10 Reasons to Visit Macau at Least Once in Your Life

Guys, did you know that it only takes five hours to fly from Vladivostok to the "Little Portugal"? You can board a plane in our chilly city in the evening and find yourself in sunny and warm Macau, also known as Aomen. And for some reason, many people think it's all about casinos there (though we'll talk about them too), but here are 10 unique reasons why you should visit Macau at least once in your life: 1️⃣ Experience Portugal Without Leaving Asia As you know, traveling to Europe is not so easy for us right now. But getting to Little Portugal? No problem! A direct flight from Vladivostok, and you're walking on cobblestone streets, surrounded by azulejo tiles, pastel-colored houses, and the aroma of authentic pastéis de nata (those divine egg tarts). The architecture, Portuguese signs, and the cuisine—mmm... clams in white wine, you get the idea! 2️⃣ Witness the Scale of the World's Gambling Capital People call it the "Las Vegas of Asia," but that's an understatement, folks. Seriously. The revenue of local casinos far surpasses that of Vegas. There are entire city-complexes: Venice, Paris, palaces, shows, fountains, and all of it much newer than in Vegas. 3️⃣ Enjoy Spectacular Free Shows In the hotel-casinos, you can spend an entire day as if you're in a museum, watching performances. Singing fountains, light shows, dancing dragons—all for $0. (If you need, I can compile a list of the most spectacular ones with their schedules.) 4️⃣ Take a Leap from the World's Tallest Bungee Jump Tower Macau Tower is the adrenaline hotspot of our planet. You can jump from a height of 233 meters—it's the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. We couldn't muster the courage, but we were mesmerized watching the daredevils from the tower's observation deck (by the way, it offers the best view of the city). 5️⃣ Escape Winter to Warmth While northern China is freezing, Macau enjoys temperatures of +18°C to +25°C and sunny weather. It's a perfect place to warm up even in January or February. 6️⃣ Visit Hong Kong in the Same Trip Between Macau and Hong Kong lies a grand bridge-tunnel spanning 55 km. A comfortable bus will take you from one point to the other in about an hour, and no visa is needed. Two completely different worlds in one trip—how's that for a plan? 7️⃣ Experience "China, But Not Quite" Macau has its own rules (and even laws). Google, YouTube, and WhatsApp work here. You can conveniently plan routes using Google Maps. They have their own currency—patacas (MOP), Portuguese signs, and you can hear the soft Portuguese "sh" sounds in conversations everywhere. 8️⃣ Taste Unique Macanese Cuisine This isn't Chinese or Portuguese cuisine. It's their unique fusion—Macanese cuisine. You absolutely must try: 🔻 Chicken stewed in a spicy sauce with coconut milk (Galinha à Africana) 🔻 Noodle soup with pieces of meat (Mian Zhi) 🔻 And a dessert made of whipped cream, crushed biscuits, and sugar—mmm... serradura. I remember we attended a masterclass and even learned to make it ourselves—it's very simple. Let me know if you need the recipe. 9️⃣ Discover the Hidden Side of Macau We loved wandering off the tourist streets in the Coloane area or on Taipa Island—oh my, it's so cozy there—charming courtyards, the smell of pasta sauce wafting from apartment windows. And don't miss the sunset on a hill overlooking the city lights, or spend the evening in a small family-run Portuguese café with just a few tables, sipping white wine with clams in cream sauce until late at night. 🔟 Fill Your Phone with Colorful Photos Macau is incredibly photogenic, and we absolutely love it for that. Squares, old neighborhoods, casino lights, colonial houses, waterfronts—there's plenty to capture with your camera. And there's always something happening in Macau—be it the Macau Grand Prix, a month-long light show, or an arts festival—boredom is not an option. And don't believe anyone who says one day is enough in Macau—it isn't! Macau is so diverse; we've been there twice for five full days each time and still didn't manage to see everything we planned. So, we want to go back again! Is Macau on your list? Or have you already been? Share your favorite spots, and as always, travel longer and farther! 💬 Yours, Yuyu