Where to shop in Macau, free travel tips, how to eat all the best food in Macau... This is simply an unbeatably fun guide that everyone planning to visit Macau must check out. It can save you a lot of money and time.
Macau Travel Guide:
I. Shopping
1) New Yaohan – Located on Avenida Comercial de Macau (near Avenida Dr. Mario Soares), this is the most worthwhile department store in Macau with a wide range of brands. It's great for bargain hunting during sales seasons—sometimes electronics and cameras are even cheaper than in HK. It has a DFS, a Japanese supermarket on the 7th floor, and a Ladurée-style pastry shop where you can buy daily necessities, souvenirs, and snacks.
>2) NARAYA Bangkok Bags – Specializes in colorful and beautifully designed cloth and silk bags, priced from tens to just over a hundred. They offer all sizes from wallets to makeup bags and storage pouches. Recommended for female travelers to at least get a small pouch for sanitary products. There are branches in the Venetian Grand Canal Shoppes on the first floor and on Avenida da Rua da Sé (the shopping pedestrian street next to the Ruins of St. Paul’s).
3) Leal Senado Square Clothing Street – A must-pass route to the Ruins of St. Paul’s, marked by a giant fountain. Aside from many long-established eateries like Wong Chi Kei, Pun U Kei, and Koi Kei, there are plenty of great deals to be found. Examples include the special sales at Fortress, and budget-friendly malls like “Sinda Forte” and “Pata” selling clothes, watches, and accessories, as well as numerous specialized camera shops and pharmacies. Highly recommended:
a. Daiso inside “Sinda Forte,” which sells a huge variety of cheap and practical Japanese goods. Except for items with price tags, most are just MOP 14. Categories include household items, stationery, cleaning supplies, food, and personal care products. b. “Macau Designer’s Release” at No. 8C Rua da Albânia nearby, which specializes in clothing from well-known local Macau designers. The materials, cuts, and styles are on par with big brands, but the prices are reasonable and the designs are unique—you won’t have to worry about fashion overlaps.
The Macau Tourist Information Office is also here. Be sure to pick up free maps and brochures such as the Macau tourist map, heritage site introductions, and ferry and bus route guides. There are guides to World Heritage historic houses, performances (ballet, small theater, music), food, and more. The maps are very user-friendly—with enlarged hand-drawn maps for famous food streets like Rua do Cunha in Taipa. The ads are also trustworthy, often highlighting well-known spots recommended by word of mouth, such as several old-school Portuguese restaurants. The most useful part is the bus route info. Although the island is small, if you’re heading to the islands of Taipa and Coloane, you’ll need to take ferries.
4) Various Open-Air Flea Markets – Commonly located near churches, temples, and historic sites across Macau, such as near Casa Garden or at the fork leading from the Ruins of St. Paul’s to Rua da Palha. Many stalls sell interesting pottery, small antiques, and decorative items.
TIPS: Macau’s roads are particularly steep and don’t really follow north-south logic. The streets are narrow and maze-like, making it easy to get lost. When asking for directions, note that locals don’t navigate by street names but rather by nearby landmarks. Many place names in Macau include the word “前地” (Praya or square), which refers to a small open space—often a resting spot, vehicle-free, and like a mini plaza.
Bonus: Churches, ancestral halls, and temples coexist peacefully across Macau, naturally blending in with the diverse crowd. I suspect churches are repainted frequently, often in pastel greens and yellows favored by minimalists. Inside, they’re clean, solemn, and quite a sight. My favorite is the small Catholic exhibition hall beneath the Ruins of St. Paul’s—a tiny space of just over ten square meters filled with vivid statues of deities in various sizes, housed in glass cases. The white walls feature several paintings, not necessarily masterpieces, but with a stern and refined aura that’s quite likable. Next door, behind a heavy door, is a narrow ossuary. Knowing the glass cases hold human bones doesn’t feel scary, thanks to the sunlight filtering through the small courtyard, the soft chanting of monks, and a small cross quietly resting in the marble room—very modern in vibe.
Macau Travel Guide
II. Free Travel Tips
Principle: Make full use of the free shuttle buses between the various casinos scattered across Macau. Rely on these complimentary services to hit all the major attractions.
1. If you’re starting from the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, take the free shuttle bus from The Venetian that stops right there. The bus will pass by Macau’s central business district and the MGM Casino. The Grand Lisboa and Wynn Casinos will be on your right outside the window. Then the bus will loop around the majestic Macau Tower and cross a bridge. This is a two-level bridge. On your right, there’s another cross-sea bridge—but that one belongs to Zhuhai’s Hengqin Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the bus will pass by the Macau Jockey Club—a very large racetrack where you might even see horses training. Then you’ll arrive at The Venetian. Once off the bus, step into the luxurious casino to marvel at the sights, explore the Grand Canal Shoppes with its incredibly realistic artificial blue skies and clouds, and enjoy the singing gondoliers (recommended: try the egg tarts and yogurt at Lord Stow’s Bakery, and the signature pork chop rice at Tai Lei Loi Kei).
2. After exploring The Venetian, exit through the north gate. Outside is another Venetian complex, and right across is the City of Dreams Casino. Cross the street to City of Dreams, explore inside, catch the Dragon’s Treasure 3D show, or enjoy an afternoon tea at one of the cafes. Half an hour here is enough to get a feel for it.
3. At the City of Dreams shuttle bus stop, look for the shuttle to “Rua do Cunha (Taipa).” Hop on, and it will take you to the distinctly Portuguese-style Rua do Cunha, home to lots of delicious eats. For specifics, refer to the food guide I’ll post later.
4. After eating your fill on Rua do Cunha, return to where you got off and hop on the shuttle back to City of Dreams.
5. Once back at City of Dreams, find the shuttle to “MGM Casino.” This casino bus will take you back over the bridge near Macau Tower. From the bridge, you’ll get a great view of the entire tower and the high-rises along the Macau Peninsula’s waterfront. The views are expansive, and the bus likely won’t be crowded—so choose a good seat for optimal sightseeing.
6. Upon arriving at MGM, you’ll be greeted by a beautiful dealer. You might receive a promotional casino card or flyer—just ignore it and head straight into the MGM Casino. First, you’ll pass through MGM’s unique Sky Dome Plaza, which is very Baroque in style and quite large—just take a look around.
Then enter the casino, walk straight through from one end to the other. Remember to grab a juice inside MGM—the juices are from the same company that supplies Starbucks. Just ask for one. Find the water auntie, say “唔该” (excuse me), and pick your favorite flavor. Then walk through the casino into One Central, Macau’s newest luxury shopping mall—just browse and take photos.
7. After visiting One Central, re-enter MGM and exit through a side door. You’ll see a uniquely Californian-style casino—Wynn. Cross the street, push the door open, and remember to enter through the right-side door (the left is the exit, the right is the entrance). Wander around Wynn. Its design follows feng shui principles, making it feel like a maze. Keep an eye out for the tall, glamorous female hosts—probably the most attractive in all of Macau. After exploring Wynn, head outside to the surrounding luxury shopping street, similar to One Central. Walk around the area and you’ll come across a crowd-gathering spot—home to high-quality performances and shows!!! Every 20 minutes, don’t miss them—the quality is truly impressive.
8. After the show, exit through the main gate. On your right is the StarWorld Casino—feel free to completely ignore it, though the nearly 2-meter-tall casino hostess at the entrance is worth a glance.
9. After the show, exit the Wynn main gate and turn left. You’ll pass by Wynn’s musical fountain, which sometimes puts on beautiful shows with water and even fire at night. Then find an underground passage and walk down through it.
10. Exiting the passage, the legendary gambling tycoon’s property—Lisboa Casino—is right in front of you. The shiny golden casino in front is the new Grand Lisboa. Lisboa is Macau’s old-school casino, with a floor-based layout very different from The Venetian—take your time to explore. Grand Lisboa is a newer property under the tycoon’s gambling empire, with several Bentley sedans parked out front. Step inside Grand Lisboa, where you’ll find Ho Hung Sun’s HK$10 million purchase—a bronze horse head from the Old Summer Palace, gifted to the central government—as well as his own statue. Of course, there are many other collectibles inside—each uniquely themed.
11. After leaving Grand Lisboa, walk straight to your right. You’ll see lots of jewelry stores and shops. Keep walking downhill, and you’ll reach Avenida da Praia Grande (New Street). Now refer to the Macau shopping tips I posted earlier—hunt for bargains, check out Bangkok Bag stores, explore flea markets, or visit churches.
The Ruins of St. Paul’s are near New Street, and the Macau Museum, Mount Fortress, and Casa Garden are also close by. After visiting all these attractions, you’ll have experienced the essence of Macau.
To return to the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, do the same—head to the entrance of the Emperor Casino and find the bus to the terminal. Macau’s casinos and their shuttles truly let you explore the whole place. If you’re returning to Taipa, it’s recommended to go to the casino bus hub opposite the Emperor Casino and take the bus to City of Dreams. That way, when you get to Taipa, taking a taxi will be much cheaper.
The transportation cost during this period is zero, and you can also enjoy free juice while soaking in the air conditioning or heating. Students, please make good use of this route to plan your itinerary—you can explore major casinos, Macau’s traditional sights, and long-established local eateries.
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