15 Best Things to Do in Macau

Ruins of St. Paul's in Macau

Macau is divided into two very different halves. The Macau Peninsula holds the 500-year-old Historic Centre and the legacy casinos, while the Cotai Strip is home to the massive integrated resorts and their modern attractions. This guide covers the essential stops in both.

Macau offers a dense combination of deeply historical Portuguese architecture and hyper-modern entertainment infrastructure. The key to planning a trip here is understanding its geography: the Peninsula is where you go for history and street food, while Cotai is where you go for scale, shows, and resort attractions.

This guide rounds up the absolute essentials across both zones, utilizing the free resort shuttles and the LRT to bridge the gap between them.

1. Macau Tower

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Standing 338 meters tall, the Macau Tower offers the highest panoramic views over the Pearl River Delta. Beyond the indoor and outdoor observation decks on levels 58 and 61, it is famous for hosting the world's highest commercial bungy jump, operated by AJ Hackett.

The Macau Tower includes:

  • Glass-floored observation deck
  • Guinness World Record Bungy Jump
  • 360° Café revolving restaurant
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2. Ruins of St. Paul's

Why choose this? The essential starting point for any walking tour of the Macau Peninsula.

The most recognizable landmark in Macau. Originally built in the 17th century, the College of St. Paul was destroyed by a typhoon and fire in 1835, leaving only its intricately carved granite façade standing. It sits at the top of a grand stone staircase and serves as the anchor point of the UNESCO Historic Centre.

3. The House of Dancing Water

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Why choose this? The most technically impressive and critically acclaimed stage production in the territory.

Macau’s flagship resident show at the City of Dreams. Franco Dragone’s production is a massive aquatic spectacle involving high diving, acrobatics, and motorcycle stunts, staged in a purpose-built 270-degree theater with a 3.7-million-gallon pool that transforms into a dry stage in seconds.

4. teamLab SuperNature

A massive 5,000-square-meter immersive digital art exhibition inside The Venetian Macao. Unlike traditional museums, this is a three-dimensional labyrinth where the digital projections react in real-time to your presence, movement, and touch.

What's included:

  • Interactive light and digital installations
  • EN TEA HOUSE experience
  • Fully indoor, climate-controlled

5. Studio City Water Park

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Why choose this? The best option for families with children, offering both indoor and outdoor aquatic areas regardless of the weather.

The most substantial family-friendly attraction on the Cotai Strip. It features a massive indoor, climate-controlled water park open year-round with high-speed tube slides and a wave pool, plus an expansive outdoor section that opens during the warmer months.

6. Taipa Houses-Museum

A row of five beautifully restored colonial residences built in 1921 for senior civil servants and Macanese families. Painted in distinct mint green, they now serve as museums showcasing traditional Macanese life, local history, and Portuguese architecture, looking out over the Cotai wetlands.

8. Golden Reel Ferris Wheel

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Why choose this? A very comfortable, fully enclosed sightseeing option that provides a unique architectural perspective of the Cotai Strip.

The world’s highest figure-eight Ferris wheel, built directly into the facade of Studio City between its two hotel towers at a height of 130 meters. The 15-minute ride in steampunk-themed cabins offers views over the Cotai wetlands and neighboring resorts.

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9. Venetian Gondola Ride

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A classic Macau experience inside The Venetian Macao. You cruise along the replica canals of Venice while a singing gondolier steers the boat, serenading you with Italian arias beneath a permanently painted twilight sky.

The Venetian Gondola Ride includes:

  • Indoor and outdoor canal routes
  • Singing gondoliers
  • Excellent photo opportunities
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10. Eiffel Tower at The Parisian

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Why choose this? The best architectural vantage point for looking straight down the main Cotai resort corridor, especially at night when the neon lights are fully illuminated.

A highly accurate, half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. While the exterior light shows are free, you can take a high-speed elevator to the Level 37 observation deck for a 360-degree, open-air view straight down the Cotai Strip.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Macau?

Two to three days is ideal. You can cover the Historic Centre in one full day, and spend a second day exploring the Cotai Strip resorts, Taipa Village, and Coloane.

Do I need a visa to visit Macau?

Visitors from over 70 countries, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and most European nations, can enter Macau visa-free for varying periods (usually 30 to 90 days).

Is it easy to get around?

Yes. The resorts operate extensive free shuttle bus networks connecting the ferry terminals, airport, border gates, and major hotels. The Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system is also excellent for navigating Cotai and Taipa.