Crossing the Zhujiang River Estuary, where the Pearl River meets the South China Sea, the journey to Macau feels like a slow reveal. On either side of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, jade-green water stretches out like an endless plain, with mist-shrouded islands drifting in and out of view. Then, almost suddenly, Macau’s skyline dances ahead — a bright jolt of energy along the coast.
It’s a vivid reminder that this former Portuguese territory owes its early prosperity to the sea. Once a fishing village, Macau flourished through maritime trade, shipbuilding and seafaring long before it emerged as a gaming powerhouse. And while its industries have evolved, the city still orbits around its many waterways.
Whether dining by the Outer Harbor or hiking a coastal trail in Coloane, you’ll find a peaceful antidote to the city’s busy malls and casinos. Here are seven waterways worth a detour:
Enjoy a stroll along the southern coast
Gentle and picturesque, the Hac Sá Long Chao Kok Coastal Trail is the ideal way to start a morning. Tracing Coloane’s southern edge, this half-hour hike follows a granite-paved path bordered by a stone balustrade, winding past rust-colored boulders and striking rock formations with names like Dragon Claw Rock and Apeman Rock. Along the way, you’ll pass hardy coastal vegetation — spiky screw pines, heart-shaped sea hibiscus and wispy evergreens — and birds galore.
Be sure to stop at the bright red pavilion, which seems to float above the water. It’s a peaceful spot where residents gather to fish or practice tai chi and just the place to soak up the salty breeze and tranquility. But check the website before visiting to ensure the trail is open.
Hike around a secret reservoir
Tucked into Coloane’s forested hills, Hac Sá Reservoir feels like a world all its own. After a short walk along a shaded path alive with humming cicadas, the trees part to reveal a still, aquamarine lake framed by emerald hills, ochre slopes and a towering concrete dam. A hanging bridge stretches across the water, offering a touch of castaway adventure and a great vantage point for photos.
From here, avid hikers can follow the Hac Sá Reservoir Family Trail to connect with the longer Coloane Trail. One of Macau’s most scenic routes, the five-mile loop undulates across forested paths and open ridges, offering sweeping views of the South China Sea.
Relax in the sun on Cheoc Van Beach
From the end point of the coastal trail, which spits you out on Cheoc Van Road, it’s about a 15-minute downhill walk to Cheoc Van Beach. Fringed with palm trees, the quiet beach unfurls across a crescent of soft golden sand with the hills behind it. Thanks to an onsite sports center, you can try windsurfing, sailing or canoeing — just remember to bring a towel from your hotel, if you plan to take a dip.
When it’s time to refuel, La Gondola, a laid-back Italian restaurant with a breezy terrace and sweeping bay views, serves hearty pastas and seafood. Right next door, the Cheoc Van public swimming pool offers another way to soak in the scenery for a small fee.
Bike along the Taipa waterfront
For a scenic morning or evening spin, the Taipa Waterfront Cycling Track stretches three miles along the northwestern side of Taipa Island, delivering expansive vistas of the Macau Peninsula and its beautiful bridges before curving south along the Inner Harbor toward Cotai. Trees, manicured gardens and playgrounds line the wide, car-free path — ideal for families and casual cyclists alike. If you don’t have a bike, daylong rentals are available for a small fee.
Explore the protected wetlands
In the heart of Taipa, surrounded by gleaming towers and luxury hotels, lies a wetland area alive with dragonflies, butterflies, turtles and wading birds such as herons and egrets. A matrix of raised wooden walkways winds gracefully over the ponds and mangroves, so that you can admire lotus blooms and native flora from sunrise to sunset.
Conveniently, the path leads directly to the Taipa Houses Museum, a cluster of five seafoam-green homes built in the 1920s for senior Portuguese officials. Today, the restored structures serve as museums and galleries, as well as Casa Maquista, a Portuguese and Macanese restaurant where you can enjoy family-style dishes overlooking the wetlands.
Dine by the harbor at Vic’s
There’s good news and bad news about Vic’s Restaurante. First, the bad: it’s inside Macau’s Fisherman’s Wharf — an area better known for its kitschy replicas and themed facades than for authenticity. The good news: Vic’s makes it worth the trip.
Overlooking the Outer Harbor, with ships coming and going with the tides, this elegant Portuguese establishment delivers on both flavor and atmosphere, serving beloved classics like bacalhau à brás (salted cod with potatoes and eggs), traditional duck rice, grilled sardines and cinnamon-spiced sangria. If the weather cooperates, reserve a patio table to soak up the sea breeze and harbor views.
Glide over Wynn Palace’s Performance Lake
If you’re looking for a little more action, we have just the thing. Nowhere embodies Macau’s evolution from fishing village to tourism powerhouse more vividly than the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Wynn Palace’s Performance Lake. Spanning eight acres, the lake comes alive every 20 to 30 minutes with a mesmerizing display of choreographed fountains, music and color. Even if you’re not staying at this resort, you can experience the spectacle aboard one of Wynn’s dragon-themed SkyCab gondolas, which glide smoothly over the water for an unmatched vista.
