About SarahinAlicante
Lives in Alicante, Spain
Since Oct 2008
I am a writer and have been living in Spain for 15 years. I love its culture, food, landscape and the beaches of course. I'm constantly finding out new things.
An incredibly exciting city on the banks of the Pearl river, Macau is an amazing place to explore with its mix of historic buildings, upmarket shops, hotels, restaurants, and spas, as well as its casinos. Macau is known as Asia’s Las Vegas, but it is now outstripping the American city with its dazzling array of casinos, spectacular shows, and cuisine.
16 Places
8 City Tips
16 Places
Sacred & Religious Sites
Historic Sites
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Architectural Buildings, Historic Sites, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Ancient Ruins
Casinos
Restaurants
Zoos
Historic Sites
Gift & Speciality Shops
Restaurants
Observation Decks & Towers, Conference & Convention Centres
Historic Walking Areas
Shopping Malls
Gardens
Hotels
Macau was ruled by the Portuguese until 1999 and still has an interesting mix of eastern and western styles. The A-Ma Temple was built in the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty, with architectural treasures guarded by stone lions.
A private house of such enormity is rare in Macau, so the 19th-century Mandarin's House is definitely worth a visit. It was the residential home of literary figure Zheng Guanying, and displays a mix of Chinese and western styles.
Senado Square looks like a traditional Mediterranean square, with its impressive pavement tiled in a wave pattern, surrounded by Neoclassical buildings. It’s at the center of many Chinese festivals, with firework displays and dancing dragons performing here.
This is the façade of the former 17th-century church of Mater Dei, which was destroyed by a fire in 1835. It now stands as a symbolic altar to the city. There is a sacred art museum behind the ruins, which is open every day.
If you only visit one casino in Macau, it has to be the Venetian Macao. This is the largest and most luxurious casino in the world, with 3,000 gaming machines, 870 tables and poker games, and 24 restaurants and bars. You could spend your entire holiday here, it is so vast. There are plenty of different games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette, as well as many slot machines. It’s a chance to dress up and see if luck is on your side.
In celebration of Macau's Portuguese past, you can sample typical cuisine from Portugal, such as grilled sardines, rice with seafood, and meat dishes with wines from Portugal.
A rare chance to see these amazing giant pandas up close. There are indoor and outdoor areas for the pandas, with two viewing paths for visitors where you can watch these endangered animals through toughened glass.
Tai Pa Village is a lovely preserved historical area in the south of the island, with traditional Chinese shops, restaurants, grand villas, churches, and temples. There is a pretty tree-lined esplanade for a gentle stroll.
Within the luxurious Venetian Macau resort is a little piece of Venice in Italy, complete with beautiful bridges and gondola rides. It's a fabulous reconstruction of the romantic Italian city, with its canals, street theater, hundreds of shops, and restaurants serving cuisine from around the world.
Within the City of Dreams resort, with top hotels, shows, a casino, shops, and spa is the award-winning Jade Dragon restaurant, serving delicious Chinese cuisine. Here you will find beautiful views over Cotai. It’s a very elegant and classy restaurant, even by Macau’s standards.
A great place to take in panoramic views of Macau and the River Pearl is from the top of Macau Tower, which stands 338 meters (1100 feet) tall and has a revolving restaurant at 223 meters (730 feet) high. A great place to visit during the day to see all the landmark buildings, and at night, go there for the lights. Daredevils can enjoy the adrenaline rush at the Skywalk X by walking outside the tower with no handrail, or try a SkyJump.
Take a walk back in time by exploring Macau's historic center with its old streets and mix of Portuguese and Chinese buildings. This area marks one of the earliest and longest-lasting partnerships between China and the West. Many of Macau's historic landmarks are here. To make a change from the casinos or chic hotels and shops, wandering around the historic heart of Macau shows another side to the city
Fisherman’s Wharf is an entertainment complex with restaurants, shops, a casino, and a conference and exhibition center on the harbor. This is another amazing complex, with more than 150 shops and restaurants built in architectural styles from around the world. There is also a hotel and a massive casino. The Roman-themed shopping center and colosseum are used for concerts and shows.
An awesome place to enjoy natural beauty in a peaceful part of Macau. The gardens were built by Lou Kau, who was a wealthy 19th-century Chinese merchant. It is modelled on a famous Chinese classical garden, with bamboo, ponds, and a large pavilion.
Located within the Wynn Macau complex, with its hotel, spa and restaurants, is an impressive show. The Dragon of Fortune combines traditional art with modern lighting to create a stunning performance. Look up at the gold cupola on the ceiling displaying the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.
This luxurious hotel has beautiful views from its picture-perfect waterside setting. Dining here is first-rate, with a Chinese restaurant, tapas and cocktail bar, as well as a cake shop.