How to Spend 1 Day in Macau

Macau is a study in juxtapositions—part sleepy colonial village and part glitzy gambling center. It’s also a cultural melting pot with influences from China, Portugal, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Here are some tips for how to make the most of your 24 hours in this city of contrasts. 

Morning: City Sightseeing

There’s much more to Macau than its casinos. A good place to start is in its historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sightseeing tours typically start with historic points of interest, such as the ruins of St. Paul and the historic A-Ma Temple, before taking you through modern Macau with stops at Guia Circuit (home of Macau Grand Prix) and the 1,109-foot (338-meter) Macau Tower. To explore at your own pace, book tickets for the Macau hop-on hop-off bus, with 16 stops around town and commentary in English on its 70-minute loop.

Afternoon: Thrills or Chills

The Macau Tower ranks among the top attractions in Asia for adrenaline junkies. This afternoon, choose your level of adventure while soaking in the panoramic views of the city. Test your mettle with one of the world’s highest commercial bungee jumps or feel the wind in your face during an outdoor Skywalk some 764 feet (233 meters) above ground. For something more relaxed, opt for a gondola ride through Venetian Macau. 

Night: House of Dancing Water

Tonight, treat yourself to a Cirque-style performance at City of Dreams Macau.The House of Dancing Water, created by former Cirque du Soleil director Franco Dragone, is staged in a state-of-the-art theater complete with a 3.7-million-gallon (14,000-cubic-meter) swimming pool and some 80 costumed performers. For something more traditional, head to Sands Cotai Theatre for a performance ofMonkey King – China Show, which recreates the story fromJourney to the West.