Over the past few decades, the autonomous region of Macau has put itself on the map as a go-to destination. Situated in the middle of a number of other popular vacation spots in Southeast Asia, it wasn’t always such a standout option. But now, people from all over the world place Macau prominently on their travel lists. For that reason, I want to look into some of the highlights travelers should know about when it comes to this fascinating city and region.

• Where to Stay

  Macau is a very interesting destination when it comes to accommodations. This is because the primary options can rightly be called some of the biggest and most impressive hotels in the world. These include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Studio City Hotel
• City Of Dreams Countdown Hotel
• The Venetian Macau
• Wynn Palace
• These are opulent, larger-than-life resorts, where you can actually enjoy a surprisingly affordable stay. That said, as much attention as they command they aren’t the only options. There are also some smaller (but still luxurious) hotels, such as the Harbourview, Sheraton Grand Macau, and the Grand Emperor. And of course, you also have the Airbnb option!
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• Soaking Up Casino Culture

In recent years, Macau has increasingly been referred to as the world’s casino capital — surpassing, in some people’s minds, even the city of Las Vegas. This is a lofty honor, but it’s one that Macau has earned by building up an absolutely staggering casino culture. As is the case in Vegas, parts of this city have evolved into clusters of massive resorts packed with entertainment, and built largely around their casino floors.

One thing I’ll stress to prospective travelers is that it’s not possible to soak up all of the casino culture in Macau. There are too many gaming floors to choose between, and it’s simply not feasible to even see them all in one trip. But if I had to pick out highlights, I’d direct travelers toward the Venetian, the Sands, and Grand Lisboa. You won’t find much better gaming activity than at these resorts.

Exploring the History

Beyond the glitz and glamor of the casino resorts, Macau is also a destination that’s packed with history. Part of this is simply local history built up over time, and part of it is the result of Portuguese colonization and lingering influence. And often enough, these two elements of the area blend together. As one piece on things to do in Macau aside from casino play put it, the remnants of Portuguese colonialism are “sandwiched between modern and historical China.” In other words, when you get out beyond the casinos and explore, you experience a little bit of everything this region has ever had to offer.

As for specific attractions, I’d first direct you toward the historical center of Macau, where you’ll find cobbled streets, old churches, and some charming restaurants serving both Chinese and Portuguese fare. But you should also seek out the ruins of St. Paul’s (the most recognizable structure in Macau outside of the casinos) and the A-Ma Temple. All of these make for wonderful stops, particularly if you’re staying amongst the big resorts and you want a break from it all.

See The Pandas

I’ll keep this one short and sweet: Macau has a panda reserve! Visitors can see the incredible animals at the Giant Panda Pavillion in the Coloane region, at least most of the time. Travel and Leisure describes how the pavilion was closed a few years ago while two panda twins were being born, and at any given time it may be temporarily shut down for purposes relating to health and care. But if you get the chance, the pandas are well worth a look. They’re simply amazing to behold in person.

Eat Locally

I mentioned above that Macau is located in the middle of a number of other prominent Southeast Asia destinations. This is particularly true from a culinary perspective. Nearby Hong Kong has had an up-and-coming culinary scene in recent years; Vietnam, across the South China Sea, is known for incredible local food; and further south, Singapore is world-renowned for its street food stalls.

As excellent as these destinations are though, Macau is also an incredible place to enjoy local food. The Portuguese egg tarts and the almond cookies are casual local delicacies. The pork chop buns are delicious for people who are fans of elevated comfort food. And more broadly speaking, the dim sum is about as good as you’ll find anywhere. So, while you may be drawn to some casino resort restaurants that are bit more conventional (or in some cases more western), getting out and eating locally makes for some of the most fun you’ll have.

See Surrounding Destinations

Finally, you can also use your trip to Macau to see some of the aforementioned surrounding destinations! It’s not a small area, to be clear; this involves some real travel. But whether you cross the bay to see Hong Kong, travel southeast to visit the Philippines, or even head southwest to some of the beautiful islands of Cambodia and Vietnam, there’s a lot to see in the region.

You can certainly keep yourself entertained in Macau for as long as you like. But particularly if you’re coming from far across the world, it’s almost a shame not to see a few other places too!