Think the only things to do in Macau are gambling? WRONG! Don't worry there are tons of things to do in Macau that don't involve putting money on the table.
Trust us, we spent 3 days in Macau and never spent a dime gambling. Here are our favorite things to do in Macau that aren't gambling.
1. Visit Senado Square
Also known as Senate Square, it's a paved town square with gorgeous pastel colored classic buildings on all sides. There are a bunch of shops and restaurants in the square or even get lost wandering around the side streets, you never know what you'll find.
Macau's official work week is 48 hours with the majority of employees working six days a week. The longer work week is typical for those employed in the F&B sector and the gaming industry. Public companies tend to have a more relaxed working schedule with five days a week, working from 9am to 5.45pm. Yes, you can act, feel and experience the life of a real gamer or gambler at any grand casino in Macau. You can enter for free even if you do not intend to play, so long as you're 18 and above. Do note that some casinos observe a strict dress code so ask or observe before you enter. After discovering that a Macau hotel worker contracted COVID-19, the city suspended casino operations for 15 days on February 4. It also shut down 18 other related businesses, including bars, massage parlors, and movie theaters. Macau's 41 casinos employ more than 57,000 full-time workers, according to official figures from 2018.
Start and end your day exploring all the things to do in Macau at Senado Square. The below 3 things to do in Macau are all in walking distance to Senado Square.
2. Take a photo of the St. Paul Church ruins
The St. Paul Church ruins is one of Macau's best-known landmarks and officially listed as part of the Historic Centre of Macau which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ruins date all the way back to the 16th-century complex that once was St.Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul. We say take a photo of it because that's about all there is to it. All that is left is just the facade, the back of the church is in ruins.
3. Eat a Macanese Egg Tart
If you tell someone you're going to Macau they will most likely tell you the #1 thing to do in Macau is eat an egg tart. The Macau version of an egg tart is basically a hybrid of an English and Portuguese egg custard tart.
The best egg tart in Macau is at Lord Stow's Bakery, they sell 13,500+ tarts a day.
- Original Bakery Address: 1 Rua do Tassara, Coloane, Macau Open Daily 7am-10pm
There are additional Lord Stow's Bakery locations throughout Macau and even 2 located in the Venetian Hotel.
4. Visit the Iconic Grand Lisboa Hotel
Probably the most iconic building in the Macau skyline, the Grand Lisboa hotel is 846ft high and the tallest building in Macau. I personally think it's quite ugly but makes for a great picture!
Address: 2-4 Av. de Lisboa, Macau
5. Go Shopping in Macau
Instead of spending your money gambling in Macau go shopping! You will never be too far from a Gucci, Coach, Burberry OR if you more affordable stores like H&M, Gap, Forever 21, etc. Scott horowitz poker rules.
Related Article: Perfect 3 Days in Hong Kong Itinerary
6. Eat
The restaurants in Macau are amazing, so many international restaurants. During our stay at the Sheraton Grand Macao we never had to leave the hotel for amazing food we had: Italian at Bene, Portuguese BBQ poolside at SALA, and Asian hotpot at XIN.
7. Grab a Drink
Although Macau is much tame when it comes to alcohol consumption, it's still not a bad place to grab a drink. However, don't expect to be served while you're playing, apparently, that's not a thing in Macau yet. So casinos are rumored to do it, but this wasn't our experience in Macau.
Instead, head over to the St. Regis hotel for their signature Macanese Bloody Mary. Each St.Regis hotel around the world has their own spin on the original. In Macau, it's a deconstructed Bloody Mary served with a lobster egg tart!
8. Go Casino Hopping in Macau
You don't have to be gambling to be in the casinos. There are 33 casinos in Macau go take a stroll thru them. Several of the casinos on the Taipa side are connected by walkways you could go exploring for hours and never have to go outside.
Vacancy In Macau Casino
Take a stroll by the high roller tables and see how much money is spent gambling a day in Macau. We have been to Vegas many times, typically we will play $5-10 hands of Blackjack for several hours NOT in Macau…the cheapest Blackjack table we could find was $50 hand in most casinos. So when looking for cheap things to do in Macau don't plan on gambling…
9. Relax By The Pool
After a busy day doing all the things to do in Macau nothing beats relaxing by the pool. I loved the pool at the Sheraton Grand Hotel not only because there were 4 to choose from but if you stay til dark you can see the 'Eiffel Tower' at the Parisian Hotel light up!
10. Watch the sunset over the Macau Strip
Take in the views from one of the best places to see the sunset in Macau, the walking bridges over the strip. Head up to one of the many crossovers a little before sunset to catch the colors of the sun behind the electric of the neon lights. This view was from the metal round shaped crossover at the end of the strip near the Venetian lagoon.
Macau Travel Tips
- You'll need your passport to travel to Macau from Hong Kong, you'll pass through immigration.
- As Americans no special visa is needed, we were given a visa on arrival at the Macau ferry. Check to see visa rules for your nationality.
- Macau currency is different than Hong Kong so if you plan on gambling in Macau you should exchange money or use an ATM.
- Uber in Macau was super easy and efficient, there is public transportation but has several stops and takes a long time to get from the Taipa side to some of the best things to do in Macau. We only used Uber as it helped with the language barrier and we didn't have any cash our entire trip to Macau.
Related Article: Hong Kong Travel Tips
Hong Kong To Macau Ferry / Macau to Hong Kong Ferry
- There are 2 ferry terminals in Macau: Macau Taipa ferry terminal and Macau outer harbour ferry terminal. Make sure to purchase your ferry ticket to the harbour closest to your Macau hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton Grand Macao which was on the Taipa side, they offer free shuttles from the Taipa ferry terminal to the hotel. We took the Hong Kong to Macau ferry with Cotai Water Jet both ways.
- There are two ferry terminals in Hong Kong: Hong Kong Sheung Wan and Kowloon China Ferry terminal. If you are staying at a hotel on Hong Kong island you would take the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau from Sheung Wan terminal. If you are staying on the Kowloon side you'd take the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau from the Kowloon China ferry terminal. Both run several times throughout the day.
- We noticed we were the only people to check luggage on the Hong Kong to Macau ferry, and it costs us 75 Hong Kong dollars ($10USD). On the way back from Macau to Hong Kong, we decided not to check any luggage and no one said anything to us. Save some extra money and only check luggage if asked to.
Related Article: Things To Do In Kowloon
Where To Stay In Macau
The first thing to decide before traveling to Macau is where to stay. There are 95 hotels in Macau on Agoda.com alone, so picking a hotel can be a task in itself. We stayed at the largest hotel in Macau, The Sheraton Grand Macao which has not 4,000 rooms but 4,001 rooms! A 5-star hotel for only $115 in October was a steal, especially coming from Hong Kong.
Check Prices Agoda | Booking.com | TripAdvisor Reviews
There are over 200 Airbnb listing in Macau. Considering renting an apartment in Macau for a fraction of the price than a hotel.
Work In Macau Casinos
Airbnb first-timers, if you sign up through my referral link you get $40 credit when you book your first trip! Available time slot for meeting email template. –>> sign up here!
If you tell someone you're going to Macau they will most likely tell you the #1 thing to do in Macau is eat an egg tart. The Macau version of an egg tart is basically a hybrid of an English and Portuguese egg custard tart.
The best egg tart in Macau is at Lord Stow's Bakery, they sell 13,500+ tarts a day.
- Original Bakery Address: 1 Rua do Tassara, Coloane, Macau Open Daily 7am-10pm
There are additional Lord Stow's Bakery locations throughout Macau and even 2 located in the Venetian Hotel.
4. Visit the Iconic Grand Lisboa Hotel
Probably the most iconic building in the Macau skyline, the Grand Lisboa hotel is 846ft high and the tallest building in Macau. I personally think it's quite ugly but makes for a great picture!
Address: 2-4 Av. de Lisboa, Macau
5. Go Shopping in Macau
Instead of spending your money gambling in Macau go shopping! You will never be too far from a Gucci, Coach, Burberry OR if you more affordable stores like H&M, Gap, Forever 21, etc. Scott horowitz poker rules.
Related Article: Perfect 3 Days in Hong Kong Itinerary
6. Eat
The restaurants in Macau are amazing, so many international restaurants. During our stay at the Sheraton Grand Macao we never had to leave the hotel for amazing food we had: Italian at Bene, Portuguese BBQ poolside at SALA, and Asian hotpot at XIN.
7. Grab a Drink
Although Macau is much tame when it comes to alcohol consumption, it's still not a bad place to grab a drink. However, don't expect to be served while you're playing, apparently, that's not a thing in Macau yet. So casinos are rumored to do it, but this wasn't our experience in Macau.
Instead, head over to the St. Regis hotel for their signature Macanese Bloody Mary. Each St.Regis hotel around the world has their own spin on the original. In Macau, it's a deconstructed Bloody Mary served with a lobster egg tart!
8. Go Casino Hopping in Macau
You don't have to be gambling to be in the casinos. There are 33 casinos in Macau go take a stroll thru them. Several of the casinos on the Taipa side are connected by walkways you could go exploring for hours and never have to go outside.
Vacancy In Macau Casino
Take a stroll by the high roller tables and see how much money is spent gambling a day in Macau. We have been to Vegas many times, typically we will play $5-10 hands of Blackjack for several hours NOT in Macau…the cheapest Blackjack table we could find was $50 hand in most casinos. So when looking for cheap things to do in Macau don't plan on gambling…
9. Relax By The Pool
After a busy day doing all the things to do in Macau nothing beats relaxing by the pool. I loved the pool at the Sheraton Grand Hotel not only because there were 4 to choose from but if you stay til dark you can see the 'Eiffel Tower' at the Parisian Hotel light up!
10. Watch the sunset over the Macau Strip
Take in the views from one of the best places to see the sunset in Macau, the walking bridges over the strip. Head up to one of the many crossovers a little before sunset to catch the colors of the sun behind the electric of the neon lights. This view was from the metal round shaped crossover at the end of the strip near the Venetian lagoon.
Macau Travel Tips
- You'll need your passport to travel to Macau from Hong Kong, you'll pass through immigration.
- As Americans no special visa is needed, we were given a visa on arrival at the Macau ferry. Check to see visa rules for your nationality.
- Macau currency is different than Hong Kong so if you plan on gambling in Macau you should exchange money or use an ATM.
- Uber in Macau was super easy and efficient, there is public transportation but has several stops and takes a long time to get from the Taipa side to some of the best things to do in Macau. We only used Uber as it helped with the language barrier and we didn't have any cash our entire trip to Macau.
Related Article: Hong Kong Travel Tips
Hong Kong To Macau Ferry / Macau to Hong Kong Ferry
- There are 2 ferry terminals in Macau: Macau Taipa ferry terminal and Macau outer harbour ferry terminal. Make sure to purchase your ferry ticket to the harbour closest to your Macau hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton Grand Macao which was on the Taipa side, they offer free shuttles from the Taipa ferry terminal to the hotel. We took the Hong Kong to Macau ferry with Cotai Water Jet both ways.
- There are two ferry terminals in Hong Kong: Hong Kong Sheung Wan and Kowloon China Ferry terminal. If you are staying at a hotel on Hong Kong island you would take the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau from Sheung Wan terminal. If you are staying on the Kowloon side you'd take the ferry from Hong Kong to Macau from the Kowloon China ferry terminal. Both run several times throughout the day.
- We noticed we were the only people to check luggage on the Hong Kong to Macau ferry, and it costs us 75 Hong Kong dollars ($10USD). On the way back from Macau to Hong Kong, we decided not to check any luggage and no one said anything to us. Save some extra money and only check luggage if asked to.
Related Article: Things To Do In Kowloon
Where To Stay In Macau
The first thing to decide before traveling to Macau is where to stay. There are 95 hotels in Macau on Agoda.com alone, so picking a hotel can be a task in itself. We stayed at the largest hotel in Macau, The Sheraton Grand Macao which has not 4,000 rooms but 4,001 rooms! A 5-star hotel for only $115 in October was a steal, especially coming from Hong Kong.
Check Prices Agoda | Booking.com | TripAdvisor Reviews
There are over 200 Airbnb listing in Macau. Considering renting an apartment in Macau for a fraction of the price than a hotel.
Work In Macau Casinos
Airbnb first-timers, if you sign up through my referral link you get $40 credit when you book your first trip! Available time slot for meeting email template. –>> sign up here!
Best Places To Stay In Hong Kong
We spent half our time in Kowloon hotels and the other half in Hong Kong Island hotels. We recommend the following hotels as we personally stayed there:
- Budget Prices: Central Mini Hotel | Agoda | Booking.com |TripAdvisor Reviews
- Midrange Prices Hotel Jen | Agoda | Booking.com |TripAdvisor Reviews
- Luxury Hotel: Hotel Pottinger | Agoda | Booking.com |TripAdvisor Reviews
- Boutique Hotel: The Luxe Manor | Agoda | Booking.com |TripAdvisor Reviews
Related Article: Hotel Jen Hong Kong
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*Thanks to the Sheraton Grand Macao for hosting us. As always all opinions are our own. *This post may contain affiliate links, see our disclosure
Prostitution is legal in Macau[2] unlike in mainland China, because the city is a special administrative region of the country. However, operating a brothel and procuring are both illegal in Macau, with the latter punishable by a maximum jail sentence of 8 years.[3]Street prostitution is illegal but sex work in a massage parlor is considered to be de facto legal.[4] The city has a large sex trade despite there being no official red-light district.[5] In addition to street prostitution, prostitutes work in low-rent buildings, massage parlours and illegal brothels, and the casinos, nightclubs, saunas and some of the larger hotels.[6] Most hotels, however, have suspected prostitutes removed from the premises.[7] Many of the city's sidewalks and underpasses are littered with prostitutes' calling cards.[2]
Macau's economy is based largely on tourism with significant input from gambling casinos, drugs and prostitution[8] which has led to the city being called a Sin City.[1] As the Macau administration relies heavily on taxes from prostitution and gambling,[2] the authorities have traditionally been reluctant to reduce the size of the sex industry.[8] The trade is said to be controlled by Chinese organized crime groups[9] with different gangs made up of people from different provinces in China, a system which has led to violent clashes.[10]
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1602 SIMPLIFYING AND PROVIDING STIFFER PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF PHILIPPINE GAMBLING LAWS. WHEREAS, Philippine Gambling Laws particularly Articles 195-199, the Revised Penal Code, Republic Act No. 3063 (Horse Racing Bookies), Presidential Decree No. 499 (Cockfighting), Presidential Decree No. 483, (Game Fixing), Presidential Decree No., 519 (Slot Machines). 1602 illegal gambling. PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. PRESCRIBING STIFFER PENALTIES ON ILLEGAL GAMBLING. WHEREAS, Philippine Gambling Laws such as Articles 195-199 of the Revised Penal Code (Forms of Gambling and Betting), R.A. 3063 (Horse racing Bookies), P.D. 449 (Cockfighting), P.D. 483 (Game Fixing), P.D. 510 (Slot Machines) in relation to Opinion Nos. 33 and 97 of the Ministry of Justice, P.D. Philippine Presidential Decree No. 1602 is a Philippine gambling law enacted by then-President Ferdinand Marcos on June 11 th, 1978. This Presidential Decree implemented harsh penalties for the individuals participating and hosting illegal gaming activities. President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree Number 1602 into law on June 11 th, 1978. This Decree introduced harsher penalties on individuals and hosts of illegal gambling activities. 1602 was created out of the need for increased penalties against illegal gaming violations.
History[edit]
Prostitution was recorded in Macau during the 19th[11] and 20th centuries.[12] In the nineteenth century, in addition to conventional brothels, Macau had floating brothels known as 'flower boats' which serviced foreign ships. After 1851 prostitution was regulated, and in the 1930s the government attempted to end the exploitation and abuse of prostitutes.[13] In the late 1930s there were 120 brothels in the city with 1500 prostitutes.[10]
In the 1990s there were reports alleging that Chinese triad members were arranging marriages of convenience with Portuguese prostitutes in order to secure Portuguese citizenship.[14] In early 2015 there were tabloid reports of popular Japanese pornographic film actresses coming to Macau to work as prostitutes; their clients were said to be rich Chinese men.[15][16][17] A subsequent Chinese national anti-corruption drive has reduced prostitution-related advertising and increased the number of inspections of illegal brothels.[18] Some underground brothels have been shut down[19] and over 100 people were arrested in connection with criminal involvement in prostitution at a Macau hotel.[20]
Sex trafficking[edit]
Syndicates from China are said to lure women from mainland China to work as prostitutes in Macau with false advertisements for casino jobs, work as dancers, or other types of legitimate employment.[21] There are also allegations that women are trafficked to Macau for prostitution from Mongolia, Russia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Central Asia[5][22] and South Africa.[2][23] A gang bringing South Korean prostitutes to Macau to serve Chinese men was arrested in 2015.[24][25] According to the United States embassy in Ulaan Bator, estimates of Mongolian sex workers in Macau vary from 200-300 women.[26] Macau has been put on a U.S. State Department watch list for human trafficking, ranked at Tier 2 (territories which do not fully comply with minimum standards in the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 'but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance').[6] Human trafficking is illegal in Macau, with a maximum jail sentence of 12 years (15 years if minors are involved).[3]
The United States Department of StateOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons ranks Macau as a 'Tier 2 Watch List' territory.[27]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abCoonan, Clifford (25 July 2009). 'China's sin city: Inside the world's biggest gambling den'. The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ abcdKatie Hunt (18 June 2013). 'The dark side of Asia's gambling Mecca'. CNN. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ abCarvalho, Raquel (5 July 2015). 'Macau's sex trade dealt a losing hand'. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^Zhidong Hao (2011). Macau History and Society. Hong Kong University Press. p. 180. ISBN9789888028542.
- ^ ab'Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery'. GVnet. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^ ab'Macau Sex Ring Bust Shows China Expanding Crackdown on Graft'. Bloomberg Business. Shanghai. 16 January 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^'Prostitution Solicitations OK At Lisboa Hotel Macau'. Thewhistlernews.com. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ^ abLeonard, Barry (2010). Asian Transnational Organized Crime and Its Impact on the United States. DIANE Publishing. p. 10. ISBN9781437929201.
- ^'2008 Human Rights Report: China (includes Tibet, Hong Kong, and Macau)'. www.state.gov. U.S. Department of State. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
Prostitution is legal and common; however, procurement and the operation of a brothel are illegal. Nevertheless, the SAR had a large sex trade, including brothels, most of which were believed to be controlled by Chinese organized crime groups, and many of those exploited by the trade were women.
- ^ abZhidong Hao 2011, p. 180.
- ^Melissa Hope Ditmore (2006). Melissa Hope Ditmore (ed.). Encyclopedia of prostitution and sex work, Volume 1 (illustrated ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 212. ISBN978-0-313-32969-2. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
By 1845, the total number of prostitutes increased, to 123. Most were Chinese, with a minority of them being Portuguese (the Portuguese colony of Macao was near), or other nationalities. At those times, prostitutes concentrated in the
- ^Roy Rowan (2008). Chasing the Dragon: A Veteran Journalist's Firsthand Account of the 1946-9 Chinese Revolution (illustrated ed.). Globe Pequot. p. 172. ISBN978-1-59921-477-1. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
The Central was Macao's glittering gambling casino, packed every night with Portuguese prostitutes, high rollers from Hong Kong, and hundreds of Chinese playing fan tan, their favorite card game.
- ^Zhidong Hao 2011, p. 64–65.
- ^Kenneth Hugh De Courcy, John De Courcy (1978). Intelligence digest, Volume 1996. Intelligence International Ltd. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
Triads in Portugal. Sources in Lisbon say that Chinese triad gangs from the Portuguese colony of Macau are setting up in Portugal ahead of the handover of Macau to China in 1999. Security sources fear that as many as 1000 triad members could settle in Portugal. They are already involved in securing Portuguese citizenship for Macau residents by arranging marriages of convenience with Portuguese prostitutes.
- ^Kenji Nakano (23 January 2015). 'Japan's AV actresses rolling the bones in Macau'. Tokyo Reporter. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^'Prostitution Scandals in Macau'. So Much Poker. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^Wesker (31 January 2015). 'New non-gambling attractions in Macau'. Pokerground. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^'Macau remains a source territory for human trafficking'. Macau News. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
- ^Nylander, Johan (31 March 2015). 'Where China's High-Rollers Go To Gamble After Macau Crackdown'. Forbes. China. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^Ying-kit, Lai (13 January 2015). 'Stanley Ho's nephew, 96 'prostitutes' and five hotel staff held in Macau hotel vice bust'. South China morning Post. Hong Kong. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^Hao, Zhidong (2011). Macau History and Society. Hong Kong University Press. p. 180. ISBN9789888028542.
- ^Danika Liu Dan; Hazel Wan Zhenxia; Amber Wu Xiaolei (28 July 2014). 'Survive in the Cracks — the Sex Industry in Macau'. US-China Today. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ^'SA a human-trafficking hot spot, conference hears'. Mail & Guardian. 18 October 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
- ^Chung Hyun-chae (18 January 2015). 'Korean prostitution gang working in Macau nabbed'. The Korea Times. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^'Major Korean prostitution ring busted in Macau'(PDF). Macau Daily Times. 21 April 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
- ^'Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for Mongolia'. cables.mrkva.eu. 13 March 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ^'Macau 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report'. U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 27 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
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