Macau in one day: what to see in the “Las Vegas of the East”

Macau is a Special Administrative Region of China located in the southeast of the country, next to Hong Kong. Its history is unique as one of the first and longest-lasting centers of European presence in East Asia: Macau was a Portuguese colony from 1557 until 1999.
How did the Portuguese end up here? They settled in Macau with the permission of the Ming dynasty, turning it into a major trading port between Europe and Asia. Later, its importance declined, but it remained a center of missionary activity and cultural exchange.
In 1999, Macau became a Special Administrative Region of China with a high degree of autonomy under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" (just like Hong Kong).
Today, Macau is one of the world's leading gambling centers, and its casino revenue is seven times higher than that of Las Vegas.

Macau has an international airport, which mainly serves flights from mainland China and several Asian countries. However, the most convenient way to get to Macau is from Hong Kong. There are two main options: by bus or by ferry. The travel time is about the same — around one hour. Personally, I find the ferry to be the most comfortable and flexible option.
There are two ferry operators between Hong Kong and Macau: Cotai Water Jet and TurboJET. Cotai Water Jet arrives at Taipa, the southern part of Macau, while TurboJET arrives at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal on the Macau Peninsula. Ferries depart approximately every thirty minutes starting from 7:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased on Trip.com or Klook.

A visa is generally not required to visit Macau. Depending on your nationality, you can stay in the region visa-free for either up to 30 or up to 90 days. You can check if you need a visa here.

Macau consists of the Macau Peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane, where most of the casinos and the airport are located.
The region borders the large Chinese city of Zhuhai, whose name translates as "Pearl Sea."

Macau has its own currency — the Macanese pataca. Hong Kong dollars and Chinese yuan are also accepted in many places, although not everywhere.
Alipay accounts registered outside mainland China do not work in Macau, so it is best to bring cash or bank cards.
By the way, the Macanese pataca can only be exchanged for other currencies within Macau. Therefore, I recommend exchanging only a small amount and keeping the remaining banknotes as a souvenir of your trip.

Macau has two official languages: Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese. I'm not sure whether anyone in Macau still speaks Portuguese, but the fact remains that it is still one of the official languages here.

English is spoken fairly well in Macau — noticeably less than in Hong Kong, but better than in mainland China.

Just a five-minute walk from the ferry terminal, you'll find an interesting themed complex. Here, they have built a replica of the Colosseum (and, I must say, it is quite convincing), as well as a number of European-style buildings reminiscent of Venice or Lisbon.
Of course, it is a modern development, but that does not make it any less beautiful. If you're looking for great photos, this is the place to go.

The heart of Macau. This is where most of the architectural heritage left by the Portuguese is concentrated, including the Ruins of St. Paul's and St. Dominic's Church. The square is distinguished by its beautiful wave-patterned pavement.
I also recommend visiting the Koi Kei store to try their famous almond cookies and egg tart.

One of Macau's most famous landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A Catholic cathedral once stood here, built in the early seventeenth century and destroyed by fire in 1835. Today, only its magnificent façade remains, but even that is impressive in its scale.

Now it's time to head to Taipa Island. You can get there by the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) from Barra Station.
Along the way, you'll see the enormous Galaxy Hotel with its golden domes. Nearby is Macau's very own version of Las Vegas, with casinos such as The Parisian, The Venetian, and The Londoner.
Here you'll find the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and the Rialto Bridge — all in one place. Almost like Europe! The lobby of The Londoner is particularly beautiful, and it also has an excellent shopping mall.

A little piece of Europe somewhere on the edge of Asia—that is how I would describe Macau.
The most unusual thing for me was seeing signs in Portuguese alongside Cantonese. I never actually met anyone speaking Portuguese, though.

If you're planning a trip to Hong Kong, I highly recommend setting aside at least one day for Macau. It's worth visiting even if only for its incredible almond cookies!