What’s new in Macau beyond the casinos? Revived neighbourhoods, a roof garden and one-off shows and festivals to look forward to
- There is more to Macau than a visit to a casino – not least the Light Up Macao festival, which transforms the city’s streets into a swirling psychedelic landscape
- Irish boy band Westlife are visiting for two concerts, The House of Dancing Water returns and an indoor water park is making a splash
As Covid-19 disruptions slip ever further into the past, Macau is coming alive again – and not all the action is happening on the casino floor.
We look at some of the new permanent attractions, as well as one-off shows and events, that should brighten up a trip to Hong Kong’s sister city.
1. Red parasols, flower beds and wooden tables and chairs await visitors at the new rooftop sitting-out area atop the revamped Iao Hon Market. Located inside a 1970s housing estate, the roof terrace has photogenic views of the neighbourhood, as well as a court for gateball, a faster-paced version of croquet.
Free.
2. The Light Up Macao festival is back from December 2 to February 25, and will transform the city’s streets and historic buildings into a swirling psychedelic landscape.
Free.
Tickets from 680 patacas (US$84); cotaiticketing.com.
Happily, the extravaganza has been salvaged and is set to return to the City of Dreams stage in the coming months with a brand new, reimagined spectacular.
For tickets, go to thehouseofdancingwater.com.
5. Tucked behind the Ruins of St Paul’s, the long-established St Lazarus neighbourhood has risen from the dead, with a host of new boutiques, galleries, bars and restaurants.
Most notable is 3 Sardines, which scores an impressive 4.6 on Facebook for its eccentric decor and modern take on petiscos, or Portuguese tapas – heaps of fried green beans, quail eggs served in little wooden bird cages, baby snails drenched in garlic. Team with some home-brewed Lazaro beer.
34 Rua de São Roque; @3sardinesmacau.
6. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf Convention and Exhibition Centre between November 17 and December 3 to fill up on snacks and souvenirs from the more than 100 stalls that comprise the 23rd Macau Food Festival.
As well as dozens of local foods, you’ll find stands from Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. Elasticated waistbands recommended.
7. Perfect for the cooler months, Studio City has opened a gigantic indoor water park to complement its gigantic outdoor water park. Expect surf simulators, wave pools and numerous water slides, including one that blasts riders like a rocket into the outside air. Closed on Tuesdays.
Winter adult ticket 468 patacas, child 320 patacas. For details, go to studiocity-macau.com.
8. Long before the casinos took over, Macau was a maritime town with 17 shipbuilders crowding the shores of Lai Chi Vun Village, in Coloane.
Now that history is being celebrated with a revitalisation of the old shipyard area, which has a new exhibition space, food and souvenir market, and buskers performing at the weekend (although probably not the Elvis Costello song “Shipbuilding”).
For details, go to www.icm.gov.mo/en/Laichivun.
