Cecelia ChangEarlier last month, I embarked on a 7D6N trip to Guangzhou, China with my travel buddy, Linda. Guangzhou’s strategic location makes it easy to explore neighbouring cities like Shenzhen, Macao (or Macau), and Hong Kong via the high-speed rail. In this article, I’ll share a detailed Macao itinerary and some useful travel tips for a memorable day trip to Macao!
Also read: Explore Macao’s Food Scene: Top 12 Must-Eat Dishes in This UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
My 12-hour Macao trip: itinerary and travel tips
Morning: Exploring casino resorts in Macao and a free cable car ride!
To reach Macao, we took the high-speed rail to Zhuhai Railway Station and then crossed the border at Gongbei Port, which is a few minute’s walk away from the station. Once you’ve crossed the border, just follow the crowds and you’ll reach the Portas do Cerco and bus station in Macao.
Our initial plan was to explore the historic Shiliupu district via the free purple bus. However, the rainy weather prompted us to change our plans and hop on the orange bus to the luxurious MGM Cotai instead.
TripZilla tip: The coloured buses provided by the hotels and casino resorts are free. You simply have to queue at the station, then board the bus to reach your destination.
The interior of MGM is absolutely stunning, and we were fortunate to catch the Sea Odyssey, a mesmerising show featuring acrobatic dolphins and dazzling LED displays. We then crossed the street to the equally impressive Wynn Palace, renowned for its luxurious shopping options and grand fountain display.
P.S. While we couldn’t capture photos or videos inside the casinos due to restrictions, I can say that if you’re not a gambler, the casino floor can be a bit boring. However, one perk for non-gamblers is that you can get food and drinks like milk tea, juice, and buns for free!
We decided to have lunch at the restaurant outside the casino, but it wasn’t the best choice. The food was alright and overpriced!
At the time of our visit, there was this Hypercar Exhibition. Even as a non-car enthusiast, I was captivated by the extraordinary lineup of hypercars from brands like Koenigsegg, Apollo, Pagani, and Lamborghini!
We then lined up for a free, air-conditioned cable car ride (known as SkyCab) in front of Wynn Palace. It offers a bird’s-eye view of the charming fountain display and lasts for about ten minutes.
Note: The cable car operates daily from 4pm.
Afternoon: Where East meets West: photo time with “Venice” and “London”
In the afternoon, we took a leisurely stroll from Wynn Palace to The Londoner Macao, a luxurious resort complex that transports visitors to a mini-London! Even the iconic Big Ben makes an appearance (well, it’s a really good replica called the Elizabeth Tower!).
Although we didn’t venture inside The Londoner, I made sure to take plenty of pictures with the tower and the facade, reminiscent of the Houses of Parliament.
Across the street, we found ourselves in the heart of Venice — or at least a stunning replica. The Venetian Macao, with its indoor canal, gondola rides, and charming Italianate architecture, is an attraction I looked forward to most during this Macao trip. It’s also the perfect place to go for those who dream of visiting Venice but have budget constraints.
Evening: Macanese food and Ruins of Saint Paul’s
I was feeling a bit hungry in the evening, so I randomly followed a queue in The Venetian to this bakery called Lord Stow’s Bakery. After a quick online search, I learned that it’s a popular spot known for its Portuguese egg tarts, milk tea, and other baked treats!
Taking the advice of online reviews, I ordered the milk tea, Portuguese egg tart, and a sawdust pudding (also known as serradura). To be frank, the milk tea and egg tart were a bit underwhelming, but I found myself really liking the serradura!
As dusk fell, we boarded a local bus to the Ruins of Saint Paul’s, one of the most popular historical landmarks in Macao. During the journey, we passed by a few landmarks, such as the Macau Tower and Casino Grand Lisboa. It was already nighttime when we finally arrived at the Ruins of Saint Paul’s, but thankfully, a lot of the eateries and shops were still open, and I got my hands on some souvenirs to bring home.
We eventually took the bus again back to the Portas do Cerco and that marked the end of our Macao trip!
TripZilla tip: When returning to the border, look for buses displaying the Portas do Cerco or “澳门关闸” sign.
Also read: 4D3N Hong Kong & Macao: Things to See, Do & Eat
So that concludes my short day trip to Macao! Even though I was only there for about 12 hours, Macao was undoubtedly eye-opening and I wouldn’t mind going back again. Continue to read more about my journey in Guangzhou and Shenzhen here.
All images are credited to Cecelia Chang.
