Exploring Macau for Free: Saving Money on Transportation

Senado Square Lanterns

If you are one of those people who likes to travel but without the hassles of having a tour guide giving a hectic schedule, then this will help you through your experience in Macau.  Explore Macau on your own and not spend too much.  Forget about the casino, there are more to Macau than just poker and slot machines.

Before going to Macau, you better plan ahead.  Your travel would be more enjoyable if your time is in your hands.   So ready your map, list of places you want to go to, and make sure your camera is in full battery.

Transportation is FREE!

Yes, you got it right, transportation is really free.  But you have to follow these tips.  Last time I went to Macau, I stayed at Hotel Sintra which is in a convenient place since its 15 minutes from the airport, located near the shopping hub and the Grand Lisboa Hotel.  Of course, getting your own hotel or hostel is optional.

These hotels have free shuttle buses that depart every five minutes to Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal.  Everything is free.  You just need to go to the ferry using the hotel shuttle buses.  The ferry is a parking area of all the shuttle buses of all the grand hotels in Macau.  From the ferry, you can choose which hotel you may want to go first.

Hotels to experience

If you want to experience Venice in Asia, then you have to go to the Venetian Hotel.  The whole package is there including the romantic boat ride at its man-made river inside the hotel.   Aside from the view they also have shows for entertainment, as a matter of fact I watched my first Cirque du Soleil in the same hotel.

The Venetian Hotel

City of Dreams also provides under the sea experience, whereas you may find mermaids in their lobbies with their Vquarium.  They also provide shows like the House of Dancing Water and Dragon’s Treasure.

Other hotels that have attractions that you might want to consider going to are Sands, Galaxy and the Grand Lisboa Hotel.  These places all have shuttles that you can use for free.

Senado Square

Sintra Hotel is located near Senado Square, so it is like a five to ten-minute walk from my place.  Senado Square is famous for its black and white brick walkway.  You should give it probably a day for shopping and a moment to appreciate the remains of The Church of St. Paul that was built in 1602 by the Jesuits but was destroyed by fire in 1835.  The remains of the church is the icon of Macau.

What not to miss in Senado Square is their delicious street food.  I’m so happy with food.  Asia is famous with street foods and I always want to try it.  They are food on sticks that are plummeted to a broth to boil.   You don’t really have to ask what it is but it mostly consists of seafood, vegetables, eggs and tofu.  There’s a good chance that you will like it, especially when it’s cold and chilly outside.

Also, they have these addictive egg tarts, probably the best I ever tasted.

Other destinations

Macau Tower

If you are looking for something extreme then you have to try the highest bungee jump in the world for 233 meters found at the Macau Tower (Entertainment and Convention Center).  Or maybe something less extreme like sky walk, sky jump or mast climbing.  But of course, there are other options other than screaming your life off, getting as high as 338 meters will be able to give you a great view of Macau.  I have seen bodies falling, and I never realized how afraid I was.  But it was worth the view.

Hotel Royal provides free transportation to the Macau Tower, in other cases you can just take a cab and say Macau Tower.  And if you’re feeling a bit Portuguese you can say Largo da Torre de Macau.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is the first theme park in Macau.  The place is also free.  It’s a great place to walk, dine and shop.