A Country at a Glance: Our 1-Day Itinerary in Macau

The best destinations are the ones that feel like stepping into two different eras at once.

When traveling, there are places that feel like a whirlwind of history and then there are places that feel like a giant, neon-lit playground. Macau, quite frankly, is both.

During our HK 2025 trip, we decided to squeeze in a day trip to the “Las Vegas of Asia.” If you’re staying in Hong Kong like we were, a quick ferry ride is all it takes to find yourself in a completely different world.

From centuries-old ruins to modern architectures and replicas, here’s how we spent our jam-packed day in Macau.

🚢 Getting There: The Early Bird Catches the… Ferry?

Our day started at the crack of dawn. By 6:00 AM, we were already navigating the MTR from Tsuen Wan to the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan.

Tip: Keep your Octopus Card loaded, just as how IC cards are in Japan – it’s your best friend in HK.

We booked our TurboJet tickets via Klook ahead of time for the 8:00 AM departure. The ride takes about an hour, and while some people enjoy the “flying” sensation of the jetfoil, I recommend having a light breakfast if you’re prone to seasickness.

Once you land, don’t forget to pick up a Macau Pass at a convenience store, it makes hopping on buses so much easier. Although in our case, the convenience store at the Ferry terminal was still close so we spent about half an hour walking around looking for one. 

🔆First Stop: A Roman Sunrise at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf

After clearing immigration at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, we decided to skip the shuttle buses for a moment and take a 10-minute stroll to Macau Fisherman’s Wharf. 

Being there so early in the morning was a total gamechanger. Since the shops hadn't opened yet, we practically had the place to ourselves. The Roman Amphitheatre is the star here – it’s a massive, weathered-looking structure that makes you feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of Italy. 

With the morning sun hitting the faux-ancient stone and the sea breeze coming off the harbor, taking photos was an absolute delight. No photobombers, no rushing, just pure, architectural aesthetic.

Tip: Head straight to the Legend Wharf area. It mimics classic European port towns with colorful facades and cobblestone paths. A perfect stop for some OOTD shots, before the midday heat and the tourist crowds kick in!

🏛️ Walking Through History: The Ruins of Saint Paul’s

From the wharf, we hopped on a quick bus ride toward the historic center. Our first real stop was the iconic Ruins of Saint Paul’s.

Standing at the foot of that massive stone façade, it’s hard to believe this was once the greatest Christian church in East Asia before a fire in 1835 left only the front standing. The intricate carvings featuring the Virgin Mary and Chinese dragons are a beautiful reminder of how East truly meets West here.

If you want that clean, crowd-free photo, you need to be there early. By 10:00 AM, the steps were already swarming with travelers chasing the perfect angle.

🍴 Rua de S. Paulo: A Free-Taste Paradise

Descending from the ruins toward Senado Square via Rua de S. Paulo (or as popularly known to tourists, The Jerky Street), we entered what I can only describe as the tastiest gauntlet in the world.

This narrow, winding street is lined shoulder-to-shoulder with shops like Koi Kei Bakery and Choi Heong Yuen. What makes this walk unforgettable? Two words: Free. Tastes.

You don’t even have to ask. Shop assistants stand outside with scissors, snipping off generous samples of Bakkwa (Chinese dried meat jerky) – honey-glazed pork, spicy beef, even black-pepper wild boar.

• The Experience: Total sensory overload. One minute you’re chewing on warm, smoky pork jerky, and the next someone’s handing you a crumbly almond cookie or peanut brittle.
• The Strategy: Honestly, you could almost skip lunch if you walked this street twice. The jerky here is thick, moist, and nothing like the dry packaged kind. We eventually caved and bought several boxes of almond cookies – the smell of them baking in-shop is a marketing tactic that works every single time.

🏤Senado Square: The Heart of Macau

Emerging from the jerky-scented alleyways, the space opens into a portal to Lisbon, Portugal este Senado Square.

• The Vibe: Look down! The entire square is paved with calçada Portuguesa, the beautiful wave-patterned black and white mosaic stones.
• What to See: It’s surrounded by stunning neo-classical buildings in pastel yellows and pinks including the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the Holy House of Mercy (the white building) and the St. Dominic’s Church at the end of the square. 

We stopped here for a quick lunch. The area is packed with options so overwhelming we ended up just trying out the nearby Jollibee branch – which btw, has waaay bigger servings than our branches here in the Philippines.

🎭 Afternoon: The Glitz and Glamour of Cotai

After lunch, we shifted from historic Macau to the ultra-modern Cotai Strip to see the "Big Three":

1. The Londoner Macau: Feel like you're in the UK with the Big Ben backdrop. This was supposed to be the highlight of my day and experience the Harry Potter Exhibition but was unfortunately no longer showing upon our arrival. So instead of choosing my Hogwarts House or sitting in Hagrid’s chair, we walked around shops we can’t afford 😂
2. The Parisian Macau: Of course, we had to see the Eiffel Tower replica! Until we can afford the real one, we’ll settle with this for now.
3. The Venetian Macau: We ended our afternoon here, which is equal parts hotel, mall, and maze. It’s basically the indoor version of Venice Grand Canal in BGC with painted blue sky.  It’s the perfect place to cool down from the afternoon heat.

🍱 Dinner & Heading Back to Hong Kong

We grabbed dinner at The Venetian where food options ranges from Michelin-starred restaurants to an excellent food court. We chose local Cantonese dishes and of course, love us some Tim Ho Wan. 

By 4:00 PM, we were exhausted and boarded a bus to the Macau Taipa Ferry Terminal for our 6:00 PM Cotai Water Jet back to Hong Kong.

Important Tip: Give yourself at least 30 minutes for immigration at the terminal especially on weekends. 

We reached Tsuen Wan around 09:00 PM, tired but buzzing. Macau is a city of contrasts - ancient temples and neon casinos existing side by side. For a one-day Macau trip, it’s intense, unforgettable, and absolutely worth it.

💡 Quick Tips for your Macau Day Trip:

• Must Bring: Passport, Octopus Card (HK), Macau Pass, comfortable walking shoes
• Must Eat: Free pork jerky samples, Koi Kei almond cookies, Lord Stow’s egg tarts
• Must See: Ruins of St. Paul’s, Senado Square, Cotai Strip (Our trentahin bodies refuses to stay until dark but this area is most beautiful at night with all of the magnificent lights).
• Internet: Klook is your best friend for booking ferry tickets in advance + roaming on with your HK sim card for cellular services.

Surely there are more to see in Macau than just the places we visited but if you will be exploring only for a day just as we did, I hope this blog helped in your planning.

Thank you for dropping by!