This Macao itinerary includes both thrilling and chill activities, tons of IG-worthy spots, and plenty of good food — and is now a 4-hour direct flight away!
I’ve never considered Macao a holiday destination. A day trip from Hong Kong or mainland China perhaps, but a dedicated vacation there? I wasn’t sure if there were enough things to do in Macao to warrant a long weekend getaway.
But after visiting for the first time, I realise there are actually plenty of things to do in Macao. Visiting a teamLab exhibition, climbing a 338m-tall skyscraper (legally), and going on a sunset coastal hike are just some of the highlights!
And because Macao was a Portuguese colony till 1999, there’s a wonderful mix of Asian and Western culture that’s represented in Macao’s architecture and food. Dim sum in a cha chaan teng for breakfast, then Portuguese cuisine for lunch? Sounds like a great time to me.
Plus, it’s just a 4-hour direct flight from Singapore to get there — with daily flights available! But more on that at the end.
Macao Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Historic Centre | teamLab Macao | Cotai Strip
Day 2: Taipa Village
Day 3: Macau Tower and Surrounds
Day 4: Coloane Island
Day 5: Other Gems in the City Centre
Budget Breakdown | Flights to Macao | Where to Stay in Macao | Pre-trip Essentials
Click to jump to each section.
Day 1: Historic Centre of Macao and Cotai Strip
Macao was a trading port and Portuguese settlement from the mid-16th century to 1999. That’s why so many of the buildings feature Western architectural elements!
The best place to start your Macao itinerary is the Historic Centre of Macao — a collection of 22 buildings that have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. They’re located on Macao Peninsula (the main island), mostly within walking distance of each other.
8AM: Ruins of St Paul’s and Mount Fortress
Ruins of St Paul’s
Our first stop is Ruins of St Paul’s, one of Macao’s most recognisable landmarks. It’s the facade of the Church of Mater Dei and the ruins of St. Paul’s College — which were destroyed in a fire in 1835.
The ruins are the entry to the Sacred Art Museum and Crypt, but we were happy just to admire the facade and take photos from outside.
*Pro-tip: The Ruins of St Paul’s is arguably the most photographed spot in Macao. Arrive earlier (6:30AM – 7:30AM) if you want fewer people in your photos!
Sacred Art Museum and Crypt
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM (Wed – Mon, last entry 5:30PM), 9AM – 2PM (Tue)
How to get there: 9min walk from Senado Square (Google Maps)
Most visitors capture the ruins from the steps at the front, but there are photo opportunities and hidden gems on either side!
To the left, there’s Travessa da Paixão — a narrow alley that perfectly frames the Ruins of St Paul’s. Paixão means passion and love in Portuguese, so it loosely translates to Love Lane! One of the buildings on this lane houses the Love Cinema Theatre, a three-storey film museum that screens local and international films.
Love Cinema Theatre
Cost: MOP$60 (~S$10.20) for a movie ticket
Opening hours: 10AM – 11:30PM (Closed on Mon), exhibition space closes at 8PM
How to get there: It’s located to the left of the Ruins of St Paul’s (Google Maps)
To the right, there’s a cobblestone road that’s another great photo spot with less crowds. It also leads to our next stop, Mount Fortress!
Mount Fortress
Built from 1617 to 1626, Mount Fortress was the city’s main defence structure. It was equipped with cannons, barracks, and enough ammunition to endure a siege of up to two years.
This fortress rests atop Mount Hill at 52m above sea level — so it offers great views of the city! The Macao Museum was also built at the top of Mount Fortress in 1998, which showcases Macao’s history as a Portuguese colony.
Mount Fortress
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 7AM – 7PM
How to get there: 1min walk from Ruins of St Paul’s (Google Maps)
Macao Museum
Entrance fee: MOP$15 (~S$2.50)
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM (Closed on Mon, last entry at 5:30PM) — Free admission every Tue and the 15th of every month
How to get there: It’s located within Mount Fortress (Google Maps)
10AM: Breakfast at Margaret’s Café e Nata
Did you really visit a former Portuguese colony if you didn’t have an egg tart or two? One household name is Margaret’s Café e Nata, a popular bakery founded in 1992.
The egg tarts were creamy, with a glorious caramelised top layer. The queue also moved pretty fast! Besides egg tarts, there’s a salad and sandwich bar as well as other pastries and drinks available.
*Pro-tip: Go early to avoid disappointment as Margaret’s Café e Nata closes shop when their egg tarts are sold out.
Cost: MOP$65 (~S$11) for a box of six tarts
Opening hours: 8:30AM – 4:30PM (Mon – Tue, Thu – Fri), 10AM – 6PM (Sat – Sun), Closed on Wed
How to get there: 12min walk from Mount Fortress (Google Maps)
11AM: Senado Square
Senado Square
Senado Square is the beating heart of Macao — pastel-coloured neo-classical buildings line the square and a fountain acts as the centrepiece. It’s typically packed with locals and tourists, so we arrived at 6AM to avoid the crowds.
Notable buildings include The Holy House of Mercy, Municipal Affairs Bureau and Central Post Office.
At the end of Senado Square is St. Dominic’s Church, another one of the 22 buildings listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was founded in 1587 by Spanish priests!
12PM: Rua dos Ervanários and Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo
Just one street down from Senado Square is Rua dos Ervanários and Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo. These parallel streets used to be busy with Macao’s foreign trade customs services, but have since been revived to feature murals, speciality coffee shops and other local businesses.
There are several interesting coffee shops in the area like Pace Coffee Macau, A Porta Da Arte and Connect Coffee Roasters. We realised that most cafes in Macao only open at 11AM or 12PM — you’ll have a tough time finding speciality coffee before then!
*Pro-tip: Majority of the store shutters are also painted with murals — come before 8AM when the shops are still closed to see them!
Rua dos Ervanários and Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: 6min walk from Senado Square (Google Maps)
2PM: teamLab SuperNature Macao
You might be wondering — why visit teamLab SuperNature Macao when we’ve got one at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore?
Well, Singapore’s teamLab (FUTURE WORLD) is 1,500m2 while Macao’s is over three times the size (5,000m2). The space was so large, we had to ask for directions several times.
What I really enjoyed about this teamLab is there’s no fixed route. There’s a large two-storey central room — Valley of Flowers and People (above) — which branches out to the other exhibits. The order of exhibits you visit and time spent in each one is completely up to you!
There’s quite a lot to see, so I’ll just share our favourites. The first is this room filled with giant spheres that light up — each sphere moves freely, and changes colour when you touch it!
Okay, we’ve got The Infinite Crystal Universe back in Singapore. But Macao’s was so much bigger! We didn’t have to jostle with other visitors for photos.
Since we’re already visiting teamLab Macao, we opted for the add-on experience (additional MOP$100) to gain entry to three new interactive installations — the Floating Flower Garden, Massless Clouds and En TEA HOUSE.
I saw photos online of the Massless Clouds exhibit — but it didn’t occur to me that the clouds were actually soap bubbles; a lot of it. We had to suit up in raincoats and shoe covers (all provided) and were left to venture through the room of foam. Needless to say, it was really fun.
teamLab Macao felt more like a giant playground than an art exhibition — with interactive exhibits for both adults and kids to play with. We spent 3 hours here and felt like we could stay a lot longer; you’ll definitely be able to spend at least 4!
Entrance fee: MOP$288 (~S$49), add-on experience at MOP$100 (~S$17)
Opening hours: 11AM – 7PM (Last entry at 6:15PM), Closed on Wed
How to get there: Take bus 26A from Senado Square (38min) or a 16min taxi ride (Google Maps)
7PM: Cotai Strip
Photo credit: The Parisian Macao
Lined with mega resorts, theatres and clubs, Cotai Strip is Macao’s answer to Las Vegas. Even if you’re not staying in the area, this street is worth visiting.
There are massive resorts themed after big cities (The Londoner Macao, The Venetian Macao and The Parisian Macao) with replicas of famous landmarks. Visit the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and Venice’s iconic canals — all in a single night!
Photo credit: Wynn Resorts Macau
Stop by Wynn Macau Fountain to catch a free daily water show (apparently, there’s fire involved). It happens every 30 minutes or so from 12PM – 10PM.
Cotai Strip
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: teamLab is located in The Venetian Macao (Google Maps)
Day 2: Taipa
Once a fishing village, Taipa has been transformed into a bustling neighbourhood that combines Portuguese and Chinese heritage. The buildings and streets are beautifully maintained, with colourful murals decorating the alleys.
8AM: Breakfast at 金利麵食 Noodles
金利麵食 Noodles was recommended to us by our friend Clarence, who grew up in Macao. They’re known for delicious and affordable curry noodles at S$4 per bowl!
He told us to order the beef brisket noodles, but that was sold out when we arrived at lunchtime. So we ordered small portions of the pork slice and chicken curry noodles instead — the broth is like a thinner curry and was really tasty.
If you’re feeling hungry, get the combo! It’s a bigger bowl of noodles with two meats (you can mix and match) for just MOP$47.
Cost: From MOP$32 (~S$4) for a small bowl
Opening hours: 7:45AM – 4:45PM
How to get there: From Senado Square, take bus 21A or 26A to Edf. Chun Leong station (Google Maps)
9:30AM: Taipa’s Street Art
When in Taipa, mural hunting is a must. Come early to avoid the day-trip crowd from Hong Kong!
The first mural we saw features a tiger, which symbolises good fortune and protection. You can’t miss this — it’s located right at the end of the main pedestrian street (Rua do Cunha) and it’s massive.
Just one street down to the right of the tiger mural is another popular mural along the steps of Escada do Coxo.
The stairs feature iconic Portuguese tiles and colourful fish wearing clothes. You might be wondering — why fish? Canned fish is a huge part of Portugal’s gastronomy scene; you’ll find tons of shops selling it in Lisbon. There’s even one along Rua do Cunha in Taipa!
Just a 2-minute walk away from Escada do Coxo is Calçada do Quartel, another row of colourful buildings adorned with murals.
We stopped for drinks at Seng Pan Coffee (the blue building!) and got an iced latte (MOP$41), iced citrus tea (MOP$40) and cold brew (MOP$40) — really refreshing on a hot day.
Seng Pan Coffee
Cost: From MOP$40/drink (~S$6.80)
Opening hours: 10:30AM – 7:30PM
How to get there: 2min walk from Rua do Cunha (Google Maps)
Continue down the street to another famous mural, the Travessa da Boa Vista. It was inspired by the scenery of Taipa old village — try to spot how many animals are painted onto the steps!
12PM: Rua do Cunha
Rua do Cunha is Taipa’s main pedestrian street. Popular Macao shops like Lord Stow’s Egg Tarts and Koi Kei Bakery line the street, along with restaurants and souvenir shops.
The canned fish store at Rua do Cunha.
You can find stores selling pork chop buns all over Macao, but we opted to try it at Cafe Vong Kei. This popular store has been around since 1958 — but it was the vibrant retro-style murals that caught my attention.
There was already a queue when we arrived at 10AM and the upstairs seating area was full so we ordered takeaway. We got their signature pork chop bun (MOP$53), bo lo bao (pineapple bun, MOP$18) and homemade milk tea and coffee (MOP$28 each).
The drinks weren’t anything to brag about (but much-needed because it was HOT that day). I was surprised to see such a generous serving of pork steak spilling out of the bun, it was well-cooked and a nice snack.
Cafe Vong Kei
Cost: From MOP$18 (S$3)
Opening hours: 9AM – 9PM (Sun – Fri), 7AM – 6PM (Sat)
How to get there: It’s located right across the tiger mural (Google Maps)
2:30PM: Our Lady of Carmel Church and Taipa Houses
Besides murals, Taipa also has a lot of pretty colonial buildings and well-maintained parks. Like Our Lady of Carmel Church above, which was built in 1885!
The church overlooks the Dra. Laurinda M. Esparteiro Garden and Taipa Houses. There’s a playful mint green and red colour theme reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
The Taipa Houses are a row of gorgeous Portuguese-style colonial houses along Avenida da Praia. Built in 1921, they once housed senior civil servants but were eventually revamped and opened to the public in 1999.
One of the Taipa Houses is now the Macanese Living Museum, which you can visit for free to learn more about Macao’s past as a Portuguese colony.
Another house is the Creative Casa — the top floor is an exhibition space, while the ground floor is a bookstore and gift shop. We picked up cute Portuguese-tile pins and postcards here!
Taipa Houses
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 10AM – 7PM (Closed on Mon)
How to get there: 3min walk from Our Lady of Carmel Church (Google Maps)
Other Things to Do in Taipa
Photo credit: @taipa_village_macau via Instagram
If you’ve still got time (and energy) to spare, check out these other things to do in Taipa!
You could rent a bike at Si Toi (MOP$20/hr) and visit landmarks like Vila da Taipa, Tin Hau Temple (Taipa’s oldest temple, built in 1785) and the Museum of Taipa and Coloane History.
Photo credit: @lafamigliamacau via Instagram
There’s no shortage of dining options as well — such as Portugalia (steak), La Famiglia (Macanese cuisine), Park Coffee and Drunken’ Tower (hot pot and cocktails).
Day 3: Macau Tower and Surrounds
9AM: Miradouro de Santa Sancha
At the top of Penha Hill is Miradouro de Santa Sancha. It offers some of the best views of the city, looking out directly at Macau Tower.
I actually discovered this spot while doing Macau Tower’s Skywalk — the Chapel of Our Lady of Penha (atop the 62.7m-tall Penha Hill!) stood out like a beacon among the surrounding buildings.
The church was founded in 1622 and once served as the residence of the Bishop of the Diocese of Macao. It’s become a popular spot for wedding photos!
Chapel of Our Lady of Penha
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 10AM – 4PM (The viewpoint is open 24 hours)
How to get there: From Senado Square, it’s 24min by bus 28B to Largo Do Lilau station, or an 18min walk (Google Maps)
10AM: Lilau Square
Lilau Square is a picturesque courtyard — this neighbourhood was one of the first Portuguese residential areas! The groundwater was once Macao’s main source of spring water; it’s said that “One who drinks from Lilau never forgets Macao”.
Lilau Square
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: 4min walk from Chapel of Our Lady of Penha (Google Maps)
10:30AM: Mandarin’s House
Just down the street is Mandarin’s House, another one of the 22 UNESCO Heritage-listed buildings! This was the home of Chinese literary figure Zheng Guanying — it’s also Macao’s largest residential complex.
There are over 60 rooms, with numerous courtyards.
*Pro-tip: Free guided tours (in Cantonese) are available on the weekends on a first come first serve basis!
Mandarin’s House
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 10AM – 6PM (Closed on Wed, Last entry at 5:30PM)
How to get there: 1min walk from Lilau Square (Google Maps)
11:45AM: A-Ma Temple
Fun fact: The name Macao was derived from A-Ma-Gau (Bay of A-Ma), on which A-Ma Temple is located.
A-Ma Temple was established even before the city of Macao was — its earliest structure (The Hall of Benevolence) is believed to be built in 1488.
The temple is dedicated to the Chinese sea-goddess A-ma (or Mazu) and is part of the Historic Centre of Macao. It’s not too large and can be covered in less than an hour!
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 8AM – 6PM
How to get there: 15min walk from Mandarin’s House (Google Maps)
12:30PM: Lunch at A Lorcha
A Lorcha is a Portuguese restaurant that’s been around since 1989 and is listed on the Michelin Guide! We arrived 30 minutes after opening time on a weekday and just managed to snag the last table.
*Pro-tip: Call +853 2831 3195 or email [email protected] to reserve a table in advance.
There’s quite an extensive menu, but we settled on a few dishes recommended by the waitress — Portuguese fried cod cakes (MOP$62), Bulhao Pato-style clams (MOP$148) and mixed seafood rice (MOP$208). The Macanese coconut and turmeric chicken is also really popular, but we thought it’d be overkill for just two people.
The seafood rice is like a soupy version of paella, with a generous amount of seafood. It had mussels, prawns, squid and crab!
Cost: ~MOP$235/pax (~S$40)
Opening hours: 12PM – 3PM, 6:30PM – 10:30PM (Closed on Tue)
How to get there: 1min walk from A-Ma Temple (Google Maps)
3PM: Macau Tower
For thrill-seekers, head to AJ Hackett’s Skypark Macau — located at the top section of Macau Tower! There’s several activities available, each a notch higher on the adrenaline scale.
Our colleagues took on the 233m bungy (the world’s highest commercial bungy!, MOP$3,088) back in 2016, so we opted to try something different. Not gonna lie, I doubt my feeble heart could manage the leap anyway.
For my sake, we chose something a little less scary — the Skywalk (MOP$788). But don’t assume it’s a walk in the park. I’ve been to a few tower observation decks (like Shanghai’s Pearl TV Tower and Bangkok’s Mahanakhon Skywalk), but never one that wraps around outside the tower.
We were strapped into a harness and brought out to the skywalk, 233m above the ground. Initial thoughts: Damn, this is high. It’s also really windy — gotta make sure my feet are firmly planted.
Our guide, though, had other plans. He encouraged us to sit at the edge, lean backwards and even go hands-free (spoiler: I couldn’t let go). But during the 20 minutes or so we were out there, I gradually got more comfortable. And hey, the views aren’t half bad.
You can bring your phone onto the skywalk, the staff will provide a phone casing and check that it’s properly attached to you.
For a truly exhilarating (or borderline insane) experience, try the Tower Climb (MOP$2,488) like Chao did. It’s exactly what it sounds like — climbing to the very top of Macau Tower at 338m-high.
The adventure starts at level 61 of Macau Tower (233m), where you’ll scale 105m of internal and external ladders to get to the summit. There are two guides per group (max. four pax) and currently, there’s just one slot per day at 3PM as it takes 3 hours total.
Chao said he got a little scared when the tower started shaking because of the wind but thoroughly enjoyed it as an adrenaline junkie. Talk about taking our Macao itinerary to new heights 😏.
Cost: MOP$788 (Skywalk), MOP$1,888 (Tower Climb), MOP$3,088 (Bungy) — all packages incl. Gopro videos and photos
Timings: Varies depending on attraction — Check the calendar and book a slot in advance
How to get there: From Senado Square, take bus 18B to Torre De Macau station (Google Maps)
Day 4: Coloane Island
Next on our Macao itinerary is Coloane, known as the Lungs of Macao as most of the island is covered in greenery and walking trails.
It’s also home to Macao’s largest beach (Hac Sa Beach) and it’s the birthplace of Macao’s egg tarts — at Lord Stow’s Bakery!
8AM: Breakfast at Lung Wah Tea House
Before heading to Coloane, we visited Lung Wah Tea House for dim sum. This traditional tea house is tucked away on the second floor of an old shophouse and has been serving Cantonese food since 1962.
It felt like we were stepping into someone’s house — the owner displayed his collection of paintings and antiques all over! We chose a cosy booth by the window, which looks out to the busy street.
The menu is in traditional Chinese — so we relied on a combination of Google Translate and online images to order. We got siu mai, pork ribs, custard buns and char siew baos which amounted to MOP$160.
We quite enjoyed the first three but felt the char siew bao could work on its meat-to-bun ratio. 😂 There’s also zhi char-style dishes available even in the morning.
Cost: ~MOP$80/pax (~S$14) — Cash only
Opening hours: 8AM – 2PM
How to get there: From Senado Square, take bus 33 to Alm. Lacerda/ Mercado Vermelho station then walk 3min (Google Maps)
9:30AM: Coloane Village
Start your tour of Coloane Island at Coloane Village, located on the westside of the island. One of the village’s main landmarks is the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, which has a rich history dating back till 1928.
The chapel houses sacred Christian relics, including the bone of St. Francis Xavier who conducted missionaries in Japan.
A short walk away is the Coloane Library — which looks like something straight out of a Wes Anderson film.
Coloane also has quite a few murals, like the one above at Largo do Estaleiro, which portrays fishermen returning home from a day’s work.
I’ve tried and failed to find the name of this cute mural we found by chance — share with us in the comments if you know it! It’s a short walk from the mural above.
Other well-known photo spots in the area include Coloane Pier, the mural at Avenida de Cinco de Outubro and the mural at Pátio do Galo Nº 5.
Getting to Coloane Village: From Lung Wah Tea House, take bus 26A to Assoc. De M. De Coloane station (~1hr journey). Alternatively, it’s a 31min taxi ride (Google Maps)
11:30AM: Eating Portuguese Egg Tarts
It’ll be a crime not to include a trip to Lord Stow’s in our Macao itinerary. Englishman Andrew Stow is known as the creator of Macao’s egg tart — the government actually gave him an award for this!
Lord Stow’s was founded in 1989, taking inspiration from the Pasteis de Nata (egg tarts) he tasted in Lisbon! There are now numerous outlets (even outside of Macao), but the original bakery is located in Coloane Village — which we visited.
Lord Stow’s Bakery
Cost: MOP$65 for a box of six egg tarts
Opening hours: 7AM – 9PM
How to get there: 3min wak from Coloane Library (Google Maps)
They’ve since opened two cafes located just a minute’s walk from the bakery — Lord Stow’s Cafe and Lord Stow’s Garden Cafe.
We opted to stop by the latter (it’s more spacious) for lunch, which serves a mix of British, Macao and other Asian dishes. There’s an afternoon tea set for two (MOP$288) which includes Lord Stow’s egg tarts, scones, cakes and finger sandwiches.
Lord Stow’s Garden Cafe
Cost: ~MOP$150/pax (~S$26)
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM (Mon – Fri), 8AM – 6PM (Sat – Sun)
How to get there: 1min walk from Lord Stow’s Bakery (Google Maps)
1PM: Macau Giant Panda Pavilion
Photo credit: Macao Government Tourism Office
Now I typically wouldn’t be rushing to see pandas, but Coloane is one place you can admire these adorable creatures for free. The Macau Giant Panda Pavilion in Seac Pai Van Park is home to four giant pandas!
Besides giant pandas, there are other attractions like the Floral Garden (home to bunnies and other small animals!) and a red panda exhibit.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 10AM – 1PM, 2PM – 5PM (Closed on Mon)
How to get there: Take bus 25, 26 or 50 to One Oasis/Mahogany Tower station (17min), or walk 20min from Coloane Library (Google Maps)
3PM: A-ma Cultural Village
Photo credit: @armonteiro.photography via Instagram
A-ma Cultural Village is a sprawling 7,000m2 complex dedicated to A-ma (or Mazu), the goddess of seafarers and fishermen. It stands in the middle of Coloane Island — where you’ll find the world’s tallest statue of A-ma (20m!), as well as several intricately designed pavilions and temples.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 9AM – 6PM
How to get there: 6min taxi ride from Macau Giant Panda Pavilion (Google Maps)
5:30PM: Sunset at Hac Sá Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail
The black-sand Hac Sá Beach is Macao’s largest and most popular beach — so it gets pretty crowded. We chose to go on a short hike along the coast instead, just off the beach to the right!
The Hac Sá Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail is a relatively flat 1.2km trail that begins at Rua de Hac Sá Long Chao Kok and ends at the Chuk Wan Villas.
The trail ends at a striking red pavilion, where we stayed to watch the sunset.
Entrance fee: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
How to get there: Take bus 26A to Hellene Garden/Orchids Villa station (40min) or a 12min taxi ride (Google Maps)
7:30PM: Dinner at Fernando’s
Ask a local where to eat good Portuguese food in Macao and chances are, they’ll point you to Fernando’s. This restaurant has been around since 1986 and is located just off Hac Sa Beach!
The entrance is inconspicuous — we might have passed it if we weren’t following Google Maps. A waitress led us through a quiet half-filled dining room at the front, past an al fresco dining area with a foosball table to the main dining hall.
It’s packed and lively; this is more like it.
We ordered a half-portion each of their signature Fernando-style clams (MOP$136), charcoal grilled chicken (MOP$133) and fried prawns with garlic (MOP$168) as well as a couple of Super Bocks (a lager from Portugal!).
A complimentary basket of freshly baked bread was served as we waited for our food. The seafood was delicious, and the chicken was grilled to perfection — overall a satisfying meal that’s worth the hype.
Cost: ~MOP$230/pax (~S$39)
Opening hours: 12PM – 9:30PM
How to get there: 11min walk from Hac Sa Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail starting point (Google Maps)
*Note: It’s hard to hail a cab in Coloane in the evening. You’ll likely have to take an hour-long bus ride back to the city centre!
Day 5: Gems around the City Centre
Now that we’ve covered most of Macao’s must-sees, spend the last day wandering the alleys — you’ll never know what gems you might find!
We explored the area east of Senado Square, having checked out the neighbourhoods in the north and south earlier in our Macao itinerary. Here are some cute spots we visited:
12PM: Coffee at Single Origin
Single Origin is a pour-over and espresso bar that’s highly rated by coffee lovers. It’s a small two-storey coffee house that sits around 20 people.
They’ve got some really interesting coffee drinks like a Cloudy Black (MOP$45) and Pistachio (MOP$58), but the descriptions were in Chinese and I didn’t want to risk my caffeine fix. 😂
So I stuck to what I knew — an ice white (MOP$46) plus a matcha jelly dessert (MOP$58) — and wasn’t disappointed.
Cost: From ~MOP$45/drink (~S$7.60)
Opening hours: 12PM – 8PM
How to get there: 13min walk from Senado Square (Google Maps)
1PM: Lai Kei Sorvettes
Stepping into Lai Kei Sorvettes is walking onto the set of a retro film — faded mosaic tiles, plastic lotus ice cream cups and cosy booths lining the walls. This third-generation dessert parlour has been around for 80 years and takes pride in fresh, homemade ice cream.
I loved that the menu was kept simple as well, with items like ice cream soda and milk shakes. We got a fruit sundae (MOP$28), coconut ice cream (MOP$14) and two drinks (MOP$22 each) — really affordable!
Cost: From MOP$14 (~S$2.40) for a single scoop
Opening hours: 12PM – 7PM
How to get there: 2min walk from Single Origin (Google Maps)
2PM: St Lazarus Church
Just a short walk from Lai Kei Sorvettes is St. Lazarus’ Church. We didn’t enter the church but were happy to snap photos in the area.
The surrounding alleys are also extremely photogenic — vibrant European-style buildings sit right across buildings that look like they’re part of an apartment complex in Hong Kong.
No surprise here, Macao is a fantastic place for street photography. There were several people (both locals and tourists) taking photos along the quiet alleys in this area!
3PM: Thrift Shopping
The fun part about wandering the alleys here is finding hidden gems. We managed to uncover quite a few vintage shops in the area!
Vintage Market Macau is a two-storey gem selling retro clothing, handmade hats and more. Even if you’re not looking to buy anything, it’s always fun to window shop.
Opening hours: 12PM – 8PM
How to get there: 3min walk from St. Lazarus Church (Google Maps)
Nearby, there’s Vintage Pepperland, which sells lots of colourful clothing and accessories.
Opening hours: 2PM – 7PM (Mon – Fri), 12PM – 8PM (Sat – Sun)
How to get there: 2min walk from Vintage Market Macau (Google Maps)
4:45PM: Head to Airport
After five days in Macao, it’s time to head home.
From Senado Square, it’s 20 minutes by car or 35 minutes by bus (one transfer). I’d recommend leaving latest by 4:45PM in order to arrive at the airport at least 1.5 hours before your 7:05PM flight back to Singapore.
Macao Itinerary Budget Breakdown
Accommodation: S$187 — five nights
Transport: S$45.90
Activities: S$188 — incl. of Macau Tower Skywalk, cost is higher if you do a bungy or tower climb
Food and Misc: S$458.90
Total: S$880.70
Detailed breakdown for one pax here (prices are current at the time of writing). Flights aren’t included as prices fluctuate.
Direct flights to Macao are currently at fixed timings (5:40PM arrival in Macao). Hence, our Macao itinerary includes a five-night stay — the first night of stay being Day 0.
Daily Flights from Singapore to Macao
Scoot offers daily 4-hour direct flights to Macao (one-way fare from S$177*), which makes it really easy to plan a long weekend getaway there. *Taxes included, terms and travel periods apply.
What I appreciate about Scoot is it includes 10kg of carry-on baggage allowance — an extra 3kg more than most airlines! This is especially great for content creators like us who carry quite a bit of gear on trips.
You can also choose from a range of add-on meals like beef brisket hor fun, nasi lemak and roasted chicken thigh — all ingredients are Halal-certified. We also got a dark chocolate ice cream from Udders for dessert. 😋
Where to Stay in Macao
Macao Peninsula (the main island) is the best area to stay in Macao, especially for first-time visitors. It’s where the majority of the landmarks are located, with frequent buses to Taipa and Coloane for day trips.
We stayed at Towns Well Motel during our entire trip — the room and bathroom are basic, but the location’s fantastic. It’s a 6-minute walk to Senado Square and an 8-minute walk to the Ruins of St. Paul’s.
Cost: From ~S$75/night for a Twin Room
Address: No 6, 6A Calcada das Verdades, Macao (Google Maps)
Other accommodations in Macao
Mid-range: Caravel Hotel (from ~S$115/night for a Standard Double Room)
Luxury: Grand Lisboa Hotel (from ~S$274/night for a Deluxe Twin Room)
Both options are a 10-minute walk from Senado Square.
Pre-trip Essentials
Connectivity: Hong Kong and Macao 15-day E-SIM with unlimited data and 15GB high-speed data (S$23.90)
Getting around: The best way to get around Macao is by bus (MOP$6 regardless of distance), which is frequent. Unless you have a local transport card, payment is via cash — no change is given.
There’s no Grab or Uber in Macao, but you can flag a taxi (MOP$19 for the first 1.6km, MOP$2 added for every 240m after).
*Pro-tip: Download Macao bus app and Macao Taxi Fare app beforehand.
Payment: Macao has her own currency — the Macanese Pataca (MOP) — which is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). The exchange rate is MOP103.20 to HKD100. This means you can use HKD in Macao!
Attractions like AJ Hackett and established restaurants accept card payments, but bakeries and small eateries only accept cash.
Turns out, Macao makes for a pretty good long weekend getaway destination. It’s the kind of place that’s meant for wandering — there are hundreds of winding alleys, each with its own secrets waiting to be discovered.
Is there anything we missed out on our Macao itinerary? Share with us in the comments below!
This post was brought to you by Scoot and the Macao Government Tourism Office.
Note: Prices are accurate at the point of publishing and are subject to change.
