main attraction which is a 131-foot tall replica volcano which erupts every evening.

When it comes to food the city of Macau has everything to offer from food stalls and food streets to Michelin-rated restaurants found inside the glamorous resorts and casinos. Whether you fancy some traditional Macanese cuisine, delicious fresh seafood, Portuguese, Chinese or Cantonese food it is all available in the city at a wide variety of eateries. Some of the largest concentration of restaurants are found on the Peninsula, where many of the famous restaurants are found.

Be sure to see the Macau Tower, which stands 1,109 feet tall, head up to the observation deck for some breathtaking views over the city. The tower features restaurants, shopping malls, theatres and exhilarating activities such as the Skywalk X and the Skyjump, a 764 foot tethered bungee jump from the tower`s rim.

Macau is the `Las Vegas of the East` filled with glamorous casinos housed at some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. On your first evening in the sparkling city attend the magnificent `The House of Dancing Water` show at the luxurious `City of Dreams` resort. This is the world`s largest water show and most expensive theatre show in the world. The stage holds five Olympic swimming pools worth of water and cost US$250 million to create. Sit back in awe and take in the spectacular 90-minute show featuring some of the world`s greatest gymnasts, circus artists, dancers, and divers.

Day 2 in Macau

Start your morning off by visiting one of the many cafes located in the city, there are cafes and bakeries on every street offering delicious freshly brewed tea and coffee along with tasty baked goods including the Macau Portugues Egg Tart, a tasty tart with delicious egg custard filling, flaky pastry crust, and creme brulee tops.

After some breakfast, head out for a hike! The islands of Taipa and Coloane boasts some beautiful lush verdant landscapes and mountainous areas. Check out the Coloane Trail, a popular hiking spot in the city, which extends for five miles, encircling the central area of Coloane at just over 300 feet above sea level

While on the island of Coloane here are some popular activities to check out. Why not spend some time on the beautiful Hac Sa Beach, the largest natural beach in the city, it runs for a mile and is famous for its `Hac Sa` `Black Sand` which comes from the minerals in the water and seabed that get washed ashore. Spend some time walking along the beach, soaking up the sun or swimming in the waters, there are many leisurely activities offered at the beachside park including tennis, golf, swimming pool, and pedal boats. There are a variety of food stalls, restaurants, cafes and shops located by the beach, stop in for a bite to eat and pick up some unique gifts.

If you are interested in seeing some wildlife, head to the Macau Zoo and check out the Macau Giant Panda Pavilion. There is a range of animals at the park including monkeys, gorillas and the giant pandas named Kai Kai and Xin Xin, along with Xin Xin`s twins Dabao and Xiaobao. Also, be sure to see the two red pandas named Luo Luo and Tong Tong, they look like a mixture between a panda, fox and a raccoon! Cute as can be.

Spend the afternoon checking out some of the fantastic sights and attractions in the city. Take a tour of the A-Ma Temple, the oldest and most famous Taoist temple in the city built in 1488, a historical landmark and part of the UNESCO Historic Center of the city.

Wander around the amazing Macau Maritime Museum, the building resembles a boat with three stories and glass windows with highlights including interactive displays detailing the country`s maritime history, galleries, and aquariums featuring mock-up boats.

Check out the Mandarin`s House, a historic residential complex that was the residence of Zheng Guanying, a theoretician, scholar and reformist in China. The mansion was built in 1869 and features Cantonese architecture, it was completely renovated in 2001 and became part of the Historic Center of Macau. The mansion is where Guaying completed his masterpiece `Shengshi Weiyan` (Words of Warning in Times of Prosperity`). Take a tour of the inside of the house featuring 60 rooms along with the main hall, a moon gate, and tranquil courtyards.

Make your way to Nam Van Lake, a man-made lake and one of the two main lakes found in the city. The lake is a great place for a stroll and a popular setting for water sports, stick around for the Cybernetic Fountain show which is displayed every night. The free water and laser show features 86 spouts shooting water up to 262 feet in the air from different cannons along with 288 colorful spotlights.

Head to the Mega Casinos and resorts on Cotai Island for dinner tonight. The bustling Cotai Strip is dubbed the `Las Vegas Strip of the East` and is overflowing with luxurious resorts and casinos, making it a very popular entertainment district in Macau. Home to places such as the famous Venetian, which is the largest casino in the world, the City of Dreams, Studio City, Galaxy Macau, Sands Cotai, and Wynn Palace.

Check out the awe-inspiring Venetian, a vegas style, Venice themed hotel featuring a million square feet of retail space along with fine dining restaurants and a large food court, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Italian cuisine are just a few of the options offered here. Walk around the complex and the Venice style outdoor shopping mall, take a romantic Gondola ride through the canals, then check out the sparkling nightlife at the bars, clubs, and casinos. The Venetian offers four different themed gaming sections and thousands of slot machines. Alternatively, catch one of the magnificent live shows offered at the resorts.

Additional Days in Macau

If you are able to spend additional days in Macau, see the magnificent Kun Iam Statue at the Buddhist Temple with a history dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Kun Iam was a Chinese representation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Mercy. The temple features beautiful vibrant Chinese gardens with a courtyard.

Spend a day at the Grand Resort Deck, a resort-style water wonderland featuring multiple swimming pools, white sand beaches, the world`s largest Skytop Wave Pool, the world`s longest Skytop Aquatic Adventure River Ride, waterslides, beach lagoons, white water rapids, geysers, waterfalls and the largest kids aquatic zone! There is so much to see and do at the resort, it will keep you busy for an entire day.

Check out the Grand Prix Museum, Macau Grand Prix celebrated 50 years in 2004, the museum's exhibits display items related to the Grand Prix, including photographs, videos, illustrated articles, cups, and commemorative items.

Visit the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial House, which was the former home of family members and relatives of Sun Yat-sen, the `Father of Modern China`. See the life-size statue of the doctor that stands in the courtyard, and take a tour through the house decorated with his personal belongings.

Your Last Day in Macau

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.