Macau, one of the richest country in the world once known as the ”Vegas of the East” is now the world's biggest gambling enclave. However, a trip to Macau isn’t only about hitting the casinos. Macau is a very interesting place that attracts over 30 million visitors annually with its unique charm, history, architects, and rich heritage of Chinese and Portuguese culture. It goes without saying that this modern city has so much more to offer than casinos, so here are some amazing facts and tips I picked up during my stay in Macau that will be a great guide to an interesting visit in Macau.
"One Country, Two System" Macau has its own flag, a legal system, currency, and customs & immigration policy. So is Macau a country of its own? Not quite. Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) so it’s governed under the "one country, two systems" principle. This means Macau has a whole separate legal system than China, and it’s allowed to keep its democracy and capitalism until China has the right to complete control. This arrangement came into existence in 1999 and will go on for 50 years.
Macanese or Chinese
The "one country, two systems" it’s a tense issue for the locals since it seems to cause an Identity crisis. From my experience, many Macau born locals will claim themselves as Macanese and completely feel offended if you mistake them for Chinese. On the other hand, there are people that say they are Macanese Chinese.
Macau is Tiny
Macau is about 30 Kilometer square which is equal to the size of 700 football stadiums. Despite its size, Macau has over 600 Thousand residences and the number is increasing.
Macau is young
Macau was the first and last Asian country to become a European colony. It was a Portuguese colony until the governor left in 1999. So you will see a large Portuguese influence here.
Bigger & Better than Vegas
Most people think Las Vegas is the capital of the casino world, but it’s not. Not since Casino revenues in Macau surpassed those of Vegas years ago. Today, the money passing through Macau is more than 7 times that of Vegas.
Gambling
Macau is the only place in China where gambling is legal. It is also the biggest source of revenue here. Roughly 50% of Macau’s revenue comes from gambling. Macau’s casinos generate roughly 50 billion U.S. dollars. Chinese people love to gamble and take it very seriously, so you will mostly see Chinese people gambling at the Casinos.
Visa
With a US passport, you do not need a visa. You can enter Macau up to 30 Days. For your countries requirements and more info on Macau’s Customs & Immigrations policies visit here.
Walk Everywhere
This is the best way to get around in Macau Peninsula since it’s small and you will discover new areas to explore. To make it easier for yourself, plan to visit attractions that are in the same area. You'll get lost at some points, but it's all part of exploring Macau. Macau has many hills, so be prepared to struggle at times. In Cotai, it’s best that you have enough time to explore it on foot. There isn’t much there since most of the casinos take a big mass of the land.
Avoid Tours
Macau is really really tiny and it's best explored without the rush of tour guides. Because most attractions are free, and transportation isn't a hassle, it's easy to explore it on your own. When you explore this city on your own you will come across some hidden gems and other attractions that many tours will never take you to.
Free Attraction
The majority of tourist attractions are in Macau Peninsula and the Cotai Strip. However, there are some hidden gems away from all the touristy areas. Step into Taipa Village and Coloane, one of Macau’s two remaining traditional villages for a slow pace and quiet area.
Heritage
Heritage is here to stay since a big part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides casinos, Macau's colonial architectures and heritage draw hundreds of tourists daily.
Language
Portuguese and Cantonese are the official languages, but mostly Cantonese is used for daily conversation. English is also widely spoken in restaurants, shops, and etc. Although Portuguese is one of the City's official languages, most people can't communicate with it. However, most signs, street signs, building names, bus routes are all in Portuguese.
Food
Macanese food is a fusion of Portuguese and Chinese food but Cantonese cuisine dominates. You can easily find different cuisine from all over the world. The most famous food in Macau is the Portuguese egg tart. It’s nearly impossible to go anywhere in Macau without seeing Portuguese egg tarts.
City of longevity
Macau is a city of longevity because people in Macau live a long time. Many locals say long life means finding pleasure in the simple things in life like family values, no worries, staying calm, simple meals, a sense of community, and being simply grateful for what you have. It's also believed that its fast grown economy has a lot to do with the great life expectancy.
Public Safety
Macau is a pretty safe city since crime is very rare here. Nevertheless, you should take the same precautions as you normally would. A low crime rate doesn’t guarantee anything. Always proceed with caution.
Power Outlets/ Plugs/ Power Sockets
If you are traveling from US to Macau, you need a power plug adopter. In Macau the power outlets are of type D, M, G and F. US power outlets are type A and B which is not compatible with Macau’s outlets.
The above picture provides the power sockets type for most countries. Use it as a guide to see if you need to buy a power plug before arriving in Macau.
Currency & Credits Cards
The currency is the Pataca also known as Macau dollar (MOP) you can use Hong Kong dollars (HKD) in Macau but the same can’t be done in Hong Kong. Foreign credit cards are widely accepted. Usually more in hotels & restaurants. However, I wouldn’t rely on cards too much. You better off carrying cash.
Accommodation
Book Early or sleep at the airport!
Avoid Luxury hotels!
When in Macau do not expect to book a week in advance and receive a good deal. The cheapest you'll find is $100 a night and that's if you are lucky. Most of the hotels are above $200 - $300 a night. Macau is a city that's crowded with tourists on a daily base so you should book in advance like a month early and you will get a hotel for $50 a night. It's best to avoid luxury hotels and go for the budget kind because you will most likely only be at your hotel to shower and sleep. Unless you trying to sleep the night at the airport, don't think you can ever get a last-minute hotel in this city. Trust me, I'm, talking from experience. But if you don't care about the cost, go for it.
Regions
Macau was geographically divided into three regions: the peninsula (center), Taipa and Coloane, but the reclamation of the area between Taipa and Coloane created a fourth region called Cotai. Macau Peninsula is connected to the Taipa island by three significant bridges.
Macau Peninsula
This region is connected to mainland China. It is the center of most tourist attractions with a lot to do. This area is also divided into two sections with the Northern side being the more residential and local area.
Taipa
This is a major residential area also known as Taipa village. Here you will see the real Macau intertwined with Portuguese culture and renovated colonial buildings and parks. It’s a quiet calm place compared to all the other regions.
Cotai
known as Cotai strip is a reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane islands created to provide Macau with a new gambling and tourism area. The Venetian, the largest casino in the world can be found in Cotai strip just like many other new casinos.
Coloane
Coloane is the only region that's untouched due to strict rules to buy property on the island. Away from all casinos and craziness, you get a look into old Macau. Coloane has two beaches and resorts as well as hiking trails. Compared to the other regions it doesn't have much to offer but its charm and architecture that has remained the same for decades.