Six Days and Five Nights in Hong Kong and Macau (Part 1) - Macau Section
We stayed in Macau for about two days, first arriving in Zhuhai, then reaching Macau through the Hengqin Port, and finally traveling to Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
Since I was traveling with my parents, I tried to plan routes that wouldn't be too tiring. The general idea was to spend one day in Taipa and one day on the Macau Peninsula.
📝Pre-trip tips:
【🧳Preparation】Remember to prepare SIM cards or data packages in advance. I bought data packages for my parents, which automatically switched when we arrived in Macau - very convenient. Since I might need it later, I simply bought a SIM card.
【💰Money tips】In Macau, you can get by with mobile payments everywhere. I didn't exchange any Macanese patacas. My dad exchanged 100 yuan as a souvenir. If you need to exchange a large amount, I recommend doing it at a bank before your trip. There are currency exchange services at Hengqin Port, but the rates aren't good.
【🚉Transportation tips】You can buy light rail tickets at the manual ticket counters for 6 MOP. For buses, you can use the "Ride Code" mini program. Public transportation in Macau is very convenient, so we never took taxis. You can buy tickets for the golden bus on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on-site. They accept mobile payments and cost 65 MOP.
【🏨Hotel information】Most hotels in Macau allow check-in after 3 PM and require check-out before 11 AM, but generally, the front desk can store your luggage.
【[!]Important reminder】Keep the slip they give you after passing through customs. Don't lose it - it's as important as your passport.
🗓Itinerary:
•Day 1
We flew from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and arrived at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport around 8 PM, then took a taxi directly to our hotel.
🏨Hotel recommendation: Qinyue International Apartment (Zhuhai International Convention and Exhibition Center)
We booked a family suite. It's about a 5-6 minute taxi ride from Hengqin Port and has a great night view where you can see Macau across the water. The hotel is very clean and the price was reasonable even during the holiday period. The only issue might be that the surrounding area is somewhat deserted with few dining options, but since we were just staying overnight, this wasn't a problem for us.
•Day 2
Since my parents woke up early, we had already packed our things and arrived at Hengqin Port by 9 AM. There are many places to eat breakfast near the port. At 9 AM, there weren't many people at the port, but I heard it gets crowded after 10 AM, so if you want to avoid lines during holidays, I recommend arriving early like we did.
After passing through customs, we took the light rail directly to our hotel to store our luggage.
🏨Hotel recommendation: Macau Art Residence
I highly recommend this hotel. I loved the graffiti wall outside. The price was reasonable, it was clean and hygienic, the rooms were spacious, and the location was great - convenient for going anywhere.
From the hotel, we took a bus directly to Rua do Cunha, where we tried Old Day's offal, pork chop buns, and fish balls. The offal was okay, but I preferred the pork chop bun - the meat inside was super juicy.
After eating, we went to The Venetian Macao to experience the indoor canal and bought a Labubu that I had been trying to get for a long time in mainland China. We walked through the internal passage from The Venetian to The Londoner Macao and headed straight to Andrew's Egg Tarts on the second floor, where I got the egg tarts I had been craving. Freshly baked egg tarts are delicious - my parents thought so too. The pastry is thin and crispy, and the filling is rich and smooth. I recommend friends who want to try Andrew's egg tarts to buy them at The Londoner - there's hardly any line.
From The Londoner, we crossed to MGM Cotai and took a free shuttle to Wynn Macau to watch the Fortune Tree show. The Fortune Tree show starts on the hour after 12 PM. We arrived more than half an hour early, and there were already quite a few people. During holidays, I recommend arriving early. It was definitely worth seeing.
🍲Restaurant recommendation: Red 8 (Wynn Macau)
After watching the Fortune Tree show, we had dinner right inside Wynn. Note that you must be over 21 to enter because the restaurant is inside Wynn. The food was good - very typical Cantonese cuisine. I recommend the [Wonton Noodles] - the broth is fresh and sweet, the wonton wrappers are thin with generous filling, and the shrimp has a nice bite to it - classic Cantonese flavor. The [Stir-fried Beef Ho Fun] has great wok hei, the beef is from the sirloin, thick and tender, and the rice noodles are well-seasoned.
After dinner, we walked to Grand Lisboa Macau for some entertainment. We chose Grand Lisboa mainly because registration comes with a free 100 MOP, plus it's a well-established venue with more classic content.
Afterward, we walked back to the hotel. We could have taken the bus, but my parents wanted to walk. Strolling through Macau's old alleys feels special, and you can discover many unexpected sights.
•Day 3
In the morning, we checked out and stored our luggage at the hotel, then walked to Rua de Cinco de Outubro.
🍲Restaurant recommendation: Nam Ping
Located on Rua de Cinco de Outubro, I highly recommend their [Saweng] (Portuguese-style donuts). Although they're coated with fine sugar, they're not overly sweet. The outer shell is slightly crispy - so delicious you can't stop eating them.
We walked to the Rua da Felicidade (Happiness Street) and the Ruins of St. Paul's. Along the way, we saw many interesting and beautiful graffiti artworks. This is a landmark attraction with many tour groups and crowds, but since we were there, I definitely wanted to take my parents to check it out. Nearby, you can take the elevator at the Macau Museum to reach the Mount Fortress for a panoramic view of Macau.
🍲Restaurant recommendation: Tomato Portuguese Food
I highly, highly recommend this restaurant - a delightful surprise hidden in Macau's alleys! Although it's tucked away on a narrow, sloping lane in the old town and took some winding navigation to find, the lively atmosphere of the fully seated restaurant made the 20-minute wait worthwhile. I recommend the [Bacalhau com Natas] - salted Portuguese cod fish shredded into fine strands and baked with creamy mashed potatoes until golden brown on top. The texture is smooth with a slight chewiness - an authentic flavor that hits your taste buds. The [Pork Neck] is marbled with fat and lean meat, with crispy skin and bursting with rich flavor, complemented by a sour and spicy sauce that adds more dimension.
We returned to the hotel to get our luggage, then took a free shuttle to the Macau Maritime Terminal and headed to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Macau Port to go to Hong Kong. The journey took about an hour.
"To be continued in Part 2 - Three Days in Hong Kong"