You'll need a minimum of 2 days to see most of what Macau offers, spending 1 day in the historic center and the next on Taipa, Cotai, and Colôane. Although it's easy enough to get around on your own, if you're pressed for time a handful of guided tours are offered by Gray Line (tel. 853/2833 6611) in conjunction with MGTO. The 6-hour Macau Highlights Tour, for example, with pickup and drop-off at the Macau Ferry Terminal, takes in the ruins of St. Paul's Church, Lenado Square, A-Ma Temple, Macau Tower, the Taipa House Museum, and Fisherman's Wharf, among other places, and costs MOP$118 (US$15/£7.65) for adults and MOP$108 (US$14/£7) for children and seniors. Other tours concentrate on historic sites, Taipa and Colôane, cuisine, and shopping. For more information, contact Gray Line or MGTO (tel. 853/2833 3000; www.macautourism.gov.mo).
Museum Mania -- If museums are your passion, save money by purchasing the Museums Pass, valid for 5 days and allowing entry to six museums, including the Grand Prix Museum, Wine Museum, Museum of Macau, Maritime Museum, and Macau Museum of Art. Passes, which cost MOP$25 (US$3.25/£1.60) for adults and MOP$12 (US$1.55/80p) for children and seniors, can be purchased at any of the museums. (The sixth museum is Lin Zexu Museum of Art, which is not as conveniently located and is not covered below; it centers on Lin Zexu, who was commissioned by Beijing in the 1830s to abolish the opium trade and remains somewhat of a local hero.)
East Meets West -- The Historic Centre of Macao, a World Heritage Site, celebrates more than 400 years of cultural exchange between the East and the West. Encompassing most of the historic old town, it ensures the preservation of both traditional Chinese architecture and the oldest western structures on Chinese soil, with forts, temples, churches, mansions, squares, a library, cemetery, and a garden among 25 protected sites. Several of the most famous attractions are described above and in my walking tour below, but for a complete list of protected structures and a map, stop by the Macau Government Tourist Office for its Macau World Heritage pamphlet. Among my favorites: the A-Ma Temple, Moorish Barracks, Mandarin's House, Leal Senado Building, Senado Square, Lou Kau Mansion, the Protestant Cemetery, and Guia Fortress.
At the other end of the spectrum is another "town," the newly fabricated Fisherman's Wharf (tel. 853/2899 3300; www.fishermanswharf.com.mo), which opened in 2004 on reclaimed land in the Outer Harbour, just a few minutes' walk from the ferry terminal. It's divided into three themed zones: Tang Dynasty, with architecture and decor typical of the era; East Meets West, a fairy-tale rendition of history, with a man-made "active" volcano, Aladdin's Fort (with thrill rides for the little ones open daily 10:30am-6:30pm, with rides costing MOP$20/US$2.60/£1.30, and an underground game center, open daily noon to 2am), and a 2,000-seat Roman Amphitheatre for concerts and performances; and Legend Wharf, with replica European, North American, and South African historic architecture. Mostly, Fisherman's Wharf is an excuse to shop and eat, with plenty of upscale opportunities for both. With regularly scheduled street performances and other events, it makes for an interesting stroll.
Car Races & Fireworks -- The Heat Is On! -- Of Macau's several annual events, none are as popular or draw as many crowds as the Macau Grand Prix, held in mid- to late November, and the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, held every Saturday in September.
The Macau Grand Prix, first staged in 1954, features motorcycle, production cars (international group A), and Formula Three races, and attracts drivers from all over the world. Very similar to the famous circuit in Monaco, the 6.2km (3 3/4-mile) Guia Circuit, which snakes through town near the ferry terminal and is lined with grandstands along the way, includes the winding roads of Guia Hill, hard corners around the waterfront, and the straightaway along the Outer Harbour. Champion drivers can complete a lap in as little as 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Tickets for stands during the 2 practice days cost MOP$50 (US$6.50/£3.25) each day, while race-day tickets range from MOP$200 (US$26/£13) for standing room on the first day of races to MOP$900 (US$117/£58) for the best seats the second day. For ticket inquiries, call 853/2879 62268 or refer to www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo. Note, however, that ferry tickets and hotel accommodations in Macau are tight during the races.
Macau's other major competition, the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest, has a more universal appeal with its dazzling displays of fireworks spread over Saturday nights in September. Begun in 1989, it is now the world's biggest fireworks contest, with more than 100 international teams competing. Displays are judged using criteria such as the height reached by the fireworks, the explosive bang and spread of each firework, color and variety, and the overall choreographic effect of each display. The best place to view the fireworks is along the waterfront near Macau Tower.
