Macau

Macau is far more than its casinos. Its historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves Portuguese squares, churches and Chinese temples side by side, and Macanese cuisine, one of the world's oldest fusion cuisines, is unique to the city.

At the same time, Macau has one of the highest concentrations of acclaimed restaurants in Asia, and its integrated resorts include some of the most ambitious hotel architecture anywhere.

October to December offers the most pleasant weather, dry and mild. Spring is humid, and summers are hot and wet, with typhoons possible. Major events include the Macau Grand Prix in November and the Macau International Fireworks Display Contest in September and October.

The historic centre is best explored on foot. Free hotel shuttles link the ferry terminals, the border and the resorts, and the Macau Light Rapid Transit serves Taipa and Cotai. Ferries and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge connect Macau with Hong Kong.

In Cotai, Morpheus, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, is an architectural landmark, Raffles at Galaxy Macau offers all-suite calm, and Wynn Palace is known for its lavish floral displays and lakeside setting.

Robuchon au Dôme and The Eight, both at Grand Lisboa, are among the city's most celebrated restaurants. For Macanese and Portuguese cooking, A Lorcha near the A-Ma Temple is a long-standing favourite. Portuguese egg tarts are essential.

Walk from Senado Square to the Ruins of St Paul's, visit the A-Ma Temple and the Mandarin's House, and explore the colonial-era streets of Taipa Village. The Macau Museum and the historic Lou Kau Mansion reveal the city's layered past.

The currency is the Macau pataca, though Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted. Portuguese and Chinese are official languages; Cantonese is most widely spoken. Entry rules differ from mainland China; check the requirements for your nationality before travel.