Macau makes a fantastic day trip from Hong Kong because it’s compact and easy to reach. Just an hour by ferry or two hours by bus from Hong Kong, you can step into a completely different world. You can explore Macau’s two sides: the historic Portuguese colonial side and its hyper-modern glitzy side, even in a single day.
In this article, we’ll share with you our Macau day trip itinerary.
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MACAU DAY TRIP ITINERARY
To maximize the limited time we’ll be spending in Macau, let’s start early. Wake up at 6:45 AM and give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Don’t forget to bring your passport because we’ll be crossing borders today!
China Hong Kong City Terminal
By 8:00 AM, take the MTR from Central Station to Tsim Sha Tsui Station. The fare is HK$ 10.6.
From here, open your Google Maps and use it to get to the China Hong Kong City Terminal, where you can catch the bus to Macau. You’ll be walking for around 10 minutes.
For this itinerary, book this bus transfer in particular. There are many Hong Kong-Macau bus options on Klook, but you need to book this one specifically because it has the stops and timings that match our itinerary.
For pickup location, choose CHINA HONG KONG CITY, and for drop off, choose GALAXY MACAU. The Venetian is OK, too, but Galaxy is closer to our first stop.
TIP! If you’re booking this on Klook, use our promo code THEPOORTRAVELERKLOOK for 3-5% OFF if you’re a new user.
On our trip, though, we actually booked the one from Prince Edward because it entailed a shorter walk. But now that I’m looking at their page, for some reason, the earliest departure time available on Klook is 11:50 AM, which is too late. But from China Hong Kong City Terminal, there are earlier options.
If you really want to depart from Prince Edward, I think you can also book on the supplier’s official website.
At the end of the day, choose the pickup point that is more accessible from the hotel you’re staying in.
TIP! If you don’t have a hotel yet, book with Agoda to get a huge discount! Up to P5900 or USD 100 off. Just visit www.thepoortraveler.net/agoda to redeem the discount coupon, or if you prefer using the Agoda mobile app, just tap on the DEALS page and enter our promo code AGODATPT, all caps. Then search and select a hotel, and upon check out, enter AGODATPT again in the coupon field to apply the discount. This will give you up to 10% OFF capped at USD 100 (P5900 based on current exchange rate).
Be sure to arrive at the pickup location on time! Board the correct bus and off you go.
By the way, we also created a detailed article on how to get to Macau from Hong Kong, which you can read here: HONG KONG to MACAU by Bus & Ferry
HZMB Port
At the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) Port, you will get off the bus, go through Immigration on foot as you exit Hong Kong, and find the same bus on the other side. So listen to the instructions, remember your bus number, and always pay attention!
There are plenty of signs at the port. But once you make it past Immigration, the signs you should look for are marked CROSS BOUNDARY COACH. Not to be confused with Shuttle Buses. A staff member will check your ticket to make sure you’re boarding the correct bus.
Then, strap in. You’ll be crossing the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, one of the longest sea bridges in the world. It should take over an hour from here. You’ll also be clearing immigration on the Macau side.
Alight at Galaxy Macao, then walk for 12-15 minutes to our first stop.
Taipa Food Street
We begin our Macau adventure with a food trip here at Taipa Food Street! Officially known as Rua do Cunha, it is one of Macau’s most beloved foodie alleys, tucked into the historic heart of Taipa Village. This narrow pedestrian lane has been drawing locals and visitors alike for decades!
To be honest with you, these are not the cheapest options in Macau. You’ll find more affordable versions of these items in other parts of Macau. But what makes Taipa Food Street great is that you’ll find some of the most iconic eats in just one area, with its mix of Portuguese-influenced classics and local Macanese flavors. You can sample snacks and specialties from stall after stall, all within a few blocks.
Café Vong Kei
When you arrive, the first thing that will steal your attention is the giant milk tea bottle on the side of the building housing Café Vong Kei. So let’s start our culinary crawl here. This colorful café has become a major landmark here. Open since the mid-20th century, it’s best known for its iced coffee and milk tea (MOP 26). Both drinks are balanced and bold: the coffee is smooth and refreshing, while the milk tea has that classic silky sweetness that pairs perfectly with a stroll down the street.
But wait, don’t drink it yet. We’ll be using it to wash down the solid items we’re going to stuff our faces with — like pork chop bun (MOP 48)! Café Vong Kei’s pork chop is so big it looks like it’s about to jump out of the bread. It’s juicy and peppery, complemented by the crispy pastry.
Our initial intention was to buy one from Café Vong Kei and another at Sei Kee Café not too far away. But after finishing one, we were already so full that we skipped the latter. So that’s the lesson here. If you’re doing a food crawl, just order one and share! Leave room for the other stops.
Sei Kee Café
I would still urge you to try Sei Kee Café. It is one of the oldest neighborhood cafés in Macau, dating back to the 1960s. It’s also earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation for its quality and value. Too bad we weren’t able to try it. Its pork chop bun costs MOP 50.
Lao Day Beef Offal
Just a few steps away, the scent of slow-cooked beef fills the air at Lao Day Beef Offal. This spot has risen to fame more recently, earning recognition on local foodie lists and drawing long queues for its richly seasoned beef offal (about MOP 58). Tender, hearty, and deeply savory, each bowl offers a taste of Macau’s street-food culture that is unpretentious, bold, and deeply satisfying.
Lord Stow’s Bakery
No visit to Taipa Food Street is complete without hitting Lord Stow’s Bakery, the birthplace of Macau’s legendary egg tart. Founded by Andrew Stow in Coloane in 1989, this bakery’s tarts are crisp on the outside with a creamy, caramelized custard center — a perfect blend of Portuguese baking tradition and local flair, and a signature Macau must-try at around MOP 11 per piece.
Mochi Macau
To finish on something sweet and chewy, swing by Mochi Macau (often recognized locally as Cheung Chau Ping Kei) for freshly made mochi (about MOP 18). While fruit-filled versions are popular, the red bean mochi is widely considered the best here, and we agree. It’s slightly sweet, delightfully chewy, and a perfect sweet note after savory snacks.
And that wraps up our lunch. Now, let’s head over to Macau’s historic core. And to do that, we need to catch Bus 33 and alight at Almeida Ribeiro/OCBC stop. By the way, buses here in Macau collect a flat rate of MOP 6.
We’re now in the Macau peninsula and it’s here that you’ll find the Old Macau. And at its center lies Senado Square.
Senado Square
Senado Square is the beating heart of Macau’s historic center and a UNESCO World Heritage site. This wide, open plaza is surrounded by colorful pastel colonial buildings and European-style pavement patterns that make it feel like a small slice of Portugal in the middle of Asia. It’s a pedestrian-friendly hub where locals and tourists mingle.
The square is home to several historic landmarks, including the Holy House of Mercy, St. Dominic’s Church, and the Leal Senado Building. During festivals, Senado Square comes alive with decorations, street performances, and vibrant markets, giving visitors a real sense of Macau’s rich cultural tapestry.
As you walk deeper into the inner streets, your senses will be bombarded! The alleys leading off the square are lined with stores selling Macau delicacies, from Portuguese egg tarts to almond cookies and traditional meat jerky, many of which offer free samples to tempt passersby. This makes strolling through the area not only scenic but delicious — a perfect way to taste local flavors as you explore.
Ruins of St. Paul’s
At the end of the main pedestrian street, you’ll find the Ruins of St. Paul’s, Macau’s most iconic landmark. What remains today is the ornate stone façade of a 17th-century Portuguese church, which was destroyed by fire in 1835. Despite being a ruin, the intricate carvings, statues, and Latin inscriptions on the façade still convey the grandeur of its heyday, making it one of the most photographed sites in Macau.
Climbing the steps to the ruins gives you a small museum tucked behind the façade, showcasing artifacts from the original church and monastery, giving context to Macau’s colonial and religious history. From here, you can also take in sweeping views of the surrounding streets of the old city, blending Macau’s Portuguese and Chinese heritage in one frame. And that is perfectly captured when you spot the next item on our itinerary.
Na Tcha Temple
Just next to the Ruins of St. Paul’s is the small, unassuming Na Tcha Temple, creating a powerful visual contrast between Chinese and Portuguese religious traditions in one corner. It was built in 1888 and is dedicated to Na Tcha, a protective deity in Chinese folk religion. And yes, it is also part of Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage–listed Historic Centre.
Architecturally, the temple is small and understated, with a simple stone structure, traditional Chinese rooflines, and incense coils often hanging inside. Despite its size, it played an important role for the local Chinese community, especially during times of illness and hardship, when Na Tcha was worshipped as a guardian against disease and misfortune.
Visiting the temple offers a quiet, reflective pause amid the crowds, and it perfectly symbolizes Macau’s unique identity — a place where Eastern and Western cultures have coexisted for centuries, sometimes literally side by side.
After the temple visit, walk to Praia De Hac Sa Bus Stop and catch Bus 26A to Est. Do Istmo / Londoner stop. The fare is MOP 6.
Cotai Strip
Welcome to Cotai Strip! This is Macau’s take on the Las Vegas Strip, a dazzling stretch of reclaimed land connecting the islands of Coloane and Taipa, packed with mega-resorts, luxury hotels, and entertainment complexes. Cotai has transformed rapidly over the past decade, evolving into the heart of Macau’s modern tourism industry.
Beyond the grand façades, the Cotai Strip is a shopping, dining, and entertainment paradise. High-end brands line the corridors of resort malls, while countless restaurants serve everything from Cantonese dim sum to European fine dining. Visitors can also catch spectacular shows, gondola rides, and light displays — all part of the immersive, over-the-top Cotai experience. But since we only have very limited time, we’ll be making only three stops tonight: London, Paris, and Venice. Well, sort of.
Let’s start with London.
The Londoner Macao
The Londoner Macao is clad in classic British architecture, mimicking the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament. It also has a miniature Big Ben tower, giving you a distinctly London look.
At the main lobby, you’ll find a replica of the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain! And from here, you could get lost in mini-London and take unli-selfies at the many UK icons scattered around, including a double-decker bus and a statue of Sir Winston Churchill greeting everyone at 10 Downing Street. You can also hop into a taxi for what they call Black Cab Escape, where you’ll get to enjoy a virtual drive with David Beckham. These are just some of the many attractions inside! We were told there’s also a changing of the guards, but we didn’t get to see it.
All these can be accessed for FREE by the way.
There is also the Harry Potter The Exhibition, but this one collects an entrance fee and we don’t have time for that on this trip. For now, let’s cross over to Paris.
The Parisian Macao
The Parisian Macao delivers on French elegance. The centerpiece is a half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. Every 15 minutes from 6:15 PM to midnight, every single night, the iconic landmark is covered in dazzling lights, creating an awesome show that bathes the surrounding area in various colors.
The tower has two observation decks, one on Level 37, which charges MOP 75 per person, and the other on Level 7, which is open to everyone FREE OF CHARGE. As for us, we decided to just stay on the ground, admire it from afar, and snap countless photos with the vibrant structure as backdrop!
And right next door lies Venice.
The Venetian Macao
The Venetian Macao is one of the largest resorts in the world and brings Italy’s romantic Venice to Cotai. With indoor canals, gondola rides, and replicas of Venetian landmarks, it’s a feast for the senses.
Inside, you’ll find teamLab SuperNature Macao, one of the best teamLab branches that we have experienced. But again, maybe not on this trip, as we don’t have time.
The resort also features luxury shopping and over 30 restaurants, including a food court. And yes, this is where we’ll have dinner. Prices here are much higher than usual food court fare, though.
Back to Hong Kong
If you still have time to spare, walk around the mall, maybe shop. Just make sure that you go to the bus pick up point at 8:00 PM. Yes, you will be boarding the bus back to Hong Kong here at the Venetian at 8:30 PM. The bus fare is HK$ 160.
You can book this in advance on Klook, specifically this ride, because this has an 8:30 PM pickup at the Venetian, which is perfect for our itinerary.
In the list of options, choose MACAU VENETIAN HOTEL as the departing point and choose HONG KONG PRINCE EDWARD as the destination.
Again, just like earlier, you’ll need to pass through both the Macao and Hong Kong Immigration inspection, so have your passports handy.
You should arrive in the Prince Edward area in Kowloon by 11 PM. From here, walk and take the MTR to your hotel. The fare from Prince Edward Station to Central Station is HK$ 13.20.
And that’s it! You can easily insert this day trip itinerary into your Hong Kong itinerary! But the question is, how much budget should you prepare?
MACAU DAY TRIP BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Here’s the budget breakdown for our sample 1-day Macau itinerary, including the bus transfers. It assumes you’re a party of two, splitting the cost of shared expenses equally.
TOTAL: HKD 578.5 (USD 74, EUR 62, SGD 94, PHP 4360)
IMPORTANT! These are the minimum budgets to prepare. But please note:
- Add a buffer (even as low as HKD 200) to cover possible price movements, currency exchange adjustments, and other expenses we might have missed. These do not include personal purchases (shopping budget) and alcohol.
- These itineraries should not be taken as official travel advice. Just use these as a guide in building your own. Feel free to tweak to match your bookings, availability, schedule, and preferences.
And there you have it! That’s our sample Macau DIY day trip itinerary if coming from Hong Kong.
While it’s definitely possible to see Macau’s key attractions in a single day, I still strongly encourage you to return and stay longer. In this sample day-trip itinerary, we only barely scratched the surface — we basically just blitzed through the city, hitting the highlights and moving on. Macau is compact, but it’s rich in culture, history, and unique experiences, and a single day doesn’t do it justice. Spending a night or two here allows you to explore at a more relaxed pace, soak in the atmosphere, and really appreciate the city’s blend of Portuguese and Chinese heritage.
There’s a lot more to see beyond what we’ve shared here. It also has peaceful city gardens like Camoes Square and Jardim Lou Lim Ioc; interactive attractions like teamLab Supernature, Harry Potter the Exhibition, Martial Arts Arena and Grand Prix Museum; and historic sites like the Ama Temple and Guia Fortress. Or you can go food tripping. There’s also a thriving food scene beyond the usual tourist spots, from homegrown family restaurants to exquisite fine-dining territory.
Essentially, a day-trip will give you a taste, but staying longer lets you experience the full flavor of Macau.
Protect your finances when traveling!
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For international destinations, consider PGA Sompo’s TravelJOY Plus insurance. You can GET IT HERE. Don’t forget to use WORTHIT for a special affordable rate.
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2026 2 4 – First uploaded
Edited by: Asta Alvarez
