Iloilo Travel Guide Diary: Exploring Macau on a Budget

You think Macau is very expensive with all the glitz and glamour? Well, think again! I spent day in Macau (a day trip from Hong Kong) enjoying the casinos (without a single bet), exploring a heritage village and visiting the major tourist attractions – all for less than what a ticket to HK Disneyland would cost! Let me tell you how…

Major Attractions in Macau: The Ruins of St. Pauls, Eiffel Tower at The Parisian, Portuguese Egg Tart, Taipa Village, Senado Square, Macau Tower and the Grand Canal at The Venetian  

But first let’s learn the basics of a day tour in Macau. 

• Macau is just an hour away (weather dependent) via fast-craft ferry from Hong Kong. You can go either from Tsim Sha Tsui or Central – whichever is near your place. Or directly from the HK airport, just look for the SkyPier. 

• You only need your passport (yes, it’s Visa-free for 30 days) and that slip of paper given to you from the HK immigration when you arrive. 

  

  Always secure your passport and the immigration slips given upon entry to HK (smaller one) and Macau.

• Round trip tickets are cheaper and more convenient so plan your itinerary carefully and stick to it in a flexible way. Tickets tend to be more expensive when sailing at night and during weekends.  

• The Hong Kong dollar is widely accepted in Macau so no need to make currency exchange. But Octopus cards won’t work in Macau.

Hong Kong dollars

• Big casinos have FREE shuttle buses from the ferry terminal and the airport, so transportation cost won’t be much of a problem. Public buses, like in HK, are easy to use – just know the number and the stops.

• Be ready for some serious walking. Whether inside casinos or along the streets, walking is a serious part of your visit in Macau.  And always hydrate yourself – bring/buy drinks along the way.

With these basics, you are all set for Macau. And let me share my recent adventure in the gaming capital of the world…

730AM

My hostel in Hong Kong, Urban Pack, is just a 12-minute walk from the China Hong Kong City complex which houses China Ferry Terminal ( Turbojet ). I had vague itinerary (confident since it’s my second visit) which ends a little later into the night for me to experience the dazzling lights of Macau which I haven’t able to do so last time.

I love Urban Pack's central location!

I got the 9am ferry even though I set out around 730am hoping to catch the 830am ferry (yes, tickets sell out fast). It was a risk buying one-way ticket because I wasn’t sure what time I will finish later that night.

815AM 

With tickets on hand, I checked-in for my ferry ride (for seat assignment) then passed through HK immigration. I just presented my passport and that piece of paper I got at the HK airport immigration when I arrived. 

Goodbye HK ... for now

The pre-departure terminal is a long walk even with two walkalators – so better drop by the loo (toilet - hey, we’re in a former British colony!) by the entrance rather than making a long walk back and forth 

My mother on the walkalator. See how long the walk is?

For easy boarding I always position near the gate. But actually no need to rush since I already have my assigned seat. As always, there’s large tour group of tourists in front and behind me and it’s 99% likely you’ll encounter one in your travel. It's boarding time!

10AM

An hour or so later, Macau was waving me. If you can make it first in line to go out, do so since the immigration may become a nightmare at certain times (during Holidays and The Macau Grand Prix usually in November). Just look for the TOURIST lane, present your passport and they’ll give you a piece of paper as your entry pass to Macau.

Always full of tourists

Strangers may approach you once you are out of the immigration. Locals and some Filipinos in Macau part-time as tour guides and usually charge per head (no idea how much) - just bargain with them if you want a tour guide. If not, like I did, just politely decline them or go out of the terminal as if you’re in a rush.

The Parisian buses stand out even within a mile or two

Tourists should have an itinerary so that they know which casino shuttle bus to take from the pier. I decided to start with a bang – The Parisian Macao! So I crossed an underpass and lined up for the The Parisian Buses. You’d recognized it even from afar – it’s dark fuschsia pink "almost" inside out. These buses follow certain schedule and if you’re lucky enough you can have the bus all to yourself! 

1030AM

Welcome to Macau! My 30-minute or so ride gave me a preview of Macau.

Opposite this view is the sea and where the Kun Lam statue is

The bus takes the scenic waterfront  lane – Ave. Dr. Sun Yat Sen passing by casinos (Legend, Sands, etc), the restored and touristy Fisherman’s Wharf, Macao Science Center, Kun Lam statue (Macau’s version of Singapore’s Merlion), megacasinos like MGM Grand, Wynn  plus the Grand Lisboa from a distance, Nam Van Lake and Macau Tower before traversing the Sai Van bridge.

THE GRAND LISBOA. among the most recognizable buildings  in Macau

It is one of the 3 mega bridges connecting Macau peninsula (old business center) and the islands of Taipa and Coloane plus the land-filled portion in between these two known as Cotai (where the megacasinos now stand).

MACAU TOWER. Can you handle the world's highest bungee jump?

Crossing the bridge is like passing through time as it also connects macau old villages and historic centers to the modern city it has become today.  

11AM “Bon Jour” 

The Parisian Macao will take your breath away in so many levels. The bus dropped me off at the casino area like most shuttles do but I went directly to the lobby to have my breath taken away by the grandest lobby I have ever seen.

Lovin' La Vida Lobby

The 5-storey lobby with a high ceiling and painted dome with a grandiose fountain is like a portion of Paris has been encapsulated.

The check-in counter feels like if you are in the Louvre with all the paintings around you. And almost everything you see is marble or something that looks and feels like it.

As if you're in a painting itself

But what is Paris without the Eiffel Tower? Make a dash outside, go down the stairs and go as far as you can to capture the half life-size version of France’s iconic symbol.

La Vie Parisienne

It’s really the “real” thing not just some props and you can actually climb up and enjoy the view - from levels 7 (and pass by love lock bridge) and 37 (from 525feet or 38 storeys high).

A realistic replica - just half the height

The entrance is at level 5 marked by the Eiffel Tower Souvenir shop with a MOP 100 fee – maybe next time!

Shopping in "Paris"

Strolling around The Parisian is like strolling around Paris with all baroque architecture and more than 150 shops.

Catch performers in events centers and in the corners

Almost every corner has a selfie spot so better get those cams ready or make sure that you have enough batteries for your gadgets.

Hallway connecting "Paris and ""Venice"

Even the hallways with their sheer size plus carpets to match are worth the clicks and flashes.

Get the perfect PEEcture!

Don’t forget the toilets, they too have the grandeur worthy of Paris! And before you know it, it’s time to say “Au Revoir”

1215 PM “Ciao” 

Say that in your most Italian accent and you will transported in Italy specifically Venice. But if you can’t, say it again with this signature hand gesture!If that won’t work either, just follow the signs pointing to your next destination…

The Venetian Macao with replicas of the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Campanile

The Venetian Macao brings the grandeur of the Venice to the Far East. This mega casino is the world’s largest - you can see and feel its immensity inside out!

Bathe in gold

So big, that it has an indoor Arena, a custom built theatre for Cirque de Soleil and around 3000 hotel suites inside the world's 2nd largest building. And I surely bet you will get lost like I did, many times.

A shopping square

But none is more grand the man-made canal that almost circles the entire megacasino under eternal daylight. The sky above the canals are actually painted and lighted so that it remains “day” even at 12mn.

Care for a gondola ride? It's MOP 128

Flanking the canals are rows of shops, cafes and restaurants etc. You can get lost in them as there are more inside without a canal view. The food court is at the center of it all - offering lots of specialties from all over the world.

Gondoliers also sing upon request and a lot of them are Filipinos.

You cross numerous bridges to get to get around or just a for a selfie. Window-shopping is my favorite past-time passing almost every store - just checking out what they sell.

My mother enjoying the canal view

But I can’t say NO to Lord Stow’s famous Portuguese egg tart even though I had my first bite in Manila years ago. They have shop somewhere along the canals but I prefer their stall overlooking the waters – perfect for a “food-fie”!

How many can you eat in one sitting?

I just love the flaky crust plus the tamed sweetness and soft-eggy texture of the filling. The burned top portion is what egg tarts from Portugal different and makes it more gastronomically appealing for me. Burp!

The Venetian as viewed from the overpass going to Taipa Village

130 PM "Ola"

Speaking of Portugal, there’s an old heritage village just outside The Venetian, where Macau’s colonial past blends with present. It’s a 15-minute walk via The Venetian’s West Lobby, crossing a nearby pedestrian overpass, taking a series of walkalators and finally walking along some cobblestone street.

Rua de Cunha in Taipa is the village's tourist area filled with shops and cafes.

Welcome to Taipa Village! A former fishing enclave, the area has evolved into a culturally rich district reflecting influence of both Portugal and China on Macau.

Colorful buildings make a great backdrop for your OOTDs

A perfect alternative to the nearby casinos, this well-preserved non-gaming destination is rich in culture and heritage and offers a wide array of shops and cafes. And it is a selfie and an Instagrammers' paradise!

Selfie please!

The staircase leading to the village will certainly your first selfie spot. Narrow streets and lanes criss-crossing would be the perfect backgrounds for your OOTDs.

Can you spot the not?

Colorful buildings and houses will give your photos some heritage and architectural depths. Almost everybody had their cameras out.

A religious niche

I had a grand time taking photos of what seems to be ordinary things and places. I enjoyed my detours at some not-so-crowded areas where I seem to fit in in the local scene.

A restaurant pops up in an alley

But I missed the Taipa Houses museum which was just a few blocks away in the other direction of the village (should have researched more).

"Taipa Square"A perfect resting area if you are tired

Lunch time came and I looked for my ultimate food on my Macau bucket list – pork chop bun. And Café Veng Kei was just around the corner.

Just a small cafe in the corner

A quaint café with light green exterior, a bakeshop/streetfood on the lower floor and café on the second floor.

Old-world charm

I just love the old world ambiance of the café’s interiors – authentic and no fancy things. The al fresco ambiance gave me more time to capture the simple beauty of Taipa village, atop the resto waiting for my orders.

Pork Chop Bun

Introducing the pork chop bun! It’s basically seasoned and grilled pork chop sandwiched between toasted bread. No veggies nor dressing – just plain meaty goodness.

A heavy lunch for my tummy and pocket too!

I also got a noodle dish to complement my pork chop bun. I just made it simple with ham and luncheon meat on top of the noodles - literally . An order of their signature milk tea completed my touristy Macanese lunch at Taipa Village.

330PM

MGM Grand's multi colored facade, Mandarin Oriental's cutting edge architecture and 

Taking Bus #11 across "Taipa Square", I was off to the mainland to visit Macau’s #1 tourist attraction – the Ruins of St. Paul’s.

One of the most recognizable buildings in Macau

After 20 mins, I got off the bus just outside the Grand Lisboa to get a full picture of this gleaming modern iconic structure.

My mother posing with a jade masterpiece

Don’t forget to visit the hotel’s lobby as it is also doubles a “museum” showcasing collections (of owner Stanley Ho?) like ivory carvings, jade sculptures and lots & lots of gold items.

A Chinese village carved in ivory

4PM

Around 15 minutes from the Grand Lisboa, walking along Ave. Infante Dom Henrique is Largo de Senado or Senate Square.

Senado Square with its restored buildings and paved road makes a perfect gateway

This paved town square is part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Macau World Heritage Site. After visiting “France” and “Italy”, it’s “Portugal” this time where majority of the buildings around the square reflects European style and affluence.

Love the pavement!

With increasing number of tourists the entire area was designated a pedestrian-only zone area and was covered with Portuguese-style pavement in the nineties.

Fountain amidst some event preparations

The square serves as the “main gate” going to the Ruins of St. Paul’s. Just go with the flow of people as they will bring to the highlight of your walking tour.

Just a regular day en route to the ruins

Along the way, you’ll pass by a number of churches and heritage buildings housing countless shops, cafes and restaurants vying for your attention. And don't forget to indulge in the samples around especially from Pasteleria Koi Kei.

Portuguese Egg Tart from Pasterlia Koi Kei. Not free though - HK$/MOP 10

Sometimes checking out the side streets where there aren’t many people may prove a worthwhile detour. Also a perfect reason to get away from the crowd.

The most popular attraction in Macau

The imposing Ruins of St. Paul’s is a big tourist magnet and is synonymous with Macau. You haven’t been to Macau if you haven’t visited this landmark. The grand façade is what’s left of the church built in the 1600’s and destroyed by fire in 1835.

It is the most iconic symbol of Macau, so selfie if you must and take as many pictures, as thousands of daily visitors do the moment they arrive. There’s also museum behind the façade which tells more of the ruins and its history.

Hands-down to anyone who can a take a day-time photo of the stairs and the facade without a single person.

Adjacent to the ruins are two other attractions – Monte Fort and Musee de Macau. The fort is an uphill climb through rough staircases of the armorial gate passing by remnants of its tumultuous past.  You will definitely sweat it out once you get to the top but the view is very rewarding and it’s another selfie spot (with free wifi too). A perfect place to rest and catch your breath and tell the world through your social media that you’re in Macau.

How's my aim? 

Your free internet connection is from Musee de Macau. The Macao Museum is a space dedicated to the history and culture of Macao, possessed of a vast number of objects of historical and cultural value , which demonstrate the way of life of the various communities that have inhabited the city for centuries.. A fee of MOP 10 (HK$10) grants you entry to its multi-level displays and exhibits.  But it's free on Tuesdays and every 15th of the month.

Serenity found at the top

The Museum consists of two underground levels and a third located on the topmost level of the Fortress. The architectural character of the site and its particular configuration have been retained and preserved.

545 PM 

It was getting dark then and it was definitely time for me to catch the casinos of this area in all their dazzling gleams.

It's you, again?

So I retraced my steps back to Grand Lisboa but most of the time doing some detours to discover more of the streets less traveled. There it was, Grand Lisboa in all its shining shimmering splendor. Though it a a sort of letdown as it wasn’t a bright as I imagined it to be – the older Casino Lisboa had more dazzle.

Dazzling casino lights

I also dropped by Wynn Macau to catch the water, light and sound show at the fountain – Okada Manila is way much better.

Water and light show at Wynn Macau

630 PM

I took a bus going back to Taipa Village near the Grand Lisboa as there are no direct buses so the Parisian (not that I know of).

Night vibe at Taipa Village

Getting off near the “selfie stairs”, I took the opportunity to check out Taipa village at night. It was less crowded and has that chaotic serenity vibe that comes perfectly natural.

Bright lights

I remember my  favorite tour guide Rick Steves in his Youtube videos saying that tourist attractions can be appreciated more if you come early or stay late in the night – without the busload of tourists. 

Walk, walk, walk in the light

My walkathon back to the The Venetian through well lit walkalators was a breeze with the Galaxy Macau was in shimmering from a distance.

The nearest Galaxy to us

It is still a maze when I got to “Venice” as more people spend their nights inside casinos. I finally found myself at the Parisian having discovered another route via The Four Seasons.

And I ended my Macau day tour capturing the The Parisian’s Eiffel Tower in all its shining, shimmering splendor.

745 PM

When one last look at The Parisian shuttle, I boarded the shuttle bus and was at the pier a little past 8pm ready to get the 9pm ferry ride back to Hong Kong. But were already sold out - I should have bought a round trip ticket!

So I got the 10pm ferry ticket instead (no choice) BUT I checked in and passed through immigration as soon as I can. I dashed to the pre-departure and lined up in STANDBY hoping to get on the 9pm ride. 

And luckily I did! So by past 10pm I was out of the ferry passing through HK immigration (don’t forget to fill up the immigration form they hand out in the ferry or just fill them out upon arrival). Minutes after, I found myself walking out of the terminal and back to my hostel which was just a fraction of the walk I did that day.

MACAU. With its dazzling mega casinos, top tourists attractions and Portuguese-Chinese heritage, culture and gastronomy is always worth a day trip from Hong Kong. But if you have more time and more budget, an overnight or two will make it even more memorable. 

Expenses (Price in Nov 2017)  HK$ 171 Hong Kong (Kowloon) – Macau ferry ticket via Turbo Jet
HK$ 10 Portuguese Egg Tart at Lord Stow’s (The Venetian)
HK$ 00 Snacking on samples at Pasteleria Koi Kei at The Venetian
HK$ 98 Lunch at Café Vengkei at Taipa Village
HK$ 00 Snacking on samples at Pasteleria Koi Kei at Taipa village
HK$ 10 Portuguese Egg Tart at Pasteleria Koi Kei at Taipa village
HK$ 4.2 Bus fare from Taipa Village to Grand Lisboa
HK$ 00 Snacking on samples at Pasteleria Koi Kei and other stalls near The Ruins of St. Paul's
HK$ 4.2 Bus fare from Grand Lisboa to Taipa Village
HK$ 00 Snacking on samples at Pasteleria Koi Kei at Taipa village (again)
HK$ 200 Macau-Hongkong (Kowloon) ferry ticket via Turbo Jet

TOTAL Expenses HK$ 497.40

Hong Kong Disneyland Tickets HK$ 619

Yes, there are a lot of casinos and hotel in Macau – more than 50. But given the limited time for a day trip from HK, a visit to 3-4 of them would be enough to cover experience the casino grandeur. 

ALL DELICIOUS. Egg rolls, bean pastry, egg cookies and Phoneix egg roll (with seaweed).
Eat as many almond cookie (thin ones with almonds on top/not in photo) samples - they are delicious and expensive..

Pasteleria Koi Kei is Macau’s most popular pasalubong shop – but notice I just gorged on free samples and didn’t buy and bring back any to HK? The bakery has many branches in HK and there’s one big branch 3 minutes away from my hostel – no need to carry all the stuff from Macau. But they don’t have egg tarts in their HK branches.

Suggested Itinerary

0830 am Ferry to Macau / Immigration / Bus ride to Grand Lisboa via casino shuttle

1000 am Explore Grand Lisboa / Walk to Senado Square

1045 am Explore Senado square / Ruins of St. Paul's / Monte Fort / Macau Museum

1245 pm Bus ride to Taipa Village near Grand Lisboa

0115 pm Explore Taipa Village / Walk to The Venetian

0330 pm Explore The Venetian and The Parisian

0700 pm Take The Parisian bus to the ferry terminal (make sure you already have round trip tickets)

0800 pm Ferry back to Hong Kong 

This itinerary is just a guide for your day trip in Macau. You can do some more research and add to this one. Or even make your own getting some tips and ideas. Macau (and Hong Kong too) is a very tourist-friendly city that exploring it on your own is just a piece of cake.

Or in I should say, a piece of Portuguese Egg Tart!