Detailed 2-Night Macau Travel Guide: Comprehensive and Heartfelt

Just got back from a trip to Macau during the May Day holiday. I crossed the border at 7 AM on April 30 and returned at 6 PM on May 2, essentially staying for 2 days. I now have an impression of Macau and would like to share some things with everyone.

I. Procedures and Border Crossing

1. Regular method: Hong Kong-Macau Travel Permit + endorsement

To enter Macau, you must hold a Hong Kong-Macau Travel Permit and obtain the relevant endorsement from the local exit-entry administration.

1) If you do not have a Travel Permit, you need to apply for one first, which generally takes 15 working days. Applying for an endorsement at a counter or postal agent typically takes 10 working days (this is from online searches; I had already applied before, so I forgot the exact time).

2) While applying for the Travel Permit, you can also apply for the endorsement at the same time.

3) If you already have a Travel Permit and it is within the validity period, you can process a single-use endorsement at the self-service kiosk. It takes only 10 minutes and costs 15 RMB, which is very convenient and fast. Note that endorsements come in two types: G签 (individual visit) and L签 (group tour). If you have an L签, policy requires you to join a tour to enter Macau. You can contact a travel agency through Taobao for 5-10 RMB to register the relevant procedures in advance, allowing you to use self-service clearance. However, some say you can manage without this, but I haven't tried it myself, so I won't comment. G签 is only available for a limited number of cities; you can check for yourself.

4) The endorsement is valid for 1 year, allowing a stay of up to 7 days. Those planning to visit should keep the duration in mind.

2. Emergency method: Passport + flight tickets and hotel bookings

National regulations require Chinese passport holders to have a valid visa for their destination country or region to enter Macau (except for visa-exempt or visa-on-arrival). Additional checks, such as flight ticket verification, may apply. This method can be used as an emergency alternative for those without a Travel Permit, but there are drawbacks: first, you may incur cancellation fees for flight tickets (usually to Thailand) and hotels; second, there is some risk, so it is recommended to use it with caution.

If you fly directly to Macau, you simply clear immigration at the airport. I have no personal experience with that.

Otherwise, you can cross the border from Zhuhai. Currently, there are five inspection points for travelers from Zhuhai to Macau: Gongbei Port, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Zhuhai Port, Hengqin Port, Qingmao Port, and Wanzai Port. I crossed through Gongbei Port, which was very crowded. I used the self-service clearance with my Travel Permit. Overall, it takes about 15 minutes during non-peak hours and 30 minutes during peak hours.

After crossing, you will receive a small slip. Be sure to keep it safe, as hotels will need to see it when you check in.

PS: It is recommended to choose the border crossing based on where you are staying. Gongbei is on the Macau Peninsula, and Hengqin is on Taipa Island. If you cross at Gongbei but are staying on Taipa, you will need an extra 15-30 minutes of travel, and a taxi will cost about 100 MOP. However, if your hotel on Taipa offers free shuttle buses (发财车), you can get there for free.

II. Overview of Macau Areas

Macau is generally divided into three parts: Macau Peninsula (old city), Taipa Island (new area), and Coloane Island (natural scenery).

- Macau Peninsula: The old city, with older urban areas that feel relatively crowded. However, iconic heritage sites such as the Ruins of St. Paul's, Mount Fortress, St. Dominic's Church, and Fisherman's Wharf are all here. Time-honored eateries like Margaret's Egg Tarts and Ming Kee Beef Offal are also on the peninsula. Older hotels and casinos like the old and new Lisboa, Wynn (with the Fortune Tree), and MGM are located here.

- Taipa Island: The new area, featuring Grand Lisboa Palace, MGM Cotai, Wynn Palace (with its cable car), Studio City (with its figure-8 Ferris wheel), The Venetian (with gondola rides), and The Parisian (with its half-scale Eiffel Tower). It is all about novelty, luxury, and shopping.

- Coloane Island: Natural scenery, mainly including Hac Sa Beach. It is not recommended for accommodation, as dining and shopping are inconvenient.

III. Currency and Payment

Macau's official currency is the Macanese Pataca (MOP), but Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) and Renminbi (RMB) are also generally accepted. The current exchange rates are roughly 100 RMB ≈ 113.82 HKD ≈ 117.32 MOP (as of May 4). On April 30, I exchanged 100 RMB for 112 MOP at Gongbei Port Plaza, which was the best rate I encountered during my stay. When using cash in Macau, many shops treat the three currencies at a 1:1:1 ratio, meaning if an item is priced at 100 MOP, you will need to pay 100 RMB or 100 HKD if using cash. Therefore, it is advisable to exchange some currency. Also, don't worry about leftover MOP; at Gongbei Port, when going down to the ground floor to catch a taxi, there are many shops that accept MOP, though you may lose a little on the exchange. I suggest exchanging about 500 MOP per person and using mobile payment as much as possible.

Regarding payment, most shops with POS machines now accept WeChat Pay and Alipay, making mobile payments very convenient. During my entire stay in Macau, I encountered only two shops that did not accept mobile payments (Ming Kee Beef Offal and Margaret's Egg Tarts). However, taxis and buses require cash (you can get a Macau Pass, but I didn't fully understand how; if anyone knows, please comment to supplement).

IV. Transportation

I summarize Macau's transportation into four types, in descending order of frequency: walking, buses, free shuttle buses (发财车), and taxis.

Macau itself is not large. Distances between scenic spots or dining and entertainment venues are generally a few hundred meters to a kilometer. For this reason, walking is common. After several 700-800 meter walks, it is easy to exceed 20,000 steps in a day. On May 1, we walked over 30,000 steps, and on the other two half-days, we also walked over 15,000 steps each. For walking, I personally suggest learning to read maps and finding shortcuts through alleys, because Baidu Maps often directs you to take the main roads, which can add distance. Saving 200 meters each time can add up over the day.

Buses: Macau buses drive very aggressively, very aggressively! The roads on the peninsula are winding and narrow, so buses take sharp turns rapidly. The fare is generally 6 MOP per person, so be sure to have exact change, as they do not give change! If you only have a 100 MOP note, they will just keep it, which is frustrating. Also, Macau drives on the left, so the driver's seat is on the opposite side compared to mainland China, and boarding and alighting are reversed. Pay attention, especially when taking buses, to avoid going to the wrong stop. If you make a mistake, you'll need to go around to cross the street.

Free shuttle buses (发财车): The best option from the border gate to large hotels! Clean, direct, and free, with frequencies comparable to buses. If you need to travel between the Macau Peninsula and Taipa, taking a free shuttle bus is also recommended. For example, the MGM shuttle runs from MGM on the peninsula to MGM Cotai on Taipa, and both are hubs for taxis and buses, saving you time and money.

Taxis: Very expensive! The starting fare is 19 MOP, then 2 MOP per 240 meters after 1600 meters, plus waiting charges. A trip from the peninsula to Taipa costs over 100 MOP. Moreover, you cannot hail a taxi on the street; you can only find them at designated taxi stands, which are usually near large hotels or shopping malls. Alternatively, you can call a taxi or use ride-hailing apps, which charge the same, but it can be very difficult to get a ride online. We tried once and couldn't get a car. We had to ask a restaurant owner to help us call a taxi, which worked (thanks to the kind owner of Fu Lai Food for saving two people who had walked 30,000 steps and were exhausted).

V. Food

Macau's cuisine can be broadly divided into three categories: seafood and stir-fried dishes, snacks, and Western-style restaurants. Seafood and stir-fried dishes include dai pai dong and Chinese-style seafood. Snacks include beef offal, egg tarts, and cha chaan teng. Western-style restaurants include Portuguese cuisine, French cuisine, etc.

During this trip, we mostly ate snacks, except for a Western meal at The Cheesecake Factory in The Londoner. Overall, Macau's food is heavily influenced by Southeast Asian and European cuisines, with extensive use of curry. More Chinese-style options are found in cha chaan tengs, which have a southern flavor.

Special reminder: Be sure to check the business hours of the shops in advance. Macau shops generally close on time, and many time-honored brands have one day off per week. Make sure to plan accordingly. Important note: They also take days off on public holidays! On May 1, we visited four shops that were all closed, and the shops that were open typically added a 10% holiday service charge.

1. Dai Tong Fried Chicken

Ordered: Fried chicken drumsticks, skin-on fries, and fish balls

Chicken drumsticks were juicy, tender, and flavorful on the inside, with a very fragrant skin. The chicken was marinated in a sweet sauce, giving it a southern flavor. Northerners who prefer salty fried chicken may not like it. The skin was quite oily; I observed that most tables left some skin behind. The skin-on fries should be called skin-on potato wedges; they were generous in portion. The fish balls were deep-fried, relatively small, and not outstanding.

2. Cheung Kei Noodle House

Ordered: Shrimp roe lo mein, curry beef brisket, and dace fish balls (boiled version)

The shrimp roe lo mein was slightly bitter. It used southern-style yi mein (thin, chewy noodles) as a dry noodle dish. The beef brisket had a hint of spiciness on the palate but not a strong aftertaste; it was very tender. The dace fish balls were bouncy and elastic, though they contained some small bones, so be careful when eating. Portions were generally small.

3. Hang Heung Dessert Shop

Ordered: Egg white almond tea and water chestnut sago (leet-chee maai-sha)

This was ranked 2nd among the foods I tried on this trip. Traditional sweet soup: the almond tea was served hot, smooth, with a strong almond flavor and rich aroma. The water chestnut sago used crushed water chestnuts to create a sandy texture (not ice shavings). It was cold but not icy; a bowl on a hot day is definitely refreshing and cooling. Recommended.

The shop is very small and not easy to find. Baidu maps have some deviation, placing it on the next street, but the map generally shows the correct location, next to the Tokyo Hotel. It's the place with many people queuing in the photo.

4. Man Kei Coffee

Ordered: Cheese pork chop bun (pineapple bun), tomato and egg stir-fried macaroni, silk stocking milk tea, and iced lemon tea.

The pork chop in the bun was large, tasty, tender, and well-marinated—excellent. The macaroni was cooked with a strong tomato flavor. The iced lemon tea had a stronger lemon flavor than tea. My wife praised the milk tea, but personally, I couldn't tell the difference from chain store milk teas in the mainland.

5. Wing Kei Beef Offal

Ordered: Small portion of assorted beef offal (mildly spicy) [130 MOP] + radish [20 MOP], and sugarcane water

The beef offal was curried. The initial taste was quite spicy, but as you continued eating, the curry aroma took over. The portion was large; the small portion plus radish, including soup, weighed at least 1.5 jin (750g). The radish is the top recommendation; it was cooked until soft and very flavorful. Among the beef parts, I personally recommend the tendon, but I didn't like the diaphragm. I suggest that if you don't want too many different parts, order the beef trio (三样), which is 30 MOP cheaper and more focused. The sugarcane water was extremely sweet and made from real ingredients, though I found it a bit too sweet.

PS: The shop is near the Ruins of St. Paul's. It opens after 10 AM. Initially, there was only one staff member, so ordering was slow. Around 10:30 AM, four more staff arrived, and ordering speed picked up. We had wanted to try Ming Kee Beef Offal but the queue was too long. We started queuing at 9 PM and after half an hour had only moved about 10 meters. We estimated at least another 40 minutes to get served, so we gave up and went sightseeing.

6. Ru Zhu Ru Bao

Ordered: Signature milk tea and egg tarts

This shop is next to the Wynn Fortune Tree. If you arrive early, you can sit here and wait for time. The milk tea was pearl milk tea with fresh milk and plenty of pearls. The egg tarts were better than fast-food brands like KFC, but far behind specialty shops like Margaret's.

7. The Cheesecake Factory

Ordered: Fresh strawberry cake and Madeira wine chicken

During my two days in Macau, this was the place with the largest portions and, of course, higher prices, totaling 330 RMB. The fresh strawberry cake was a strawberry cheesecake with rich cheese flavor, which my wife raved about. The Madeira wine chicken was a grilled chicken with mushrooms, asparagus, and mashed potatoes, and the sauce had a fruity flavor. I personally liked to add a bit of salt and pepper to enhance the chicken taste.

The girl at the next table ordered two servings of pasta (spaghetti), and the portions were astonishing. I think one serving is enough for a man, while two women sharing one pasta plus one dessert is sufficient.

8. Fu Lai Food

Ordered: Salt and pepper corn, spicy stir-fried clams, and nine-gut fish (Bombay duck)

The salt and pepper corn was sweet and salty, simple in ingredients but with a rich aftertaste. The nine-gut fish was deep-fried, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. However, note that some pieces were empty with little fish meat; the parts with fish were indeed tender and fresh. We arrived late that day, and the mantis shrimp (濑尿虾) were only small ones left, not the arm-sized ones. The staff clearly informed us—honest business. The next table ordered stir-fried crab and Shunde-style raw fish, which looked excellent. Recommended for those who enjoy crab and raw fish.

Thanks again to the owner, who proactively asked if we needed a taxi and helped us call one; otherwise, we really couldn't have walked back. Once again, I complain about how hard it is to get a taxi in Macau.

9. Kam Mei Si

Ordered: Lard crumble lo mein (with sunny-side-up egg), clear broth beef brisket noodle, black coffee, and a unique orange-named drink (sorry, I couldn't remember the name)

The lo mein was dry noodles, still using yi mein, with a sweet sauce. The lard crumble must be covered with noodles for a while to soften before eating—it was very fragrant. The clear broth beef brisket noodle was my favorite; the broth was clean but rich in flavor, paired with well-marinated and soft beef brisket. One bowl was soulful. Black coffee is just black coffee, good for waking up in the morning. The unnamed drink was salty, which felt strange to a northerner.

10. Seng Kee Congee

Ordered: Plain congee, fish roe siu mai, fried intestine (炸肠), and radish cake

The plain congee here is different from northern plain congee; it tastes similar to the Republican-era congee at Nanjing Da Pai Dang, but milder. The fish roe siu mai used dace fish as filling, with fish skin and minced mushrooms, giving a rich texture and very fresh flavor. The fried intestine (炸肠) is not fried pork intestine; it is a rice noodle roll (cheong fun) wrapped around a fried dough stick (youtiao). The combination was surprisingly good. The radish cake was soft and melted in the mouth; the radish inside was steamed until completely tender.

11. Margaret's Egg Tarts

Ordered: Portuguese egg tarts and milk tea

A must-eat in Macau! Truly the pinnacle of egg tarts. The egg and milk flavors combine perfectly with the crispy crust, creating a wonderful symphony in your mouth. I ate three and a half myself, and my wife, after already finishing a serving of lo mein, ate two and a half. The shop only accepts cash. They cost 11 MOP each, or 65 MOP for a box of six. There is only one shop in Macau, and the queue is long, but it doesn't take too long—about 15 minutes. The shop is quite proud; I have attached its opening hours below.

12. Tomato House Portuguese Cuisine

Ordered: Portuguese serradura (sawdust pudding), fried bacalhau, African chicken, and signature cheese bolognese spaghetti

Bacalhau is a mixture of cod and mashed potatoes, fried and served with a tomato-based dipping sauce; it contains pieces of fish and small bones. African chicken is highly recommended; it has been featured on the documentary "A Bite of China." Essentially, it is chicken coated with batter, topped with marinade, and baked. It was tender and juicy, with the meat well-seasoned. The spaghetti was baked, which is different from what I expect, but overall good. Recommended.

VI. Accommodation

Macau accommodation during the May Day holiday was sky-high. If you have time, it's better to go on regular days. We booked a room at the Ying Jing Hotel at Estrada do Repouso (Sijia Kou). The hotel was newly renovated, with a window facing a small public park for residents—very quiet. It is close to the Lisboa Hotel and many time-honored food places. Normally, it costs over 500 RMB per day, but during May Day it was 1600 RMB. Luxury hotels on Taipa normally cost around 1000 RMB, and the rooms are suites. If you are a high-roller and gamble at the casinos, public relations staff may offer free rooms. It is said that if you have thick skin, you can try to get a free room after midnight, but I don't know the specifics and don't want to mislead anyone.

Note: The small slip you get after crossing the border is needed when checking in. Hotels are obligated to check your permitted stay duration.

VII. Photo Spots

Outdoor photo taking in Macau can be divided into night and day. The same location looks very different in black and white. If you have the energy, you can visit the same spot twice. A more efficient approach is to first explore the Macau Peninsula in the morning, shooting old landmarks and daylight shots of places like the Lisboa Hotel. After lunch, take a free shuttle to Taipa around 2-3 PM to photograph outdoor areas of The Parisian, The Londoner, The Venetian, etc. Have dinner on Taipa, then after dark, visit Studio City and other night scenery. Finally, take a free shuttle back to the Macau Peninsula to capture the night views there. This maximizes your time but is very tiring.

For ladies who care about their photos, bring a foldable reflector. My wife envied others' professional gear, and I deeply reflect on my own equipment and photography skills.

1. Macau Peninsula

Lovers' Lane — Ruins of St. Paul's — Mount Fortress — Macau Museum — St. Dominic's Church — Around the Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau — Lisboa (same pose as tycoon Stanley Ho) — Wynn Fortune Tree — Macau Tower — Free shuttle to Taipa

Fisherman's Wharf is relatively far from other attractions (only 15 minutes by bus from Lisboa, next to the old Wynn), but it is only suitable for daytime photos and is rather monotonous, so it is not recommended.

Lovers' Lane, the Ruins of St. Paul's, and Mount Fortress are together. Go to Lovers' Lane first to take side shots of the Ruins. After visiting the Ruins, you can go directly to Mount Fortress. Note: When you see the sign, be sure to head towards the Macau Museum direction! There is an escalator that goes directly to Mount Fortress, saving you from climbing stairs!

2. Taipa Island

Get off at The Venetian — Gondola ride (the third floor has a fake sky with Venetian-style boats; there is also an André egg tart shop on the same floor, with a long queue) — Classic video spot outside The Venetian (with a long queue, but there are alternative angles nearby) — Parisian Eiffel Tower — Park opposite The Parisian — Londoner's night scenery corridor photo spots — Studio City (figure-8 Ferris wheel; note that the last entry is 7:30 PM, but the night view is better, so there is some conflict) — Wynn Palace cable car (starts after 4 PM, free, with fountain views; we were too tired to go).

VIII. Other Notes

1. Safety: Macau is very similar to mainland China in safety, but avoid going to desolate areas at night. Major tourist spots are crowded. When traveling, safety comes first.

2. Know your limits: Travel itineraries are often very tight. When eating, do so in moderation. Eating too much across multiple places just for the sake of trying can harm your health, which is not worth it.

3. Take advantage of freebies: Actively use the free facilities provided by the casinos: luxurious hotel lobbies, free shuttle buses, free milk tea, snacks, and bottled water. Don't be lenient with capitalist resources!

4. Keep warm: It can be hot outdoors in Macau, but once indoors, the air conditioning is very strong. So be sure to bring a thick jacket; otherwise, you will freeze like a dog.

5. Allow extra time for flights: Macau is far from Zhuhai Airport. If departing from Macau, be sure to allow at least 4.5 hours (traffic may take longer) to avoid missing your flight. Zhuhai Airport has many people at both check-in and security. There are hotels near the airport; the accommodation is average but acceptable. If you have an early morning flight the next day, it is recommended to stay near the airport.