Macao Trip - What to do and see in Macao - Macao Guide

Last month, I had the absolute pleasure of traveling to Macao, an autonomous region of China. Having only traveled to Thailand and Japan, I was excited to explore another pocket of Asia. My main priorities when traveling are to eat all of the food and explore on foot, as much as possible. In my opinion, it’s the best way to get to know a place. Of course, I also like to hit the major landmarks — but hidden gems are my favorite. Luckily, the Macao Tourism office put together a wonderful itinerary for our group, featuring all of the above. We flew from NYC to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, then hopped on a ferry to Macao. Below are some highlights from our trip:

We went straight from the ferry to the Red Market, where locals can get anything from dry goods to fresh fish. Admittedly, we were all in somewhat of a zombie state, but the fish market in particular woke us up…I had to avert my eyes a little bit!

Shortly after our arrival, we visited traditional Chinese teahouse, Long Wa. We were all pretty tired after our long flight, but the tea helped me perk up! Pictured: Mustafa Kacar.

We stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel, which was absolutely wonderful. The Ritz Carlton shares a building, claiming the top floors. After several days of walking (and lots of jet lag), we visited the spa for an incredibly relaxing experience. Each morning we ate breakfast at their Urban Kitchen restaurant, where you could get anything from congee to omelettes and everything in between. It was a great way to start the day! Wearing: pink beret, vintage blouse, Madewell shorts.

Motorbikes are common transportation in Macao, but I stuck to walking and riding in a van with our group. Some of you might remember my bad experience with a motorbike in Thailand;)

The Ruins of St Paul’s, what’s left of a 17th-century complex, are a must see. Only the intricately carved facade remains, standing atop the steps in the middle of a bustling neighborhood and shops.

Left: Inside the Lou Kau Mansion, a peek into history. Right: Noelle, waiting for her tea, looking precious after a long flight.

Temples can be found throughout the city, tucked away in an otherwise bustling environment . Some of my favorite moments were spent wandering through the temples, with the calming scent of incense in the air.

vintage dress, Ban.do “BFF” purse

Macao is known for their casinos, but I’m not a gambler. Their lavish hotels, however — I can get behind those! This one was particularly family friendly. The view from the 1/2 size replica of the Eiffel Tower at The Parisian Hotel. Look at those pools! And the gardens!

Chinese Dim Sum Lunch at Man Ho restaurant. Yum!

Did you see my instagram story of them making this little cotton candy duck? It was too cute to pass up!

There is a large Portuguese influence in Macao, which is seen in everything from the architecture to the cuisine. Macao is an autonomous region of China, but was once a Portuguese colony (and until 1999, a province under Portuguese administration). At left, Senado Square. Right: Portuguese dinner at O’Manuel. One thing I didn’t get a picture of: the pastel de nata from that I immediately inhaled. Heavenly!

Speaking of lavish hotels, Wynn Palace may have topped them all. Those sculptures were not only animated, but completely made of FRESH flowers. Each night, they are taken out one by one and cared for or replaced, to keep the sculptures looking pristine.

Also at Wynn Palace, the most beautiful flower shop I have ever seen, and a casual multi million dollar Jeff Koons sculpture. We also had the most incredible meal at Andrea’s, where each dish was better than the last. Whether you want a high end experience or a casual meal, there are lots of great options in Macao!

Left: my favorite area was St. Lazarus district, where I happened across some really cute vintage shops and we grabbed coffee at a very hip little coffee shop. Right: High above Macao in the Golden Reel, a figure 8 ferris wheel.