Macau (officially Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China) is an autonomous region on the south coast of China. A Portuguese territory until 1999, Macau is a melting pot of diverse cultural influences. It lies just a mere 62 km across the Pearl River Delta from the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong and is easily accessible by direct flights or ferry, making it a popular day trip or overnight side-trip.

But Macau is an interesting compact destination on its own especially for families, friends or solo travelers. Macau may be best-known for its giant casinos and malls which have given its reputation as the “Las Vegas of Asia,” but it has its share of stunning East-meets-West architecture and heritage sights, delicious cuisine and extreme activities for urban adventurers.

For adrenaline junkies – the main sight of interest is the 338 m-high Macau Tower, which offers the highest commercial Bungy Jump in the world. For first-time visitors planning a trip to Macau (minus the gambling), here are a few of the highlights to look forward to.

1. Visit the Ruins of St. Paul’s Church

The most famous landmark in Macau is the the Ruins of St. Paul’s (Ruinas de Sao Paulo). Part of the city’s Historic Center, the Ruins of St Paul’s was originally built in the 16th century. The site was formerly a complex of a church and an academic institution. A church was constructed later in the 17th century. Today, only the facade remains of the original structure, but it still continues to attract hordes of tourists.

As Macau’s most famous landmark, this site receives a lot of visitors daily, so part of the challenge of visiting the place is taking creative photos and angles with the facade. If you’re only doing a short day tour around Macau, this should be one of your first stops.

2. Go Sightseeing around the World Just in the City

Photographers will enjoy taking photowalks and sightseeing around Macau because of the distinct culture and architecture. The contrast between extravagant casinos and small traditional Chinese shops makes Macau an interesting destination.

You get a taste of different cultural influences and architecture, from the big city feels of the skyscrapers to the nostalgic charm of the smaller streets and shops. Some hotels replicate the feel of Venice and France.

There’s even a Portuguese Street with vibrant street art in one of the areas. Millennial travelers who are fond of doing photo-shoots when they travel might want to pack the appropriate outfits to match the city’s different streets and moods.

3. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites & Other Cultural Sites

Did you know that Macau is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 20 notable locations? Senado Square is a paved town square in Macau that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This elongated triangular shaped square connects covers an area of 3,700 square meters and houses interesting architectural wonders fusing Western and Chinese civilizations.

Most of the buildings around the square are European styled and many are protected monuments. It’s here where you can spot St. Dominic’s Church, a late 16th-century Baroque-style church renowned for its grand architecture combining European and local Macanese features; and the Lean Senado Building which has served as Macao’s municipal chamber since the 18th century.

Heritage and culture buffs can spend a whole day just going around to different historical sights in Macau, including the A-Ma temple, the oldest temple in Macao, Guia Fortress (including Guia Chapel and Lighthouse) and Mount Fortress.

4. Be amazed by the hotels and casinos

Macau is really known for its extravagant luxury hotels and casinos which provide a range of attractions. The Venetian, a luxury hotel and casino resort that replicates Venice, is a 39-story casino located on the Cotai Strip of Macau. The Venetian Macau is said to be the largest casino in the world and the largest single structure hotel building in Asia.

You don’t have to gamble at the casinos here to enjoy the sights. Just wander around the shops, hop on a gondola and paddle through canals while being serenaded by a gondolier.

The whole area is like a massive theme park of Venice replicating the outdoors complete with artificial sky painted on the ceiling while shop front facades are decorated to look like individual buildings. It can be pretty overwhelming.

The Parisian Macau is another luxury resort that gives the feel of modern France complete with a half-scale Eiffel Tower as as one its major landmarks.

5. Enjoy the diverse Macao cuisine

Macao is known for having distinctive, unique cuisine, a blend of southern Chinese (especially Cantonese) and Portuguese cuisines, with significant influences from Southeast Asia. The result is a melting pot of Macanese, Portuguese, Chinese and Indian flavors, plus an array of fresh seafood dishes and sweet treats.

Macau is home to at least 19 Michelin-starred restaurants, making it one of the leading culinary destinations in the region for fine dining. Top must-try local delicacies include Choapa bao or Pork Chop Buns, often described as the “Macanese version of a hamburger”, Portuguese seafood rice, serradura (sawdust pudding), almond cookies and sweet pork jerky.

6. Eat an Egg Tart

Really, a whole section devoted just to egg tarts? Yes, it’s apparently a thing to do when you’re in Macau. Portuguese Egg Tarts, a baked custard tart consisting of an outer pastry crust filled with egg custard has become a trademark of Macau. They’re considered one of the the city’s most iconic eats for foodies.

Various local cafes sell these tasty treats but in Coloane’s center you can find Lord Stow’s Cafe Bakery, home of the original Macau egg tarts. The tarts are baked fresh daily on site and are considered, by many, to be the original and the best.

7. Explore Taipa Village

Taipa Village is a quaint, historic village where you can find museums and colonial churches right next to Chinese temples. Taipa Village is home to the stunning Taipa House Museum. Built in 1921, it once served as a residence for the Portuguese governor and other high-level civil servants and their families.

Taipa Village is one of the few areas in Macau where you get that nostalgic “old-world” feel and can enjoy strolls along cobblestone alleys and hidden lanes, browse in local shops and sample street food from bakeries selling the city’s famous almond cookies and peanut candies. There are a lot of dining options here. Just roam around the small, colorful alleyways to look for a spot where you can wind down or grab a drink and bite to eat.

8. Admire the view from the Macau Tower

Macau’s most famous building is the The Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre (simply known as Macau Tower), one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world. While you can admire the building from outside, first-time tourists usually pay a visit to the observation deck to get the best view of the city.

Measuring 338 meters (1,109 feet) in height from the ground to the highest point, the Macau Tower offers the best view of Macau’s skyline. The ride up on the elevator going to the observation deck is an experience in itself. You can also enjoy the restaurants, theaters and shopping malls while you’re here.

9. Go Skywalking and Bungy Jumping

For adrenaline-junkies, the main reason for visiting the Macau Tower is to try out the range of extreme activities they have to offer. At the top of this popular landmark lies your ultimate bucketlist destination, the AJ Hackett Macau Tower, which currently offers the highest commercial bungy jump in the world.

You can try bungy jumping from 233 meters high to achieve freefall, take a more controlled descent by skyjumping or just take a thrilling walking tour around the outer rim of the tower with their skywalk.

AJ Hacket also offers the Tower Climb, the world’s highest urban tower climb where you climb up the steel ladder to reach the highest point of 338 meters high! Limited slots are available daily for this activity, so it;s best if you reserve slots beforehand to avoid disappointment.

10. Make a pilgrimage to the Beer Temple

Last but definitely not the least, for those looking for a wide international selection of craft beer to take home, you might want to take a pilgrimage to the quirky-named Beer Temple, a cozy beer shop that’s just a short walk from St. Paul’s Ruins. With hundreds of bottles hanging from the ceiling like a chandelier and rows of bottles on display on the shelves, you’re sure to find a beer you’ll like!