If you love gambling and / or Portuguese culture, Macau is the spot for you. Under Portuguese occupation until 1999, it’s now one of China’s special administrative regions, which are afforded a certain amount of political autonomy. Macau exercises its freedom in part by being one of the only spots in China where gambling is legal. This has panned out well for the region, which has become the gambling capital of the world. Fun fact: It generates almost 3x the gambling revenue of Las Vegas.
Debauchery is less of a defining factor in Macau than Vegas, as alcohol is not allowed in casinos. (FWIW, I was able to order a beer quite close to some gambling in the Venetian, so don’t worry too much if you want to have a little fun while there.)
Macau has a lot to offer other than gambling, including historical sites, temples, church ruins and a heck ton of Portuguese egg tarts. (I personally hate egg tarts, but Neil likes them quite a bit, so he was happy.) Macau is just a short ferry ride from Hong Kong.
We only spent a day in Macau, so don’t take this as any kind of primer on the region. Hopefully our photos inspire curiosity about what a visit might hold for you.
